Oculus Spirit [41064]

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Lawn Mower Chronicles, Chapter 4: The Nuclear Option

Apr 29, 2025, 10:53 AM

Dear readers, I think we are about to arrive at the end of our tale. Then again, I've said those words before. However, before we dive into the latest update, let me catch you up on where we started:

Order #1: Ordered a Makita. Failed to ship after a week of waiting because of a system error with Home Depot.
Order #2: Failed to deliver after a week because it was damaged during shipping.
Order #3: Delivered, but the mower didn't have the battery life I needed and may have been defective.
Order #4: Ordered a Honda HRX217HYA. Delivered damaged, and had to return.
Order #5: Arrived. Good condition except missing air filter cover. Five minutes into the first run, the engine starts smoking (and not just burning off what may be on the engine from production), and the blades stop engaging. After flipping it over, it looked like the blades got seized up on a clump of grass and it smoked the BBC or something in it. Returned.

That brings us to where are now.

I was in a pickle. The vast majority of recommendations for push mowers were the Honda HRX, which I had just smoked, or the Toro Super Recycler. I was hesitant to give the Honda another shot because a) I just killed one doing very basic stuff, and I started seeing with deeper research more complaints about motors going bad and Honda voiding warranties. For the Toro with the B&S motors, there were a litany of complaints about engine sputtering and B&S not really having a fix for it.

My mobile lawn mower repair guy said the Toros with Kawasaki motors were solid, but I could not find them anywhere.

But then...I (hopefullly) struck gold by coming across the Scag SFC21. It's a true commercial grade mower, with an model that had a 7hp Kohler motor on it. And, as it turns out, there is a Scag dealer in Pineville and they had one available. Better yet, it was a demo model, and saved me about 20%.

This thing is an effing beast. 21" commercial-grade steel deck that looks like it could kill a Russian tank. I'm thinking this, and the spool of trimmer string Obed® recommended and joked would still be around for my son to inherit, will actually go to him when I die.

I need to change out the oil and then I'll get it into the yard, and report back.

But, fingers crossed, I'm at the end of the journey here.

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drunk at the putt putt.

It's a $1500 push mower thanks to the demo discount.

But to your point, the budget mowers won't work for me. With the slope of my yard, it has to have self-propulsion, which adds cost. And, with my bermuda, that sometimes goes for two weeks without cutting, I have to have a bigger motor or they get hung up and it adds an ungodly amount of time because I can't cut the width of the mower with each pass. I also wanted something that can mulch really well because if I bag, I have to stop and unload each circle, which again, adds an ungodly amount of time to a mow.

If I was retired, and could mow twice a week, a budget mower would probably work. But, I have limited windows of when I can mow, and if it gets into the two-week time period, the thic bermuda is a nightmare.

Lawn Mower Chronicles, Chapter 4: The Nuclear Option

It appears fate wants you to move to the desert ... or the city ... or

PS ... how much for the airplane kite ?***

I told my wife if this doesn't work we're torching the yard and putting down

Awesome pics. Great size. Look thick. Solid. Tight.

Looks like he's going to inherit

Those are always fun to open up after about 20 years.***

When I was filling up the other mower with gas, he was out there watching.

True story,

Re: True story,

Tell me I'm not looking at a $1800 push mower.....please

No.

This is what the $1k HRX217 left before it died.

Well there's your problem

5 inches... for bermuda?

on his mowing schedule

lulz at "Anything below 4 inches just stimulates side"

Well, first cut of the year I try to scalp it.

Re: This is what the $1k HRX217 left before it died.

You're not mowing frequently enough.

Re: You're not mowing frequently enough.

My bermuda was golf coursesque most of the time

Palisades zoysia for the win!***

Which is why I said if I was retired it probably wouldn't be an issue.

Re: Which is why I said if I was retired it probably wouldn't be an issue.

Nah.

First of all, you spelled nucular wrong.

George Bush senior give you that lawnboy?***

Re: Lawn Mower Chronicles, Chapter 4: The Nuclear Option

My Bolens B&S still runs perfectly purchased in 2008

I don't want to sound like a boomer.

Just be sure to do the weed eating with the gold-plated Monster cables.

Same.

It occurs to me that youre in a catch 22.

Or, just wait a few more years and sell off the timber.***

Re: Or, just wait a few more years and sell off the timber.***

You need the Diggler brand for a 12" bush hog.***

I finally found a Honda HRX 170cc that works like a charm

There's nothing more frustrating than being forced to 80% overlap your

Yes, any future lawn mowers that I buy will be from a dealer that services them***

I'm so confused

I thought about it, but I'd probably spend in one season how much I dropped

oh_its_JimmyHolaHola***

ja ja ja. soy muerto.***

Just say no...

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