Lawnmower Questions - Gas vs. Electric for Replacing 30 year old too haevy mower. (2026 Update)

jJim McLaughlin · 2008-02-18T00:39:52+00:00

The almost 30 year old Sears gas mower with the huge 3.5 hp Tecumseh (sp?)is again in need of a rebuild. Needs a new deck as rust has just aout killed thecurrent (second) deck. Also needs a repair to the dead man cable.I've replaced the deck before, and done the cable repairs. Its no big deal,but it kills a day after Sears sends the partsThe engine in this thing runs well, though by current lanwmower standards it isunderpowered at 3.5 nominal hp.Parts are going to run about $120.00 with shipping.So I'm thinking about replacing it. Its a heavy sucker to yank around the yard,it gets heavier each year, and I'm not getting any younger. It used to have a chain powered drive,but the drive was very unreliable and I took it off. Still have all the parts in abox here somewhere.Grass area in back is abot 90 feet wide, about 40 ft from the house to the back fence.Out of that theres a 16 foot x 24 foot vegetable garden. Back slopes a little bit in thewest corner, maybe 4 foot down from the house to the back fence.Front is a kidney shaped almost level piece, maybe 60 feet wide and maybe 20 feet fro street to where the flowers start. Again at the far west side that slopes maybe 2 foot down from the street.There are two side strips. East side is level, about 5 foot wide and maybe 30 foot deep.West side is about 15 feet wide, again about 30 feet deep, and slopes a *lot*, maybe 8feet over that 30 foot depth.So, gas or electric? Any specific models you'd recommend or avoid.And no, a hand powered reel mower is not an option. Cut far too many grasspatches as a kid 60 years ago with one of those. I don't want to work that hard.I want to bag clippings. I compost a lot for that veggie garden. Idon't want a "mulching" mower.I do intnd to look, Tuesday when hey reopen, at the local library forthe most recent Consumer reports stuff on mowers.Please give me your thoughts and recommendations.Thank you!

Feb 18, 2008 Last reply: 3 months ago 20 Replies

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EXT 14 years ago

I have a 20 year old Honda, it has never been serviced other than a change of oil now and then. Still starts on first pull. You can tell it was built by a motorbike company as they chromed the muffler.

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