level ground less than 1/3 acre? Just get you a cheap push mower 22" from walmart or honda or toro self=propelled if you think you can't push it. Really No self propelled needed, can push that in probably less than half hour and it's good excerise. Self-propped just adds weight and more things to break not needed in your case with level ground. I wouldn't mow when the grass is wet usually early mornings in spring and fall dew. Mid to late mornings or late evenings in summer. Spring and fall Late morning and early afternoon. I would multch and not bag. If you bag you have to get rid of the grass clippings, if you just mow the exit shut may leave rows of grass depending on how often you mow. IF you multch you want to cut the grass maximum 1/3. SO this maybe once week or maybe twice in early summer when the grass really grows. Grass needs about 1" water once week. Along with push mower you will need sprinkler and hoses when it don't rain. You will also need to feed it, control weeds, and sometimes down the road insects...Start reading up now so you won't be in over your head. Not that hard millions of people do it with little or no knowledge. One last thing NO KIDS in the yard or immediate area while mowing. Beware mowing with the exit shut torwards the street or at someone, the mower can throw a rock or metal object at high rate of speed. Fast enough to break windows, dent cars and injury walkers. So if you don't multch using the exit shut 98% of the time the exit shut cover will direct the clipping downward and anything else coming out. It's away good idea to look over your yards for anything that's not grass, like papers, toys, trash, ect... if you mow over these it will make mess and may damage you blade. Notice I said blade? No need for two or more with such small yard. If you think your in over your head watch some Ytube video's on servicing, starting, using push mowers. Unless you get elect. You need to check the oil and gas before use and inspect for loose hardware. Mowers vibrate and can shake hardware, screws, nuts & bolts loose. Ok enough I think you get the picture?? more to it than just pulling the rope and walking off.

Baymee: No, i didn't say, but i really didn't think the spark would be missing. After replacing the key, and checking everything else, maybe i got in too big a hurry to get it running again, so i'll have to check that. But, since i reset the flywheel with a new key and checked the flywheel gap at the coil, tell me what should i do next? Could it have twisted the flywheel/crankshaft relationship? The mower was running at operating speed when the man hit the pipe! And, the key sheared immediately! I know, that when a running engine gets stopped very quickly, that the forces inherent with the inner workings do get damaged, some severely! The flywheel nut seemed to be tight to the correct torque. It took my good half-inch torque wrench to loosen the nut. and also to retighten it. So, Monday morning, i'm going to reinspect the fly key, to make sure it is still ok. I'll let ya know what goes with it, and the fix, if it does fix it! Thanks: Rusty J. A quick thought: Maybe the shop sold me the wrong type of fly key. I'll have to check that, too!

I just got a Cub Cadet CC550SP and it is a great mower. My yard looks much better after one cut. The suction on this mower is outstanding when using the bag. It's amazingly quiet and its the easiest thing to start. Starts on first pull EVERY TIME! Did not or would not ever buy from the big box stores. I did some comparison shopping and even though the models had same numbers the mowers had small differences. First being the wheels. Home depots mowers had these narrow hard plastic wheels and the one I got had 2" wide heavy duty wheels. At box store your new mower is sure to have loose bolts on it somewhere. At the store I bought mine, DEWYNNS in San Antonio Texas, they set up my new mower serviced it and step by step showed me all the features. Try finding someone at a box store who could even find where the lawnmowers are. In closing, don't rush out to lowest or home depot to try and save money. I spent the same amount of money at a store that just sells lawn equipment and the service was outstanding. I've bought a couple pieces of lawn equipment there and will only go there in the future.

Hi, I made a mistake when I went to consider my lawn. I think I have about 1/2 acre of lawn to mow. This was my first time and it was a new house. The professional guys were asking for about $US 100 a time to mow it. That pans out to $US 3,500 per year. Ouch. So muggins me goes an buys a mower and says to my wife I will do it. I mean for $US 3,500 a year it's got to be worth it.... right .... It turns out it takes me about 4 hours to mow my lawn. I have been at it like this for three years now. I was expecing it would take like maybe an hour. Fortunately I got a good mower, a Honda HRC 216 commercial and it works great. Did I choose the right mower, hmm not so sure.... the main issue for me was storage during the winter months. I am in the NorthEast. And that restricts the mower size. My recommendation is therefore this. Get a few professionals to come and give you a quote to mow your lawn. Get one of them to come mow it and see what they use and how long it takes them. I used to have a commercial guy come, but he used one of these 52 inch walk behinds and gets the job done fast. I only have room in my garage for a 21-inch, and hence it takes me ages. In your choice of mower I would consider the following: 1) Where are you going to store it? Not sure where you are but I only need to mow for 6 months out of the year. Get a machine that you can store. 2) Can you get a big machine around your yard? If so get the biggest one you can .... it will cut your lawn cutting time significantly 3) If your lawn is hilly with slopes go for a walk behind. If your lawn is flat go for a rider 3b) If a rider: Rather than a lawn tractor, I would recomend a Zero turn mower, these are much more manouverable although more expensive I also have a trimmer, Honda HHT 31. This I use for the super hilly bits and the jungle areas in my yard. Also to get to the bits of lawn which are too tight for even a 21-inch mower. Warmest regards, Mike.