Ariens Razor Self-Propelled Walk Behind Mower Overview 2023

Please Read: Another note on this. I took the wheels off today to see what's inside. The front wheels have thick plastic around where the wheel stud (bolt) goes through the wheel, AND there's a metal sleeve inside the wheel, so the stud/axle is not rubbing on just plastic. It's only touching the metal sleeve inside the wheel. I don't anticipate any problems unless someone is REALLY rough with their mower. SAME story for the rear wheels. Metal sleeve inside. ALSO, the gears that drive the rear wheels are thick metal. So, a thick metal gear on the drive shaft mated to a thick metal gear inside the rear wheel.
This is a 21" walk behind mower that is self-propelled (rear wheel drive). It comes with a 4 year warranty for residential use (this is not a commercial mower, but they do warranty it for 90 days if you use it commercially).
All the details are on Ariens' website: www.ariens.com...
MY photography site (my main focus of KZbin) is here: www.thephotogr...

[@michaelledebrink8288]

I got one of these this year myself. I grabbed the FWD model. I love it.

[@normbittner3762]

I have a Toro Super Recycler as well and this will be it's 16th season and trying to decide to get the new Toro 21565 or this Ariens Reflex 190 Dual Blade- Ariens is $180 plus I'll get 10% Veteran discount at Lowes. I can't buy one without the personal pace type system (Ariens Reflex) and feel obligated to get another Toro but I'm torn. Also, the price difference isn't a big deal over 15-16 years- if the next one lasts that long, not ready for electric due to run time, battery life & cost. Seems like they are really going after Toro with this mower- not sure about the ever sharp blades and pulley drive system.

[@normbittner3762]

Update- now only $112 difference from my local Toro store- so staying with the Toro & the 21565 will be my new mower and giving old faithful to my son to use at his first house

[@ThePhotographyHobbyist]

Please Read: I uploaded another video about this (some problems): kzbin.info/www/bejne/aaKsqIyQaMutgpo&t Also, another note on this. I took the wheels off today to see what's inside. The front wheels have thick plastic around where the wheel stud (bolt) goes through the wheel, AND there's a metal sleeve inside the wheel, so the stud/axle is not rubbing on just plastic. It's only touching the metal sleeve inside the wheel. I don't anticipate any problems unless someone is REALLY rough with their mower. SAME story for the rear wheels. Metal sleeve inside. ALSO, the gears that drive the rear wheels are thick metal. So, a thick metal gear on the drive shaft mated to a thick metal gear inside the rear wheel.

[@jeremyl.7563]

Thanks for the thorough video. I stumbled upon this because I am looking at this exact mower. Ironically it's similar to the one I have. A Toro recycler. I've had that mower for a year and I am 100% not happy with it. I think a $150.00 mower from a box store would work better then this Toro.

[@ThePhotographyHobbyist]

Thanks. I’m happy it was helpful. I almost bought the toro myself. I can’t compare the two since I haven’t used the toro but I can say I’m happy with the Ariens. It cuts really well, has pretty of power, is fairly quiet and seems to be built well.

[@shane1767]

Wondering about the rear discharge , i prefer to leave clippings for future nutrients but haven't found a video with it showing this feature in action.

[@ThePhotographyHobbyist]

I don’t have a video of it tear discharging, but I did try it and it leaves a mess. Most of the clippings are thrown to the left side and the clippings are dispersed well. There’s a line of clippings on the left side (mostly)

[@myinlawsitsupport972]

Wouldn’t you just put the mulch plug in and cut the clippings down really small instead of discharging?

[@ThePhotographyHobbyist]

@@myinlawsitsupport972 mostly in springtime, when the grass can be tall, wet, and thick, that’s when I might want to discharge the grass rather than bagging or mulching. It can be a bit of a mess (mulching) for any mower if the grass is thick, tall and wet, which sometimes happens in spring when it rains very often and I have limited opportunities to mow. During summer I almost always mulch because it doesn’t grow very fast and it’s not as thick and of course it’s usually dry.

[@JLKUB89]

Bought this couple days ago but I can't get it to run. The start cord is kind of stuck and no matter how hard I pulled it, the engine doesn't start. I checked the blades (I have the dual blades version) and they seem stuck, I tried to rotate with my hands but in vain!

[@ThePhotographyHobbyist]

Sorry if I'm telling you something you already know, but are you pulling that metal handle back and holding it tight when trying to start it? That metal handle needs to be held back to start it and keep it running. If you don't pull that metal handle back and keep it held, you'll never be able to start it (and it'll be hard to pull). That's the only thing I can think of for what you described.

[@JLKUB89]

@@ThePhotographyHobbyist no problem at all.Yes I am holding it back, and very strange that it won't start at all!I bought this as an upgrade from another one I have that struggles a lot with thicker grasses! I am kind of used to turning on and off lawn mower

[@ThePhotographyHobbyist]

@@JLKUB89 OK. I guess if it’s very new you can swap it with another unit where you bought it or call Ariens about it (warranty issue)

[@dougfalconer1605]

I purchased a new front wheel drive 163cc Razor about two months ago. I bought this mower to replace a 9 year old Husqvarna that was the best mower I’ve ever had. I looked at a lot of mowers before buying the Razor. The Razor is a very good mower, it mows effortlessly and never clogs up the bag. I just found the brand of mower that I’m buying from now on.

[@ThePhotographyHobbyist]

It does indeed cut really well and even in soaking wet grass, bagging.

[@coldwarkid6611]

I have a 32 year old Ariens that still starts on the first pull even after not being used over the winter. It's ridiculous they couldn't provide a side discharge plug on a mower this expensive. No side discharge is s deal breaker for me. The no oil change thing is ridiculous. I change mine every 20 hours of use and that's what was recommended when I bought it.

[@billb0313]

I just bought this. Easy assembly. Up and running in 10 minutes. Cuts evenly and cleanly. Mulching with the plug works PERFECTLY (no clumps of grass left.) My wife thought I bagged it. I doubt I'll have to bag as long as I mow regularly. However...I almost wish I bought the FWD model instead. The reflex self propelled keeps the rear wheels spinning and it takes technique to maneuver and turn this mower without tearing up the grass. And of course if you disengage the rwd to turn or maneuver you'll have to pull start to start mowing again. I'm used to fwd and just lifting the front end to turn. Nice mower though. Good engine (163cc B/S has plenty of power), nice blades (we'll see how the "self sharpening holds up over time.) Fairly light for a gas mower, too. I'll probably add a roller kit bit other than that I'm pleased with the first mow. Edit: did a TON of research before I bought it. Compared with several other mowers (Toro, Honda, Blackmax.) This was the best deal especially since Honda is done making mowers. Getting parts in the future might be an issue with a Honda and I didn't want to risk it.

[@ThePhotographyHobbyist]

I think the push bar for engaging the rear wheels is convenient for flat land, but I think it would be much easier to control in general if it had a traditional squeeze bar that you pull up from the bottom. That’s the way my really old mower is and I can keep my palm of the hands on the main handlebar so I can push down on it to lift the front and turn (while letting go of the lower bar that engages the wheels) and then grab the lower engagement bar again with my fingers and keep going after I turn. So for me, that’s the one downside to this type of set up regarding how you engage the drive wheels.

[@nikgotro770]

I have a Toro super Recycler. I want this mower but with the 190cc dual blade. Thanks for the thorough review. Exactly the info I was curious about.

[@ThePhotographyHobbyist]

You’re welcome. Glad it was useful.

[@RUKrisfan07]

Do you think someone would easily be able to find wheels to replace the wheels with? Because the tread on those wheels is probably going to go in no time given how thin it is. Other than that, I think this Ariens Razor lawn mower looks very appealing to me.

[@ThePhotographyHobbyist]

I have a relative with an older Husqvarna walk behind mower and the wheels or what he was having trouble finding after a while. I imagine this is the case for many different brands after the mower has been discontinued for several years. I think it would probably make sense to buy a few spare parts, things you know, would wear out in time like the wheels, and keep those handy. This place (Pro Parts Direct) sells parts for lots of different mowers and engines and they do list this mower but they don’t have any prices yet on their website. partstream.arinet.com/Mobile/t7kkdUSSXmVC4LZiOApeOLPP9ynwh4-vGWSQmQwhO7AnLlHMJvUNnBuPnyJsTxIREkgUnz6hqNkctILiWR-e3D6h6ZHzuqIV0JzhqKnQHeobqYKFwPkA19HbIJOvasd_6mTzzIqeK5Vt4lOGocyk0g2.html#/Mobile/d4Sr5oUDVk-PElfxZuBGZHX_Dm8OmzqFpB4QNxUItU8VV3PtEzBUZuuVMgWuA_T1HaNDozJ1t1fpqhdvM0UkgQ2.html I guess you could also ask Ariens if they already have parts available for sale on their website or through some other channel but right now I don’t see the parts listed on the Ariens website for sale. If they’re there, I can’t easily find them. This is a newer model so maybe they haven’t updated their site yet. Not sure.

[@ThePhotographyHobbyist]

Another note on this. I took the wheels off today to see what's inside. The front wheels have thick plastic around where the wheel stud (bolt) goes through the wheel, AND there's a metal sleeve inside the wheel, so the stud/axle is not rubbing on just plastic. It's only touching the metal sleeve inside the wheel. I don't anticipate any problems unless someone is REALLY rough with their mower. SAME story for the rear wheels. Metal sleeve inside. ALSO, the gears that drive the rear wheels are thick metal. So, thick metal gear off the drive shaft mated to a thick metal gear inside the rear wheel.

[@RUKrisfan07]

@@ThePhotographyHobbyist Thanks for replying to me and letting me know if you think someone who buys one of these mowers will be able to easily find new wheels for them. Because due to the type of yard I have, the tread on a lawn mower wheel is going to go quickly and I really can't afford to invest in a mower like the Toro TimeMaster or one of the top-of-the-line Honda models. That's basically the only thing that doesn't appeal to me about this lawn mower.

[@RUKrisfan07]

@@ThePhotographyHobbyist Thanks for this additional information. It's good to know that the wheels are mounted well. I just wish the tread were thicker on them. That's all.

[@Bob.sackamano]

WAS interested in the 190cc model. Took a look at the mower at Lowes. Unbelievable the absolute cheap quality of this mower. Nothing but plastic and thin steel all over. Feels like a cheap chinese toy. How Ariens could even release a product like this is beyond me. Its like they want it to fail. At least put SOME effort in to competing with Honda and Toro. On the display model the front wheels weren't even aligned. One would touch the ground and the other would spin freely. I gave it a "wiggle" test and i felt like i was going to break it. The deck adjustment is the cheapest ive ever seen. I compared to other "budget" "cheap" mowers and the ariens was far cheaper feeling. I saw absolutely nothing that was quality on this mower. Not one single saving grace. Cheap plastic, cheap metal, absolute waste of time and money this mower is. I was actually mad when i left lowes cuz i had high hopes for it and was going to buy one on the spot. Mad at the fact a reputable manufacturer would ever put their name on something that was this poorly made. Mad at the fact that i would feel robbed if i spent the ridiculous amount they are asking for this pile of garbage. Crazy a cheap Cub Cadet looks like a Cadillac compared to this Ariens. Avoid at all costs.

[@silverS70]

My local Lowe's stores have pulled All Razors from their shelves and they are no longer listed on Lowe's website. Something going on.

[@Wolfblitzerreporter776]

I just purchased one of these. If i register it will ariens send me the chute for the rear discharge? I know toro and lawnboy will not send you a discharge chute until you register it

[@ThePhotographyHobbyist]

I’m not sure. Maybe all they need is the serial number.

[@frankg6161]

rear discharge means bagging

[@ThePhotographyHobbyist]

Nope. Check their manual. They describe 3 ways to mow. Bagging, Rear Discharge and Mulching (Page EN - 12, which is page 14 in the PDF): apache.ariens.com/manuals/30123300C_ENG.pdf

[@aussie8114]

Looks like you have a lot of lawn to mow. The older I get the more I would prefer less garden to maintain. Well designed garden beds are less maintenance than lawn areas, just need to plant shrubs that are not in need of careful trimming too often.

[@ThePhotographyHobbyist]

Yes, I'll have to think about what I want to to when I get older and can't maintain it all myself. I don't want to burden family to take care of it and I don't want to pay someone to take care of so much garden (paying to have grass cut is OK, but there's to too much garden to maintain to pay for that - it would be expensive).

[@bobtudor7474]

Anyone had issues with the rear wheels locking up when pulling the unit backward?

[@ThePhotographyHobbyist]

Yep. It’s a known “Feature“ and I have another video about that. Basically, a mechanic confirmed the way this design works is after driving the mower forward, the wheels will often be in a state where it will be locked up if you try to pull it backwards and supposedly the reason for that is a safety feature to keep the mower from rolling back on someone’s foot on a hillside but I don’t agree with that “Feature”. I hate it. You can get it to unlock by pushing the mower forward a few inches, not driving it forward but pushing it forward with the metal bar, but that’s difficult to do on a hill which I have plenty of, so it’s really frustrating for me kzbin.info/www/bejne/aaKsqIyQaMutgposi=WaQBN3VVS9RORgcW

[@christina5588]

was it difficult to empty the bag? it seems that the pins get stuck in the v notch that it uses. Can you lift the bag up and through the bars or have to drop it on the ground and reach around.

[@ThePhotographyHobbyist]

​ @Christina The bag does get pretty heavy when full, so I sometimes use one hand on the bag's handle and one on the rear of the bag to lift it, but so far I've had no trouble removing it. I don't know if they intended for the bag to be lighted up through the bars when the bag is full. When I empty mine, I lift it enough to clear the V notch and then let it drop to the ground, then I lift it out of there (pulling it back and out/up). That's how I did it with my old mower too.

[@mikecraig6667]

I'm very doubtful on the rear discharge. Wish they had something like the Toro mowers where they actually give you a discharge chute that fits in the mulching/bagger opening.

[@ThePhotographyHobbyist]

I tried it. It makes a mess. Can't really use it in any area where you actually care about the appearance. I like how my old Troy-Bilt was. It had a side discharge (with a chute you can close over it when not discharging) AND a rear bagger. You could do all three very well (mulch, bag or side discharge).

[@mikecraig6667]

@@ThePhotographyHobbyist This might be a deal breaker for me. Bummer. Really was excited about these mowers.

[@ajanis3]

I also just bought this mower, thanks for the video. I'm curious why Briggs & Stratton says "no oil changes." Do you plan to just do annual changes, in addition to filling it up as needed?

[@ThePhotographyHobbyist]

I think it seems a bit silly for them to say you don't need to change the oil, ever. Imagine if you live in an area that gets cold in winter and the mower is sitting in an unheated shed. The temperature changes during the cold months can create condensation which could then contaminate the oil over time. I know the oil can last a long time if you otherwise properly care for the mower (regular air filter changes, etc), but I still would rather swap the oil now and then (it's cheap and easy). I will definitely be changing the oil in my mower because this is a long-term purchase. I don't need to use a walk-behind mower very much, so it will last me at least 15 years or more (unless I get tired of it and just want something newer). My previous mower is around 20 years old. For me personally, since I don't use it often AND I store it inside in a heated/cooled basement except for when I'm actually using it), I will change the oil every two years or so (possibly more frequently if I just get bored and want something to do). I follow a guy that has a mower shop and he does funny skits before and after the actual mower repair portion of the video and he talks about the 'never change oil' issue here: kzbin.info/www/bejne/bKXIgJmhgq2bp7s The actual conversation starts here: kzbin.info/www/bejne/bKXIgJmhgq2bp7s By the way, his hair and teeth are fake. He just wears that to make things funny ;) Anyway, I do like this engine. It's quiet (with the muffler they use) and it has more than enough power to bag even very wet grass while also pulling my hills.

[@ajanis3]

That’s great! I appreciate your response and I will be using it for the first time this afternoon. As a first time homeowner, I want to make sure I’m taking good care of my stuff! I’ll check out those videos, too. Thanks again!

[@ThePhotographyHobbyist]

@@ajanis3 You'll be fine. No worries. I'm using the 30W oil Ariens provided in the box, but once I change my oil I'll be using synthetic 10W30 oil. I would use Synthetic 30W oil but it's hard to find that in a synthetic version for under $20 per quart. 10W30 is a common oil recommended for small engines. For example, Toro also says you can use regular 30 weight oil or 10W30: manuals.toro.com/215288/index.html?rnd=0.772737328039016#a93a193e-e1e0-4d5d-9240-3766eb3e1e7c It may not be totally necessary, but I do like to change my oil after only about 4 hours or so of use when the engine is brand new (a break-in period for the engine). So, I'll change it sometime this summer, using 10W30 Synthetic oil and then maybe change it at the end of the next mowing season. I don't use my walk behind mower a lot, like I mentioned. Anyway, if you did something similar or even just changed it once a year, you should never have any issues related to engine lubrication. ALSO if you have a cold winter season like me and the mower will be stored for a few months or more, be sure you fill up the gas tank AND add some fuel stabilizer before you put the mower away for the season. After you fill the tank and add the fuel stabilizer, run the engine for a few minutes to be sure the fuel/stabilizer mix gets into the carburetor. The purpose of the fuel stabilizer is to help prevent the fuel from 'going bad' and clogging up your carburetor (simplified way of saying it). The ethanol used in most gasoline these days is not good for the carb because it can attract moisture which can then cause corrosion inside the carb. Long story short, just get yourself some fuel stabilizer that also includes treatment for ethanol, add that to the gas and run the engine for a few minutes before storing it for winter and you'll be fine. Oh and congratulations on your new home. 👍 Here's some of that fuel stabilizer I mentioned: a.co/d/f3S65O3

[@todds5956]

Would this be ok for a large yard over and acre? Tired of cheap riders.

[@ThePhotographyHobbyist]

I believe the info I saw was they recommend this for up to 3/4 acre but if the yard isn't too rough and you don't mind walking a lot, I don't see why it wouldn't be OK. As with anything, the more you use it, the more wear it'll get. I'd change the oil a few times per season if you're cutting that much.

[@VengeFulHemi]

Does it have a fuel shut off valve? Many thanks.

[@ThePhotographyHobbyist]

No. Not that I’ve seen. I looked briefly when I got it and didn’t see one. It can be stored sitting on its rear wheels though. (Front wheels pointed up).

[@isda72]

Having issues with the bag on and their is a gap in the front just throwing grass on top any tips that . They told me their is adapter for it

[@ThePhotographyHobbyist]

I do get some clippings that sneak by mostly on the left side but in my case I wouldn’t really call it excessive. It’s a little bit annoying because it does create a small pile of clippings on top of the deck. After three or four bags filled that’s what I end up with, not too bad overall. There’s a really small gap there and the pressure from the blades blowing the clippings into the bag causes some of them to slip through that small crack, mostly on the left side of the mower. Personally, I like that it has that much pressure because it helps with bagging wet grass, so I’m definitely willing to live with some clippings on top of the deck as a trade off for having plenty of suction/pressure to get the bag full.

[@RUKrisfan07]

Unfortunately, I'm having some issues with this problem, too and am wondering if you were able to resolve it. Did you order the adapter and has it helped?

[@ralphacampora3888]

Does it come with electric start

[@ThePhotographyHobbyist]

I didn’t see any walk behinds from Ariens with electric start. I just checked their website. They’re all pull start.

[@colbydonnelly6515]

You gotta register it to get the side discharge chute. That’s not side discharge just closing the shoot. They have a discharge you stick in to discharge to the left it’s big tube actually. They send it free when you register the mower.

[@ThePhotographyHobbyist]

I'll check on that. I don't see it on their website.

[@ThePhotographyHobbyist]

I called Ariens today and they told me no such accessory exists (discharge chute attachment) for the Razor walk behind mower. 🤷‍♂️

[@whitestrat69]

mine came with a plug for that hole under the rear flap

[@ThePhotographyHobbyist]

Right. Mine has that too. For mulching.

[@whitestrat69]

@@ThePhotographyHobbyist ok,i hate bagging. i have the rear wheel drive trying to figure out why sometimes it won't free roll backward.

[@ThePhotographyHobbyist]

@@whitestrat69 that’s a known problem, and I made another video about that problem and two other issues. To get it to roll backwards freely, you will have to push it forward just a couple inches and that should release it so it will then be able to pull backwards freely.

[@whitestrat69]

@@ThePhotographyHobbyist thank you for the great info. my mom has one that i use for her lawn. mine is brand new and haven't used it yet. here in ny next year gas powered small engine equipment is banned. we figured we better get something that will last now.i enjoy your videos. thank you.

[@ThePhotographyHobbyist]

@@whitestrat69 Wow. I heard CA (I think) was thinking about banning small engine powered things like push mowers, but I didn't know NY was already doing it. I Assume that only applies to the smaller walk behind mowers, because you're not going to cut 5 acres (for example) with a battery powered riding mower. Thanks :)