2 stroke lawn mowers?

[ARCHIVED THREAD] - 2 stroke lawn mowers?

Posted: 3/31/2012 6:55:48 PM EDT

I had no idea these even existed until today, and for some reason I am interested in buying a used one tomorrow. What can You tell me about them as far as their benefits and drawbacks? As far as the noise, I consider that a positive!

Posted: 3/31/2012 6:58:30 PM EDT

[#1]

They aren't any more noisy than a regular mower. They have more power and you can tell. You never have to change the oil.....

The biggest drawback of the one I had was the stupid offset front wheel on the one side.

After 13 years I finally had to give up on mine. It would start fine, it just wouldn't hold power enough to get through the grass.

Posted: 3/31/2012 7:01:34 PM EDT

[#2]

They're getting difficult to find parts for. I finally had to scrap my Lawn-Boy two years ago, after about 15 years of dependable service. Couldn't find the parts I needed to make it run

Posted: 3/31/2012 7:33:59 PM EDT

[#3]

It's a Lawn Boy that I'm looking at. That offset front wheel seems goofy! What's up with that?
By noise, I was referring to the sound of a 2 stroke as opposed to a 4 stroke.
The not changing oil would definately be a positive. If it happens to use the same fuel oil mix as my saw and trimmer that would be great!

Posted: 3/31/2012 8:13:16 PM EDT

[#4]

Not really sure why they did the offset wheels? That thing was the best I'd ever used on my Bermuda grass lawn. Dad had Lawn-Boys from the day I was born, until they quit making the two strokes.
They use a 32:1 ratio mix. All I ever used was the Lawn Boy oil, dad's too, his first one was 27 years old when it wore out.
Seriously though, if it runs well, keep the blade sharp and mow like hell. I hope you get it pretty cheap, they really are hard to find parts for these days.

Posted: 3/31/2012 9:21:36 PM EDT

[#5]

I have three lawnboys one of which I pushed around back in the early 80's and its still running though not as wellas the other two I have to admit but it runs
light weight decks , no oil change and most my lawn equip are smokers so i always have gas/oil mixed up
I paid $50 for my last lawnboy which was a good deal I though

Posted: 3/31/2012 9:25:40 PM EDT

[#6]

I still occasionally run a yellow marine division lawn boy from the late 60s but it's starting to get a bit down on power. Older one's were not the quietest things in the world but they were light enough to lift them into the air with 2 fingers thru the recoil housing without much effort. For trimming, they couldn't be beat.

Posted: 3/31/2012 9:25:59 PM EDT

[#7]

I picked up a couple of lawn boy mowers last summer for $20. The guy had everything to make one nice mower. I love it.

I find that the offset wheel stops me from hanging the front wheel up on the corner of buildings as much. I don't know the real reason for it, though I suspect it's just for looks to set them apart from other makes.

Posted: 3/31/2012 9:26:47 PM EDT

[#8]

If you've got one to buy, I say get it. If not, I run a 70's/80's Snapper V-series with an aluminum deck. They last for. ever. Parts are easy to find, and if you can find one I say get that.

Posted: 4/1/2012 4:20:21 AM EDT

[#9]

Quoted:
I picked up a couple of lawn boy mowers last summer for $20. The guy had everything to make one nice mower. I love it.

I find that the offset wheel stops me from hanging the front wheel up on the corner of buildings as much. I don't know the real reason for it, though I suspect it's just for looks to set them apart from other makes.

It's because of where Lawn Boy decided to put the discharge chute, as close to the leading edge of the blade tip help with grass discharge and also to limit the actual size of the cutting deck VS the blade diameter.

Posted: 4/1/2012 4:30:46 AM EDT

[#10]

Try WWW.partstree.com for lawnboy parts

Posted: 4/1/2012 4:39:01 AM EDT

[#11]

I've got a John Deere 12PB push mower.

I think it's at least 15 years old. My dad bought it new. Still runs as good as the day he bought it.

Posted: 4/1/2012 4:42:20 AM EDT

[#12]

Lawn Boy 2 smokers were hands down the best home owner grade push/self propelled mowers ever built.

Try to find a modern mower that isnt auto prime/auto choke.

. Fuckin EPA

Posted: 4/1/2012 5:09:34 AM EDT

[#13]

One big advantage is if your cutting grass on a steep hill. On four stroke mowers the oil can pool up on one side of the engine and can lead to engine damage.

Posted: 4/1/2012 5:15:33 AM EDT

[#14]

when it's hot and humid, throw a little more oil in the mix to keep the mosquitos away while in the shade or at sunset...

true!

Posted: 4/1/2012 5:18:56 AM EDT

[#15]

They even make 2-stroke hover-mowers.

(Although this pic shows an electric.)

Posted: 4/1/2012 5:26:09 AM EDT

[#16]

I had one of the old offset discharge Lawn Boy push mowers everybody is talking about and it was a GREAT mower. The best thing about it (besides being very light), it had the lever bar on the handle you had to pull back like all push mowers today, but unlike new mowers that cut off when you release it, the Lawn Boy would just disengage the blade and the mower would keep running. I used it for years and when it wouldn't start one day, I took it to my nieghbor who fixes small engines and he declared it DOA but I never got details why. I probably should have got it back and took it for a second opinion or fixed it myself. He still has a two stroke push mower that looks like its been through hell and back but still runs like a champ.

Posted: 4/1/2012 5:28:26 AM EDT

[#17]

I too have a two stroke Lawn Boy, 10201 model. At this point, its probably 20 years old.

I had to replace the spark plug last weekend, and let me tell you what a bitch that was. The one that was in there was a few years old, but finding a suitable substitute was almost impossible. I finally found a plug that was similar, had the right threads, but the electrode was a mm or two longer. Worked like a charm.

That said, I sharpen the blade and it starts on the 3rd pull every time. I run 40:1 in it and clean the carbon out of the doughnut every so often.

Nothing like the smell of 2 stroke and fresh cut grass in the morning.

Posted: 4/1/2012 5:34:00 AM EDT

[#18]

So can you port/polish and tune the pipe? Plus you could deck the head run it on 100LL!

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Posted: 4/1/2012 5:40:48 AM EDT

[#19]

Try to find one with the 6.5hp motor.

Posted: 4/1/2012 6:00:53 AM EDT

[#20]

Well...I'm going to look at 2 different Lawn Boys around noon. One is a 4hp and the other 6.5hp. They both seem to be in great shape, and without seeing them I tend to lean toward more hp.

Posted: 4/1/2012 6:01:42 AM EDT

[#21]

parents had em when they had their lawn services. suzuki gts motors on toros. i shit you not a worn out gts would mow shit that a 6 hp 4 stroke won't

Posted: 4/1/2012 6:19:07 AM EDT

[#22]

Lawn Boy 2 strokes spin faster than 4 strokes. That's why they cut and mulch better. They also vacuum very well when in bag mode. But I never saw a reason to bag unless I was using it to rake leaves. It had a leaf shredder attachment that was basically a piece of expanded metal screen that insured the leaves got finely chopped before going into the bag. Again, the key was the higher rpm of the engine.

Lawn Boy 2 strokes were also very light. You really don't need a drive if you live in a flat area.

Posted: 4/1/2012 7:08:49 AM EDT

[#23]

My girlfriends sister & brother in law were having a yard sale last summer and they had a very nice Lawn Boy mower they had marked at $35. My mower had finally went T.U. so I was in the market. They said that some people had looked at it but it wouldnt start. They had to put it in the shop a couple times and constantly had problems with it so they just wanted it gone.

I looked it over, hit the primer button, yanked the rope, and that thing fired right up. Smoked pretty bad but I figured I would give it a try. They insisted that I take it home and try it before paying them for it.

The first time I used it, it ran rough as hell and smoked like crazy for about 10 minutes. Then it seemed to level out and run good. They kept refusing to take my money and wanted me to keep trying it. After about the 5th use I finally insisted they take the money.

That thing has been a great little mower so far. Seems to run MUCH quieter than my last push mower.

Posted: 4/1/2012 7:26:35 AM EDT

[#24]

Used mainly on steep inclines. Do not have to worry about lack of lubrication like 4 stroke engines. If you have a lack of power check exhaust port.

Posted: 4/1/2012 7:46:36 AM EDT

[#25]

A Lawn Boy 2 stroke I picked up out of the roadside trash was the best mower I ever owned. That was about 1988 & the mower was from 1975. The stator plate needed to be tighten & it needed a recoil spring. For $4.00 I had a light weight easy to push mower that lasted 12yrs.

The cracked mower deck finally broke off. I traded it away to a "blades sharpened - lawn mowers repaired" kind of retired guy. The engine was still good, he got that & I got a 'newer' two stroke Lawn Boy for $30. He switched the motor to another deck & sold it later that week. We were both happy.

That second 2 stroke mower lasted another 10yrs.

I replaced it with a 4 stroke self propelled Lawn Boy. It runs fine, starts easy but isn't nearly as good as the older two strokes.

Posted: 4/1/2012 7:53:40 AM EDT

[#26]

I first started mowing the lawn at my parents house with a lawnboy self propelled mower. That thing was a tank, and we had it for something close to 15 or 20 years IIRC. Couldn't kill the lime green machine!

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Posted: 4/1/2012 8:02:34 AM EDT

[#27]

Toro used to have a 2 stroke, man you could fly down the yard with those things. So light

Posted: 4/1/2012 8:07:02 AM EDT

[#28]

We had a two stroke Lawn Boy when I was a kid. It ran and cut great, but the problem I had with it was that damn offset small wheel. It made the mower scalp spots if the lawn you were mowing wasn't perfectly level. Our lawn was perfect Grandpa made sure of that. But some of the lawns I mowed for money weren't, and I had to learn where the low or rough spots were to avoid scalping.

Posted: 4/1/2012 9:26:25 AM EDT

[#29]

Just got back in from trying it out! I picked up the 6.5hp from a guy who repairs and sells mowers on the side. This one was made in 2000, and was an estate mower that he said hadn't been used in 5 to 7 years before he got it. He said he cleaned the carb and replaced the primer bulb. It starts on the 1st pull and runs great! Thanks for the info guys!