Being Cheap Didn't Pay Off!

[afpettijohns]

Not want to pinch my food budget, I went to Sears and bought the Craftsman Professional 21'' 175cc* ( 7.75 torque ) Rear Wheel Drive Lawn Mower (CA). It was a used model reduced to $299. Looking under it, it looked like one mow and it was returned. Now? I know why! The thing sounded powerful and the motor was strong but. The thing didn't go 2 miles an hour, slowing me down all day (4 mile an hour walker. The lowest setting was 1.25in not nearly the cut I want my customers to have on some lawns. I felt stung as soon as I tried to mow with it, thought about waiting 29 days to return it and be dishonest but that would have been a torturous 29 days. Professional my butt! I bit the bullet and bout an Honda HRC216HXA and won't be eating for the next month. Needed to loose a few pounds anyways. Haven't used it yet but paid $1100 out the door, including taxes, about $150 less than any other quote.

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Last edited by afpettijohns; 04-12-2011 at 03:18 PM. Reason: Misspelled Cheap, said Chead

[CHEESE2009]

Lawn care business tips

I would only suggest buying homeowner model walk-behind mowers for doing hills, as they are light weight. The problem with homeowner models are that they aren't assembled properly 1/2 the time. FIX If you still have it, there should be a cord from your handlebar leading towards and above the left tire, you will find a "nob" , give it a full turn counter-clock-wise. See if that works, it will fix your speed problem. Let me know if that works, I'll be waiting :P

[bruces]

can you post up the model # ,and I have never had any complaints about the rear drive craftsman for speed ,you can drop it at their service centre for repair,but a look in the instructions will probably show you the adjustment procedure ,depending on the style control you have.

[afpettijohns]

Flat so-cal lawns. Still had to push it.

This was a Craftman pro model with a 1 year waranty. I espected zoom zoom and I got push me, push me. I should have disconnected the transmission and just pushed it. It really was a piece of garbage. I returned it and purchased the Honda for 3.5 times as much money. Already impressed with its features. Looking to be impressed about its power and reliability.

Originally Posted by CHEESE2009

I would only suggest buying homeowner model walk-behind mowers for doing hills, as they are light weight.

The problem with homeowner models are that they aren't assembled properly 1/2 the time.

FIX
If you still have it, there should be a cord from your handlebar leading towards and above the left tire, you will find a "nob" , give it a full turn counter-clock-wise. See if that works, it will fix your speed problem.


Let me know if that works, I'll be waiting :P

[Hedgemaster]

Speaking of features...

Why can't any of these pricey mowers come equipped with single point height adjustment?

WTF? My ten year old Craftsman that probably cost me less than $300 has it.
So far, so good with my new Toro, but I cut the grass to different heights in the front and back yard, and this "adjust each wheel" crap is annoying after only needing to move a single lever for the last several years.


Hope you enjoy that Honda and it gives you many years of service!

[picframer]

Originally Posted by Hedgemaster

Speaking of features...

Why can't any of these pricey mowers come equipped with single point height adjustment?

WTF? My ten year old Craftsman that probably cost me less than $300 has it.
So far, so good with my new Toro, but I cut the grass to different heights in the front and back yard, and this "adjust each wheel" crap is annoying after only needing to move a single lever for the last several years.


Hope you enjoy that Honda and it gives you many years of service!

The John Deere walk behind's do, really slick operation.

[afpettijohns]

The four step is a little annoying but for the fact that I don't have to turn off the motor and restart makes up for the time lost in cutting lawns, no restart when I have to pick up the stray rock and starting an engine is the hardest part on the engine.

On a ten job day? I find I adjust it maybe three times. I took my fiance Sumalee back to the hospital today so didn't get to play with my new toy yet. Tommorow is a 20 job $1000 dollar day though, gonna put it through it's paces and just see why it's a $1250 21" mower. I only paid $1100 out the door though. What does everyone think about that price, I am so happy with Anaheim Lawn mowers that I am willing to pug them here. Okay, time to put this stuff in the show off section. heeheehee!

Originally Posted by Hedgemaster

Speaking of features...

Why can't any of these pricey mowers come equipped with single point height adjustment?

WTF? My ten year old Craftsman that probably cost me less than $300 has it.
So far, so good with my new Toro, but I cut the grass to different heights in the front and back yard, and this "adjust each wheel" crap is annoying after only needing to move a single lever for the last several years.


Hope you enjoy that Honda and it gives you many years of service!

[jasonw]

You didn't check the height before buying it? I dont know why people hate on the box store home owner style equipment. All my stuff is made by MTD and granted is only 2 years old but in the past 2 years has had 0 problems.