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ontrider Ladies Man
Joined: 30 Jul 2003 Posts: 16491 City: Russia
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Posted: Sep 27, 2015 7:24 am Post subject: School me on Lawn Mowers |
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Looking for tips on a good gas mower, basically just what type of features should I be looking for, engine size, brand recommendations... etc?? I have no idea what the price range should be either...
Here's one I found that looks good, but don't know if it's too expensive unnecessary features??
http://www.homedepot.ca/product/22-inch-personal-pace-lawn-mower-with-honda-engine/861448
We just moved and our lot is about 3 times as big as the old one, so my little electric mower isn't going to cut it anymore. (no bad pun intended) |
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E.J. Ladies Man
Joined: 15 Jan 2003 Posts: 7597 City: Mogadishu
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Posted: Sep 27, 2015 8:17 am Post subject: |
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I went back and forth between the Homda and Toro. Ended up with the Toro Super Recycler and wouldn't change a thing. It's a workhorse and I like it so much, I ended up with a Toro snowblower due to being impressed with the build quality.
Personal Pace kicks ask.
Here is a quick video explaining the mower you linked to and a Super Recycler.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=KHPoHSLLc80 |
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E.J. Ladies Man
Joined: 15 Jan 2003 Posts: 7597 City: Mogadishu
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ontrider Ladies Man
Joined: 30 Jul 2003 Posts: 16491 City: Russia
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Posted: Sep 27, 2015 1:08 pm Post subject: |
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Thanks E.J. Yeah, that's actually a good idea. My in-laws live out in the country so I could probably find a good specialty shop there. I wasn't sure how good the personal pace actually was or if it's worth it, but you make it sound like it is... and so does the video. I've used some with some pretty sticky shifting mechanisms and that can be a real PIA when mowing on hilly terrain... and we have a sloped yard.
I really do like the looks of the Super Recycler... I just need to get permission to buy it (or I could buy it and just say it was $199) |
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BrentC5Z Wakeboarder.Commie
Joined: 01 Feb 2008 Posts: 1436 City: Tulsa
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Posted: Sep 27, 2015 3:59 pm Post subject: |
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City folk... Lol
JK. I've heard good things about Toro and my wealthy neighbors lawn care peeps use a lot of Toro stuff. Has to be pretty good.
We all mow about 5 acres a week and that's a little different scenario. I'd stick with EJ's option. _________________ http://www.youtube.com/greasemonkeytv |
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ohsix PityDaFool Who Posts This Much
Joined: 12 Jan 2003 Posts: 6837
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Posted: Sep 28, 2015 5:47 am Post subject: |
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I suggest going to a shop that specializes in commercial lawn equipment. They'll usually have some residential mowers. Snapper, Honda, and Toro all make good commercial equipment. There are probably other brands as well. I think Snapper makes the best bagging mowers, but some people don't like to catch the clippings. |
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goofyboy Wakeboarder.com Freak
Joined: 19 Jul 2004 Posts: 4463 City: Houston
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Posted: Sep 28, 2015 8:35 am Post subject: |
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Hire a lawn crew. _________________ Work SUX! |
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chavez Ladies Man
Joined: 22 Sep 2003 Posts: 27375 City: Roseville
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Posted: Sep 28, 2015 9:04 am Post subject: |
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^this.
I have determined that I hate doing yard work. Therefore, pay someone - and my guy does it for $15/wk. I do get what I pay for, though. _________________
Quote: | That's Mr. Gingermex to you a$$hole. |
RIP MHL 04/25/1958 - 01/11/2006 |
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ohsix PityDaFool Who Posts This Much
Joined: 12 Jan 2003 Posts: 6837
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Posted: Sep 28, 2015 10:08 am Post subject: |
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chavez wrote: | ^this.
I have determined that I hate doing yard work. Therefore, pay someone - and my guy does it for $15/wk. I do get what I pay for, though. |
I hired a guy at my old house and he did a worse job each time for $60/week. I hired a new company at my new house and they charged ~$380 month and were inconsistent at showing up. I got home from being out of town one Sunday and my grass hadn't been mowed in almost 2 weeks. I bought a lawn mower, weed eater, and edger and fired the yard guy. I actually kind of enjoy doing the yard myself. It takes me about an hour to do the whole thing. |
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goofyboy Wakeboarder.com Freak
Joined: 19 Jul 2004 Posts: 4463 City: Houston
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Posted: Sep 28, 2015 10:48 am Post subject: |
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good lord man. I pay $155 a month. They show up around every 8 days. Mow, weed eat, and pull weeds. _________________ Work SUX! |
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Partyb Wakeboarder.Commie
Joined: 12 Jan 2003 Posts: 1810 City: Lantana, FL
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Posted: Sep 28, 2015 11:32 am Post subject: |
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goofyboy wrote: | Hire a lawn crew. |
This. There really is no better example of the principal of comparative advantage. If you can't put your time to better use then the guy mowing your yard, you have a problem.
If you like it, fine, but you probably like your SO, kids, siblings, parents, family more. Hire a lawn guy, hang out with your family. IMO _________________ Check out https://www.facebook.com/darcizzleoffshore |
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vette74 Wakeboarder.Commie
Joined: 30 Jul 2003 Posts: 2144 City: Houston
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Posted: Sep 28, 2015 11:39 am Post subject: |
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I live on an acre my guy charges $60 to mow if I do it weekly. My wife wanted to buy a zero turn and she said she would mow .....sometimes. Thanks but no thanks I am not spending 3k+ on a lawnmower so I can hire some to mow my grass. _________________ There'll be two dates on your tombstone/ And all your friends will read 'em/ But all that's gonna matter is that little dash between 'em... |
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Swass Soul Rider
Joined: 27 Oct 2011 Posts: 427
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Posted: Sep 28, 2015 11:43 am Post subject: |
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I have kids for this. They push a self-propelled Honda Masters Hydrostatic 5.0. Model #HR215 K1 HXA.
It is 15 years old, and it starts first pull every time...much to their annoyance. |
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ontrider Ladies Man
Joined: 30 Jul 2003 Posts: 16491 City: Russia
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Posted: Sep 28, 2015 11:46 am Post subject: |
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ohsix wrote: | I actually kind of enjoy doing the yard myself. It takes me about an hour to do the whole thing. |
^this.
I'd hire someone if I hated doing it, but I like doing it and am pretty anal about how the lawn/gardens etc. are done. I'll hire the neighbourhood kid to pull weeds for sure though! |
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goofyboy Wakeboarder.com Freak
Joined: 19 Jul 2004 Posts: 4463 City: Houston
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Posted: Sep 28, 2015 12:07 pm Post subject: |
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My son is 4. As soon as he is big enough, I will fire the lawn crew and "hire" him. _________________ Work SUX! |
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chavez Ladies Man
Joined: 22 Sep 2003 Posts: 27375 City: Roseville
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Posted: Sep 28, 2015 12:17 pm Post subject: |
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I do plan on having the boy do it when he is age appropriate. The guy who is mowing now is in his 70's but is in great shape, so he should be looking to stop right about the time the boy is ready to do it.
That $15 gets me mow, edge, and blow weekly. Weeds aren't a huge problem because we took the extra time to underlay all of our bark landscaped areas. Plus, weeds don't grow in a pool or on a patio. _________________
Quote: | That's Mr. Gingermex to you a$$hole. |
RIP MHL 04/25/1958 - 01/11/2006 |
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ontrider Ladies Man
Joined: 30 Jul 2003 Posts: 16491 City: Russia
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Posted: Sep 28, 2015 1:16 pm Post subject: |
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chavez wrote: | That $15 gets me mow, edge, and blow weekly. Weeds aren't a huge problem because we took the extra time to underlay all of our bark landscaped areas. Plus, weeds don't grow in a pool or on a patio. |
They grow all over the grass around the pool and patio though! The pool guy is someone I'm happy to pay. |
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Okie Boarder Ladies Man
Joined: 03 Mar 2008 Posts: 10056 City: Edmond
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Posted: Sep 28, 2015 2:13 pm Post subject: |
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Swass wrote: | I have kids for this. They push a self-propelled Honda Masters Hydrostatic 5.0. Model #HR215 K1 HXA.
It is 15 years old, and it starts first pull every time...much to their annoyance. |
^This! _________________ If love is blind, why is lingerie so popular? |
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chavez Ladies Man
Joined: 22 Sep 2003 Posts: 27375 City: Roseville
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Posted: Sep 29, 2015 7:25 am Post subject: |
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ontrider, that's funny. It's the complete opposite for me. I see the pool service as a waste of $. But we have a salt chlorination system which makes it crazy easy to deal with the pool. Also, no leaf or nuisance dropping trees next to the pool.
About 2x a year my lawn guy asks me to leave out a bag of weed & feed so he can spread it on the lawn. Not much of a weed problem amongst the grass. _________________
Quote: | That's Mr. Gingermex to you a$$hole. |
RIP MHL 04/25/1958 - 01/11/2006 |
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ontrider Ladies Man
Joined: 30 Jul 2003 Posts: 16491 City: Russia
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Posted: Sep 29, 2015 7:20 pm Post subject: |
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chavez, stupid question time... but do you have to close your pool for the winter? I'm guessing no with your temps. But that's what our pool guy is for. Ours is covered and out of service until next spring already. I've learned very quickly how to scoop leaves out of it on my own and wouldn't pay someone to do that. We have a big elm tree that overhangs the damn thing, super-annoying but it's too nice to cut down.
I've been told the saltwater systems are super easy to maintain but also that the salt can do a number on decking/patio and your pump system if something goes wrong. haven't really looked into it that closely, but I'd like to get a timer on the pump next year.
No nuisance trees here If it wasn't closed we'd be spending the entire fall fishing leaves out of it.
Last edited by ontrider on Oct 06, 2015 9:40 pm; edited 1 time in total |
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chavez Ladies Man
Joined: 22 Sep 2003 Posts: 27375 City: Roseville
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Posted: Sep 30, 2015 6:39 am Post subject: |
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We don't have to close it for the winter, but I have some quick "procedures" to go through when shutting it for the season. It's just minor stuff like close the main valve to the solar, and reprogram the controller for winter. The hardest thing I have to do is get up on the roof and open the drain valve to the solar to get all the water out of the panels.
As for the salt - we haven't noticed any staining or other issues. The salinity is very low - it only needs to be 2,500 to 3,000 PPM to produce chlorine. For reference, typical ocean water is about 35,000 PPM.
I can't imagine running a full manual system. Ours is not really that complicated compared to some, but it does the basic stuff like turn the system on, switch between high and low pump modes, and operate the solar when it's warm enough to do so. I know a lot of people with controllers that are far more complex. My biggest gripe about these controllers is you have to read the f*&king manual pretty thoroughly to understand how to program them. _________________
Quote: | That's Mr. Gingermex to you a$$hole. |
RIP MHL 04/25/1958 - 01/11/2006 |
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