WAAAY not a Valk question.

[YoungPUP]

Over the last few years, I've bought several (read 3 in 4yrs) Lawnmowers. Usually hardware store specials. MTD, yardman etc.  Usually about $130 a  piece, nothing fancy, just rear highwheel, and side discharge. At this point, i could've bought a fancy one.  Any brand suggestions? I'd love to have a mower last more than a season. The previous junk usually starts running rough, and  theres no way to adjust the carb to fix it.  replacing the carb would be fine, except they're usually as expensive as another mower.  One more crap mower , and i'm going to buy a goat!!!   

[Valker]

I bought a Toro last time....I am not overwhelmed with it. If money wasn't so tight, I'd get a Honda one and quit worrying.

[3W-lonerider]

it's not the mowers..it's the gas..we are dealing with this with all of our small equipment..put some gas treatment in that mower everytime you fill it up and most of your problems will go away.

[Cliff]

it's not the mowers..it's the gas..we are dealing with this with all of our small equipment..put some gas treatment in that mower everytime you fill it up and most of your problems will go away.

Nailed it on that one,,,,,, 

[chauffeur]

Honda with hydrostatic drive.  I assume they still make one of those.  Mine is 16 or 17 years old.   Still starts on first pull even after months.    I think i actually changed the oil 3 or 4 times.  Just might have to repair/replace the bag this year.  There is a tear at one of the seams.    Oh no.  I see no reason it won't continue its' current performance for many years to come.   

[Dave Weaver]

I bought a Honda back in 1981 when we were married and it finally died a couple years ago.  28 years of push mowing and I never did add any treatment to the gas.  I only mow ditches now, so I purchased a high wheel Craftsman.  The craftsman runs good, but the handle and wheels are flimsy and need rebuilding occasionally.  If I were to need a push mower for more than my ditches, I would spend the extra money and buy another Honda.

[eric in md]

 honda find a used one they run forever ... you know it

[old2soon]

Don't wanna get flamed here but-i'm on my 3d year of cutting with a (this be the model name) brute-black and yellow 22in cut self propelled. Forgot to drain the gas last year-dumped old gas put in the fresh stuff-2 pulls and off to the races. Got it at walmart and ta da it's american made. As of thia point in time-no problems. RIDE SAFE.

[Steve K (IA)]

A little bit, (1 - 2 cap fulls) of Sea Foam will straighten it out.  Our trimming mower...Lawn Boy self propelled started first pull when I started it up for the first time this year last weekend.  It had Sea Foam in the tank.

[Brad]

Honda with hydrostatic drive.  I assume they still make one of those.  Mine is 16 or 17 years old.   Still starts on first pull even after months.    I think i actually changed the oil 3 or 4 times.  Just might have to repair/replace the bag this year.  There is a tear at one of the seams.    Oh no.  I see no reason it won't continue its' current performance for many years to come.   

+1 on the Honda been doing my half acre for 16 years now.  Change the plug and filter every 4 years or so and put fresh oil in it about every 2 years.  I just bought a set of replacement blades for it this spring for the first time.

[DarkMeister]

I've been directed by the boss wife to downgrade the mower! Go figure. She just wants something light, simple, easy to start and move. Fancy-schmancy self-propelled machine is to be sold. I think she's right... Sometimes simpler is better. We get caught-up in marketing hype. Always newer gadgets, bigger engines, more HP... to do the same job.
(In case you're wondering, I do the riding mower bit, she does the push-mower close to the house)

But wow!  Totally +1 on the gas thing! I can't believe that it took me so many years to finally figure out why all that machinery won't start when seasons begin; why gas smells like turpentine; why a costly machine is suddenly a paperweight. Why a very expensive generator won't start when you need it most, after sitting for a year with old gas in it. Stupid is as stupid does, to quote a hero of mine...

[98valk]

no matter what mower brand u buy, they all mostly use same the same engine brands, either briggs/stratton or tecumseh, except for the speciality brands like honda, kohler etc., so its not the engines. on a side note troy-built were bought out by MTD yrs ago, and yardmachine are made by MTD, they are all the same except for price and feel good features.
Briggs and Stratton builds a lot of other equipment and bought out Murray a few yrs ago which were always considered better build than MTD, I know my Craftsman/Murray built snow blower is and they recently bought out Simplicity. http://topics.nytimes.com/topics/news/business/companies/briggs-and-stratton-corporation/index.html

as mentioned, its your gas, namely water in your gas. todays gas starts to break down after 2 wks, and the ethanol attracts water. brake fluid absorbs water though plastic containers, presumably ethanol does or can do the same.
I always use stabil now in a two gallon gas can and never have a problem anymore.

one of the better message boards I have found for outdoor equipment, a lot of professionals on the site.
http://www.abbysguide.com/ope/discussions/