What's so special about Lawnboy

[maradcliff]

What's so special about Lawnboy push mowers? Everytime I go to an auction or garage sale, old "beater" mowers sell for $15 or less. But if they are Lawnboy mowers, they sell for $50 to $80, and they are just as beat up.

I went to an auction yesterday and there were 2 beater mowers. No one would bid on them, so I bought both of them for $4. I didn't even pay attention to the brand, because I only wanted the wheels for my good mower, which works fine but the plastic wheels are all worn out. When I got home I realized one is a Lawnboy, and when I checked it out, I realized it has a 2 cycle engine because it says to mix gas.

Now, I have a very attitude about any 2 cycle engines. Every chain saw, weed whacker, or anything else with a 2 cycle that I have ever owned seems to be nothing but a hard starting pain in the butt, and they need constant repairs. This makes me wonder why anyone would consider this a superior mower to a mower with a 4 cycle engine. Not just the repairs, but also the hassle of mixing the gas.

I guess I'll give it a try if I can get it to run. It appears that it's complete except for a broken pull string, but I'd tend to want to repair the other one with the standard Briggs 4 cycle engine before even bothering with a 2 cycle engine. Does Lawnboy also make a 4 cycle engine, or else why do the used mowers normally sell for so much?

Mark

[ameijers]

'Real' Lawnboys, those made when they were a division of OMC, before they got eaten by Toro and became just a model name, were great mowers. Most modern ones had a lightweight cast magnesium deck that never rusted, even after the paint fell off. The staggered front wheels made them less prone to scalping, and easier to maneuver when backing and pulling around bushes and such. The side discharge bag on the older ones was huge, and easy to empty, although it was a PITA in tight quarters. When Lawnboy started going broke, they did sell (not sure who actually made) a cheap series with steel decks and Briggs engines. I never had trouble with the 2-stroke, at least not more than with any small engine. I did have trouble with the fiberglass engine shroud on the homeowner model- the holes for the buttons tended to wallow out from vibration, and you had to fake it with a metal plate or washer under the plastic. The commercial-rated ones were basically the same mower, but with a metal shroud, and an oversize metal gas tank. Those were highly coveted.

I miss the Lawnboys that my family/Dad's construction business had, when I was a kid. I love the 4-stroke Honda engine in the MTD I bought last year to go with this new-to-me house, but I hate the heavy hard-to-manuver chassis. (The same Honda engine in a Honda-labeled chassis was 3x the price, and didn't look that much better designed or made.) I looked for a 'real' Lawnboy at the used mower places and garage sales, but they wanted within 50 bucks of the new MTD, for ones that looked to be on their last legs. I know parts for the old 2-strokes are getting hard to find, so I passed.

If I understand correctly, 2-stroke utility engines like this are basically outlawed for new production, due to smog rules. As to wheels, most Tractor Supply outlets and generic small engine shops carry several flavors of 'universal' replacement wheels. The pull cord assemblies are sometimes repairable with a new cord, but if the spring is busted, many people just added an old-style pulley to the top bolt, and used a manual rope. If they didn't burn out the bearings and/or the piston ring running it on straight gas ( a common error), any lawnmower shop with an older mechanic should be able to get the engine going.

aem sends...

[J. Clarke]

I remember Consumer Reports talking about how bad the two cycle engine was. They didn't, however, say that they had ever had a problem with a Lawn Boy, they just marked it down from theory. Upon seeing this, and being a contrarian with regard to Consumer Reports, and having had long experience with Evinrude, my dad bought a Lawn Boy. That was about 30 years ago and I wish I'd grabbed it after he died because somebody stole it shortly after.

The thing is, those 2 cycle engines were made by Outboard Marine Corporation, makers of Evinrude outboards, which at the time were the best on the market (may still be--I've been away from the water for far too long). They were so good that there were even some helicopters flying around with OMC engines in them. If you've got a choice between an OMC 2 cycle and a Briggs 4 cycle of the same power, go with the OMC.

If the innards of the engine haven't been destroyed by neglect I think you'll find that it works far better than you expect.

[hallerb]

any 2 cycle engine is a PIA and might as well go the garbage heap where it belongs....

never had a good one...

[Dan Espen]

My backpack blower has a 2 cycle.

Since you have to lift and carry the engine, you sure wouldn't want a 4 cycle anyway.

It starts very easily and runs well. Must be over 10 years old now.

[m Ransley]

The OMC 2 stroke will out last a Brigs in hours of duty and is easy to rebuild, no cam or valve train to mess with. It is a commercial duty motor unlike Brigs lower end or Techumpse small hp models. You can easily get 1000 hrs on one compared to 350-500 for competing 4 strokes of same type usage, cutting lawns at full rpm. They dont suffer the same mixture problems as smaller 2 strokes, weedeters etc, basicly the smaller an engine the more sensitive it is to flooding on startup. Do a compression test to see what life the OMC has 80-90lb should be when it is worn out. A 2 stroke cant suffer from dirty crankcase oil ruining a motor.

[Tony Hwang]

Hi,

2 Cycle engine has some + and some - compared to 4 cycle. Simpler, for same size it is more powerful, etc. Few 2 cycl based tools I have I don't seen anything worse than 4 cycle in up keeps. It's a matter of taking catre of them. As an examplke my Stihl chain saw starts as well as my John Deere lawn mower. One thing I like on Lawnboy is their front wheel aligment. I allowst cut closer to edges/corners. In general I like 4 cycle job better than 2 cycle.

[jeffc]

I don't know. My dad had one which always worked flawlessly, and so I got one that always worked flawlessly. Always started easily. I've since gotten a new mower that uses 4 cycle, and once you've stopped mixing gas it's hard to go back. Don't know of LawnBoy makes 4 cycles or not.

[mandtprice]

LawnBoy hasn't existed for a while, but Toro has some 4 cycles that they'll sell you painted in the strangely familiar shade of green :). They've actually had them for a few years, but now that's all they sell since the bigger 2 cycles basically got banned.

I think this debate seems to always be tilted no matter which side it gets argued from (not that that's unique about this particular holy war). The 4 cycle guys always make comparisons versus dinky weed-eater engines and the 2 cycle guys always talk like every 4 cycle is some cheap Briggs. In small engines you get what you pay for and that is why the Lawnboys always command a premium because they still can have a lot of life in them even thought they're mixed in with the cheapies in the beatter lineup. I'd much rather pay $40 for a garage sale Lawnboy than $150 for a no-name POS at Wal-Mart like my neighbor. His coughs and sputters and is already rusty after not even a full season; mine runs great after 15 with a new ignition pack this year.

Matthew

[ameijers]

I looked on the Lawnboy portion of the Toro website, and they do still have one model with that lovely cast Lawnboy chassis with the staggered wheels- the 'commercial' model. It no longer has the OMC engine design- uses a generic 4-stroke- can't remember if it is a Techumseh or Briggs.

(No idea if they are still making the chassis, or just using up old stock...)

aem sends....

[BocesLib]

All new lawnboys are 4 cycle...

Its too bad. I have a commercial 2 cycle unit that I bought used. I also got a 4 cycle honda mower (only 2 years old) from a friend. While I LOVE honda motors (even the gc160 residental versions) the design and vacuum power of the lawnboy make it superior. Any clipping, leaves whatever get sucked right up. I tried the honda on the same area and it took in about

50% less crap on the lawn. The quadracut design on this unit (basically two blades) did do a nice job with cutting the grass though.

I sold the honda and still keep on chugging along with the lawnboy.

While at the local small engine parts/replair place the other day, I noticed that toro/lawnboy is making the commercial series models with aluminum decks and honda motors. Nice little combinations, I just wonder how well it'll cut.

ameijers wrote:

[mandtprice]

This vacuum issue you keep mentioning is mostly a matter of the blade. I'll shill for Lawnboy any day, but not on this point. The Lawnboy I have now had TERRIBLE airflow through the deck with the original blade. It couldn't pick up any clippings off of the sidewalk and trying to cut grass with even a light dew was impossible.

I decided to replace the blade along with some other parts when I brought it out of storage three seasons ago. My choice was to get a Gator blade, which has a very large wing side that is segmented into three parts. I was astounded at the difference that change made. I could now easily mow ankle high grass even when wet and I don't need a broom to clear the sidewalks. In two seasons I have yet to stall the mower!

Gator makes some claims about better mulching but that's mostly BS as far as I can tell. What they don't mention is that their blade moves so much more air out the chute that clippings don't clump on the lawn or bog down inside the deck. They also seem to be made of better steel as I haven't needed to sharpen it yet.

Matthew

[Lhead]

That tells me much about you.

What's special about Lawn-boys? Nothing about the newest ones. They're just green Toros. In 1978 Lawn-boy produced the F series engine. It is arguably the best Lawn-boy engine ever. I believe the F series was produced for over 10 years. Consider:

• Yes, you have to go through the "hassle" of mixing the gas with the oil. Dump one 8oz can of LB oil in your can, fill it with 2 gallons of gas, and shake. Wow, that was hard.

• In the Lawn-boy engine, the internals are constantly being lubricated with a supply of CLEAN oil. All the time.

• You never burn a valve or break a valve spring.

• A 4 hp F series will outpower any 6, 6.5 hp briggs or techumseh by far. I have both and I can attest to that.

• The bottom end of the Lawn-boy is all needle bearings. Compare that to the Briggs or Tecumseh engine in which the rod big end rides directly on the crankshaft and the crank rides directly in the side covers.

I have a 1986 Lawn-boy mdl. 7351 that has been used once a week for 20 years. Starts on the second pull every time. Zero repairs. I think that speaks for itself. I fully expect to get another 10+ years out of it.

[wvcox1]

Hey Guys, If anybody out there is looking for a new 2-cycle model, try calling all the independent dealers out there. Called 5 in the DFW Texas area and was able to find one. They are awesome mowers, well worth the search if you can find one....

[Phisherman]

My personal experience. Lawnboys are easy to maneuver and do a nice even job, but mine spent more time in the repair shop than on the lawn. I now have a Toro, half the price, and so far no repairs.

[robson]

It's all in the name. I have a 25 year old craftsman mower, Never ever changed the oil, never drained the fuel. Never cleaned out under. Some rust repaired with pop rivits / metal - yet every spring when I go to start it - always goes on the first or second pull. I bet the frame goes before the motor. So frig the lawboys. Same goes for my snowblower. Never have I owned 2 peices of machinery, that have been consistently neglected run so well for so long.

[Bigmike]

replying to hallerb, Bigmike wrote: Moron,I have a 1986 lawnboy 2 stroke and it fires on the first pull every time. Best lawnmower ever!!

[Transmanicon]

IF YOUR NOT A TWO STROKE LAWNBOY FAN. WHY ARE YOU EVEN ON HERE.

[SaltyDogbass2008]

Had a 21 inch LawnBoy in the 70s. To this day nothing cut my lawn like that mower did. Yes it was a 2 stroke engine. You would buy the little cans of oil and pour one can into one gallon of gas and shake the can to mix it up. The engine , and therefore the blade, turned twice as fast as a 4 stroke cutting the grass more cleanly. No oil to change because the oil in the gas is the lubrication for the engine. I made the mistake of loaning it to a friend and despite my warning of not running straight gas in it, his kid did and I received it back with a burned up engine. They quit making the 2 stroke Lawnboys years ago. Wish I still had mine.

[Wade Garrett]

Many years back, I sold a small 5 HP two stroke outboard motor in a garage sale. The buyer was the first person to stop by the sale about

9:00 AM. I emphasized to him the same warning about premixing oil and not running it on just gas alone- also showing him the red print warnings in the owner's manual. I even threw in a couple of cans of 2 stroke outboard oil that I had laying around.

Long story short, he brings the motor back that afternoon claiming I sold him a bad unit as it had overheated and seized up. Laying right next to the motor in the back of his station wagon were the two sealed cans of oil I had given him.

I pointed to them, smiled, and asked him to please leave...