Craftsman Self-Propelled Design Flaw
barryguy
15 years ago
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hamme_r
15 years ago1saxman
15 years agoRelated Discussions
Please Help Me Choose A Self-Propelled Mower
Comments (7)I had a 2000 Honda HRB216TDA (3-speed). The trans worked fine but even with light use (I always have several mowers) it started getting hard to pull back. I made a grease port in the trans box and loaded it with Sten's #00 - it seemed to improve a little but I wound up selling it to a guy starting a lawn business. The Toro/Lawn-Boy 'Personal Pace/Sens-a-Speed' has proven to be a very easy-to-use and durable system. The 'transmission' is really only a single-speed reduction box. The variable speeds are produced with a constantly-slipping belt, controlled by normal pressure on the handle exerted by walking forward with the mower. Most users who have never had a self-propelled mower like Personal Pace right away, because you don't have to do anything at all except hold the handle and walk. Aluminum decks are generally one of the hallmarks of a premium mower - there is no flex in them, giving a solid 'feel'; the thick aluminum tends to damp engine and blade noise; the deck won't rust or develop cracks from stress induced during stamping as steel does. I would say they're also lighter, but being so thick (4-6mm) a much thinner steel deck could be the same weight. There are some other very good choices, you know, like the Lawn-Boy 10795 (Honda engine, Sens-a-Speed, aluminum deck), about $539. The Xenoy deck on the Honda HRX is a great deck too, but has a lot of flex in it. This doesn't bother some, but I don't like that aspect of it. It's the only deck made that will never need painting (except for certain stainless steel decks), and if it gets a scratch you just rub it out and polish it away. The Honda is big and heavy, though. Compare weights to mowers you're looking at....See MoreChoosing a self propelled mower
Comments (16)weshorn, I didn't take any offense at your comments. I haven't personally owned any Tecumsehs either, but my general impression is that they are not a downgrade over a new B&S engine. Compare that Tecumseh to a Briggs Quantum (the motors in the Craftsman and Troy Bilt that you first referenced) and you have two pretty similar motors. The SensaSpeed/PersonalPace drive systems are pretty simple and battle-tested. Lots of users here have them and don't report any real problems. The only controversy about them is whether you like the way it actually operates (you push a variable bar) vs a more normal drive system that pulls the mower and you along if you let it. That Lawnboy is on HD's website for the same $349, so whatever sale was on is apparently off. But it comes with everything you need to bag, mulch, or side-discharge. You should probably go check it out along with that Husqvarna and see for yourself. I will say that the drive system on the Husqvarna is probably a lot more suspect in terms of durability. I know some people with Cub Cadets and other mowers with the same system have had issues. I also don't know about the engine on it: is that an Intek or the new "Dove?" If it's the new engine, there's no way to judge its reliability yet. Let us know what you end up with and how you like it!...See MoreCraftsman Mower (w/Tecumseh )- recoil starter unscrews itself off
Comments (10)Why don't they all? Because their engineers figured out a much better recoil starter, instead of the one in your photos. Maybe they used Lock-tight, to keep the screw in place. I was referring to the newer type, not one like yours. Those type were used some years before i got into the lawn mower work. I can see why they changed the starting process. It looks like reassembling those starters was a mind-boggling process for the mechanics, and after a sea of complaints, they were changed to the type used later, with the metal cup on the crankshaft threaded end, under the hold-down nut! I can visualize the coiled spring suddenly flying out of position, as the mech tried to install the cover! I can also imagine the mechanic loosing his patience with it, and beating the machine to death with a BFH! (An SASE will bring the definition of a BFH, if you don't know what it is!) Rusty J....See MoreCraftsman vs. Toro...what am I missing?
Comments (17)Up until a coupla years ago, both Recyclers and SR's had virtually the same mulching system. You might think that the aluminum deck SR's would mulch better than steel deck Recyclers but my 20442 Recycler actually performed better than the 20042 SR that my dad used to have. The SR deck was more difficult to clean, too, 'cause it had more nooks and crannies....See Morehamme_r
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