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Fastest 21' Walk Behind Mower?

17 years ago

I've searched through as many posts as I could locate and couldn't find a real clear answer as to which of the major brands (Honda, Toro, Lawn Boy, Snapper, Etc.) has the highest ground speed for their walk-behind mowers.

Specifically, I am looking for a 21" Self-Propelled. I have a fairly large lot to mow (~22,000 SqFT) and don't won't to spend the money on a rider or give up what little excercise I get from walking behind the mower. I know some will say, buy a push and just run behind it or maybe even that I should get a mule and tie it to the mower however, I would prefer to stick to the self-prop options out there :-)

Quality of cut isn't too big a deal to me, just that the mower mulches. The lot has a small incline but otherwise, is pretty straight and level with little objects to mow around.

I took a look at a Toro SR 20055 this morning and it definetly was faster than my old MTD front driver but not exactly what I would call quick. Am I expecting too much out of a mower?

Any suggestions are appreciated.

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Comments (6)

roadbike
17 years ago
Four mph seems to be about it. Any faster and I think you could sacrifice cut quality. For a faster workout you will need to get one that doesn't drive the wheels.
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blaise70
17 years ago
I'm surprised that the Toro SR 20055 isn't fast enough for you. If I mowed 22000 sf with that mower at top speed, I'd probably collapse afterward! lol
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The mowers that are sold in most department stores are light duty and will probably not last. Wheels, handle bars, and baffles under the mower deck are not designed for this type of service. The self propelled models are very light duty. I suggest you visit some of the mower shops. Usually these shops carry mowers that are better quality. Look for a model with ball bearing wheels. Look for handlebars that have additional bracing. The briggs Quantum and the Honda GC engines are inexpensive, but usually hold up ok. Sorry, I don't know if the Chinese engines have a reliable record. The Kawasaki engine is great, but I doubt if you need a premium engine . An expensive engine is just as dead as the cheap engine if you hit a rock. Avoid the models with a lot of control cables. For one acre, a side discharge model would probably work ok. I was given this information 39 years ago when I was looking for my first mower.
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Rick, there are actually two types of throttle levers for mowers: one has the the pivot point between the cable's attachment and the end of the throttle (so that pushing the lever's top forward pulls the cable backward), and the other has the cable attachment on the same side of the pivot as the top of the lever (so that pushing the lever forward also pushes the cable forward). This is semi-important because all mower throttles should increase engine speed when pushed forward. This is by convention, not any kind of regulation, but most people run them intuitively that way. Snapper has a bunch of throttle cables/levers that you can buy if you want to correct this. Just get one that works the opposite of what you have now, in a similar length (assuming the length is working for you as is). They run maybe $15. Of course, if it's going to only be operated by you, then maybe it isn't worth the hassle. It's your call.
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Maybe if we had engine numbers or snap a quick pic of the carb area.
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That's a steep slope, probably too much for a splash-lube 4-cycle. Why not keep using a 2-cycle? Assuming yours is too far gone to rebuild, there seem to be plenty of good used Lawn-Boys on ebay and in most local areas. Some people are actually getting rid of them because they're so concerned about the environment. What 2-cycle have you been using?
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1saxman
17 years ago
'Any suggestions are appreciated'

Walk faster with a Personal Pace mower and it'll go faster.

Top speed of a Personal Pace mower is a very fast walk for most anyone. It's made this way because it's impossible to push the handle down all the way without pushing the mower away from you. In order to provide adequate speed at the average handle pressure, a very high gear was required, with constant belt slippage at average walking speeds. To experience the top speed, if you can run that fast, the sliding handle would have to be clamped down all the way. When I do this on my LB 10550, I have to literally run to keep up with it. Since this is not a normal condition for mowing (way too fast to cut grass), it is only mentioned to illustrate that top speed on a Personal Pace mower is completely dependent on the walking speed of the operator, and that there is more than adequate speed capability in the design. This assumes the engine is running at the specified speed and all drive adjustments are optimal.
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greatlakesmower
17 years ago
My Snapper has a top speed of about 4 mph. Being my first self-propelled purchase, I was thinking it was going to be too slow. After owning it since April, I have yet to use the top speed even when the grass is on the dry side. Its pleny fast for a workout.
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metal
17 years ago
I have a Toro PP 20017 and am 6' 3" tall and it can keep up with me no matter how fast I push.
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dallasz71
Original Author
17 years ago
Thanks for the quick responses. It sounds like I need to go back and take one more look at that 20055. I'm tall myself, 6'4" so if it can keep up then it might be the best solution. I like the warranty as well.
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