Don't know if this will help or not. A few years ago I hurridly bought a Toro 20018 for my daughter (solely for the electric start). It is a "Personal Pace" model with a Tecumseh engine and is "gently" used. It's not the best buy we ever made. I don't care much for the personal pace feature (it works, it's just not for me) and the machine is inclined to recurring minor mechanical problems (e.g. electric start mechanism frequently spins w/o engaging -- remove cowl, clean things up -- reinstall cowl). Recently began yearly oil change, blade sharpening, lube wheel gears, clean up, etc. only to find machine locked up with rear wheels (both) refusing to turn backwards. One more time -- Mr. "Fixit" springs into action! One more observation (purely personal choice) -- I'm not really a steel deck person.

Seems like the LB 10694 or 95 (Honda engine, LB chassis and drive) would be better than that Honda/Honda...you've got the Honda engine and the LB deck, drive and...[can I say this about a mower?]...unbeatable bag. I mowed this weekend with the 10682 (same deck and bag/mulch plug) and all I can say is wow, I cannot believe how easy it is to install, empty and remove the bag. I'm used to having to lift up a messy spring door, then manhandle the bag (the LB has an add'l handle on the back)...and then usually I have to REACH IN AND PULL the clippings out with my current mower. I have read that the Honda/Honda setups have had some bag problems -- grass shoots out the bag b/c the bag doesn't sit flush against the chassis. Between that and the tranny issues on their s-p models, I am a bit leary of Hondas right now. Plus I think their s-p engager is a bad design, totally uncomfortable vs. the SensaSpeed or even a standard bale. Don't get me wrong, I am a HUGE Honda fan. Just not of their mowers at this moment. Saxman, my concern was that the pollution rating on the Tecumseh was a 4 or 5 (on a 10 scale) vs. the Honda's 1 or 2, but I think now that is totally unfounded. But I got my 6.25 B&S/MTD running tonight and took a look at the rating on it, it was a 2.5 or 2.75 so the Tecumseh has got to be that or maybe less; I figure the difference between a 1 and 2 (which I'm guessing the Tecumseh has) rating cannot be that much. Thanks again for the comments, everyone.

I think you have a few things to weigh out with those engines. The Briggs have readily available maintenance and repair parts. The Honda parts are difficult to get but only because the model number system on Honda is difficult. Tecumseh will not allow consumers to have access to any on-line info and you will have to go to a Tecumseh dealer to get original parts. The Honda engine will probably last a lot longer. If you use aftermarket parts, Briggs and Tecumseh have more aftermarket available, though I would not recommend using aftermarket parts until the warranty period of the machine/engine is up. I am a certified repair tech and have worked in a lawn & garden warranty center for many years (11) so whenever I need to purchase any new equipment I always take the warranty coverage into account. All of those engines and machines have a 2 yr. warranty. They are all about the same in that dept. I guess I would buy the Honda. I would stay away from Toro and Lawn Boy only because I feel they are more difficult to deal with and repair/maintenance parts are more expensive. The whole torque issue is crazy. Briggs is not the only one doing that. All of the engine companies are going to torque and not telling you the HP. In reality, most machines have engines with too much HP and they never even get broken in over the life of the tractors/mowers. NeedLawnMowerParts.com

Well, LB (I think) are only 20" wide and they are not really even 'real' LBs anymore if that matters to you. They look a little cheaper made than the Toros they sit along side at HD. Dad and I bought dealer Honda Harmony's 10+ years ago. We got the same model. I had enough trouble with it (and customer service, as I recall did not exactly seam sympathetic but did cover a few warranty issues) that I traded it after a few years on a dealer Toro Personal Pace---aluminum deck, better wheels etc etc. FYI, Dad's Honda is still going strong. As an anniversary gift thru work he got a second Honda a few years back at HD....the tranny on it is going and they said it was a disposable mower....the original Harmony from the dealer is still running though. Point is, I guess the dealer models are made more durable and apparently are designed with parts to be worked on rather than just junked.....not really sure. I will say the Honda pushed more like a cadilac and was quieter and had an OHV engine. The Toro does not 'ride' as nice BUT mulches as good and I have come to really the Personal Pace system. I did have 2 warranty issues that were covered with no questions asked. From new I though the engine blew a bit too much blue smoke on start so they put a new short block on. To this day I still think its smolier than the Honda was but perhaps thats an engine thing. If it were me, I'd opt for a dealer Toro or HD Toro. I can not say which bags better since I have not bagged in years...well on very rare occasions anyway.