I have a 8hp tecumseh on my snowblower, 10hp Briggs intek on my chipper, 18hp Briggs Vangauard on my generator, a 25hp Kohler Command on my tractor and a honda 5hp lawnmower. All start easy and run great. None of them burn oil. The honda is the quietiest but also has a biggest muffler compared to the others. I will say that I'm disappointed in the honda mower. The underside of my deck is completely rust. I also had to replace the cable to engage the tranny, but had to buy the whole assembly as a kit to get the cable. My deck clogs easily whether I use mulching blades or regular blades and the cut isn't that great. The engine my be great, but the rest of the mower is not worth the 400 paid for it. With proper car, air filter changes, oil changes, new spark plugs, and good gas, any engine will last a long time. I know a lot of people that just put gas in and go. Then the engine breaks and the equipment is the biggest piece of junk. For the average homeowner, I don't think the engine should be of a concern. I think the unit its mounted too should be of more importance.

This is a topic that's "near and dear" to me, as you might say, because the better part of my front yard is a 40% grade. For the hills that are too steep for a riding mower, I suggest a good walk-behind mower (either push mower or rear-wheel drive self-propelled) as your best bets. I don't recommend front-drive self-propelled mowers. These usually have only one walking speed, whereas a rear-drives commonly have multiple or variable speeds, which will allow the user to go much slower on the hills, while cruising faster across the flats. Also, (in my experience, at least) the back (non-driven) wheels on a front-drive mower have a greater tendency to slide to the downhill side than with the rear-drive. My personal choice is the Toro Personal Pace RWD (20054, as I don't bag). It has a cast aluminum deck that won't rust. It's also comparatively light, as self-propelled walk-behinds go, making it easier to handle on a slope. Regardless of what mower you use, there are a few simple things you can do to make cutting on a hill much safer and easier with any walk-behind mower. Always cut across the face of the hill (not up and down) with a walk-behind mower. Never cut when the grass is wet as you are more likely to slip. Start at the top and work your way down, letting gravity do some of the work for you. And the MOST IMPORTANT thing you can do if you're using a walk-behind on a steep hill is go to Wal-Mart and buy yourself a cheap pair of softball (football, soccer) cleats. You'll be glad you did.

I’ve had good success with the junk plastic ones. I have one of those hoses that puff up with water and extend in length. Can’t remember what they’re called. I love love love love them. After I’m done watering they shrink back up, are easy to carry, and even easier to store, and no kinking. But, I’ve found out that the canvas coating on the outside wears as you drag it around, and when it rips the flexible tubing inside balloons out like a hose hernia. I had those plastic repair things for the middle of the hose on hand, and no plans to head out to civilization to a store for a new hose, so I fixed my bursts one with a few of those. Then I duct taped everywhere that the fabric looked worn. I felt like an industrious homesteader. My plastic-repaired duct-taped hose is lasting pretty well, and looks homey besides. (Actually, it probably looks more homely than homey.) I actually spent big bucks on an extension-type hose on Amazon with industrial fabric on the outside. It’s so thick it actually interferes with the hose stretching enough unless you have high preassure. But, it’s holding up wonderfully. And compared to the cost of a standard hose, it really wasn’t big bucks.

O, I love mine. I have only had it for 2 years and I am besotted. Nothing like the bloody great Stihl brushcutter I have for the wood, mine is a little battery job (I have 2 batteries and can strim for 40 minutes)...Anyway, Floral, my allotment is always teetering on chaos - wild oats proliferate all over the site (and loads of other pernicious stuff) but I discovered that simply strimming everything (and squinting your eyes a lot), the untidy plot is now covered in a velvety green lawn. Result! At home, my sketchy housework will always include sweeping the floor (even if nothing else) as the psychological value of a clear space (floor) is bliss for the frazzled mind. Same thing with strimmed weeds. Top machine (and doesn't sound too much like an angry wasp).