Good 21-22in mower to start out with?

First off, I have a craftsman 6.5hp 21" mulcher, it cuts nice, real basic, but I need something stronger than this light duty machine. Some of things I would like in a 21-22in is: Around the $500 and under range Mulches Possible self-propelled Durable, somewhat commercial or even commercial quality Reliable One I was checking out was the Toro super recycler, it's in my range but is still classified as residential mower. Also looked at a Cub Cadet CC989 or 98M Any opinions?

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Last edited by tomustang; 05-16-2009 at 09:56 PM.

[CHEESE2009]

Lawn care business tips

the recycler will probably do you well. It would probably be the best choice, if that is your price range. The thing with toro, even the home owner models are pretty damn tough. i was thinking of picking one up as a backup mower. See if you can get a good warranty, if you can, GREAT!

my personal choice would be a honda but the price range is about 650. I just retired a honda after 10 years of use and the last 2 years was mowing about 10 accounts a week. When it finally broke I was shoping and wanted another honda but was wanting something Diffrent. The honda had a standard 5.5 hp motor with the mulching blades. It rarly ever bogged down. So when I went looking I decided on the Toro Personal Pace Recycler. I picked it because I loved the idea of the self propell system it has "it will go the speed you are walking" has a great mulching blade, has a side discarge that you can close or open, and a rear bagger. It also came with a 6.75 hp motor.

The toro runs great will cut any height and always starts on 1st pull. The down side is that if the grass is tall and wet it boggs down real bad. But it does keep going.

Love the Toro and hope to get a long time use out of it this year we are cutting 30 yards a week and this is the primary mower. But if I had the money I would buy a Honda.

[picframer]

I have three John Deere JS-25's, they do not get a lot of use as mowing isn't our current focus however they do an amazing job, I put the high lift gators on them for blades.

[StartALawnCareBusiness]

As a matter of personal preference, I will not consider using a push mower that does not have large rear wheels. Large rear wheels help with turning the mower. They are also less affected by divots in the ground than can cause scalping with a lawn mower using small wheels all around.

Keith

Originally Posted by StartALawnCareBusiness

As a matter of personal preference, I will not consider using a push mower that does not have large rear wheels. Large rear wheels help with turning the mower. They are also less affected by divots in the ground than can cause scalping with a lawn mower using small wheels all around.

Keith

I concur. Plus, big wheels push easier when you are pushing it yourself. They also make it easier to lift it up over a curb, etc. About the only other thing I would recommend is if you can afford it, buy a commercial grade self propel walk behind mower. And Craftsman mowers do not fall into the commercial category.

Toro makes a commercial, but you have to buy it from a local dealer, not from Home Depot. Home Depot and other box stores will not have or even have access to true commercial mowers, no matter what their inexperienced and knowledge-less employees may tell you (they only care about selling you another mower, and another one once this one breaks down).

Go commercial.... If you have to start out with a consumer grade until you can afford a commercial, so be it, but don't expect it to hold up the same way as a commercial unit. I am very disappointed in Craftsman's self propel system (the inner workings of them). For example, the transmission part of it has a plastic casing. Impressive. Just impressive......

Good luck,
Eli

Thanks for all the input guys. I am starting out and would start out small, but would at least get a mower better what I have now. I wouldn't praise it, just need something I can work with. I was at sears (i can hear the shuns already) and saw a snapper that seemed nice for only $300, 3n1, big rear wheels, fwd. It looked nice but I'm still deciding...

[glacombe]

I have just recently bought a home and am beginning to start doing a few other peoples yards here and there. I went with the Husqvarna 7021 3n1 with the GCV160 Honda engine. It has started on one crank each and everytime and the price ($285) compared to many others I looked at with even the same engine were higher. I have been very satisfied so far, but I am by no means an expert, just a guy who wanted a decent, reliable mower that would get a job done and hopefully hold up. Good luck. If you can spend more and are comfortable though I would do it.

Snapper makes a really nice mower but if you want the best commercial 21" go with Toro's Proline. Growing up my dad had a mower shop and we sold these things all day long I still know of a couple that are 14 years old that are still out there working good. Now that is also because these guys take great care of their equipment. I work at a mower shop and we sell Snapper, Exmark ,Walker and Dixie Chopper. I have had a couple of the Toro Prolines come in and they are always ranked at the top of my list.

Frankie

i have the husqvarna with the honda motor its a 21" deck. Its done me very well so far..A little slow compared to the personal pace that toro offers but light enough and dependable. starts first pull everytime. i paid somewhere in the 340 area. with bagger