Lawn Mower - B&S or Honda

[LYU370]

I'm looking to get a new lawn mower. Should I get one with a Honda engine? I've heard good things about them. Or should I get a Briggs & Stratton? They have been around forever afterall. Push mower btw, lawn isn't anywhere near big enough for a riding mower.

[docrowan]

FWIW, I've standardized on Briggs and Stratton. I don't have any experience with the Honda engine, but I've heard it's good. It's just that I don't want two different manufacturers to fool with.

I invested $30.00 in a service manual CD and have all the torque specs and D&A instructions for any B&S engine. I'm my extended family's "fixit" guy, and so far everyone has had B&S powered equipment. Also, I prefer to use manufacturer's parts as much as possible, even down to the oil. Standardizing on B&S allows me to keep one kind of oil on hand. Sometimes I get lucky with air filter's, too.

[Hoyden]

Don't know about the new ones but my 15 year old Honda starts every time 1st or 2nd pull. had it serviced professionally twice in 15 years. I would definitely purchase a Honda again.

[softop41]

Andy,
With proper maintenance, a Honda mower could be the last mower you will ever buy. That being said, if you are not into maintenance, then buy the cheapest thing you can find so it won't hurt so much when it eats inself from lack of, or dirty, oil.

[parnelli]

I love to buy American, but my Honda mower starts every time on the first or second pull every time.

I forgot to dump the gas last year, and it still started on the second pull this year.

[dlminehart]

How about Toro? Anybody got reports? They seem similar to Honda but a little cheaper.

[LinuxRandal]

First, what are you used to?

Second, what happened to your old one?

If like a lot of them, the deck rusted out, I would look at what the next deck is made of. For my area, one of those (used to be) $99 mowers would last between 10 and 14 years. Then the deck was rusted out. Briggs parts are readily available here, and I have been shown a few things. I have a couple of friends with Honda's and only one has had any issues. Mostly, it's all about maintence.
Right now I have two mowers with Briggs. One's a bagger and one not. Picked them up cheap, and don't have to swap the bag out then as well as having a loaner or one to go to the shop (one just had it's cord replaced, because I didn't have the time). I also have a 92 model Lawn Boy, that needs a carb cleaning. It is self propeled and otherwise fine. I may give it to a neighbor, who is having trouble pushing his mower (had back and intestine surgery), but wants to do his own to stay active.

My last one rusted out where the wheel change was made (no height adjusters). I've since got them with it, and they seem to be lasting.

[Wood_workur]

I just got a toro, and it is really nice. it has the personal pace (self propel control IN the handlebar), electric start, and will start on the first pull if you desire to use the pull starter

[LYU370]

First, what are you used to?

Second, what happened to your old one?

My old one was a Toro, back in the late 80's. It stayed with the ex. Been in apts and most recently in a townhouse. Buying a house so I need a new mower.

Sounds like Honda engines have quite the reputation, may be worth the extra 40-50 bucks.

[crokett]

If I ever need a push more again I'm getting a Honda. Used them when I worked for a lawn service in college. Best mowers I've ever used. When I bought my first house I was dumb and did not get a Honda mower.

[frumper64]

Let me put in a vote for a mower with a Tecumseh engine - my last mower (a push Craftsman with a 3.5hp Tecumseh) was still going strong at 18 years of age when the deck finally rusted apart. Always started on the first or second pull and I was not exactly kind to it on the maintenance front. I though enough of the engine that when I replaced the Craftsman, I got a Lawn Boy with a 6.5hp Tecumseh - mainly for the engine. With that said, I really like the auto self propelled feature on the Lawnboy (same system as Toro - just a different implementation).

[Tom Slick]

There is nothing wrong with B&S engines but I prefer to only own honda powered equipment. they just seem to live very long trouble free lives. I can't say that for the tecumseh and B&S engines I've had in the past.

[rosesunkist]

I too just got a new mower, probably same one as Wood_Workur.

I used to have a B&S. Cost me $200 at HD and it worked flawlessly until the second or third time I started it. Honestly, it was the worst mower I have even seen. The engine would bog down sitting on my driveway, much worse when cutting the grass. I had to add an extra spring onto the throttle to raise the idle a LOT to where it would not try to die in the grass. Air filter was worthless. I had to clean it 2 or 3 times each time I did the yard. I was a real PITA spending upwards of 2 hours trying to get it to start.

Now my new Toro..... OMG!!! The electric start is a godsend. Takes about 2 second to start it. Self-propelled at your pace. It goes as fast as you do, not like to other kind with a few settings, too slow and too fast. This mower is 1000X better at 2X the price.

Get the best that you can afford. I know that Honda mowers last forever, they are good quality. My advice is to stay away from B&S mowers.

[prlundberg]

I have found with proper maintenance even a cheap mower will normally do fine. It's the deck, self-propel mechanisms, and running over large solid objects that seem to be trouble areas. At least for me.

Sometimes I think you pay a premium just for a name. I know Honda makes a good mower, but personally I would have a tough time justifying the cost when my cheapo MTD with B&S does just fine.

As for being made in the USA, last time I was at the BORG, I didn't see a single push mower built in the US. The "American" brands were all imported. I also like to buy American but it's getting pretty tough to do. Is B&S still made here?

[Russianwolf]

Well, I'll be the detracter here. My buddy had a Honda Mower for about 2 years. No problems the first year (it was new), but the second year he started having major issues.

The mower would start fine, but as soon as he took it into the grass it would spit and sputter then litterally blow the air filter off and stall. we tried everything on that one. None of the local shops would work on it "we're not Honda certified", and the closest Honda service center was about 4 hours away.

After 3 weeks of borrowing mine, he sold the Honda for $50 and bought a new Huskee with a B&S. That was 3 year ago and no problems. If you don't have a shop that will work on the Hondas nearby, look elsewhere.