Well, just to update everyone on my decision and purchase... (Note: I tried to do this last week, but GardenWeb had a server problem which didn't allow me to Log In). After much research, visiting and "test driving" the Honda HRX217HZA and the Toro 20384 SuperRecycler (with Personal Pace) at our local mower shop, and talking with friends who own both brands, I purchased the Honda HRX217HXA, Given the excellent experience I've had with my 2003 Toro 20033 SuperRecycler, I was leaning very hard toward Toro. But, after testing both in my "real world environment" which includes quite a bit of mowing forward and backward due to all of the obstructions in the yard, the Personal Pace drive system was a bit awkward to use. Setting the Honda's "Cruise Control" of the HydroStatic drive at a convenient speed, and then just dropping the clutch bail when I need to reverse my tracks was much easier to use than the Toro's Personal Pace system. If I was just buying this mower for my use, and not also my wife's, I would have likely bought the Toro SR 20380 with the Variable Speed drive, instead of the Honda. At first, the Honda HRX was a bit intimidating with the two bails and two control levers, but after one mowing it's all very intuitive. Since this is my first walk-behind mower with the self-propelled feature, I must say it does make the job of mowing the lawn much easier. I do have one rather steep slope near our driveway that is more difficult with the Honda, and that's primarily due to the weight differential (Honda 102 lbs. vs. my old Toro 69 lbs.). The Honda wants to slide sideways down the slope when I'm mowing across the slope. The electric start is a very nice feature, and a God-send for my wife. The overall cut and mulching quality of the Honda appears to be on par with my old Toro with the SR deck design. One strange thing that I've noticed is that with the Honda it's a bit difficult to see the "track of the cut line or path" while mowing, whereas that was never a problem with the Toro. Why this is so, I really don't know, but I've found myself re-cutting paths that I've already cut with the Honda. Overall, I'm very happy with the Honda HRX, but check back with me in 10 years for a long-term comparison with my still like-new Toro 20033 SR push mower! ;) Thanks again for all of the input from everyone! saxman1... BTW, I have decided to restore the old Lawn-Boy Model 5274 2-stroke... I have found a person willing to rebuild and restore the D601 engine, so I will have a 19" easy-to-push trim mower here soon as well.

I bought one and it has run great, the only time it sputters is when the cutting line is getting short. I tap the head get more line to feed out and the sputter is gone. My spec sheet calls for 20w-50 oil. My experiance with most chinese made gas motors (which is probably most that we find available these days) is that they test run them at the factories then ship them leaving some gas in the fuel system, and since from test run, shipping, to sale is usually several months this allows the fuel system and residual gas in it to lacquer up. On anew purchase I usually put some rubbing alchohol in the fuel tank, then take the spark plug out, prime the fuel system, pull the start cord till I smell rubbing alchohol coming out of the spark plug hole. Then I let it sit a day so, the rubbing alchohol dissolves the lacquer, then I put gas in and start it up. I never have problems using this procedure. If you have lacquer gumming up your jets you can adjust the carb all you want but it will never run right!!

I agree with Texas Tom that the gas itself is probably going to be a increasing problem. I recently tried to find out a few simple facts at my local BP station. No stickers about ethanol on pumps. I just wanted to know what % of ethanol was in this gas for my lawn equipment. The employees didn't know, said go look at the website. Did not find any info at the BP website. But I did find some info -- the states set the reg not the federal government. Would be a lot easier if the feds set things up. So some states require a sticker on pumps at 1% ethanol, and others don't require posting at 10%! So my state, Missouri, does not require any stickers on pumps and the max ethanol is 10%. But the next week I found by chance the local paper had an article about this subject. Some folks in the state gov tried to get the 10% max increased to 15%. I wonder if they would require a sticker on the pumps for the 15%! Those proposing this said it for the benefit of the consumer.

To quote Steve...However, the government created a tremendous loophole in classifying minivans, pickups, and SUVs as trucks exempt from those regulations even if people use them as cars (the spirit of the law instead of the letter of the law). And everyone pays pretty much the same in road taxes whether they're pounding the roads with a three-ton-plus Lincoln Navigator or a one-ton Nissan Sentra. Everyone's insurance has gone up because of increased damage claims made by people in cars who've been hit by a truck or people who don't know how to drive trucks to begin with. There's nothing proportional about that................... Our government has really fumbled the ball here, and after so many years has yet to rectify this situation. I suspect they are trying to protect the remnants of the American auto industry.. I believe we should be far more united with Europe in protecting the environment - that their approach is more balanced and fair.. We have a government that responds too easily to the pressure groups rather than the people in general. The environmentalists and their supporters are probably the single strongest pressure group in Washington and many state capitols as well. I feel that national interests are more important; that we must no longer continue to be dependent on Islamic oil.. One of the solutions to this problem is the Diesel and a much higher standard for fuel economy...