I'm in NC this week vacationing but I want to purchase a lawn mower for my mother. My limit is $250 for the lawn mower. Is this a decent range?, the yard is small. I was looking at Craftsman and the ones Walmart sell. How does this one look to you guys

http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_1...me=Push+Mowers

 

What about this one or this brand

http://www.lowes.com/lowes/lkn?actio...100&lpage=none

 

They both look good to me, decent reviews. Personally I've have a 6.25 HP Crafstman push mower 3 in 1 for about a decade. Good mower for a small yard. All I've done other than PM is sharpen the blade once.

 

Stay away from Troy-Bilt. They SUCK

 

Both would be okay. i am in the lawn care business on the side and of course would not recommend these for commercial use but The craftsman would be my first choice.

i have a troy bilt and I have rebuilt the carb and still cannot get it to run correctly. i need a new carb and i am sure it will be fine.

it is for your mother how old is she? These are push type mowers not self proprelled so she will have to use manual to get it done.

I would also suggest setting it up for mulching without the rear bag unless she is able to stop, start, dump the clippings. When you say small area how small is small?

 

Its for her but my brother will be pushing it. The yard is about let's say 24x24 give or take. So if I bought the Craftsman one that would be cool

 

When I was growing up we had a Craftsman mower, the only place you could find parts was Sears. Nothing wrong with Troy-Bilt, I sold them for years working at Lowe's. I'd get the Troy-Bilt.

 

you can find any mower part here at j-thomas.com

 

I'd buy sheep before I ever spent money on a Troy-Bilt. We have one at church and NOBODY uses it more than once. What a POS it is! And it isn't a year old yet. The Sears looks like a warmed over Troy-Bilt. AVOID any mower that you have no control over the engine speed. AVOID any front wheel drive mower. I'd suggest looking around for a used Honda HR-214 if you can find one. They are the same mower as the current Honda Masters Commercial mowers that sell for well over a grand. I have one that is a 1986 model and it still runs great and I've had to replace the tires and one cable on it- that's it. If it ever dies I will rebuild it. As far as a stringline trimmer, I'd suggest a decent electric over the ever problematic gas trimmers. Just make sure it is light enough for her to use.

 

was the craftsman a front wheel drive mower. I want the get the best mower for under $250

 

For a yard that small, you could buy an electric model.

That way if your brother fails to show, your mom won't need to worry about gas and starting the thing. Just plug it in and go.

 

Just in case you guys don't know, most low end (non commercial) lawn mowers are made by the same people just re badged...FYI

In most cases Murray, or MTD is the big maker:
http://www.mtdproducts.com/corporate/index.jsp
And sears:
http://www.lawncafe.com/t12962-who-m...craftsman.html

 

They all are the same. Get whatever is the cheapest, that is atleast 5hp. Stay away from the really cheap "weedeater" brand. Get a regular push style that isn't propelled. Less things to go wrong.

 

I would also go with the electric for a lott that small. I looked up the battery powered , but they where over $400.

Fathers day a couple of years ago I got my Dad a Battery powered weed eater for about $50. He just told me a few minutes ago, that he wants another one. I did catch it on sale when I bought the first one, but it did last two years, and he operates it from a wheelchair.

 

Alright just looked at lowes's site.

I'd get the $150 bolens mower from lowes. Change the oil after the break in period, then every year and you are guaranteed to get alteast 10 years from it. Might last forever with that little yard. Drain the gas from it every year.

We have the $69 bolens bl100 from 2001. Got it free from buying a tractor. Still runs great today. Prop oil/gas mix, and don't leave fuel in it over the winter. All you have to do.