self propelled mower opinions wanted

[Craig]

Hello, I'm presently in the market for a self propel and am considering the
following models:

CUB CADET SRC621 (Lowes) - Intrigued by the caster wheels, like the Kawasaki
engine, 6 speed transmission, larger bag than some. Negative is difficult
oil changes.

HUSQVARNA 5521CHV (Lowes) - Like the Honda engine, large rear wheels (have
some rough spots in one corner of the yard).

TORO 20031 (Home Depot) - I like the electric start, 22" deck, fast top
end propel speed (sometimes I jog with the mower along the straight aways).

HONDA HRX217TDA (Home Depot) - Actually my 1st choice, as It appears to
perform well in all areas and I'm intrigued at the idea of mulching and
bagging at the same time. There have been a few times I had wished I could
do that. Big negative is it's EXPENSIVE!

CRAFTSMAN 37779 - Like the Honda engine, ball bearing wheels, single wheel
adjuster.

I'm leaning towards the Toro as it seems to offer the best balance of
features for the price. Data I
would like to know, but have been unable to find:
How quiet is the engine on each of these mowers?
How do they compare in mulching and bagging performance? (Consumer reports
rates the Honda & the Cub Cadet the best among those I've selected for
mulching, and all about equal for bagging).
General ease of use.
If you own or have used these mowers, how did you like them?

Thanks for the advice!
Craig
caheaton@netzero.net

[Craig]

Forgot to add the following:
My yard is flat, about 0.4 acre, relatively few obstructions (at this time,
but my wife has me planting more every year! :-) ).
Craig

"Craig" <caheaton@netzero.net> wrote in message
news:MuCdnRWi-aGxa4fcRVn-rA@adelphia.com...
> Hello, I'm presently in the market for a self propel and am considering
the
> following models:
>
> CUB CADET SRC621 (Lowes) - Intrigued by the caster wheels, like the
Kawasaki
> engine, 6 speed transmission, larger bag than some. Negative is difficult
> oil changes.
>
> HUSQVARNA 5521CHV (Lowes) - Like the Honda engine, large rear wheels (have
> some rough spots in one corner of the yard).
>
> TORO 20031 (Home Depot) - I like the electric start, 22" deck, fast
top
> end propel speed (sometimes I jog with the mower along the straight
aways).
>
> HONDA HRX217TDA (Home Depot) - Actually my 1st choice, as It appears to
> perform well in all areas and I'm intrigued at the idea of mulching and
> bagging at the same time. There have been a few times I had wished I
could
> do that. Big negative is it's EXPENSIVE!
>
> CRAFTSMAN 37779 - Like the Honda engine, ball bearing wheels, single wheel
> adjuster.
>
> I'm leaning towards the Toro as it seems to offer the best balance of
> features for the price. Data I
> would like to know, but have been unable to find:
> How quiet is the engine on each of these mowers?
> How do they compare in mulching and bagging performance? (Consumer reports
> rates the Honda & the Cub Cadet the best among those I've selected for
> mulching, and all about equal for bagging).
> General ease of use.
> If you own or have used these mowers, how did you like them?
>
> Thanks for the advice!
> Craig
> caheaton@netzero.net
>
>

[Craig]

Forgot to add the following:
My yard is flat, about 0.4 acre, relatively few obstructions (at this time,
but my wife has me planting more every year! :-) ).
Craig

"Craig" <caheaton@netzero.net> wrote in message
news:MuCdnRWi-aGxa4fcRVn-rA@adelphia.com...
> Hello, I'm presently in the market for a self propel and am considering
the
> following models:
>
> CUB CADET SRC621 (Lowes) - Intrigued by the caster wheels, like the
Kawasaki
> engine, 6 speed transmission, larger bag than some. Negative is difficult
> oil changes.
>
> HUSQVARNA 5521CHV (Lowes) - Like the Honda engine, large rear wheels (have
> some rough spots in one corner of the yard).
>
> TORO 20031 (Home Depot) - I like the electric start, 22" deck, fast
top
> end propel speed (sometimes I jog with the mower along the straight
aways).
>
> HONDA HRX217TDA (Home Depot) - Actually my 1st choice, as It appears to
> perform well in all areas and I'm intrigued at the idea of mulching and
> bagging at the same time. There have been a few times I had wished I
could
> do that. Big negative is it's EXPENSIVE!
>
> CRAFTSMAN 37779 - Like the Honda engine, ball bearing wheels, single wheel
> adjuster.
>
> I'm leaning towards the Toro as it seems to offer the best balance of
> features for the price. Data I
> would like to know, but have been unable to find:
> How quiet is the engine on each of these mowers?
> How do they compare in mulching and bagging performance? (Consumer reports
> rates the Honda & the Cub Cadet the best among those I've selected for
> mulching, and all about equal for bagging).
> General ease of use.
> If you own or have used these mowers, how did you like them?
>
> Thanks for the advice!
> Craig
> caheaton@netzero.net
>
>

[Craig]

Forgot to add the following:
My yard is flat, about 0.4 acre, relatively few obstructions (at this time,
but my wife has me planting more every year! :-) ).
Craig

"Craig" <caheaton@netzero.net> wrote in message
news:MuCdnRWi-aGxa4fcRVn-rA@adelphia.com...
> Hello, I'm presently in the market for a self propel and am considering
the
> following models:
>
> CUB CADET SRC621 (Lowes) - Intrigued by the caster wheels, like the
Kawasaki
> engine, 6 speed transmission, larger bag than some. Negative is difficult
> oil changes.
>
> HUSQVARNA 5521CHV (Lowes) - Like the Honda engine, large rear wheels (have
> some rough spots in one corner of the yard).
>
> TORO 20031 (Home Depot) - I like the electric start, 22" deck, fast
top
> end propel speed (sometimes I jog with the mower along the straight
aways).
>
> HONDA HRX217TDA (Home Depot) - Actually my 1st choice, as It appears to
> perform well in all areas and I'm intrigued at the idea of mulching and
> bagging at the same time. There have been a few times I had wished I
could
> do that. Big negative is it's EXPENSIVE!
>
> CRAFTSMAN 37779 - Like the Honda engine, ball bearing wheels, single wheel
> adjuster.
>
> I'm leaning towards the Toro as it seems to offer the best balance of
> features for the price. Data I
> would like to know, but have been unable to find:
> How quiet is the engine on each of these mowers?
> How do they compare in mulching and bagging performance? (Consumer reports
> rates the Honda & the Cub Cadet the best among those I've selected for
> mulching, and all about equal for bagging).
> General ease of use.
> If you own or have used these mowers, how did you like them?
>
> Thanks for the advice!
> Craig
> caheaton@netzero.net
>
>

[Craig]

Forgot to add the following:
My yard is flat, about 0.4 acre, relatively few obstructions (at this time,
but my wife has me planting more every year! :-) ).
Craig

"Craig" <caheaton@netzero.net> wrote in message
news:MuCdnRWi-aGxa4fcRVn-rA@adelphia.com...
> Hello, I'm presently in the market for a self propel and am considering
the
> following models:
>
> CUB CADET SRC621 (Lowes) - Intrigued by the caster wheels, like the
Kawasaki
> engine, 6 speed transmission, larger bag than some. Negative is difficult
> oil changes.
>
> HUSQVARNA 5521CHV (Lowes) - Like the Honda engine, large rear wheels (have
> some rough spots in one corner of the yard).
>
> TORO 20031 (Home Depot) - I like the electric start, 22" deck, fast
top
> end propel speed (sometimes I jog with the mower along the straight
aways).
>
> HONDA HRX217TDA (Home Depot) - Actually my 1st choice, as It appears to
> perform well in all areas and I'm intrigued at the idea of mulching and
> bagging at the same time. There have been a few times I had wished I
could
> do that. Big negative is it's EXPENSIVE!
>
> CRAFTSMAN 37779 - Like the Honda engine, ball bearing wheels, single wheel
> adjuster.
>
> I'm leaning towards the Toro as it seems to offer the best balance of
> features for the price. Data I
> would like to know, but have been unable to find:
> How quiet is the engine on each of these mowers?
> How do they compare in mulching and bagging performance? (Consumer reports
> rates the Honda & the Cub Cadet the best among those I've selected for
> mulching, and all about equal for bagging).
> General ease of use.
> If you own or have used these mowers, how did you like them?
>
> Thanks for the advice!
> Craig
> caheaton@netzero.net
>
>

[Warren]

Craig wrote:
> Forgot to add the following:
> My yard is flat, about 0.4 acre, relatively few obstructions (at this
time,
> but my wife has me planting more every year! :-) ).

Don't think of them as obstructions. Think of them as lower maintenance
than the lawn they replace. ;)

As far as an opinion on any of the mowers listed, I have none. But if
those obstructions are resulting in tight areas, and frequent turning,
big rear wheels, or pivoting front wheels may be something to consider.
It doesn't take much to push a mulching mower in straight lines on an
even grade, and self-propelled helps with those medium grades, but if
you have lots of corners and tight spots, you need maneuverability.

Also keep in mind that self-propelled mowers are heavier, so if you have
lots of corners and tight places, but no grades to speak of,
self-propelled may be a feature that hinders more than it helps.

--
Warren H.

==========
Disclaimer: My views reflect those of myself, and not my
employer, my friends, nor (as she often tells me) my wife.
Any resemblance to the views of anybody living or dead is
coincidental. No animals were hurt in the writing of this
response -- unless you count my dog who desperately wants
to go outside now.
Blatant Plug: Electric and cordless power tools for the garden:
http://www.holzemville.com/mall/blackanddecker/index.html

[Warren]

Craig wrote:
> Forgot to add the following:
> My yard is flat, about 0.4 acre, relatively few obstructions (at this
time,
> but my wife has me planting more every year! :-) ).

Don't think of them as obstructions. Think of them as lower maintenance
than the lawn they replace. ;)

As far as an opinion on any of the mowers listed, I have none. But if
those obstructions are resulting in tight areas, and frequent turning,
big rear wheels, or pivoting front wheels may be something to consider.
It doesn't take much to push a mulching mower in straight lines on an
even grade, and self-propelled helps with those medium grades, but if
you have lots of corners and tight spots, you need maneuverability.

Also keep in mind that self-propelled mowers are heavier, so if you have
lots of corners and tight places, but no grades to speak of,
self-propelled may be a feature that hinders more than it helps.

--
Warren H.

==========
Disclaimer: My views reflect those of myself, and not my
employer, my friends, nor (as she often tells me) my wife.
Any resemblance to the views of anybody living or dead is
coincidental. No animals were hurt in the writing of this
response -- unless you count my dog who desperately wants
to go outside now.
Blatant Plug: Electric and cordless power tools for the garden:
http://www.holzemville.com/mall/blackanddecker/index.html

[Warren]

Craig wrote:
> Forgot to add the following:
> My yard is flat, about 0.4 acre, relatively few obstructions (at this
time,
> but my wife has me planting more every year! :-) ).

Don't think of them as obstructions. Think of them as lower maintenance
than the lawn they replace. ;)

As far as an opinion on any of the mowers listed, I have none. But if
those obstructions are resulting in tight areas, and frequent turning,
big rear wheels, or pivoting front wheels may be something to consider.
It doesn't take much to push a mulching mower in straight lines on an
even grade, and self-propelled helps with those medium grades, but if
you have lots of corners and tight spots, you need maneuverability.

Also keep in mind that self-propelled mowers are heavier, so if you have
lots of corners and tight places, but no grades to speak of,
self-propelled may be a feature that hinders more than it helps.

--
Warren H.

==========
Disclaimer: My views reflect those of myself, and not my
employer, my friends, nor (as she often tells me) my wife.
Any resemblance to the views of anybody living or dead is
coincidental. No animals were hurt in the writing of this
response -- unless you count my dog who desperately wants
to go outside now.
Blatant Plug: Electric and cordless power tools for the garden:
http://www.holzemville.com/mall/blackanddecker/index.html