I have the predecessor to that model- same deck, same engine, etc. Works well for me. I have used it for two years and I sharpened the bald with a hand tool which seemed to work fine. Someone else in this forum bought that mower and is happy with it. Read the link below

Here is a link that might be useful: Previous review of RP2167519BDV

Even if this is the newer "EZ Speed," it's still almost all old-school Snapper. And that's a very good thing. I used a 1975 Snapper with the same drive system all the way through 2005 (I was seven when my dad bought that). My dad still uses his 1993 Hi-Vac that works perfectly. I don't know about this newer Briggs engine, but I can certainly vouch for the rest of the mower. If you keep the chute on the mower, you can convert from bagging to mulching in about 10 seconds. Just pull the bag off like you're emptying it and push the chute plug in and go or vice versa. BUT...you won't be able to bag effectively with the Ninja. That blade can turn clippings to juice - literally - but it won't put one speck of it in the bag. I recommend a Gator for a versatile mulching blade that still bags pretty well. I just bagged my .42 acres with that blade on my Hi-Vac a few hours ago. Oh, and the mower can drive itself fast enough that you'll nearly need to trot behind it. That doesn't give you the best cut, of course, but the point is that drive system has a wide range of speeds and you can find one you like and change it on the fly, too.

I guess you could say I like Snappers!

Yellowfin:

For a real detailed thread on the Snapper question, reference the link below.

Fairyprincess

Here is a link that might be useful: Lots of Snapper info.

Thanks for the input guys.

I only have one area that surrounds a pool where I typically bag...the rest of the lawn is mulched year-round. Does the ninja blade mulch well enough and put the pieces down low so that the small grass clippings won't eventually end-up in the pool? If I could dump the bag, I'd be very happy.

Fairyprincess -
you said you don't really like the ninja blade, just curious why? In looking at them yesterday in person, they look difficult to sharpen as compared to a more standard blade, yes?

First, I forget to address your sharpening question. The Ninja is not hard to sharpen. I just clamp the blade in a vise and use an angle grinder. But in any case, you can get to all the leading edges. It's just that there are four instead of just two.

About that pool, the problem I foresee is not about the clippings that go in the grass. I think in St. Augustin grass (which is stiff and coarse) they will sink down to the dirt pretty well. The problem is that this blade does it's job of recutting the clippings so well that it tends to retain them even after you move the mower off the grass, and then spew the leftovers out later. If you ever got the mower near the deck that surrounds your pool, it might decide that it was ready to sneeze the leftover clippings right then. Normally this is no big deal if you are going to blow or sweep the sidewalks anyway. But around a pool I would personally shy away from that blade unless I _knew_ I could keep the mower on the grass 100% of the time. One thing is that it won't be expensive to experiment. Try mowing there with the chute plugged and the Ninja blade on. If you run into debris problems, then you can purchase a Gator or just the regular Snapper all-purpose blade for around $10-15 and be done with it.

For the few weeks a year I bag, I have used the chute plus bag with a Ninja blade and it fills the bag just fine. I know it could be better, but the bag still fills in a hurry.
If you want to avoid clippings from shooting into the pool area in mulch mode with the mulch cap on (not the chute with plug), mow the edge with the side of the mower that has the mulch cap. What I have noticed is that side rarely shoots anything out, but the other side does have grass clippings shooting out. This is my experience mowing thick KBG at 3 inches. Also, in reference to the price you were quoted, you might want to ask for a lower price and see what he says. Some are selling/buying that same mower at $450. Either that or ask him to include the bag or something at $499.

Yellowfin:

Price was my biggest consideration in refusing the Ninja bade, but engineering superiority of the generic blade I bought was the deciding factor even if the prices had been the same.

The generic blade I purchased (Forgot the brand name long ago.) has an undulating blade design. The blade is bent to lift the grass at the outer edge and bent on the inner edge to force the grass back down. The generic blade is sharpened almost all the way to the mounting hole.

I have always been happy with the clipping quality of regular blades because I cut grass on a regular basis and the resultant clippings are fine enough with regular blades. Where mulching blades excel is if you miss your regular mowing schedule and you have to cut tall grass.

I used to use my dethatching blade mounted by itself on my mower until this year when I started attaching it to the bottom of my regular blade with high lift wings and that allows me to dethatch and bag at the same time.

I am going to experiment this year by placing a generic 20" blade under my 21" blade to see if I can induce even more lift when cutting my grass. If the 20" blade does induce more lift, I will be able to raise my cutting height on the mower to the highest clearance notch which will give me about 1/2" higher grass and I will only lose 1/16" because the second blade will sit that much lower than the primary blade. Cutting at the highest height setting with just the primary blade does not give decent suction to raise my Kentucky Bluegrass and the cut is not as nice as the next highest setting.

The reason I am going to use a 20" blade on the bottom of a 21" blade is because of the rolled under lip the Snapper decks have. A double 21" blade setup might not clear the lip.

Fairyprincess

Yellowfin:

Here's another thread that may be of interest to you.

More people should search the archives before asking questions and then post any questions that may not have already been answered.

I will probably be suggesting that to question askers from now on because there are enough good threads that should be reviewed FIRST to see if the question you have has been covered.

Fairyprincess

Here is a link that might be useful: More Snapper stuff

Fairyprincess,
To tell you the truth, I have already read both of the threads you suggested several nights ago. I spent quite a while searching this site and went back relatively far. This particular model is new - so I thought asking these questions was not out of line and justified. Have not really found much of anything about this 'new' easy start B&S 6.75 hp, so...I'm not going to be shy about asking or re-asking questions. People here, including yourself, seem to be very helpful. When I'm out of the rookie stage with this Snapper, maybe I can return the favor for someone else.

I bought one today - and took Greatlakesmower's advice regarding price, and got it at the price he suggested. The Snapper dealer also tossed in a free standard Snapper mulching blade as I was not really sure about the ninja.

Greatlakesmower - thank for the suggestions.

Anyway, it's raining today, so will wait to break it in. From starting it up and running it on the porch and garage, it is a beast and quite the upgrade from the Craftsmans I've used for years. Looking forward to cutting some grass. Thanks again.

Hello yellofin...great job.

Good luck with your Snapper.

Good day.

I think many people will be interested to hear your impressions of that engine. I hope you really enjoy it and can really help some people who may be on the fence about it.

I mowed with it yesterday for the 1st time. The engine starts on 1/2 a pull. It is brand new, but I have never had a 4 stroke start on 1/2 a pull every time...at least so far. A friend of mine who is a large commercial landscaper pulled in as I was loading the mower onto the truck -- he just purchased several non-commercial snappers with the same deck etc., but with the Kawasaki. He is a straight shooter and works on lawn equipment 6 days a week year-round and he was very positive about this new Briggs for non-commercial use. The Kawi's were out of my price range, but good engines. The new Kawi's suck to change the oil, unless you siphon the oil out. Not much room below the drain for a pan.

Anyway, the new snapper ran well. Good cut and it pulled me along as fast as I need to go, with throttle room to spare. Will have to run it more to figure-out more. I don't like the fact that the handle does not fold-up (because of the drive control bar ), but I'll get used to it. Takes up more space than my other mowers.

Yeah, I just changed the oil on the Kawasaki today for the first time. I drained the oil through the fill hole. The side one is a bear to get to and there isn't one on the bottom as they claimed. I had to use a funnel and a milk jug, but it is done and I don't need to do it again for a long time. I also changed the filter.

I'm glad you like it so far.

Hello all.

Hi yellowfin.

Are you still satisfied with the Snapper RP2167519BDV and the Briggs & Stratton DOV engine?

Any "plastic" internal engine components melting, hard to start, rough running, sprung a oil leak, valve sticking, excessive fuel/ oil use or backfire issues?

Please give us an update on the Snapper RP2167519BDV and the Briggs & Stratton DOV engine.

Thanks.

I am also interested to hear how this engine has held up in the long run.