Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunter's Campfire Less Time on the Lawn = More Time for Shooting

Many of you have already done this. For the last few years, my approach has been to buy the better product, even if it meant waiting a while and saving my money longer. For example, instead of buying All-Trade or Buffalo tools, I buy Craftsman and Snap-On. Instead of getting the $99 mitre-saw, I got the Porter Cable 12 inch model.

I finally applied this to lawn equipment. I got so tired of spending more time fussing with my equipment than I was using it. I was tired of spending 10 minutes getting my Murray lawmower to start. If I didn't prime it perfectly, forget it. I was infuriated that when I'd mow the grass, clumps of it would immediately pop back up. I was tired of my Ryobi trimmer using an entire spool of string just to trim my lawn once--it takes for ever to reload on of those. It didn't start easily either.

I now have a Honda Master Series lawn mower. To start, you simply set the throttle on choke and give the start rope a half-harted tug. It always starts the first pull. After it starts, you move the throttle from choke to run. My wife can even start it, because the blade is not engaged when starting and as such, the starter rope handle have doesn't sit halfway up the mower's push handle. With her short arms and the inevitable 4-6" of slack that must be taken up with most recoil starters, she doesn't have much "pull" left in her arm by the time rope starts turning the engine. This engageable blade also means you do not have to kill the engine every time you let go of the handle, and it allows you to engage the propulsion system without the blade so you can move the mower without the blade spinning. It mows perfectly, cutting all the grass. It is also very quiet.

I also have an Echo 21cc split boom trimmer. It too starts easily and cuts well. I got the split boom model so I can add attachments later. This trimmer is also quiet--it's hard to believe it's a two-stroke. It mus be 50% as powerful as my 31cc Ryobi.

These two items have cut my yard maintenance time by 50%. This means more time to get other stuff done, ultimately putting me at the range more often.

Blaine

I sold ALL my lawn stuff and pay a guy to do it, it don't interfere with my range time at all any more! 'Sides I can't do that stuff from my "Little Rascal" anyway. Now when it come to mowing the pasture or stuff like that, well, "Nothing runs like a Deere"!

Blaine,

I've had a Honda lawnmower for at least 16 years and it still starts with the first or second pull with almost no maintenance in all this time. Great piece of equipment.
Buying quality always pays off in the long run, IMHO.- Sheister

AFP
I know exactly what you mean. I still have the Ryobi 31cc with an assortment of attachments. But at the first of the year I went looking for a new blade for the edger attachment. Home Depot had quit selling Ryobi and all the blades I found were too long including the John Deere. I then began to look at the edger and noticed I had worn the bottom housing all the way through and you could see the gears. So I went and bought the Sthil edger. Boy what a surprise. This thing has power to spare. My old Lawnboy died last year so I picked up the new Lawnboy 6.5hp Silver series self propelled for the hills. About a 60 degree angle on the hills. You have to be half mountain goat to stay on them. For back bottom and front yard I have a Craftsman LT2000 18hp Kohler lawn tractor. Now I can get the yardwork done in about 2.5 hours. Beats the 4 hours plus I was spending before. More time to shoot and go to gun shows on the weekends.
Bob

A Honda aye? Well, I've got a Jap built rifle (Browning A-Bolt) that always "fires up" on the first pull <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />.

But seriously, I detest yard work. Aint nuthin' fun or macho about it <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/crazy.gif" alt="" />. But, for the time being, since I live in base quarters, it is just a necessary evil in my life. Here in Carolina the grass grows incredibly fast, and never needs watering due to the natural climate.

I'm retiring next year (pending HQ USMC approval) back to Montana. I'll be living in a semi-arid climate and I'm definitely going to put in some type of very low maintenance landscaping around my home, some type of rock garden with cactus, sage and some cedar to let it look nice, but require minimal maintenance.

In the meantime, I always try to bust out the lawn, (with the Murray lawn shredder), on a weekday after I get home, to free up my weekend for more enjoyable pursuits. I've found if I push the mower at a doubletime cadence, it has cut my required by at least 50% <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> I'm done in about 45 minutes.

MM

Blaine,

Does this mean that you are over your shooting blahs? If so Good Deal!! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cool.gif" alt="" />

Lawn work? What is that? Never done it. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

I long for the days my boys are old enough to mow the lawn <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" /> My folks had a honda mower, actually a pair, they got a small plastic decked 19" for my mom when I moved out and stopped running the 21" mower. Definately great machines, years of service with never a hickup.

Anyhow, we picked up a $30 garage sale special cheapie mower our first summer up here, and the thing has refused to die in 6 seasons. I did replace the pull starter rope, and I think it's finally on its last legs, but we've certainly gotten our monies worth.

I should have known better then get a house on a 1/4 acre lot, that has grass everywhere but the driveway. Despite our mowing season being all of 4 months, I swear we get 12 months of growth. This time of year with near constant sun and warm temps, you can litterely see the grass grow before your eyes, and need to mow the lawn 2-3 times a week. Worse yet is a wet summer where the only days the lawn is dry enough to mow are the days you really want to enjoy the good wether and do any but mow the lawn.

I have a Hondy Harmony riding mower. I bought it used at the beginning of mowing season last year. About three weeks ago, I switched from reverse to fourth gear, let out the clutch and........nothing happened. Transmission gone. I took the mower to the Honda shop. Turns out the mower is about five years old and out of warranty. I am the second owner. They called me back and said they discuused the problem with Honda and they decided to replace the transmission for free!!!.......including labor! I couldn't believe it. They were apologizing for not having a transmission in stock. It took about a week to get one in. They replaced the transmission; adjusted the shifting mechanism, clutch, and brake; pressure washed the mower; and sharpened the blades and didn't charge me a cent.

That's my kind of service.......although, I think it's the first time such good fortune has happened to me.

HogWild

Not exactly, I still have the room to finish. I am sheetrocking now. Simple-right? NOT! I swear, EVERY piece is an asymmetric trapezoid. Oh well, I am hog hunting tomorrow.................

Blaine

I bought my wife a Honda self-propelled mower about 5 years ago. Just this spring she said she was getting to old to run it, so I bought her a John Deere rider for our anniversary. Now she thinks I should run the thing for her anniversary present. O well! the darn thing is kinda fun to run! ( it even has a built in beer holder) I bought her a Stihl weed-eater and I'm the only one who will run it also... She still lets me buy almost any new gun that I NEED, so i can't complaine much.
Virgil B.

My kinda lawncare, Welsh Aggie style......



But seriously we had a Honda for many years = fantastic reliable and solid~ replaced it with a Husqvarna <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/frown.gif" alt="" /> they may make great saws but the lawnmowers suck.

Chit mowers with motors and even some ya can ride on,hmm that must improve the heart rate and shed a few pounds <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" /> my mower is a manual , The wheels drive the blades and it has a little Tin and canvas catcher at the back and it ya don't push it nothing gets mowed, I get it set and sharpened once a year its about 40 years old and it helps keep the weight off and yep I gotta 900metre square section as well. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />