The 2 stroke was a sweeter machine, but the 4 stroke model still gives you what you want...superior side discharge, aluminum deck, and self propelled. Most mowers made today are "crappy" side dischargers. Side discharging is not really popular anymore, the the most you typically get is an oval opening on the side of the deck (garbage design). I love my LB for side discharging, I can effectively mow down the highest of grasses in my yard in several areas I only mow once or twice a season, and this is very much because the side discharge LB can really shoot out the clipping. As TPA mentioned...the design here is key, the discharge is at a tangent to the deck, giving it the highest velocity over other mowers. Here is a link that might be useful: New LB

They make two blades called flat mower blade the one you want is sharp on both sides its just right for Fla.

While i never fixed mine i know it is the deflector shield that has an opening in it as i recall, only happens when I turn right . if you turn it over it becomes obvious. i had thought of bending up some metal and bolting it to the old piece to close it off. Really irritating when the grass is long. Raising the wheels does not fix it though it makes it easier to cut tall grass with the front cuttingless grass and the back finishing it off

To pam_chesbay: I probably should have been more clear in my original post. I realize now that it made me sound like an angry, unreasonable person. I actually live in a house in which my backyard butts up against a community of townhomes. If you hop the fence in my backyard, you are on the property of these townhomes. There is a length of ground where the pine trees are growing (this is what was left of a former forest area), then the driveway/road of the townhomes, and then the actual homes. So, the area behind my home is not my neighbor's yard. It is the property of the townhomes and that is where I was throwing the sticks when the person yelled at me and I yelled back. The neighbors to the sides of me (my real neighbors) also have pine trees that are hanging over my property, but I don't make a big deal of it to them. There is no way they would cut down their trees and even if they agreed, it would cost a fortune that none of us would be willing to spend (there are lots of trees and they loom hundreds of feet in the air). Anyway, I get along great with my neighbors. I have actually solved the problem by having a screened porch built. Now the tree debris stays off of my patio, I don't have to sweep, and everyone is happy. Thanks for your supportive post!