I bought a 23" POWERSMART self propelled about 4 years ago for $250! It is much nicer than the one u r doing video on. I have a huge hilly, rocky double lot 200' long yard & so do my neighbors which I mow(& others,I'm the local "unpaid gardener")so it has gotten a lot of heavy duty use! It holds(& uses)ALOT of gas & it also moves fast,I had to learn to "dance" with it as it was throwing me around. I've had no problems except a broken drive belt this spring & POWERSMART sent me a complimentary one! Free! Mine has a big sturdy metal one handle height adjustment,with metal bracket & I love that there is no priming needed for starting!Just pull & go! It usually starts on one pull & makes a ringing sound. It has a big 196cc engine,a lot of power & the gas goes into the large tank like regular mowers. It mulches everything including branches!This replaced my very expensive TORO Recycler(which I loved)after 17 years!But...this is the BEST MOWER I have ever had! My 30 yr old neighbor made fun of it until he used it!Yeah! My mower(affectionately nick named"The BEAST")showed him who's the cool cat around here! Now my neighbor wants to always use my mower! I love mowing the lawn with it,it's just a great,fun,powerful mower! I LOVE it!(ps: I'm 69 lightweight woman, this mower can pull me up a hilly grade).
DON'T WASTE YOUR MONEY!!! This device is real crap. cheap is expensive! It didn't even last a month and a strap broke. The worst thing is that not even the brand itself sells that piece. It's so depressing that they don't respond to my messages either. Unfortunately I lost my money and a lot more time looking for the damn damaged part.
I bought a powersmart self propelled mower a couple years ago and just love it. One pull usually starts it every time. Mows great too. This is June now into this year and I was mowing along and one of the back tires just fell off. The bolt was still tight so has to be the insides of it. Anyway, emailed them (cause everytime I try calling I get a recording that says...you're very important to us and an agent will be right with you....then after I wait a while the call just cuts off ). So emailed and told them my issue and it was great to hear that it was still under the 3 year warranty so they said it wouldn't cost me anything for the parts. Well, still waiting and waiting. I try emailing them again and no response. So hopefully I hear from them or get the parts in the mail. Other than that...love the mower.
Tried to email them and call, no response. I have been waiting for a month now. When I call their support the line disconnects after waiting for 2+ hours. Wouldn't recommend this brand to anyone.
I am a lawnmower technician, I have run my own business for 9 years, worked for 6 years before that for Sears as lawnmower technician and have been a small engine mechanic for about 30 years... These mowers are trash. Some of the worst mowers I have ever seen. MTD makes some absolute garbage to complete with these (or the other way around) but I'm pretty sure these are the worst I have ever seen. If you want to buy a mower every few years and throw your old one in the trash, then get one of these. If you want something that is pleasant to use and will last for decades .... well... That's getting harder and harder these days but there are still lots out there. Every Powersmart mower I have ever seen / worked on is harsh, unrefined, very loud, even when compared to other really bad mowers.
@@nursemcfarlane6655 While there isn't any one brand that I can recommend, as all brands make at least some garbage mowers, there are also great mowers from almost every brand, if you know what to look for. Most if it has to do with engine selection. You can get Honda engines on mowers, but without the Honda name, so they are a lot less money. Toro, Lawnboy, Cub Cadet, Troy-Bilt, Ariens, Poulan Pro, Husqvarna etc. Stay away from features that you don't need. The more features a mower has, the more things there are to fail and cost you money. The new EX series briggs engine isn't my favorite thing ever, but they stopped making their really good consumer grade engine in 2021. They are actually pretty good engines, HOWEVER, many of them come with a sticker on the engine that tells you to never change the oil "Just Check And Add" There is not magic technology that allows you to do this, they are simply trying to guarantee that you are back to purchase a new mower soon after the warranty is up. I have seen many of these older than 10 years old that are in perfect condition, just remember to service it like any other mower. The only other thing I don't like about them is that the fuel line is VERY short and makes it impossible to install an inline fuel filter. If you are careless with your fuel, debris will end up in the carburetor. I would avoid the models with a primer and foam air filter. Foam filters work well if you clean them after ever few uses, but most people don't do that, so debris will start to bypass the filter. Kohler makes several great engines as well , so that is an option to consider. They have the same foam filter issues as with Briggs, but you actually have to remove the filter cover to see what filter it has. Most models with a foam filter can simply have the filter replaced with a paper one. As with the Honda and Briggs engines, these come on all sorts of brands, and if you purchase one with your basic features, you will probably get a very good mower. Avoid electric start as they are all made poorly with lead acid batteries that will fail in a few years. Most do not charge while in use and have to be plugged in. People usually wait till they are dead to charge them and in this case they only last months or a year. Avoid ANY engine that you don't recognize the engine brand or that they don't proudly label the engine. PowerMore, Powersmart, LCT. Basically, Honda, Kohler and Briggs are the only engines that I recommend currently and if you are buying used, then Tecumseh as well.
PowerSmart Self Propelled Gas Lawn Mower, 21-Inch Steel Deck 170cc Engine I paid 270 so I figure two years and Im good. I just bought it and my problem is the pull . It like walking a huge dog ..and Im 250lb! I know its not adjustable at the handle but is it possible I could have it slowed down I mean like half the speed .
You may have missed a couple of points on this mower. Where can you get parts? Who can you get to work on it when it breaks? Did you check the wear on those belts underneath the deck. They wear out prematurely and then you can't find replacement parts. These mowers have tons of issues and you can't get parts or someone to work on them or talk to the manufacture.
Exactly. I have a powersmart lawnmover and the things runs great but there are no replacement parts for it. Not even on the website. I need to replace the filter and can't find one. They dont even have replacement grass catchers for it. For that reason I would say to steer clear of this brand.
Hey Broder! Prices fluctuate a lot on these with their sales and the crazy inflation. I did a video last year on a mower and the price went up over $100. Now everyone is telling me I got the price wrong lol. It’s just best if I link it. Thanks for watching
Hard pass for me. One thing I have learned is to stick with well known brands. B&S, Honda, Kohler, etc. I would rather purchase the basic entry level machine with a B&S engine on it. Proven track record with decades engine building experience. In my opinion, I feel a first time buyer would be better served with a basic Bolens from MTD. My Bolens with the B&S 450E is going on its ninth year. My advice would be avoid the no name China mower and buy a well known name brand which will have better quality control and parts will be easy to get as the mower ages. Keep rocking your Honda and Troy Built.
Its seems to be a nice mower but i agree. Chinese motors don't do well and always underperformed the competition. Plenty of RUclips videos prove that point. And China. The last couple years I've made a conscious effort to avoid Chinese made products. Its hard and not always possible but i believe its worth it. I'd rather pay more for quality.
I used it maybe ten times since I bought it a couple of months ago. The motor seems to be worn slap out. I kept my Troy-Bilt running for more than 15 years. I can't get this one to start anymore. And if we can't even get through to speak to anyone by email or phone call, what good is the warranty? Don't buy it. It's just some of that awesome China pride.
these engines aren't complicated, im not gonna keep a mower for 15 years anyway, for half the price of the recently price gouged honda and B&S mowers ($399.00 for base models) id give this one a try
Great review. You mentioned the height adjustment, I noticed that and I was going to say the same thing. Not really 100% on the vertical/horizontal gear assembly. I wonder how many plastic gears they are using lol. No but seriously for a budget mower, I guess, but with the small gas tank and all the other cons, your best off spending a little more, but that’s my 2 cents
Hey Bud! I would agree! Like anything if you’re gonna use it a lot you might as well spend your money wisely on a good item! The pinion gears are solid metal inside and pretty heavy duty! Interested to see how they hold up long term! Thanks for watching bud!
I could’ve sworn that Powersmart already had a vertical shaft engine for these mowers, either it was unreliable and they wanted to use something different or the company that made the engine cut the ties with them. Those pinion gears look like the part that is most likely going to break on these things, either from normal wear or hitting something hard enough to stall the mower out. But overall I think this mower is alright for those who are just getting by, at least the engine is mostly metal unlike the new Briggs engines.
Hey bcserk, they do still sell vertical shaft engines on Amazon with those mowers, but I think they were aiming for more power. Anything cool coming up this week?
PowerSmart Self Propelled Gas Lawn Mower, 21-Inch Steel Deck 170cc Engine just purchased. It pulls you like walking a large dog . I know its not adjustable from the handle but could I have someone slow it down ? I see you mentioned speed here . I wonder if the setting for the less powerful mowers is the same for the 170cc.
The problem I have... The front axle isn't attached to the metal frame at all. That black plastic isn't only a dust cover, it's where all of the components are located. The plastic piece is held to the frame with only two screws. One about an inch from the side. I live in Florida. It's hot and humid af. I cut my yard and my neighbors around 9am. I hosed it off and cleaned it but decided to leave it outside on the deck while I went off. I come back at 6pm and the deck is literally on the ground in the front no matter the height. The plastic in the heat had melted whatever structural integrity it had from factory. Which wasn't much. It's not something that even crossed my mind when looking at it online for possible issues. It's a ridiculous engineering flaw. Grass doesn't grow in the winter, there's a blade spinning at high rpm under the deck, the combustion motor is mounted directly above the blade. It doesn't take a degree from MIT to understand that those facts and thus the entire thing is going to be subject to heat from every side, top to bottom.
Funny. They won't answer any emails and I get automatically disconnected when I call. The lawn more will not start anymore. First it just petered out and it was very difficult to get started again. Once I finally got it started again. The blade wouldn't spin. Opened it up the find a belt had come off of the blade shaft. I put the belt back on. Now it doesn't run anymore. I used it about ten times. I have checked everything. There's nothing left to check. I'm thinking.....don't even think of buying this garbage. There is zero customer service.
I’ve been hearing that a lot about the customer service issue. If I hear anything about contacting them, I’ll let you know. Thanks for sharing your experience with the company.
I've mowed about a 1/4 acre lot almost twice. Hard pull to start but ran well. After using a push mower for a long time, the self propelled was nice. Last time I ran it until out of gas and now won't start at all. I'm hoping I can return it to Walmart.
Nice video JB. I liked the fact that the mower is a little overpowered. This is especially important this time of year when the grass is growing so fast and it's hard to keep up with during this time of the mowing season. However, with extra power there's got to be a trade off with higher fuel consumption as you indicated in your video. Thanks for sharing your thoughts. 🙂
not an honest review, you sweetened it up for the free mower. I hav this mower and the speed is far too fast. im 40 yrs old and I go to the gym often.. my teens say the same thing, this thing makes u power walk to keep up with it. The Start up and vibration of this thing screams im cheaply made. I hit a landscaping brick and the shaft underneath is now loose as a goose and flopping in the wind.
Love this Channel. How about a video on what to do with a snowblower that was hardly used at all over the last winter season. I don't think I ran my snowblower more than an hour or so. We had a very mild winter in South Central PA. Does it need a full servicing?
Thanks for being a cool fan of the channel. I think you should check the oil and see if it needs to be changed, drain the gas, spray it down with a protective coating quickly, and if anything needs lubrication hit it quick!
5:22 That's not the only way they recommend you drain the oil, you can simply tilt the mower on it's side (air filter facing up) to drain from the oil fill location. That drain hole in the deck is also for draining the fuel. Powersmart has a video on this on their channel.
@@GarageGear Strange , they could of drilled a bigger hole and install a removable grommet. I wonder if the mower will last as long as mine, 9 years and like new.
I made that comment ,then watched the video😂. Glad you said about the adjuster, It being out front its going to get impacted 💥🪃 boomerang, keeps coming back to be fixed.
did i miss something on this mower, can the side discharge attachment be left on all the time. I saw no way to screwing it on. does not take a lot to knock it off
Hey Doug! If you want to side discharge all the time you can leave it in place all the time. It does not bolt on. It just hooks on. Thanks for watching
I have discovered more than once that pull, pull, pull and never start. Then all of a sudden it does. Have you noticed this? Side note gas tank full, primed and safety bar secured. When I does start it's like it works really hard to get rpm up
@@douglasrawe ok Doug thanks for letting me know. I would try to use ethanol free gas from now on. Small engines run a lot better on it. See if that helps you out.
This is an intriguing design, with the horizontal shaft and pinion gear assembly. You mentioned something about maintenance on this area, and i see a fill / inspection plug. If the gear lubricant can be drained & refilled, maybe someone who likes to take care of stuff could get a lot of use out of it. But if that becomes a common first point of failure, then maybe some of these engines will end up repurposed on stuff like old garden tillers or edgers or small generators or single stage snow blowers. We shall see,
I’ve enjoyed mine so far. About a yr and a half in I had to buy new tires they broke off now I’m trying to fix (non small engine or big engine repair person here) it’s running so fast and shutting down.
@@gothlyfe341 ok sounds like your linkages are placed wrong but I’m not sure . Hard to tell without seeing it. I would recommend getting it into a shop to have it looked at.
Over all good review. But I've been hearing people having problems with the handle bars where they mount to the deck being weak with the bolts braking through the plastic mounts and I've heard some people say when they take them out of the box they already have broken wheel. And alot of people who do small engine repair say stay away from Powersmart. That there sometimes hard to start and getting parts is not easy. But at the price point there selling for it's not hard to think about buying one compared to what other mowers are going for now a days so I guess if your looking for a mower that will last maybe 2 to 3 seasons it maybe worth the risks.
Hey m1! Appreciate the feedback! These mowers are not meant to last forever. I’ve been hearing mixed reviews as well since this video went public. Proper maintenance will go a long way with these mowers! Thanks for watching!
I own this mower…Powersmart just gave me a full refund after snapping a belt for a second time. The plastic cover, which is supposed to protect the belt allows dirt and debris, which then accumulates on the pulleys causing the belt to come off….no bueno!! Well yes the engine is powerful the design not so powerful. Like your reviews and knowledge!!
I guess my only question would be how that pinion gear transfer was designed and manufactured. That's a lot of non-reduced RPM's whipping through that thing. Also, that metal-on -plastic wheel lock system is a failure waiting to happen, like you said JB. The one and only thing I didn't like about my TB Storm snow blower was the metal gear selector going into plastic notches. I fabricated a metal plate with the notches, and mounted it underneath the control panel to solve that problem. But I'm not sure how you would fix that on this PS mower, Awesome stuff, JB!! Keep it up my brother!!! 😎
"Ya get what ya pay for" comes to mind. My crystal ball shows me, premature wheel wear, rusted out decks and breakage of plastic on metal contact areas. Sadly, with regulations imposed on manufacturers, it's opened the door for "just as good as" models, but are they really?
I agree. There is no way this mower will outlast a B&S or Honda. I would advise a new mower buyer to purchase the entry level Bolens instead. It will be a better mower as time goes by. My model with B&S 450E is going on nine years now.
Impressive size engine on that mower JB! Not sure about the wheels and height adjusters though….plastic? Although…those stripes looked impressive. Next I’m sure is the battery version put to the test. The oil change would definitely be a mess. Maybe a larger hole would work. Grass looks nice buddy! Have a great weekend my friend! Cheers!
Pretty nice but I have a super recycler with the toro engine and just picked up a used push button start recycler with the 190cc briggs engine.i need that 4 inch cut.
Thank you so much for your assembly video you made it so easy and simple❤ now The little plastic thing on the side When i'm doing high grass it just won't stay on What should I do
You got it rozay! 👍 I assume you’re talking about the side discharge chute. Make sure the plastic hooks are placed underneath the metal bar when you lift up the side flap! That should hook it on fine for you! 👍
Hey bob! If you can find it keep a 5 gallon tank in your garage of it. That’s what I do so so I don’t have to go as often. Small engines run better on it and don’t have the same carburetor build up you see with regular pump gas! If you can find it near by I would recommend it! Thanks for watching
I can't find an air box cover for my 209cc. I was on the phone with the company for 40 minutes, but couldn't get through. It fell off on the way home from where I bought. Total bummer.
@@GarageGear I was looking to get a new mower. I currently have a battery powered one and it’s a snapper I bought while on sale and it seems a very low quality. Any suggestions or have you heard anything about the cadet. I think I prefer gas.
Nice balanced review, both Pros and Cons. I have a Powersmart snowblower, which is noisy, rattles, rusts, needs adjustment but is nicknamed the "Beast", as it just powers through everything. Also Powersmart customer service, while slow, is actually quite good and I would not hesitate on buying another Powersmart product. Good video again.
Awesome video like always I got lucky last year and found a polar pro lawnmower in the curb with a free sign Al it needed was a new carb was a plastic one with a crack in it
ALWAYS hit the like button w/ JB on tube, nice review, I heard of these mowers, like most other products has good @ bad points (don't put "Deathanol" in them before storage)!
Willing to bet that engine makes less power then any other mower engine, it's just geared lower through the pinion making it seem more powerful. Probably not great blade speed. Not good if you have a nice yard and want lift, but perfect for the target audience of people rarely moving with wet, overgrown grass.
But a big engine....more vibration and pollution. Belt drive... power losses, increased fuel consumption, increased maintenance. Interesting design though reinventing the wheel 🤔
POWERSMART IS JUNK. I had that brand and your pull core will be hard to pull and cut breaks and you'll have a useless POWERCRAP MOWER. The cost to add another pull cord is as much as a new mower. I gave a bad review on the mower I had. If someone gave me a free one I would take it but would never buy another one.
For a budget mover that actually seems pretty nice. At only 35 minutes of runtime, load free at that, would be my biggest complaint. I think that fuel tank size foreshadows that it's not a machine designed for a heavy workload. Nevertheless, good for the right customer.
Great channel man. Very informative for the layman while also being entertaining. I rescently purchased a Honda hrn216vka, and found a few of your videos really helpful. I subscribed and look forward to future content. Keep up the good work man.
Hey Andy! It’s not a bad mower! Obviously it’s not meant to last forever but could be a good mower if you’re in a pinch! Do you have a lawn care business?
$360-ish for this crap-load is literally throwing money away. Reviews of anything this brand makes are putting it mildly, bad. People say the wheels are junk and are prone to prematurely wearing out and/or just breaking apart - among other reported issues. Who knows maybe they're right...
So I can purchase this one at Menards right now for $199 after rebate or I can purchase a used Honda HRN216 for $350 What are your thoughts on that? I have a 1/2 acre lot
I bought one last year and it was the biggest piece of junk😊 I ever owned. Didn't even make it one cut without quitting. I took it back and did what I should have done in the first place - spend a little more for a good, name brand mower.
This mower is the biggest piece of crap I ever bought. I hit a acorn and the part under the motor Crack from the acorn don't ever buy this piece of crap.
Engine knocks that you can hear,sounds like a paid promo. Play back video and you can hear knock and it sounds like a craftsman which if your lucky it might last you 6 months...
I know this is a Chinese product, if I purchase this mower where can I purchase parts for it. Before you answer that question, if you don't know don't tell me to contact the seller because that never works with these Chinese products. Although you did a fantastic job reviewing this product I need to know six months down the road after I've purchased this mower and began to have problems with it how do I get replacement parts for it........
Haha it’s a tough little guy! I’m pretty sure they got rid of the hp rating because manufacturers were putting false hp claims on engines. Saying they were higher than they were. This came down to a few lawsuits. With cc ratings they can really lie. So those kinda took over. 209 is a lot for that mower. Have a good weekend my friend!
Do not buy! There's only 3 services centers in the U.S.A. and you cant get parts for it...spend the extra money and get a name brand or a used name brand..
@@GarageGear ... giving credit where credit is due ... usually if a part breaks on a chepe-schitt mower the part(s) is/are unobtainium ... but I had the replacement flange in about three days direct from Powersmart .. but the weird / goofy part is none of the regular maintenance items (belts, blades) were available ...at least Crapsman mowers I can get parts for. I'm tired of mowing the lawn I think I'll take a break ... cheers ... Keith Chicago IL
@@keithkornatoski9162 hey Keith I have been hearing similar things from other subscribers with their products. I won’t be dealing with PowerSmart going forward.
💥Here is a LINK to the LAWN MOWER used in this video! Thank you for supporting the channel! 👍 amzn.to/3Ai6diu
Looks like Amazon running low on this mower, listed at $523. However I see there's a similar Powersmart at Home Depot, did they make a new version
@@samueladams584 they have a couple versions of this mower. I would make sure it has a drive system before buying!
I bought a 23" POWERSMART self propelled about 4 years ago for $250! It is much nicer than the one u r doing video on. I have a huge hilly, rocky double lot 200' long yard & so do my neighbors which I mow(& others,I'm the local "unpaid gardener")so it has gotten a lot of heavy duty use! It holds(& uses)ALOT of gas & it also moves fast,I had to learn to "dance" with it as it was throwing me around. I've had no problems except a broken drive belt this spring & POWERSMART sent me a complimentary one! Free! Mine has a big sturdy metal one handle height adjustment,with metal bracket & I love that there is no priming needed for starting!Just pull & go! It usually starts on one pull & makes a ringing sound. It has a big 196cc engine,a lot of power & the gas goes into the large tank like regular mowers. It mulches everything including branches!This replaced my very expensive TORO Recycler(which I loved)after 17 years!But...this is the BEST MOWER I have ever had! My 30 yr old neighbor made fun of it until he used it!Yeah! My mower(affectionately nick named"The BEAST")showed him who's the cool cat around here! Now my neighbor wants to always use my mower! I love mowing the lawn with it,it's just a great,fun,powerful mower! I LOVE it!(ps: I'm 69 lightweight woman, this mower can pull me up a hilly grade).
Thanks for sharing this MK! Pretty cool they sent you a belt for free!
CAP 🧢
DON'T WASTE YOUR MONEY!!! This device is real crap. cheap is expensive! It didn't even last a month and a strap broke. The worst thing is that not even the brand itself sells that piece. It's so depressing that they don't respond to my messages either. Unfortunately I lost my money and a lot more time looking for the damn damaged part.
This is not the first time hearing this unfortunately. Thanks for sharing!
Doesn’t it have a 3 year warranty?
Strap?
I bought a powersmart self propelled mower a couple years ago and just love it. One pull usually starts it every time. Mows great too. This is June now into this year and I was mowing along and one of the back tires just fell off. The bolt was still tight so has to be the insides of it. Anyway, emailed them (cause everytime I try calling I get a recording that says...you're very important to us and an agent will be right with you....then after I wait a while the call just cuts off ). So emailed and told them my issue and it was great to hear that it was still under the 3 year warranty so they said it wouldn't cost me anything for the parts. Well, still waiting and waiting. I try emailing them again and no response. So hopefully I hear from them or get the parts in the mail. Other than that...love the mower.
Thanks for sharing this chevelle!
Tried to email them and call, no response. I have been waiting for a month now. When I call their support the line disconnects after waiting for 2+ hours. Wouldn't recommend this brand to anyone.
@@datdude8484guht thanks for sharing this with the community!
I am a lawnmower technician, I have run my own business for 9 years, worked for 6 years before that for Sears as lawnmower technician and have been a small engine mechanic for about 30 years... These mowers are trash. Some of the worst mowers I have ever seen. MTD makes some absolute garbage to complete with these (or the other way around) but I'm pretty sure these are the worst I have ever seen.
If you want to buy a mower every few years and throw your old one in the trash, then get one of these. If you want something that is pleasant to use and will last for decades .... well... That's getting harder and harder these days but there are still lots out there.
Every Powersmart mower I have ever seen / worked on is harsh, unrefined, very loud, even when compared to other really bad mowers.
Thanks for sharing
Which lawnmowers do you recommend?
@@nursemcfarlane6655 While there isn't any one brand that I can recommend, as all brands make at least some garbage mowers, there are also great mowers from almost every brand, if you know what to look for. Most if it has to do with engine selection.
You can get Honda engines on mowers, but without the Honda name, so they are a lot less money. Toro, Lawnboy, Cub Cadet, Troy-Bilt, Ariens, Poulan Pro, Husqvarna etc. Stay away from features that you don't need. The more features a mower has, the more things there are to fail and cost you money.
The new EX series briggs engine isn't my favorite thing ever, but they stopped making their really good consumer grade engine in 2021. They are actually pretty good engines, HOWEVER, many of them come with a sticker on the engine that tells you to never change the oil "Just Check And Add" There is not magic technology that allows you to do this, they are simply trying to guarantee that you are back to purchase a new mower soon after the warranty is up. I have seen many of these older than 10 years old that are in perfect condition, just remember to service it like any other mower. The only other thing I don't like about them is that the fuel line is VERY short and makes it impossible to install an inline fuel filter. If you are careless with your fuel, debris will end up in the carburetor. I would avoid the models with a primer and foam air filter. Foam filters work well if you clean them after ever few uses, but most people don't do that, so debris will start to bypass the filter.
Kohler makes several great engines as well , so that is an option to consider. They have the same foam filter issues as with Briggs, but you actually have to remove the filter cover to see what filter it has. Most models with a foam filter can simply have the filter replaced with a paper one. As with the Honda and Briggs engines, these come on all sorts of brands, and if you purchase one with your basic features, you will probably get a very good mower.
Avoid electric start as they are all made poorly with lead acid batteries that will fail in a few years. Most do not charge while in use and have to be plugged in. People usually wait till they are dead to charge them and in this case they only last months or a year.
Avoid ANY engine that you don't recognize the engine brand or that they don't proudly label the engine. PowerMore, Powersmart, LCT. Basically, Honda, Kohler and Briggs are the only engines that I recommend currently and if you are buying used, then Tecumseh as well.
PowerSmart Self Propelled Gas Lawn Mower, 21-Inch Steel Deck 170cc Engine I paid 270 so I figure two years and Im good. I just bought it and my problem is the pull . It like walking a huge dog ..and Im 250lb! I know its not adjustable at the handle but is it possible I could have it slowed down I mean like half the speed .
You may have missed a couple of points on this mower. Where can you get parts? Who can you get to work on it when it breaks? Did you check the wear on those belts underneath the deck. They wear out prematurely and then you can't find replacement parts. These mowers have tons of issues and you can't get parts or someone to work on them or talk to the manufacture.
Thanks for watching
Exactly. I have a powersmart lawnmover and the things runs great but there are no replacement parts for it. Not even on the website. I need to replace the filter and can't find one. They dont even have replacement grass catchers for it. For that reason I would say to steer clear of this brand.
Why not mention the cost? That's important to most when buying a new mower.
Hey Broder! Prices fluctuate a lot on these with their sales and the crazy inflation. I did a video last year on a mower and the price went up over $100. Now everyone is telling me I got the price wrong lol. It’s just best if I link it. Thanks for watching
239 I paid at walmart
Hard pass for me. One thing I have learned is to stick with well known brands. B&S, Honda, Kohler, etc. I would rather purchase the basic entry level machine with a B&S engine on it. Proven track record with decades engine building experience. In my opinion, I feel a first time buyer would be better served with a basic Bolens from MTD. My Bolens with the B&S 450E is going on its ninth year. My advice would be avoid the no name China mower and buy a well known name brand which will have better quality control and parts will be easy to get as the mower ages. Keep rocking your Honda and Troy Built.
Its seems to be a nice mower but i agree. Chinese motors don't do well and always underperformed the competition. Plenty of RUclips videos prove that point. And China. The last couple years I've made a conscious effort to avoid Chinese made products. Its hard and not always possible but i believe its worth it. I'd rather pay more for quality.
Thanks for the feedback and for watching
I used it maybe ten times since I bought it a couple of months ago. The motor seems to be worn slap out. I kept my Troy-Bilt running for more than 15 years. I can't get this one to start anymore. And if we can't even get through to speak to anyone by email or phone call, what good is the warranty? Don't buy it. It's just some of that awesome China pride.
these engines aren't complicated, im not gonna keep a mower for 15 years anyway, for half the price of the recently price gouged honda and B&S mowers ($399.00 for base models) id give this one a try
Great review. You mentioned the height adjustment, I noticed that and I was going to say the same thing. Not really 100% on the vertical/horizontal gear assembly. I wonder how many plastic gears they are using lol. No but seriously for a budget mower, I guess, but with the small gas tank and all the other cons, your best off spending a little more, but that’s my 2 cents
Hey Bud! I would agree! Like anything if you’re gonna use it a lot you might as well spend your money wisely on a good item! The pinion gears are solid metal inside and pretty heavy duty! Interested to see how they hold up long term! Thanks for watching bud!
I could’ve sworn that Powersmart already had a vertical shaft engine for these mowers, either it was unreliable and they wanted to use something different or the company that made the engine cut the ties with them. Those pinion gears look like the part that is most likely going to break on these things, either from normal wear or hitting something hard enough to stall the mower out. But overall I think this mower is alright for those who are just getting by, at least the engine is mostly metal unlike the new Briggs engines.
Hey bcserk, they do still sell vertical shaft engines on Amazon with those mowers, but I think they were aiming for more power. Anything cool coming up this week?
PowerSmart Self Propelled Gas Lawn Mower, 21-Inch Steel Deck 170cc Engine just purchased. It pulls you like walking a large dog . I know its not adjustable from the handle but could I have someone slow it down ? I see you mentioned speed here . I wonder if the setting for the less powerful mowers is the same for the 170cc.
@@glenthecarguy I don’t believe there’s a way to slow it down. There are no adjustments
The problem I have... The front axle isn't attached to the metal frame at all. That black plastic isn't only a dust cover, it's where all of the components are located. The plastic piece is held to the frame with only two screws. One about an inch from the side. I live in Florida. It's hot and humid af. I cut my yard and my neighbors around 9am. I hosed it off and cleaned it but decided to leave it outside on the deck while I went off. I come back at 6pm and the deck is literally on the ground in the front no matter the height. The plastic in the heat had melted whatever structural integrity it had from factory. Which wasn't much. It's not something that even crossed my mind when looking at it online for possible issues. It's a ridiculous engineering flaw. Grass doesn't grow in the winter, there's a blade spinning at high rpm under the deck, the combustion motor is mounted directly above the blade. It doesn't take a degree from MIT to understand that those facts and thus the entire thing is going to be subject to heat from every side, top to bottom.
Thanks for sharing this information
Funny. They won't answer any emails and I get automatically disconnected when I call. The lawn more will not start anymore. First it just petered out and it was very difficult to get started again. Once I finally got it started again. The blade wouldn't spin. Opened it up the find a belt had come off of the blade shaft. I put the belt back on. Now it doesn't run anymore. I used it about ten times. I have checked everything. There's nothing left to check. I'm thinking.....don't even think of buying this garbage. There is zero customer service.
I’ve been hearing that a lot about the customer service issue. If I hear anything about contacting them, I’ll let you know. Thanks for sharing your experience with the company.
I've seen ads for this mower, but I am sceptical on quality, wheels and deck seem like it won't last more than 4 seasons
This is definitely not a mower that will last a lifetime but a good budget mower for a few years. Thanks for watching
Good luck finding a repair shop or parts when it breaks.
I heard this is becoming more difficult
Having that problem as i type this🤬🤬🤬
As soon as he mentioned that he was given several lawnmowers to review… out went the unbiased review. Next!
Hey pete! Did you watch the second half of the video where I discuss the negatives with this mower?
I've mowed about a 1/4 acre lot almost twice. Hard pull to start but ran well. After using a push mower for a long time, the self propelled was nice. Last time I ran it until out of gas and now won't start at all. I'm hoping I can return it to Walmart.
Thanks for sharing this!
Nice video JB. I liked the fact that the mower is a little overpowered. This is especially important this time of year when the grass is growing so fast and it's hard to keep up with during this time of the mowing season. However, with extra power there's got to be a trade off with higher fuel consumption as you indicated in your video. Thanks for sharing your thoughts. 🙂
Hey Robert! Definitely can power through tall grass and drinks gas! Great for those long lawn mows. Hope all is well on your end!
higher fuel consumption? youll have to buy an extra gallon each season, is that extra 3 bucks really gonna hurt your bottom line? 🤣
not an honest review, you sweetened it up for the free mower. I hav this mower and the speed is far too fast. im 40 yrs old and I go to the gym often.. my teens say the same thing, this thing makes u power walk to keep up with it. The Start up and vibration of this thing screams im cheaply made. I hit a landscaping brick and the shaft underneath is now loose as a goose and flopping in the wind.
Thanks for watching
Love this Channel. How about a video on what to do with a snowblower that was hardly used at all over the last winter season. I don't think I ran my snowblower more than an hour or so. We had a very mild winter in South Central PA. Does it need a full servicing?
Thanks for being a cool fan of the channel. I think you should check the oil and see if it needs to be changed, drain the gas, spray it down with a protective coating quickly, and if anything needs lubrication hit it quick!
5:22 That's not the only way they recommend you drain the oil, you can simply tilt the mower on it's side (air filter facing up) to drain from the oil fill location. That drain hole in the deck is also for draining the fuel. Powersmart has a video on this on their channel.
Thanks for sharing colton
That deck hole is there for better cutting efficiency, my tb110 has one. You have to keep it clear of debris.
@@egold1006 hey gold the manual states that hole is oil draining purposes. Thanks for watching
@@GarageGear Strange , they could of drilled a bigger hole and install a removable grommet. I wonder if the mower will last as long as mine, 9 years and like new.
@@egold1006 that’s not a bad idea! Keep that mower rocking!
That height adjuster is going to get wrecked . Good video.
Hey Michael I’m willing to bet those have a short lifespan. Thanks for watching bud!
I made that comment ,then watched the video😂. Glad you said about the adjuster, It being out front its going to get impacted 💥🪃 boomerang, keeps coming back to be fixed.
did i miss something on this mower, can the side discharge attachment be left on all the time. I saw no way to screwing it on. does not take a lot to knock it off
Hey Doug! If you want to side discharge all the time you can leave it in place all the time. It does not bolt on. It just hooks on. Thanks for watching
I have discovered more than once that pull, pull, pull and never start. Then all of a sudden it does. Have you noticed this? Side note gas tank full, primed and safety bar secured. When I does start it's like it works really hard to get rpm up
@@douglasrawe hey Doug how old is it and have you tried ethanol free gas?
@@GarageGear less than two weeks old. I am not sure on the ethanol part, but it also does sporadically
@@douglasrawe ok Doug thanks for letting me know. I would try to use ethanol free gas from now on. Small engines run a lot better on it. See if that helps you out.
This is an intriguing design, with the horizontal shaft and pinion gear assembly. You mentioned something about maintenance on this area, and i see a fill / inspection plug. If the gear lubricant can be drained & refilled, maybe someone who likes to take care of stuff could get a lot of use out of it. But if that becomes a common first point of failure, then maybe some of these engines will end up repurposed on stuff like old garden tillers or edgers or small generators or single stage snow blowers. We shall see,
I have a feeling the engine will outlast the rest of the mower itself. Thanks for watching!
No gear oil etc. just packed with grease !!
I’ve enjoyed mine so far. About a yr and a half in I had to buy new tires they broke off now I’m trying to fix (non small engine or big engine repair person here) it’s running so fast and shutting down.
Hi there! Just want to be clear, is it running then shutting down unexpectedly?
When the link from goner arm to throttle got knocked out it ran so fast it shut itself off when I put the link back on the throttle it barely starts
@@gothlyfe341 ok sounds like your linkages are placed wrong but I’m not sure . Hard to tell without seeing it. I would recommend getting it into a shop to have it looked at.
Over all good review. But I've been hearing people having problems with the handle bars where they mount to the deck being weak with the bolts braking through the plastic mounts and I've heard some people say when they take them out of the box they already have broken wheel. And alot of people who do small engine repair say stay away from Powersmart. That there sometimes hard to start and getting parts is not easy. But at the price point there selling for it's not hard to think about buying one compared to what other mowers are going for now a days so I guess if your looking for a mower that will last maybe 2 to 3 seasons it maybe worth the risks.
Hey m1! Appreciate the feedback! These mowers are not meant to last forever. I’ve been hearing mixed reviews as well since this video went public. Proper maintenance will go a long way with these mowers! Thanks for watching!
@@GarageGear O I agree 100 percent maintenance is the key now a days.
Where can I get parts ..oil screw
@@waggayaawd3835 Well from what I have heard if you need a part if have to get them threw Powersmart. I'm not sure what you mean by oil screw
I own this mower…Powersmart just gave me a full refund after snapping a belt for a second time. The plastic cover, which is supposed to protect the belt allows dirt and debris, which then accumulates on the pulleys causing the belt to come off….no bueno!! Well yes the engine is powerful the design not so powerful. Like your reviews and knowledge!!
Appreciate you my friend! Thanks for sharing this!
Where do you put the levers at for the tires
Are you talking about the level for the drive system to make it go in a gear?
@@GarageGear no the levers to raise the tires up and down I have a Power smart self propelled I just got it
@@user-yp6lp3ug2i oh ok I usually put them somewhere in the middle depending on how tall you want your grass to be!
@@GarageGear I want the grass to be short and when I put the levers all the way down it looks like I never even cut it. Unless it's the grass it self.
@@user-yp6lp3ug2i what kind of grass do you have and what state are you in?
I guess my only question would be how that pinion gear transfer was designed and manufactured. That's a lot of non-reduced RPM's whipping through that thing.
Also, that metal-on -plastic wheel lock system is a failure waiting to happen, like you said JB.
The one and only thing I didn't like about my TB Storm snow blower was the metal gear selector going into plastic notches.
I fabricated a metal plate with the notches, and mounted it underneath the control panel to solve that problem. But I'm not sure how you would fix that on this PS mower,
Awesome stuff, JB!! Keep it up my brother!!! 😎
Paul, you’re the man! I agree - there are a lot of RPM’s going to that pinion gear. We shall see if it holds up! What’s the plan for the week?
"Ya get what ya pay for" comes to mind. My crystal ball shows me, premature wheel wear, rusted out decks and breakage of plastic on metal contact areas. Sadly, with regulations imposed on manufacturers, it's opened the door for "just as good as" models, but are they really?
I agree. There is no way this mower will outlast a B&S or Honda. I would advise a new mower buyer to purchase the entry level Bolens instead. It will be a better mower as time goes by. My model with B&S 450E is going on nine years now.
Thanks for sharing!
Thanks for sharing!
Impressive size engine on that mower JB! Not sure about the wheels and height adjusters though….plastic? Although…those stripes looked impressive. Next I’m sure is the battery version put to the test. The oil change would definitely be a mess. Maybe a larger hole would work. Grass looks nice buddy! Have a great weekend my friend! Cheers!
You’re right! The electric one is coming up! You’re on to my video schedule lol your lawn looks great as well!
Thanks brother!
They put a small tank so the engine could cool for a little bit, that’s what I think and it makes sense
Thanks for sharing
Just got mine! Looking for anything that I might miss!
If you have any questions let me know!
Pretty nice but I have a super recycler with the toro engine and just picked up a used push button start recycler with the 190cc briggs engine.i need that 4 inch cut.
Awesome John! Need that height! Thanks for watching
Whats the horse power on that bad boy?
Probably about 6hp. Thanks for watching!
Thank you so much for your assembly video you made it so easy and simple❤ now The little plastic thing on the side When i'm doing high grass it just won't stay on What should I do
You got it rozay! 👍 I assume you’re talking about the side discharge chute. Make sure the plastic hooks are placed underneath the metal bar when you lift up the side flap! That should hook it on fine for you! 👍
I like the 3 in 1 but that oil change will be a pain in the ass.
100% agree! That oil change is terrible. Thanks for watching Carlos!
POWERSMART is Chinese for CaCa
Lol thanks for sharing
Eh, To be honest, not a fan. Great honest review! 👍
Appreciate you flint! Wait till you see the next one. 🤦♂️
DO NOT BUY! They never answer the warranty. Buy different brand
You’re not the only one to mention this unfortunately. This brand does not support their customers.
$523 for this YIKES!
Sounds like the price jumped!
This is a junk mower for a Cadillac price.
Do I really have to use ethanol free gas in a Powersmart mower? That fuel is very hard to find around here.
Hey bob! If you can find it keep a 5 gallon tank in your garage of it. That’s what I do so so I don’t have to go as often. Small engines run better on it and don’t have the same carburetor build up you see with regular pump gas! If you can find it near by I would recommend it! Thanks for watching
I can't find an air box cover for my 209cc. I was on the phone with the company for 40 minutes, but couldn't get through. It fell off on the way home from where I bought. Total bummer.
Parts are hard to find for these I hear. Perhaps look on eBay.
Do you have any reviews on the The Cub Cadet SC900
Not at the moment but that is a mower I would like to try out! 👍
@@GarageGear I was looking to get a new mower. I currently have a battery powered one and it’s a snapper I bought while on sale and it seems a very low quality. Any suggestions or have you heard anything about the cadet. I think I prefer gas.
@@MrRed1213 from what I hear cub cadets are decent. Would like to try one out myself. Welcome back to the world of gas equipment! 👍
@@GarageGear any recommendations?? And thank you for the advice so far
@@MrRed1213 I would check out Hondas before they’re gone.
I was gonna a order one but I settled for the troy built with the b&s engine 140cc .. I love it so far
Awesome thank you for sharing
Thanks for this review I just bought one and can’t wait to start cutting my grass lol
Awesome Peter enjoy the mow!
I own this PowerSmart😂
Thanks for sharing
I do have a 21” mower. My blade broke and I have been struggling to find a store to replace it. Any idea where I should go get the one, please?
@@adamatraore2286 hey Adam do you have a power smart mower?
@@GarageGear yes sir
i'm currently bidding on this lawn mower on Auction Nation for $30.. even more budget mower for this budget mower. this was super helpful
Good luck hope you win! Thanks for watching
Nice balanced review, both Pros and Cons. I have a Powersmart snowblower, which is noisy, rattles, rusts, needs adjustment but is nicknamed the "Beast", as it just powers through everything. Also Powersmart customer service, while slow, is actually quite good and I would not hesitate on buying another Powersmart product. Good video again.
Thanks a lot for sharing this. Appreciate your feedback. Hope your snowblower handles many more winters. Thanks for watching!
Good luck finding belt for it
Thanks for watching!
It’s a buy and throw out product unfortunately. Open that angle gear and you’ll see why. But it’s nice to finally watch an honest review 👌🏻
Keeping it honest around here DK! 👍thanks for watching
Awesome video like always I got lucky last year and found a polar pro lawnmower in the curb with a free sign Al it needed was a new carb was a plastic one with a crack in it
And still runs like new this year just got it out of storage
Thanks glitch! Love finding free equipment and making it work with a minor fix! How ya been bud?
@@GarageGear I been doing good just bit busy finding things that need to repair and flip them
@@GlitchEmpireBrett awesome my friend! Make that cash!
Ethenol free fuel ⛽ ? Is that good for mowers ? I never knew
It’s the best! 👍
ALWAYS hit the like button w/ JB on tube, nice review, I heard of these mowers, like most other products has good @ bad points (don't put "Deathanol" in them before storage)!
You rock, Yale! Very true! Absolutely spot on, my friend. Thanks for watching!
Willing to bet that engine makes less power then any other mower engine, it's just geared lower through the pinion making it seem more powerful. Probably not great blade speed. Not good if you have a nice yard and want lift, but perfect for the target audience of people rarely moving with wet, overgrown grass.
Thanks for sharing fv!
Ive seen 1200 cc engines that put out less than ten hp
Thanks for sharing
But a big engine....more vibration and pollution. Belt drive... power losses, increased fuel consumption, increased maintenance. Interesting design though reinventing the wheel 🤔
Thanks for sharing Nick!
@@GarageGear trust me I would love to try one 🙂
POWERSMART IS JUNK. I had that brand and your pull core will be hard to pull and cut breaks and you'll have a useless POWERCRAP MOWER. The cost to add another pull cord is as much as a new mower. I gave a bad review on the mower I had. If someone gave me a free one I would take it but would never buy another one.
Thanks for watching
716 squaaad let’s go
ROCK ON tminus! GO BILLS!
For a budget mover that actually seems pretty nice. At only 35 minutes of runtime, load free at that, would be my biggest complaint. I think that fuel tank size foreshadows that it's not a machine designed for a heavy workload. Nevertheless, good for the right customer.
Agreed. Thanks for watching!
Great channel man. Very informative for the layman while also being entertaining. I rescently purchased a Honda hrn216vka, and found a few of your videos really helpful. I subscribed and look forward to future content. Keep up the good work man.
Awesome Chris! Appreciate you my friend! 👍
We sell them at my store very cheaply made you get only a few years of use before needing a new one
Yeah, should get a couple years of good cutting before they need replacing. Thanks for watching!
I found deal on Amazon.. with lawnmower an blower for $249..
Thanks for sharing
For the price it's not too bad of a machine! I'll take my Toro recycler mower over this unit but if I was on a budget I'd buy this mower 100%
Hey Andy! It’s not a bad mower! Obviously it’s not meant to last forever but could be a good mower if you’re in a pinch! Do you have a lawn care business?
@Garage Gear I mow a few lawns for some neighbors
@@andyslawncareandoutdooradv ROCK ON BUD!
How do I tighten up the kill switch cord I got the same push mower
Do mean the pull cord?
as a small engine macanic DO NOT BUY THESE, THEY ARE JUNK! Even just staring at it you can see it falling apart.
Thanks for sharing
Where do you find parts? I have a rear 8 inch wheel needed. I seem to can’t find no where
I would contact the company or go on eBay. Thanks for watching
$360-ish for this crap-load is literally throwing money away. Reviews of anything this brand makes are putting it mildly, bad. People say the wheels are junk and are prone to prematurely wearing out and/or just breaking apart - among other reported issues. Who knows maybe they're right...
Yes, it is a budget mower. Thanks for the feedback and for watching.
Thank you so much u saved me from wasting $ - plastic wheels and height adjusters is a joke to me -
Thanks for watching
So I can purchase this one at Menards right now for $199 after rebate or I can purchase a used Honda HRN216 for $350 What are your thoughts on that? I have a 1/2 acre lot
Hey Chad! I would go the Honda route for that price. That’s $200 less than retail. Just make sure it runs pretty smooth! Thanks for watching!
Thanks for the reply and I appreciate the advice! 👍🏽 your videos are very informative.
@@chadstoneburg1564 appreciate you Chad!
I bought one last year and it was the biggest piece of junk😊 I ever owned. Didn't even make it one cut without quitting. I took it back and did what I should have done in the first place - spend a little more for a good, name brand mower.
Thanks for sharing
This mower is the biggest piece of crap I ever bought. I hit a acorn and the part under the motor Crack from the acorn don't ever buy this piece of crap.
Thanks for sharing anthony
Engine knocks that you can hear,sounds like a paid promo. Play back video and you can hear knock and it sounds like a craftsman which if your lucky it might last you 6 months...
Mentioned this was a paid promotion in the beginning of the video.
I know this is a Chinese product, if I purchase this mower where can I purchase parts for it. Before you answer that question, if you don't know don't tell me to contact the seller because that never works with these Chinese products. Although you did a fantastic job reviewing this product I need to know six months down the road after I've purchased this mower and began to have problems with it how do I get replacement parts for it........
Hey Thomas! I’m seeing a lot of parts on eBay. Thanks for watching
@@GarageGear Thanks man!
Would u bye 💶💵💴💰one 🤔????/ because grandfather place need one 💪/ how much 💰🤔????
@@chrisrhoads8256 no I would not. From what I’ve been hearing they don’t stand behind their warranty.
After about 30 hours on it brand new I just unscrewed the cap and tilted the hole mower 90°, only spilling 1/3 of the oil all over the driveway.
Were you doing an oil change?
@@GarageGear yes, I figured it would make the least mess. It did not.
This mower is low quality junk and parts are nearly impossible to get.
Thanks for sharing! Hearing this a lot lately unfortunately.
this mower is TRASH. the PLASTIC FRONT DECKS are damage prone ! never buying one of those plastic built ones ever again ..
@@e_thegod5303 they don’t stand behind their products either
probably as good as a Honda mower, NOT!!!!! Honda is the best and they're going to stop making them soon.
Shame they’re getting out.
Great video...again J B
Thanks for checking it out! Appreciate you my friend!
Pull up on the rear wheel drive and you take off. Too fast for my wife and myself.
Thanks for sharing
I have the same mower
Awesome Terrance how do you like it?
@@GarageGear i like for the money but I did upgrade my wheels for some new one when I got it
@@TerranceSTL thanks for sharing!
@@GarageGear welcome
209 cc is about 14 hp. Strong!
BTW, why did they ever switch from hp to cc??
Haha it’s a tough little guy! I’m pretty sure they got rid of the hp rating because manufacturers were putting false hp claims on engines. Saying they were higher than they were. This came down to a few lawsuits. With cc ratings they can really lie. So those kinda took over. 209 is a lot for that mower. Have a good weekend my friend!
Too much work to change oil JB
On this model it’s kinda a pain!
Do not buy! There's only 3 services centers in the U.S.A. and you cant get parts for it...spend the extra money and get a name brand or a used name brand..
Thanks for watching
DO NOT BUY! ... I have one and the cast pot-metal flange/hub for the blade broke ... cheap Chinese crap!!!
Thanks for sharing
@@GarageGear ... giving credit where credit is due ... usually if a part breaks on a chepe-schitt mower the part(s) is/are unobtainium ... but I had the replacement flange in about three days direct from Powersmart .. but the weird / goofy part is none of the regular maintenance items (belts, blades) were available ...at least Crapsman mowers I can get parts for. I'm tired of mowing the lawn I think I'll take a break ... cheers ... Keith Chicago IL
@@keithkornatoski9162 hey Keith I have been hearing similar things from other subscribers with their products. I won’t be dealing with PowerSmart going forward.
Do not buy
Thanks for sharing
Not buying, Chinese made anything.
Thanks for watching
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHa🤣
Thanks for watching