Although I like my Honda HRX, I think the cuts that the landscaper's mowers make look better. A wider deck would be nice, but I still want a walk behind. It also can't be too big because I need to store it in my garage next to my car. I don't have that much lawn (somewhere between 5,500 and 6,100 sq. ft.) its all over the place and anything to make the job go faster would be great. An extra 4-6" has to help things along.

Mulching ability is key. But a bigger bag would be great (yesterday I had to empty it 12x).

So, what is the next model/size/type? Is there a "prosumer" type 26-28" type mower? Why are the cuts so much nicer with those bigger units?

Although I like my Honda HRX, I think the cuts that the landscaper's mowers make look better. A wider deck would be nice, but I still want a walk behind. It also can't be too big because I need to store it in my garage next to my car. I don't have that much lawn (somewhere between 5,500 and 6,100 sq. ft.) its all over the place and anything to make the job go faster would be great. An extra 4-6" has to help things along.

Mulching ability is key. But a bigger bag would be great (yesterday I had to empty it 12x).

So, what is the next model/size/type? Is there a "prosumer" type 26-28" type mower? Why are the cuts so much nicer with those bigger units?

I found this, anyone now about Exmark?

Click here for more information

I like the Kawaski engine based on my mower. 151 Pds. that is kind of heavy for a mower that has a cast aluminum deck. I guess the drivetrain is somewhat heavy. Your average lawn tractor is about 400-500 pds. As I have said in past threads Exmark does have a great reputation.

Bavaria wrote:I like the Kawaski engine based on my mower. 151 Pds. that is kind of heavy for a mower that has a cast aluminum deck. I guess the drivetrain is somewhat heavy. Your average lawn tractor is about 400-500 pds. As I have said in past threads Exmark does have a great reputation.

What mower do you have? That extra 5" and the bigger bag seems like they could be a productivity enhancher. I wonder how it mulches, however. My honda has that dual blade ssytem which does work pretty well.

I think King of Green has an Exmark. Might shoot him a PM.

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Pro mowers have high lift blades to stand the grass up better before it is cut. I have found that if I set my HRX versa-mow setting mid way between mulch and bag, and still leave the bag off- my cut is better. The small amount of clippings that come out the back where the bag are very tiny. I think with it set that way the mower creates more vacuum to stand the grass up better before it is cut.

srm077 wrote:Pro mowers have high lift blades to stand the grass up better before it is cut. I have found that if I set my HRX versa-mow setting mid way between mulch and bag, and still leave the bag off- my cut is better. The small amount of clippings that come out the back where the bag are very tiny. I think with it set that way the mower creates more vacuum to stand the grass up better before it is cut.

Thanks, I'll give that a shot.

What mower do you have? That extra 5" and the bigger bag seems like they could be a productivity enhancher. I wonder how it mulches, however. My honda has that dual blade ssytem which does work pretty well.[/quote]

I have a 2005 Gravely 148z, 1972 Gravely 7.6 walk behind Click here for more information

My trim mower is a big box store Honda Rear bagger w/fwd. Although rarely use the bagger. Unlike the neigbors who vacuum their lawns.

Bavaria wrote:What mower do you have? That extra 5" and the bigger bag seems like they could be a productivity enhancher. I wonder how it mulches, however. My honda has that dual blade ssytem which does work pretty well.

I have a 2005 Gravely 148z, 1972 Gravely 7.6 walk behind Click here for more information

My trim mower is a big box store Honda Rear bagger w/fwd. Although rarely use the bagger. Unlike the neigbors who vacuum their lawns.[/quote]

I don't have the room for something that big.

I think the deck/baffle design and high lift blades are the key to the nice cut with the commercial mowers. I don't know about the cut of the 26" Exmark, but I know they make a 32 or 36" walk behind that would have a similar deck to the wider commercial mowers. Last year, I bought a used 48" Exmark Turf Tracer, and after getting used to controlling it, I really like it. I also found a used mulching kit for it that modifies the baffles and blocks the chute, so now I never see a grass clipping - they're just gone. Most of the commercial mower makers have the 32/36" deck walk behinds (Scag, Toro, Bobcat, etc.). If you've got the room to store it, you might be able to find a deal on a used one. With the number of hours a homeowner puts on one in a year, they should last for a long time even if it's got 1000+ hrs on it already.

I called the commercial supply place where I've bought all my stuff, they recommended this mower. At first I thought they were crazy when they said 33", but he said the profile/feel is very similar to a 21". When I looked online I see that he's right.

Anyone heard of Sutech? This is the stealth:

Click here for more information

Why would the Honda engine be 3 hp lower than the Briggs & Stratton?

This one looks good as well (and is has reverse).

Click here for more information

Problem isn't the width, its the length. These all need about 5.5' of room. With my HRX I fold the bar so it only takes up 48" of space.

The only downside to these seems to be changing the cutting height.

Looks like they would be great for fall leaf mulching (based on the feedback I've seen on the web). Apparently the blade speed is what makes the cut look better since you get so much lift. The SuTech has 3 blades, Bill Goat has two, BG has reverse and is 241 lbs, SuTech is 345 lbs. with no reverse. BG is about 4" longer.

Tough call. 26" is not that much wider than 21". 32" is a worthwhile step up but is a lot bigger machine. I think the pro-style walk behinds don't come with bagging standard and I am not sure they are good mulchers. The bigger and heavier you go, the more you sacrifice handling. I used my ZTR today and had to set the thing to 4" to match the trim mowing of my honda 21" walkbehind at 3"--just because the ztr was sinking in the moist soil! When it was a lot wetter the past 2 weeks, I really felt thankful that I had the Honda walk behind.

I hear you about cut quality though--bigger machines just don't seem to have the lines made by the walk behind wheels. since you have a 21"--I would definitely look at 32"+ walk behinds. I would make sure the model has been around a while--every new mower seems to have issues. Even the Exmark Metro26 had issues in its early run.

Side note, no mention on the Honda engine if the oil is pressure lube. My cheap big box store Honda has splash lube. It's a trim mower and if the engine goes belly up I'll get a new one.

eriocaulon wrote:Tough call. 26" is not that much wider than 21". 32" is a worthwhile step up but is a lot bigger machine. I think the pro-style walk behinds don't come with bagging standard and I am not sure they are good mulchers. The bigger and heavier you go, the more you sacrifice handling. I used my ZTR today and had to set the thing to 4" to match the trim mowing of my honda 21" walkbehind at 3"--just because the ztr was sinking in the moist soil! When it was a lot wetter the past 2 weeks, I really felt thankful that I had the Honda walk behind.

I hear you about cut quality though--bigger machines just don't seem to have the lines made by the walk behind wheels. since you have a 21"--I would definitely look at 32"+ walk behinds. I would make sure the model has been around a while--every new mower seems to have issues. Even the Exmark Metro26 had issues in its early run.

Thanks. One benefit of having a base of compressed sand is that no matter how much it rains I never seem to having sinking - even this past week when it rained every day. Which ZTR do you have?

The SuTech has been around a while, the older models have gotten some crappy reviews on lawnsite. My dealer has never steered me wrong and is great about service, I'll ask him about the complaints (which seem to go back 4-5 years, newer buyers are much happer). As I sit in my garage with a tape measure the extra few inches from the Billy Goat would make it much more complicated, but reverse seems nice to have as I have a few spots where I now have to pull the Honda backward and slightly uphill, 345 lbs would be a pain.

Why would the Honda engine, which is supposed to have the best reputation, have a less horsepower? Is it a torque thing (forgive me, I'm not a gearhead).

From the reviews it seems that the power of these things is the key; with tall wet spring grass they don't seem to care. Changing heights is a big deal, I guess I'd leave it at 3" and deal with the few times I take more off as well fed/healthy grass can deal with that every once in a while (and I cut 2x a week, so its rare).

Finally, I've always had a variable speed mower (Honda) where I can change the speed as I walk, is this a big deal with only 3 speeds? I gather the extra HP makes it less of an issue. Not having to overlap so much would be great.

Not sure about HP, but in the tractor world, HP is not all that it may seem. Many residential tractors seem to have very high HP motors but are not as capable as the higher end machines with less. I definitely wouldn't compare HP numbers unless the engine is the same make and line. It may be worthwhile to look into reviews on the engine. Briggs the last few years seem to be gaining a good reputation. I would try to avoid a engine that is fairly new. Even Kawasaki has had engine problems in some lines despite having a lofty reputation.

In terms of wet grass in the rain--it's dreadful. I have a John Deere z425 ztr with 3 blades. When it was long and wet and I cut, it had a hard time spitting out the clippings! It never bogged down but a LOT of clipping stuck to the deck. And that was side discharging. I would hate to see what it does with mulching the wet stuff. I do not have the bagger (it is a $1400 option IIRC) and do not miss it. I think as long as you have the 21" HOnda that you could bag when needed and also use for trim mowing, you don't need it on your bigger machine. My HOnda is a 3 speed btw and it is not a problem. THere is almost always a speed that is right but it is definitely more cumbersome than walking at your own pace. With the bigger machines, I think reverse is a big plus. YOu don't appreciate using a 21" walk behind how many times you push and pull without the drive engaged--that is easier said then done with the bigger units.

eriocaulon wrote:Not sure about HP, but in the tractor world, HP is not all that it may seem. Many residential tractors seem to have very high HP motors but are not as capable as the higher end machines with less. I definitely wouldn't compare HP numbers unless the engine is the same make and line. It may be worthwhile to look into reviews on the engine. Briggs the last few years seem to be gaining a good reputation. I would try to avoid a engine that is fairly new. Even Kawasaki has had engine problems in some lines despite having a lofty reputation.

In terms of wet grass in the rain--it's dreadful. I have a John Deere z425 ztr with 3 blades. When it was long and wet and I cut, it had a hard time spitting out the clippings! It never bogged down but a LOT of clipping stuck to the deck. And that was side discharging. I would hate to see what it does with mulching the wet stuff. I do not have the bagger (it is a $1400 option IIRC) and do not miss it. I think as long as you have the 21" HOnda that you could bag when needed and also use for trim mowing, you don't need it on your bigger machine. My HOnda is a 3 speed btw and it is not a problem. THere is almost always a speed that is right but it is definitely more cumbersome than walking at your own pace. With the bigger machines, I think reverse is a big plus. YOu don't appreciate using a 21" walk behind how many times you push and pull without the drive engaged--that is easier said then done with the bigger units.

That John Deere looks like a sweet mower, does it have a "mulching kit" and/or "mulching blades"? I would get the bagger if I got either of the units I'm consider but will definitely get the mulching blades/setup. I'm worried about the maneuverability as I don't have clean straight lines, although its sounds like there is a learning curve with these things in how you feather brakes, etc. to get them to turn. When I had a gardener I was always surprised at how well they could turn/corner with the big 48" walk behind they used. Is the cut from the JD like what I'm aspiring for vs. the Honda? I'm surprised the JD can get clogged, that's the one thing that doesn't seem to be a problem on the SuTech.

I have to use my line trimmer in so many places to start with that the Honda isn't that much of an advantage. One day a week I use the trimmer, the other days just straight mower. In the spring things get a bit ragged along the walls and swingset, but then it settles down. By November I don't really bother trimming anymore because its all about leaf mulching and my backyard has pretty much stopped growing by then because the of angle of the sun.

I remember looking at my options for bigger mowers last year and this one Click here for more information kept popping up. I didn't go too far in my research to comment much on quality vs the others you posted. I just remember this one being suggested for homeowners due to size and price point.

What are the price points on the Sustech and BG?