What is a Good Mulching Mower For Heavy Use?

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Joe M

I'm looking into starting a small lawn business with a friend, (roughly 25 lawns a week) and I need another mower and a leaf blower. I have a Honda Commercial Grade Mower that performs well but I need another one that does well mulching. It needs to be high quality, rear wheel drive, and adjustable speed as a minimum. The leaf blower just needs to be reliable.

Please recommend anything you have tried that has worked well. Thanks!

Answer
These are some of the no nonsense pro machines

http://www.exmark.com/Commercial21/

http://www.ferrisindustries.com/pages/mower.php?product_id=25

http://www.scag.com/zeroturns.html

is it a safe temporary fix to drive my truck with rear assembly broken and using only the front wheels?

Kevin

My 94 Ranger had the rear lock up. The drive shaft fell off and the rear wheels are locked up. Is it safe to use as a temporary transportation. (35-40mph) or so. So I can get a replacement rear end, and I need to tow my lawn mower to mow? I have a guy trying to free the back tires so it can basically be in neutral. I'd have to drive in 4X4 for hopefully less than a week.

Answer
you can do that for a little while, it wont hurt it. just run it slow like you said. 4x4's really are not made for highway speeds anyway. with only having the front working it will be harder on it. i know a guy who had a 2000 f-150, his universal joint went out on his rear drive shaft and he took it out and only used front wheel drive for over a month.

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Are non gas lawn mowers effective?

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Arliss

I'm debating on whether or not to go with the old school non gas lawn mower...you know all metal ones you see on Leave It To Beaver and My Three Sons? LOL. Anyway, I've been told by a friend of mine that they are effective in that, they don't leave long grass clippings and that they cut every bit as well as a regular lawn mower. Any thoughts on the pros and cons of this?

Answer
I actually used one for several years, and they work really well. You can buy them at Sears which is where I got mine. They are so much cheaper than a gas powered mower, and so much quieter., and there is no stinky gas or gas fumes to deal with. They are also quite easy to push, and actually kindof fun to use. The clippings left on the ground are good for the soil. The only cons that I can see, is that if you have a really large yard, it might take a little longer to mow it, also you can't let your grass grow too long, because it will be more difficult to cut, and the clippings will be long-and you may have to rake them up. I don't believe the old school mowers have any sort of mulching abilities to take care of long clippings (but you can get a little container that sits behind it to collect clippings, I believe)

Dont you think its funny my neighbor called the cops on me?

Lex

The old fart called the cops on me for loud music.

Its funny cause the only reason I dis it was to drown out the noise he makes every day.

He rides around on his lawn mower 7am-6pm every day. And he doesnt even have a lawn!!!!!!! Only dirt.

I only started playing loud music because after 3 years of him riding his lawn mower I got sick of it.

Funny hiw this old azzho thinks only he is entitled to peace and quiet, no one else.

So do you agree its funny?

Answer
Yes, that amazing, "only dirt" LOL! I have a neighbour like that, he used to have a home-made trike, he used to just sit there and rev the engine all day for no reason. So one day, my step fathers friend accidentally ran over and killed a badger. We took the badger and put it on the trike, positioned so he was sitting up and holding the handle bars, lol. My step dad got arrested the next day, because they had cctv cameras on their roof and seen him the next day when they looked back at the footage, lol. He said it was worth it, you should do it to your guys lawn mower. LOL. Hope i helped :)

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Where can I buy a manual lawn mower?

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Proust

I have a regular gas-powered lawn mower, but it seems like a waste to use it, when I could use a manual mower and get exercise at the same time, along with saving gas.

But they didn't have any at the local big-box hardware store. They looked confused when I asked, and tried to sell me a riding mower instead.

Where can I buy a manual push mower in this day and age?

Answer
Check this out!

http://www.peoplepoweredmachines.com/reel_mower_landing.htm?gclid=CKy47PX3g5MCFRUvlgod6F2YFQ

Overflowed gas tank on lawn mower?

lemondrop

I realize this might be a dumb question but I just poured gas in my lawn mower tank and it over flowed onto the deck in a little puddle. Do I rinse it off with water, or let it evaporate, or what?

Answer
Wipe off the excess, let the rest evaporate, you should be good to go. This happens all the time.....

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Buying house...needs your help?

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Sasha P

Hello All,

I have upto $50000 savings with me and looking for good house worth $350,000 under FHA loan.

Can you please tell me if this is good decision to buy house with this much balance in my account. What are the initial household expenses we incur when we buy house first time?

I don't have any other debt on me apart from bills and groceries.

Thanks in advance
Hello LA boston girl,

Thanks for your response. I did the math according to your directions.

If I take house worth $350,000 under FHA then with 5% I would pay $17500, HOA $500, Insurance $1500 Annually, Closing cost $5000 which totals upto 24500. I am planning to buy a house of 1500 sq.ft.

Apart from this, is there any other legal cost that I would incur at the time of buying? Yes I would compromise on the buying stuff for house in the beginning.


Thanks again.

Answer
Depends on what lifestyle you want, where your home is located, what's your property tax rate, do you have an HOA to pay and what's the square footage of the home, do you intend on staying there more than 3-5 years? Will you be paying the mortgage on one income or two and how stable are both jobs?

Buying a home is a personal decision. What are your goals and why do you want to buy a home? Are you looking for an investment or are you needing to buy a home so you can start a family, reduce your AGI?

In today's market I would NOT buy a $350,000 home with only $50,000 on hand IF I had only one income that's under $100k annually.

Let's figure this out - If you put 10% down plus closing costs you're going to pay approx $45,000. Assuming you're not paying points. This only leaves you with $5000 in the bank. Unless you do a piggy back loan you will have to pay PMI for not putting 20% down.

Then there's furniture, do you have anything to furnish your house with or do you plan to start shopping to fill your home?

You will have to set up your utilities, security alarm company etc and of course if you haven't owned a home before you'll have to buy standard things like: lawn mower, edger, ladder, 36 gallon trash bin and all those lawn keeping tools that maybe you didn't need while living in an apartment. Also if you live in an HOA community, you will have to maintain your lawn or risk receiving "fines".

Don't forget homeowner's insurance and curtains or mini-blinds if the home is brand new. Depending on how large your house is it could cost you a few thousand dollars. Also consider if you are buying an older home - you'll want at least $5000 in the bank to do repairs once you settle into your home and notice a few critical things that require immediate fixing.

If your household income is over $100k then you could make it if you know for certain you will not become unemployed within the next few years. Just don't go crazy on furniture shopping and live frugally. Again if your job is not stable you should have 6-8 months of salary in liquid cash.

Be sure to find out if you will be paying HOA dues and how often have they increased over the past 2 years. Some locations in California charge $300 - $1000 for the monthly HOA. In Texas you also have to factor in outrageous property tax rates. On a $350k home you'd be paying about $9000 a year in property tax.

Buying a push mower: do you recommend a good one ($400-450), mid-range ($250-350), low-end (<$200), or used?

G

I've done some research on models and ratings, and this is what I'd probably buy in each category::

"Good" ($400-450): John Deere, Honda, or possibly Toro
Mid-Range ($250-350): probably a Lawn Boy
Low-End (under $200): probably a Yard Man
Used: No clue what to expect!

We're a couple in our 50s, own a Minnesota home with a yard that takes about 2 hours to mow, and we don't plan on moving anytime soon. I'm not sure how much difference there is between good models and budget models. In other words, is paying double the price worth it in the long run? What do you think?

Thanks for any advice!
Just to clear up any confusion, I will be buying a walk-behind self-propelled gasoline mower, regardless of which price range.

Answer
I bought a Toro and it was guaranteed to start and was still starting when the body rusted out because I left it out all the time and this is salty south Texas. I bought the same thing, just a new model and it is fine and starts quickly. For $319 thereabouts I got the higher back wheels, it's a three way with bag but like the mulching idea, and it is self propelled. I just have a double lot and it takes me two hours to cut it because I have planted so many things to go around. The self propelled makes it easier on my old bones. The only difference is the new one has smaller big back wheels and I prefer bigger back wheels because I mow over a lot of stuff. I've had cheaper ones and I end up having to have them serviced every year and so end up paying about the same but more hassle for the cheaper ones. They only won't start when the grass is way tall. . .I've always bought the cheap ones and threw them away but I like the self propelled and I like having a more powerful better machine. I got it at Home Depot and it was on sale. Sometimes they offer an extra year warranty on the starting but it comes with a two year guaranteed to start. It's worth the $ for the quality, the goodies and it lasts longer. . .

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What happens if I put synthetic 10W30 motor oil in my lawn mower?

best lawn mower motor oil image

Donna

I'm a motor/engine retard, so I assumed it would be fine. Some people are now telling me it was a stupid idea. Is this going to kill my lawn mower? And can I go back to using conventional oil now that I've run the lawn mower with the synthetic? I've been told you can't go back...

Thank you!
Thanks to you both. I added it because it was all we had in the house and I was mid-mow. Didn't want to run to the store. Thanks again!!!

Answer
You didn't do anything wrong other than waste a few dollars. Lawnmower engines have large tolerances, and are robust enough to run for a while on no oil at all. You could put the cheapest oil available in, and it would work. So you have not done any damage. You don' t need to drain the oil out now. Just use it for the same amount of time you normally would, which for a mower, should be a year. You can go back to petroleum based oils, and your wallet would probably appreciate it.

Synthetics start to matter when you want to run something for multiple thousands of hours. Other major parts of the mower will fail and cause you to replace it before you have oil-related issues from using cheap oil.

What weight of motor oil do I need for my lawn mower?

Sapphire O

Its time to change the oil in my lawn mower tractor. The place I bought if from no longer has the manufacture recommended oil on sale, and the last remaining bottle I have does not list the weight of the oil. The engine is a 25hp Kohler, 2 cylinder. Outdoor operating temperatures will be approximately 50 degrees(f) to 95 degrees (f).

Answer
Since you use it in warm weather 10w-30 will work fine. Most manufacturers recommend it.

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how do determine the best lawn mower in california?

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LaShonda W

Need to buy a new lawn mower that is easy for a woman and/or adolescent to operate. Need easy start mechanism and easy operation of mower body.

Answer
Well, Consumer Reports just did a rating on lawn mowers in their May 2007 issue. It seems that the self-propelled mowers are much more repair prone than push types though they are easier to operate. Lawn Boy is reported as being the most repair prone push mower brand. Here are their best buys for small, level laws (like we have in CA) Cub cadet, craftsman, Black & Decker and Homelite. They seem to like the cub cadet because it is lighter, combines mowing with fine bagging and a premium engine. Among the electric mowers they like the Black & Decker.

The Toro, Craftsman and Yard Machines come with electric starting.

Want to buy lawn mower for basic yard, advice on what kind appreciated?

Rev. Dr. G

Have time on my hands, and see no reason to pay the overly high price people charge for yard work.

I have a straight lawn, no golf green type look, main grasss in front and only a little in the back. Don't want expense of riding lawn mower. Want to get one easy to work. For some strange reason when young my father did not want my brother and I to mow the yard, he didn't either?????????????????

So am starting from scratch, but this is not rocket science. A friend warned me about not getting one that you have change each wheel for lever. Basics on buying and doing appreciated, such as dumping grass, maintaining, basically what need to do.

In addition, where to buy and about how much to pay is also a question.

Any thoughts much appreicated.

Answer
Go to Sears. The people that work there are very helpful and can tell you what type of mower you should get according to how big of a yard you have and if you just want a mower or a mulcher/mower combo.

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Do you know about Lawn Mower Blade?

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Jennifer F

what is Lawn Mower Blade
and how Lawn Mower Blade works?
if you have the information then send me soon and if possible help me about it.

Answer
thats the part under the mower that spins very fast and is sharp, it cuts the grass


pictures
http://images.google.ca/images?hl=en&q=Lawn%20Mower%20Blade&um=1&ie=UTF-8&sa=N&tab=wi

Cartoon with a guy that had a lawn mower blade in his head?

Sean

So there was a cartoon where it briefly introduced a "superhero" group that included a guy with a lawn mower blade stuck in his head and a guy with a mouth in his stomach. Any one know what I'm talking about?

Answer
It might have been a poptarts commercial.

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Lawn mower starts but will not run?

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David

I have an older mower. When attempting to start it will start but will not continue to run unless I repeatedly press the primer bulb. As soon as I quit, it no longer gets fuel and cuts out. Even when pressing the primer bulb, sometimes fuel will shoot into carburetor sometimes not. The carburetor sits atop the fuel tank. What do I need to replace? Please, to all the asses, do not waste time by saying buy a new mower.

Answer
This could be one of a dozen different problems. It could be:

-Bad gas. How old is the gas in the mower? Does it smell sweet? If so, drain it and refill with fresh gas.

-Blocked Fuel Line. The gas tank on mowers tends to pick up crud and grass clippings. Did any get sucked into the fuel line? If so, take the tank off, flush it out, and replace (or thoroughly clean) the hose.

-Hole or crack in the fuel line or primer bulb. This would allow air to get drawn into the fuel delivery lines, and lose the syphon/suction need to keep the fuel flowing into the carb. Fix by replacing or patching the broken part.

-Dirty carburetor. Crud from the gas tank inevitably makes its way into the carburetor. You'll need to take the carburetor off and clean it out. This is like performing surgery, so it helps to have a manual or instructions. It's also advisable to buy a rebuild kit and replace and bad/dirty parts or gaskets. Once you get it all back together, you should put a fuel filter inline to keep the carb clean. It's easier to replace a filter than to tear the carb down.

-Stuck choke or throttle. Disconnect the cables from the linkages on the carb and work them by hand. Try a few different positions while starting it. If the cable's rusted, just use some wire to hold the linkages into a position where the engine runs. I'd play with the linkages first before you start taking things apart.

-Clogged air filter. Maybe the filter is blocked and the carb can't breathe. Take the filter out, and slap it off a wall or blow backwards through it with compressed air to clean it. I wouldn't run the mower without an air filter because you will definitely draw trimmings into the air intakes.

Or, you could just buy a new mower. :)

I have a 6hp murry lawn mower which has a plunger on the side of carb. to prime eng. but it's not getting hard

George M

before the prime knob would get hard being filled with gas but now it feels empty and I can't get it to fill up and I guess may also be the reason that the motor won't stat running but for a second after putting tiny bit of gas in thraot of carb. ??? thanks...........

Answer
yea u need to check ur gas lines to make sure their not cracked, check the bulb because u may not have to replace it, and check carb gasket... if their are any signs of cracking in any of em, replace them... whats happening is somewhere air is getting in and displacing the gas, not allowing for a good suction...

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what is and even trade with a riding lawn mower?

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Dj Mugsey

its a murray riding lawn mower that values at about 900$ i need to find something to trade for that's worth between 900 and 1200 dollars that people like to barter with

Answer
I trade a lot myself, and the hard part at this moment is that many people who have seen Barter kings are thinking that they can trade up everything. It is not that simple. Just to give a example for your item. Why would I trad a lawn mower for something that is more value then what your mower is worth?
Unless I have something that has more value, but I got it cheaper and I need the mower more then what I have. Just place it somewhere like if you live in texas, under InMyTexas.com, or on barterskings.com, or craigslist.org and see what it is worth.

what would the resale value be on a John Deere 100 series riding lawn mower ?

grateful

It has a 42 in" cut
It is a 2006 model and no it does not have a bag. basic features, nothing extra.

Answer
It depends on the model. According to the 2008 Grounds Maintenance Equipment Blue book, the L102 17 HP gear drive is about $920. The L115, 19 HP hydro is $1060, the L125 20 HP hydro is $1190. The L135 with the 22 HP hydro is $1320, and the L155C with the 25 HP engine is $1720. These are prices for above average condition and low hours. Prices are also subject to your area of the country. Hope this helps.

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Can someone recommend an appropriate sized lawn tractor for 9 acres?

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rankin3k

I recently purchased a home with approximately 9 acres of cleared land. There are two fairly steep areas, strenuous to walk up, but still grassy. Is a 60 inch cutting deck sufficient?

Answer
Yes. 60 inches is okay for that. DO you want a zero turn mower or a walk behind? The zero turn will be hard to run on the hills and may be unsafe. The walk behind is safer on the hills and may need a sulky to ride on as walking behind that is long. 60 inches should be able to mow that in a few hours. A 72 inch mower can do an acre in 15 minutes. 60 inches maybe 20 minutes an acre. How much time do you have on your hands? Plus all of these mowers will be in the 8-9000 dollar range....

What type of Lawnmower should I get?

James

So im clueless when it comes to lawnmowers and I need help on which type is best for my yard.
Right now my yard is HUGE. Its big, it has rocks on some parts with grass over it, it has a slope, and a swing set on it. And to make it worse, I have an ancient lawn mower, its big, heavy and has starting up problems. Its also torture when I have to go around and around the swing set trying to get all the grass from it. And that mini hill on my backyard makes it even harder.
So Im planning to get a lawnmower that fights my lawn the most, Ive went on amazon and looked at reviews but haven't found anything very useful in terms of my particular yard.
Im looking for a cheap, and light lawn mower (any lawn mowers probably lighter than the one I have)
This one looks really good:
http://www.amazon.com/American-1304-14-14-Inch-Economy-T-Style/dp/B000NHTH0O/ref=lp_128066011_1_15?ie=UTF8&qid=1368999624&sr=1-15

but should I get more a lawn mower more like this one:?

http://www.amazon.com/Black-Decker-LM175-18-Inch-Electric/dp/B00005AKZE/ref=lp_128066011_1_10?ie=UTF8&qid=1368999624&sr=1-10

any help or suggestions would be greatly appreciated =)

Answer
I got an electric and had it for years. I remember the reel mower (and that is the light flimsy model). When the neck is2x3 wood, everything else is heavy duty steel. Probably the weight of two of the red mowers.

So, don't cut as often. Like let the grass grow over 2 inches in height and then cut it so it is 2" high. I cut maybe 8 times a season. And it stays green because the soil does not dry out quickly because the grass shades the ground.

If you need to work on your thighs, belly and knees...you go for the red one

If you are skinny then either will do

If you are a lazy good for nothing then get a riding tractor mower.

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how much roughly would it cost to replace a window that is about 7x8 ft?

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Sean M

it is at a buisness...it is the kind of glass that shatters into a million little pieces if it breaks anywhere...also, there are 2 pieces of glass...a pebble flew up from a lawn mower and wnet through both pieces of glass...does anybody know a roubh estimate as to what im looking at to fix these windows...i know its not gonna be good, but hit me with it....thanks

Answer
Depending on the glass, up to $1000.

what are things my brother could make at home and sell on ebay?

Josh Carma

my 13 year old brother wants a dirt bike that's $1800 and i told him i'd get it for him if he put in $500. any ideas on how he could earn it without needing to walk the streets with a lawn mower?

Answer
To be honest, if there were anything you could make an sell on Ebay easily, people would have already flooded the site with an item like that. At a young age, nothing really beats mowing lawns. With most lawns averaging around $40-50 and only taking about an hour to an hour-and-a-half to mow, you have a job that will pay you around $35-40 an hour. Even if you only did one lawn a day, 5 days a week, you're going to make $800-1000 a month. That's really good money for someone that is only 13 years old and more than some part-time minimum wage people have after taxes.

He could also put out a flyer throughout his neighborhood offering to do small jobs. Raking leaves, weeding flower beds and even small painting projects are things that people need done and are sometimes too busy to do so they'll hire someone to do it while they are at work.

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What is the best weed whacker?

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hardyz9

My husband needs a new weed whacker. He wants a cordless one that runs on gas. We have 3/4 of an acre and he needs it just to trim where the lawn mower can't get to. Can I get a good one under $100? What should I be looking for? What power does it need to be?

Answer
Use Echo or Stihl. They are both excellent. Remember, you get what you pay for. The cheaper models are mostly "throw away" items. You use them till they breakdown. Then you throw them away and buy another cheap one. The Cycle is never ending. Spend the extra $$$ and get a good quality unit.

What is the best propelled/gas lawn mower for Thick lawn?

MochaAlmon

The walmart one I have stinks and isn't worth it. I am looking for a good propelled gas lawnmower with a mulching and rear bag for thick grass that I don't have to choke on the exhaust fumes,like I do with this $100 one from Walmart. In the heat it is hard pushing a mower when it doesnt want to be pushed, and when you pull the cord to start it doesnt start, tired of all that , want something better that is under $289. Appreciate all lawn fans replies.

Answer
I bought the Troy-Built one at Lowes with the electric start for $299.00 at Lowes. I love it. Best mower I have ever had. Just turn the key to start. Self propelled front wheel drive rear bagger and mulcher. Has the bigger wheels in back so it manuvers better. It has a Briggs and Stratton motor and a steel cutting deck. Make sure you dont get anything but a steel cutting deck unless you want to replace it in 2 or less years from rust.

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What is a good yet affordable riding lawn mower?

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jeff c

Answer
the MTDs at Lowes or the Murrays at Wal Mart are good mowers and inexpensive. Iev had an MTD and my Dad has a Murray and Id say theya re comparable. Both run well, star easy, and mow good so long as you dont go too fast.

Look for one with brigs engine and dont go too wide with your cut for best results (not over 48 inches)

What is the best shed to buy for my back yard?

HowardSter

I NEED to store my snow blower and lawn mower...

Answer
A couple of years ago we got a metal shed from Northern Equipment. It cost $350 + shipping. It was 10X14, I think. The door was a double door, but we are tall and had to stoop to get in. Also, our riding mower is very wide and only had a couple of inches clearance on each side, so naturally we bent up the frame. it was also a lot of work to put up, and we had to build the floor separately (we used the floor of the shed we replaced).

But it was affordable and did the job.

A local shed dealership also had a very large shed available for $6000, including delivery. It had a wooden floor and the doors were wide and tall enough. But it was much more expensive.

Their smaller sheds were way more expensive per square foot.

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Buying house...needs your help?

best lawn mower under $350 image

Sasha P

Hello All,

I have upto $50000 savings with me and looking for good house worth $350,000 under FHA loan.

Can you please tell me if this is good decision to buy house with this much balance in my account. What are the initial household expenses we incur when we buy house first time?

I don't have any other debt on me apart from bills and groceries.

Thanks in advance
Hello LA boston girl,

Thanks for your response. I did the math according to your directions.

If I take house worth $350,000 under FHA then with 5% I would pay $17500, HOA $500, Insurance $1500 Annually, Closing cost $5000 which totals upto 24500. I am planning to buy a house of 1500 sq.ft.

Apart from this, is there any other legal cost that I would incur at the time of buying? Yes I would compromise on the buying stuff for house in the beginning.


Thanks again.

Answer
Depends on what lifestyle you want, where your home is located, what's your property tax rate, do you have an HOA to pay and what's the square footage of the home, do you intend on staying there more than 3-5 years? Will you be paying the mortgage on one income or two and how stable are both jobs?

Buying a home is a personal decision. What are your goals and why do you want to buy a home? Are you looking for an investment or are you needing to buy a home so you can start a family, reduce your AGI?

In today's market I would NOT buy a $350,000 home with only $50,000 on hand IF I had only one income that's under $100k annually.

Let's figure this out - If you put 10% down plus closing costs you're going to pay approx $45,000. Assuming you're not paying points. This only leaves you with $5000 in the bank. Unless you do a piggy back loan you will have to pay PMI for not putting 20% down.

Then there's furniture, do you have anything to furnish your house with or do you plan to start shopping to fill your home?

You will have to set up your utilities, security alarm company etc and of course if you haven't owned a home before you'll have to buy standard things like: lawn mower, edger, ladder, 36 gallon trash bin and all those lawn keeping tools that maybe you didn't need while living in an apartment. Also if you live in an HOA community, you will have to maintain your lawn or risk receiving "fines".

Don't forget homeowner's insurance and curtains or mini-blinds if the home is brand new. Depending on how large your house is it could cost you a few thousand dollars. Also consider if you are buying an older home - you'll want at least $5000 in the bank to do repairs once you settle into your home and notice a few critical things that require immediate fixing.

If your household income is over $100k then you could make it if you know for certain you will not become unemployed within the next few years. Just don't go crazy on furniture shopping and live frugally. Again if your job is not stable you should have 6-8 months of salary in liquid cash.

Be sure to find out if you will be paying HOA dues and how often have they increased over the past 2 years. Some locations in California charge $300 - $1000 for the monthly HOA. In Texas you also have to factor in outrageous property tax rates. On a $350k home you'd be paying about $9000 a year in property tax.

Buying a push mower: do you recommend a good one ($400-450), mid-range ($250-350), low-end (<$200), or used?

G

I've done some research on models and ratings, and this is what I'd probably buy in each category::

"Good" ($400-450): John Deere, Honda, or possibly Toro
Mid-Range ($250-350): probably a Lawn Boy
Low-End (under $200): probably a Yard Man
Used: No clue what to expect!

We're a couple in our 50s, own a Minnesota home with a yard that takes about 2 hours to mow, and we don't plan on moving anytime soon. I'm not sure how much difference there is between good models and budget models. In other words, is paying double the price worth it in the long run? What do you think?

Thanks for any advice!
Just to clear up any confusion, I will be buying a walk-behind self-propelled gasoline mower, regardless of which price range.

Answer
I bought a Toro and it was guaranteed to start and was still starting when the body rusted out because I left it out all the time and this is salty south Texas. I bought the same thing, just a new model and it is fine and starts quickly. For $319 thereabouts I got the higher back wheels, it's a three way with bag but like the mulching idea, and it is self propelled. I just have a double lot and it takes me two hours to cut it because I have planted so many things to go around. The self propelled makes it easier on my old bones. The only difference is the new one has smaller big back wheels and I prefer bigger back wheels because I mow over a lot of stuff. I've had cheaper ones and I end up having to have them serviced every year and so end up paying about the same but more hassle for the cheaper ones. They only won't start when the grass is way tall. . .I've always bought the cheap ones and threw them away but I like the self propelled and I like having a more powerful better machine. I got it at Home Depot and it was on sale. Sometimes they offer an extra year warranty on the starting but it comes with a two year guaranteed to start. It's worth the $ for the quality, the goodies and it lasts longer. . .

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What weight of motor oil do I need for my lawn mower?

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Sapphire O

Its time to change the oil in my lawn mower tractor. The place I bought if from no longer has the manufacture recommended oil on sale, and the last remaining bottle I have does not list the weight of the oil. The engine is a 25hp Kohler, 2 cylinder. Outdoor operating temperatures will be approximately 50 degrees(f) to 95 degrees (f).

Answer
Since you use it in warm weather 10w-30 will work fine. Most manufacturers recommend it.

Why are PZEV cars illegal for sale in 42 states and are they illegal to drive as well?

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It doesn't make any sense that 42 states would ban the sale of Partial Zero Emission Vehicles and would fine you up to 27,500 dollars. One interesting fact is that running your lawn mower to mow the lawn once would be equivalent to driving a PZEV car for 2000miles.
But anyway, is it legal to DRIVE a PZEV car in a state where SALE is illegal?

Answer
It is government run a little crazy.

The issue is the EPA doesn't have a PZEV category. Only California does plus the relatively few states that have adopted the Ca emmissions standard. Since the other states and the EPA do not reconize this cleaner category, vehicles certified to it can not be sold. Yes, it is a little crazy.

> is it legal to DRIVE a PZEV car in a state where SALE is illegal< Yes.

http://www.practicalenvironmentalist.com/air-quality/pzev-vehicles-and-why-you-probably-cant-get-one-in-your-state.htm

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How much is it to cut an acre of land with gas currently at $3.65 a gallon?

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BrandonP

I am currently looking for a house to buy and there are a couple that I like but I have a concern about the grass cutting cost. Does anyone have an idea on how much it would be to cut an acre of land using your own push or riding lawn mower? Any idea on how long it might take to cut an acres of grass? by the way I mean flat land with no hills.

Answer
It will take one hour with a 48" riding lawn mower and one gallon of gas. One hour of spraying the beds for weeds.
True cost: High school kid,$20, gas, $4, herbicide, $5

lawn mower with Kohler 23hp engine quits with gas still in tank?

ssr

I have a Ariens 48" zero turn lawn mower with a Kohler 23cv engine. I have replaced the air cleaner, spark plug, fuel filter, and fuel pump and no change. When mower quits there is still gas in the tank. I fill the tank to the top and it runs fine again, but it still won't run through a full tank of gas at one time. Any suggestions!!

Answer
I am guessing that the engine quits with the same amount of fuel in the tank each time. The fuel pick up line in the tank is above the bottom and won't drain the tank completely. When it quits and you refuel does it start right back up? If so, you are just running out of gas. If it quits with different levels of fuel in the tank I would look at the filter and the fuel pump. If it quits and doesn't start right back up when you put fuel in it, you should also check the ignition. Coils will fail when they get hot and work when cooled down. It is easy to check for spark at the plugs.

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There was an accident, how should I handle it?

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Shawnie

Two boys left a flyer on my door this past Spring offering their lawn service. So I called and ended up hiring them for the season. Many things have gotten broken during the season, for example: they ran over my dogs toy a chopped it up, they ran up over my garden edging and cracked or warped it in several areas, The broke the head off of my water sprinkler, etc... Then one day, I was on my way to take my son to the Circus and I get a phone call from them. They said they were at my house and had just accidently hit the pool (it's an above ground pop up pool) with the back end of the riding lawn mower and ripped it about a foot accross. They rand down to the store to get a patch but when they returned, all the water already out of the pool. The yard was flooded, my neighbor was complaining, bla bla bla. Anyhow, the pools are sold out everywhere. They offered to pay me, and I havent' heard back from them. What should I do?

Answer
talk to their parents, and see what can be arranged (you said boys so im assuming they are under 18?)

take them to small claims court if you have to.

good luck!

Do I have a small claims case?

emma_leigh

Yesterday, I purchased a used lawn mower (after viewing, riding, and speaking with the seller in person) about the machine. At 500 dollars, I assumed it would be sound - and he assured me that it was in "great shape", etc. I did get a reciept, but after cutting my yard for 30 min. that same day, the mower refuses to start and I bought a battery charger thinking the battery was weak. This, however, is not the case and the mower is still not working. Do I have a case in small claims court?

Answer
Sorry to say-No you do not. Buyer beware(caveat emptor?) Talk to the seller with an open heart and maybe a good solution will present its'self. Remember that compromise is the ideal end game- anything selfish here is self-defeating and ultimately self-destructive. Do not assume anything 'cause we all know what the the word assume really means. For the beginner-( Ass of You and Me.) In your case pay special attention to the "Me" part.

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