Change Isn't Always A Good Thing, Lawn Boy Mower

[@Ryanvd1]

I have a mid 1990s lawn boy 2 stroke, i just got it, and it runs perfectly with a rust free aluminum deck, I believe with regular season maintenance, this thing could last decades more for me. I cant say that with perfect maintenance, a new mower will last 20-40 years like an old lawn boy can.

[@HomeGaragechannel]

I have to agree with you on that.

[@williamcarl4200]

Good topic. I would love to have a "bricktop" again. In the olden days (1983) I had several steep long slopes to cut and the Briggs of the time would smoke out the town if you tried to cut them. The bricktops were old by then but the only way to go.

[@mikevessels164]

I got one runs like a top

[@therandomman6647]

​@@mikevessels164same here!

[@HomeGaragechannel]

nice, I wouldn't Mind getting one myself

[@jeffreybrady2085]

I have lawnboy mower like in your video why does it cut off when you bump something

[@electroddxful]

I like the old stuff myself. They don’t build things like they use to. 👍🙏👍🙏

[@HomeGaragechannel]

you got that right!

[@charlesduboise5198]

The first lawnboy I ever used was several years old when I used it, at first I was sceptical of it because it only weighed about half of what a normal mower weighed but after using it for about 5 minutes I realized how good it actually was I had never a mower as good as it was it powerful and never bogged down it was quite and it was lightweight and how little fuel it used on a full tank it could easily run for over 2 hours without refilling it by fare the best mower I ever used and it wasn't self propelled

[@HomeGaragechannel]

they were certainly something else

[@JonRobot]

You make the best engine repair content on KZbin you’re seriously underrated keep up the content man I enjoy your videos.

[@HomeGaragechannel]

Thank you very much!

[@Enigma758]

My dad gave me his 70s 2 stroke, aluminum deck lawn boy and man that was a great machine. Sadly, sometime in the 90s the blade hit an above ground water pipe and bent the crankshaft so I had to get rid of it. Now I think I should have found a way to repair it!

[@HomeGaragechannel]

I know right, those were really awesome machines

[@billsmith1770]

knew a guy who worked at a dealership back in the 50s and 60s . when new models came in they were hidden from public till "reveal day" . knowing employees had seen what the public couldn't , every year he'd be asked if there were any improvments ? "i don't know about improvements , but they sure made some changes" was always his answer .

[@billsmith1770]

he worked at new car dealership .

[@jeffreybrady2085]

I have mower just like in your video why does it cut off when you bump some thing

[@HomeGaragechannel]

I like they way they put that

[@HomeGaragechannel]

thank you for clarifying that

[@HomeGaragechannel]

If I had to guess on yours, the kill switch by the flywheel might be out of alignment

[@christophermarshall5765]

Nice. A lot of 4 stroke mowers these days have engines that don't have the power to pull skin off custard. Older ones I used were electric start, & for good reason.

[@HomeGaragechannel]

you got that right

[@covishen]

This past fall I finally broke down and took my JD to a proper shop and got it running. My riding mower is from 2003 and with the way it runs now, I wouldn't give it up. I plan on using it until the wheels fall off.

[@HomeGaragechannel]

I like that idea

[@YukiNeko-Neko]

I love my 2 stroke lawnboy from the 80's I'll rebuild it till the day i pass away It worth every penny and hour of labor i put into to it.

[@HomeGaragechannel]

agreed

[@rumrunner4783]

I do a lot of research and homework before I spend my hard earned money on new equipment and quality isn’t cheap. I service and maintain my equipment religiously hoping it will last a really long time reliably. I develop a special bond with my toys that is hard to explain and I don’t like changes…new model used to mean upgrade and that’s not the case anymore…or maybe I’m getting old…

[@HomeGaragechannel]

you and me both!

[@gearhead366]

I'm pretty opposed to changes, as it usually results in a worse product due to cost reductions, corner cutting, etc. My push mower is over 10yrs old, and still runs fine. I think it needs a valve adjustment, but that's all. I have a 20 yr old zero turn, too, that also still runs just fine. I'll be keeping it too until it dies. Changes CAN be good. Product changes in the 60's, 70's and 80's were typically actual improvements, but now the accountants have taken over.

[@HomeGaragechannel]

you are 100% correct!

[@ceejay9663]

@@HomeGaragechannel, since California is outlawing gas mowers(!), I'm no longer going to donate my Murray self-propelled w/ a 5 HP Quantum engine on it. I will keep my 2 Hondas as well, so I NEVER have to drop all the $$$$ for the flimsy plastic decks, batteries that are a fortune to replace, and having to junk the mower when parts are unavailable. Chickanic has a video wherein she shows an ENTIRE battery mower had to be scrapped because a simple under-deck part was NOT made available(!) It's that blue brand at the blue big-box store. No decent technical support (no suprise!).

[@sarnold1277]

I agree 100 percent about the carb on that engine. I got one waiting in my garage for me to fix.

[@HomeGaragechannel]

nice good luck with it.

[@Sylvan_dB]

As a teenager I fixed up a non-running lawnboy mower from the 1950s. The only problem was carboned up exhaust and muffler. Cleaned that up and it worked great. Fixed my neighbor's lawnboy a few times (spark plug, spark plug cable, replaced the pull rope). Lawnboy used to be their own thing - well built and reliable and synonymous with 2-stroke. My Dad's first push mower lasted 30 years. The next two had similar good maint and probaby better usage (the lawn is even smaller and better kept - probably less abuse than us teenage boys used to do to the mower). However those two together barely made it 20 years. One started smoking bad (I suspect a broken ring) and the other engine came apart inside. Disposable society sucks.

[@HomeGaragechannel]

totally agree

[@chadfield376]

If I could ever find another brick top LB, that would be my choice since that was the very first mower I was trained to cut grass with back in 1984 😊

[@HomeGaragechannel]

yep, I'm still looking for a good one myself

[@robertholm5636]

I have 3.@@HomeGaragechannel

[@HomeGaragechannel]

Very nice!

[@kencurtis228]

TY for Sharing

[@HomeGaragechannel]

You are so welcome

[@roadrunner3563]

My 1990 Murray 22 inch push B&S is still going strong. Could use some rings, but starts first pull every time. I'd get a new one if the current ones weren't designed like crap. I kind of need a bit more HP since I use it as a mulcher and it wasn't designed as a mulcher.

[@HomeGaragechannel]

well, if the need comes up, I think that's a good enough reason to buy a new one. Keep the Murray though and cycle It in, just to keep the engine in working order .

[@lewiemcneely9143]

My 1st Lawnboy was 2-cycle with the friction drive on the flat rear wheels that wouldn't pull when wet and the grass is always wet here. The outfit got a couple later on that had sat for ages that I got running. They ran REALLY rich but there was a main adjustment that could be run down and then they didn't smoke hardly at all and ran a lot better. We used them on really steep places because they were so light. And as far as battery stuff goes, they are being pushed WAY TOO FAST. I still can't get any info on the zero turn and the hand mower is pretty simple so no worries there. There needs to be manuals on the equipment you buy WHEN you buy it. I really like the mower but I'd like a shop manual where I could understand what I have a lot better and take care of it better. That's probably the reason for no manuals so you tear it up and have to have it worked on or replaced faster. I'll still keep my gas mowers though as well as my 89 S-10. Thanks and Blessings and happy weekend

[@HomeGaragechannel]

totally agree

[@lewiemcneely9143]

BLESSINGS 2 yall!@@HomeGaragechannel

[@zinnstigertownmowers780]

I like that variant when it has the 6.75hp Briggs flathead engine if I had a smaller yard I'd personally own one

[@HomeGaragechannel]

that's a great choice

[@UhBuddy1976]

I’m like you. I like to hang on to my lawn equipment for a long time. What happened to Kohler? They used to have a bulletproof engine reputation.

[@HomeGaragechannel]

I know right, I thought they were good until I started to see the troubles they were having

[@ceejay9663]

I haven't done the research,, but I'm wondering if the design/manufacturing for the mower engine(s) was moved overseas to one of those countries that loves red flags (pun intended!).🙂

[@ramadinsookhoo6141]

Hey bro what's up? I like the equipment that my dad bought my decades ago since they are reliable and they get the job done.

[@HomeGaragechannel]

yes I like my dad's choices as well.

[@999thenewman]

Your therapist called to see if you'd like another session concerning the Lawn-Boy era of your early years.

[@HomeGaragechannel]

LOL!!!

[@Turningwrenches85]

I have one of those lawnboy easy mulch lawn mower it has the 6hp tecumseh engine , i havent used it because the breather area not the pvc tube underneath the shroud is lose and when it runs it pours oil out from the top of the engine i need to find either a replacement part of it of i have another tecumseh engine craftsman that is the same hp thay lawnboy its been in my shed for at least going on 2 years

[@HomeGaragechannel]

good luck, not sure if you'll be able to find one new unless it's new old stock

[@Turningwrenches85]

@@HomeGaragechannel that is true

[@Fender178]

As someone who grew up in the Late 80s in to the mid to 1990s I also remember the OG Lawnboy style deck and I also owned an OG lawnboy as well form the mid 1990s. That two Stroke Engine was nice. I don't mind change but it effects what made something what it is or was I hate it such as the Toro style Lawnboys. I am very disappointed with the Toro Style Lawnboys. Also an Interesting fact about that unique style of deck that all classic Lawnboys had it was an anti yard scalping feature. Also they made 4 stroke engine OG Lawnboys as well but not sure on how common they were vs the 2 stroke but it might have been a commercial grade model though. It would be interesting if Toro could make an Electric lawnboy using the classic Lawnboy style aluminum deck or a steel deck for cost cutting measures. I think that would be neat. I don't mind getting a new item every couple of years. But the change that really ticked me off was the change in gas cans. Gas Cans now a days suck vs cans of 20+ years ago due to that stupid safety BS that makes it hard to use the stupid thing. I don't mind changing to electric mowers because of that.

[@HomeGaragechannel]

if the choice works for you, that's good enough for me.

[@brianking1138]

I finally got an old lawn boy last year. I am against the change to battery power.

[@HomeGaragechannel]

you and me both!

[@PeterTheMowerGuy]

The 2 stroke Lawnboys were much better than any 4 strokes they produced. You’re right most of the 4 strokes were just green Toros.

[@HomeGaragechannel]

agreed !

[@vunguy3n]

Furiously fast movie, eh? I always knew you lived your life 1/4 acre at a time.

[@HomeGaragechannel]

LOL!!

[@mjg263]

Having had to use those 2 stroke LawnBoy mowers in the 70’s I’m glad they’re gone. Nothing worse than having to breathe in all those fumes for an hour and a half on a hot humid day when cutting the grass.

[@HomeGaragechannel]

you do have a point about the smell

[@tobedetermined4180]

What is in your small engine EDC tool box? Interesting video topic.

[@HomeGaragechannel]

yes and no

[@therandomman6647]

If electric was really such a viable option over gas already, you would see large companies using it throughout their means of production more frequently, since money is everything and they need to do everything to pinch a penny. It is cheap to produce and easy to market. That is it.

[@HomeGaragechannel]

agreed!

[@CraigArndt]

Interesting video, hang on to your stuff and learn to fix things, it’s important. Corporations aren’t listening to their customers, they’re listening to the Government, Boards, and DEI groups. Ford, GM, Bud Lite,they flipped the finger to customers. The forced push to batteries that need to be changed after 10 minutes of mowing is absurd. It’s not about the environment like they tell you, it’s about control.

[@HomeGaragechannel]

Totally agree with you!

[@Idkx2ummm]

Do you let all the oil seed down into the crank case before checking the oil because when I check the oil I bump it on the sides and then I get an inaccurate reading 4:52

[@HomeGaragechannel]

no I don't

[@Idkx2ummm]

@@HomeGaragechannel OK

[@mr1pearl]

I like the John Deere Green better 😊

[@HomeGaragechannel]

agreed

[@rubberduck4966]

You forgot the Spoon-like thing below the air filter to reinstall.

[@HomeGaragechannel]

hey you're the first person to notice it!

[@johndenver8574]

In the end it's all about money. Not about saving the climate.

[@HomeGaragechannel]

seems that way

[@trevorbenes219]

I will try to keep me homelite sx 135 bandit and very simple 90s push mower with a tecumseh engine running as long as possible

[@HomeGaragechannel]

nice choice!

[@ethanmiller3935]

I will buy commercial equipment new from the start, then l don't have to worry about change down the road bc l will take care of it.

[@HomeGaragechannel]

good choice!

[@skippythetubrat]

Sorry for the Wall O' Text. I'm not opposed to change. I am opposed to being forced to buy equipment that is purposely made to be difficult for the homeowner to repair. I don't like the forced upgrade path and will avoid participating in it whenever possible. I bought a Kobalt electric mower two years ago. I liked it quite a bit. I liked the convenience of not having to go buy gasoline. I liked not having to do oil changes. I liked how quietly it ran. Last year I managed to hit a piece of concrete with the blade while cutting the lawn. The lawn mower shut down and wouldn't start back up. I can't find any information on doing the repair myself. I was stuck with a $350 piece of plastic that did me no good. I certainly wasn't going to repeat that mistake. So, I went out and bought a used gasoline powered Troy-Bilt with a Honda GCV160 engine. It was clean, had obviously been garage-kept, and didn't look to have much wear on it. I paid $100. It started OK, but took two to three pulls to start when cold. It seemed to me to run at low RPMs. The air filter cover wanted to fall off. The front wheels wouldn't maintain height. There was oil seepage coming through that hole in the case where the governor arm fits though. I sorted the air filter cover with a Bic lighter. I heated up the tabs and held them in the right position until the plastic cooled. $0 fix. While investigating the front wheels/axle, I noted that the front axle wasn't in the right position. It had fallen behind the plastic tab designed to hold it in place. I repeated the Bic lighter trick on the plastic there. $0 fix. The front wheels would still flop, but not as easily. So, I used inserted the tip of a screwdriver into the detent designed to fit into the slots to hold position and beat it with a hammer to make that detent a little bit deeper. I then beat the bracket with a mallet & a floor chisel. Now the wheels hold the height fine. $0 fix. I had to replace the recoil mechanism as it was missing a ratchet. That was $18. I bought a Honda seal from Amazon for the oil seepage. $5. I adjusted the governor arm so that the mower is working at a higher RPM range (but nowhere near the max per the specs). $0 fix. I bought a package of four air filters from Amazon for $9. I changed the oil. After doing all that it ran well but still had an occasional catch/hiccup in it. So, I pulled the carb and gave it a good cleaning. I cleaned the holes in the emulsifier using a bit of guitar string. $0 fix. Now it runs like it was brand new. I know it has to be about 10 years old at this point. For $122 and a little bit of elbow grease I have a mower that should last me for several years. That's $230 less than a new electric mower would cost. Next up: tearing down the electric mower to see if I can figure out that electrical issue...

[@HomeGaragechannel]

thank you for sharing your experience, yes the electric is unfortunately going to be a goner once you take a look inside.

[@skippythetubrat]

@@HomeGaragechannel I have already written off the Kobalt in my mind. I am not skilled at diagnosing electrical circuits. The way I see it, if it wasn't borked before I tear into it, it probably will be once I'm done. Still, I'm going to take it as an opportunity to learn!

[@jesussantibanez6711]

Nice video ✌️✌️✌️

[@HomeGaragechannel]

Thanks ✌️

[@kirbyvanduzer6565]

I’ve noticed there have been a lot of re visits of old videos has there been no new finds or is it just the time of year that there is nothing to get

[@HomeGaragechannel]

Not much stuff to pick up because of the cold, besides I shoot all my videos outside. Kind of tough to do when it's 30 Degrees F and lower.

[@kirbyvanduzer6565]

@@HomeGaragechannel yeah this time of year their ain’t much you must live up north it’s not good to film in the snow the truth is the re visiting videos are ones that I haven’t seen so I’m still enjoying them what state do you live in

[@berardia4]

I haven't used a lawn boy 2 stroke but based the use in snow snowthrowers, the 2 stroke does not have the torque a 4 stroke does and is not as good in this application.

[@HomeGaragechannel]

yes torque is a different issue when it comes to snowblowers

[@brianandrews7099]

I am not opposed to change when change means improvement, but (as you outlined) most recent changes in consumer goods isn’t based on improvements, but cost savings and maximizing profits for the manufacturers. I rarely buy anything considered to be “top of the line”; partially because I am cheap but partly for psychological reasons. When I do actually spend the money for something that is high end, I have high expectations from it’s performance. By nature, I am not impressed by “bells and whistles” nor by status symbol products that I can’t (at least) find beauty in, so paying up to impress (myself or others) is not something I factor into lawn equipment. If I am not paying up and getting a high quality machine that lasts for decades and rarely breaks down, then I would much prefer to buy a more generic, “middle of the line” machine with more basic features (less to service or break down in the years to come) and a better availability of competitively priced parts out there to help me keep them running for as long as absolutely possible and for minimal expense! If a high end machine is troublesome, complicated to service and repair, and parts are difficult and expensive to obtain, I would quickly become disappointed and disheartened with the machine and I would try to get it back into good working order, clean it up, and sell it in hopes that it’s reputation is enough to get myself top dollar for it to reinvest into a cheaper new or tough older used machine that will better meet my needs and expectations. I have come to realize that I am priced out of buying new “big ticket” items every few years just for the sake of change or as a ‘treat’ to myself as doing so has become a luxury I can no longer afford! The story of Lawn Boy reminds me very much of what happened to Snapper, who also once built tough, reliable machines that would last for decades; only to be reduced to brand badged engineered, run-of-the-mill, disposable plastic Walmart machines. I don’t really consider it change as much as I do greed and giving the customer less value for more cost.

[@HomeGaragechannel]

this was a very good comment.

[@Agishus]

Those engines looks like a Honda clone

[@HomeGaragechannel]

yes they do.

[@NerfCraft]

I don't mind cost saving changes being made to modern equipment, but the purchase price should reflect the quality of the product. Unfortunately, even though plastic is being used to replace a lot of metal parts nowadays, the prices for those products are still going up, and the products just aren't lasting as long as they should. My parents even just had a refrigerator go out that was only 2.5 years old. Seems to me a several hundred dollar appliance should be able to last at least a decade. Of course the refrigerator is not designed to be easily serviceable, and the cost to repair it was going to be nearly 3 times the original price of the fridge, meaning there was no choice, but to throw away the fridge and buy a new one. My biggest issue is that the government is putting laws and regulations in place requiring manufacturers to meet certain guidelines to supposedly save the environment, but the increasingly strict regulations require more complex equipment, and combined with the poor quality, and high repair costs, it seems we are just constantly throwing things away that should have lasted 4 times longer, and as a result, doing more harm to the environment than good. And of course consumers get screwed since they constantly have to spend hundreds of dollars to replace equipment and appliances every couple of years, when they should have been able to last a couple of decades. It's not sustainable or affordable for anyone except the corporation's wallets. On another note, I find it interesting that you don't seem to care for that Kohler engine. I've had several Toro Recyclers with similar Kohler engines, and they work quite well for me. I have not found them to be all that difficult to work on, nor have I had issues getting parts for any of them, and they seem to be pretty reliable, as well as quite powerful. Now given the choice between the Kohler, or a Classic/Quantum Briggs, I'm definitely going Briggs, but if for some reason the Briggs was not an option, I would not be disappointed to get the Kohler.

[@HomeGaragechannel]

I had a lot of experience with them, and a "good" portion seem to develop an oil leak which most other engines don't get. That's a very serious issue in my book to have to fix.

[@NerfCraft]

@@HomeGaragechannel Strange, I don't think I've ever seen one leak oil, and to be honest, even if it did leak a little, I'd probably just ignore it until it gets worse.

[@HomeGaragechannel]

I wish It was a small leak, it's a massive leak in oil sump gasket. All oil is gone in minutes of running.

[@HomeGaragechannel]

I have a couple of videos on this and my other channel showing the problem. All needed the engine to be removed, sump take off, old gasket cleaned and either replaced or sometimes I'll just use RTV.

[@NerfCraft]

@@HomeGaragechannel Interesting. Thanks for the info! I'll be sure to keep an eye on mine and reference your videos in case the issue ever comes up.

[@aldoclausi3955]

American went from a durable product economy to a consumable product economy. Lawn boy made durable products that would last a generation so they lost sales to companies making product that lasted the season and you had to buy another one. It's good for the economy but bad for consumers.

[@HomeGaragechannel]

I like they way you put that

[@Tjandeli]

I made a lego lawn mower so check it out

[@HomeGaragechannel]

I will

[@ImSrry4BeingWhite]

Lol Kohler. They make toilets and engines. coincidence? I think not

[@HomeGaragechannel]

hey! you're right!

[@EvertonParkins]

I

[@HomeGaragechannel]

II

[@warpig372]

First!!!!

[@HomeGaragechannel]

thanks