Generally the heavier the mower the better the drive is as it has better traction. I prefer rear wheel drive over anything 4 wheel drive is good but to me is not worth the extra money and often there is more things to break.
Watched my neighbor for years mowing his yard with a steep hill using his FWD Craftsmen. Saw the wheels always spinning and him pushing the mower like it was not self-propelled. I recommended an AWD or RWD mower to him, but since he was a know-at-all, when the mower finally gave out, he bought another FWD Craftsmen. I would send him a link to your test, but since he always doubts anything I say, I'll just let him labor on. Great test.
I have the AWD Husqvarna. It’s at least ten years and still going strong. As long as you do the maintenance which pretty basic stuff, once maybe twice a year I check and grease the pulleys and engagement/release mechanism, inspect the transfer case and of course do the oil changes, filter and spark plug, it will run and run. Has always started on the first pull, even that first pull of the season, starts in the first pull. I bought it because I have a large yard that is on a hill. You entire yard has a grade, it just pulls through anything. About the mulching, get a Gator blade, that fixing the mulching problem, it will chop the grass clippings into small pieces and does a good job of scattering the clippings. As long as your not trying to cut excessively long grass in the first place.
I’ve had several of those Husqvarna AWD mowers here (in fact I have one now) and I always sell them on too. I agree with your comment about their poor mulching capability, add to that the fact that there is no side chute option and selling it is an easy choice. I’ve used and repaired pretty much every type of self propelling system and for me Toro Personal Pace is the one. The Honda is very good as well.
most RWD, I find to be better made that the FWD, but then again, they don't see the same kind of stress, as the RWD so it makes sense, I would just service it often, because they wear out.
Indeed after buying my first house I got a Toro personal space based on it getting a best buy award from consumer reports that previous year. The Honda was also a top pick of course but I went with the Toro and it hasn't disappointed.
Nice test. The Honda with the low compression might need the valves adjusted and try to check the compression again. Some overhead valve engines are touchy with valve adjustment, or maybe it is worn out like you said. Thanks for the video.
I was always wondering about this I just got my first self propelled mower so initially I didn't care but the thought was always there I have always used push mowers before either way I am just happy to have something that makes mowing easier.
My lawn has a steep hill on it that I have to mow and I have a Toro just like that one but it has the personal pace system on it. It goes up that hill with no problem, even with a belt that has never been replaced in its lifetime.
This was a really cool and interesting video. I would have not thought bald tires would have done that Good.. in my opinion there all really nice mowers. I'd buy anyone of them from you because I know they fixed and maintained properly.. Great video thank you for doing this test
Nice test. You always have interesting content. I'd be choosing the honda. Proven reliability, cut quality, and a strong pulling ability. If my health was so poor a couple kgs of pulling difference would make or break my ability to mow , it's time to hang it up and hire someone else to do it.
before I bought my Honda I was looking at mowers with that engine I really like the oil filter on them and their torque numbers but availability was an issue for me
Great testing and reasonably accurate. Mower weight and compression are key factors that most do not take into consideration when making a purchase, such as a mower. Nice way to test the performance levels. Overall, my RWD mowers are easy to work with. FWD is not my favorite. Novel idea on your part to conduct such a comparative analysis!!! Thank you!!😊
I appreciate it, and yes there could have been a lot of improvements to the testing method, but without a change in venue, or throwing a lot of money at it, I think I did the best I could
I really like systems like Toro's Personal Pace, as it varies the drive as a function of how hard you push on the handle. So it's trivially easy to change speed in reaction to a bogging engine. The problem with mine is the problem with any 2wd system... one of the tires is worn out, and unlike your Honda, my slick tire has very poor traction. And since the transmission is "open diff", the slick tire determines the max traction. It performed very well when the tires had good tread. I prefer rwd over fwd because the main reason to have self propelled, IMO, is hills, and rwd is way better for hills than fwd. AWD is probably best, but like you said, it's the most complex. Thanks for this video. You went to a lot of effort to get this data.
Interesting test. I believe all of those have geared transmissions. The Honda might be hydraulic; I looked but could not could not tell. Might be instructive to add one of Honda's hydraulic mowers, like an HRX217.
Hey bro what's up? I had a feeling that the awd mower would perform the best because of the power all the wheels have but I still would choose a rwd mower.
Have a Husqvarna HU625AWD i got nearly 6 years ago and just mowed it again. It was in good condition when i got it, but it still runs okay. I change the oil every season and basic cleaning, but it has done okay. I still would trade the AWD for a Honda GCV or 725EXI motor for more oomph, but if it works it works.
5:05 some engines are designed with higher ratios, which gives more compression at the cost of more hydrocarbons. But it's not too much for such a small engine
Interesting test. The only disadvantage was the worn out and low compression Honda rear wheel drive. The compression relief takes away some power, but those tires show how much its been through. The first front wheel drive on the pull test seemed interesting.
I like front wheel drive since I use my push mower mainly on the banks that are too steep for the riding mower. Cut from the bottom and lift up the mower to let it roll back down the hill for the next pass this way its not going against the self-propel mechanism potentially saving on wear and tear.
One thing I'd like to add. As a tall person with a long stride, speed of self-propelled matters. Since most mowers have a governor, the engine speed is set, so it comes down to the ability to adjust the speed with the controls. My Honda RWD has Smart Drive "paddles" which allow you to control the speed, with the top speed being fast enough for my long strides. I've replaced the rear wheels twice once they went bald. That's my only complaint with Honda - make tires that don't wear out as fast. Also, for better traction, leave the bagger on the mower whether you bag or not. It adds weight exactly where you need it.
hey home garage defiantly an interesting video. I was just wondering if you can tell me what ingredients you used to rejuvenate metering dighrams. I saw you do this in a video but I can't find it
sure, Fresh , clean, automotive Brake Fluid. However, if the diaphragm is very petrified it Cannot be rejuvenated. This process for diaphragms that are beginning to stiffen up.
I'd love to see a Troy Bilt 4wd with the 190 honda, this is one amazing power house. Btw my last mower was a husky front wheel drive, apart from the Honda engine this mower was nothing special and when compared to the Troy Built for mulching it was terrible. In fact I use the new one as a vacuum cleaner to suck the leaves from my driveway and lawn to make leaf mould for the garden.
About what I expected. The Honda came out basically on top with the Husqvarna AWD being similar. I say again that AWD is a gimmick for walk behind and some riding mowers (I say some because if people invest $10-30,000 in a front mount tractor mower or a tractor with a mid-mount mower, they can be used as other things besides mowing so there's a 4WD or AWD option available). My Honda HRC216HX has really good traction unless I mow a yard that was a swamp and is incredibly wet where the wheels dig in, I guess an AWD unit may prevail here but I don't think it's totally necessary. The Honda HRC also has HST drive so all I have to do is feather the control bar to start the wheels slowly without skid marks and tearing of turf.
slight flaw in test, as the Toro can adjust the cable to pull more or less , so depending on how that is set will skew the results. but in all a good test
hmm.. adjusting the cable would put more "tension" on the belt. As far as I know it's to adjust for wear to the belt over time, not to increase its ability to pull.
Yeah the wife wanted me to buy one of those electric lawn mowers and I said no if we ain't leaving with a gas mile more we ain't leaving with nothing but then when we got one of these Toros it's front wheel drive and I don't go up the hill so good at all I'll use it for the flat ground but okay but the self-propelled ain't so hot and thank you for the video
I got a mower that had been running with a little bit of oil. I put oil in it now the mower is smoking the oil is ending up in the breather tube. What should i do
Hey I am the one that sent you a picture of the cylinder of his chainsaw. I got it out back together put on new fuel lines filter and I cleaned the carb and put on a new metering diagram and the saw starts for a few seconds then dies. Any direction I should go ? Maybe reclean the carb?
@@HomeGaragechannel I put on the new carb that came with the kit I bought after seeing my carb had a bad seat. Now the chainsaw won't even start. After i quit pulling the rope it seems like it is drawing in more gas. Fuel lines on wrong maybe?
The main complaint I had with the 4x4 was inconsistent speed. I can just move so fast and that thing was up and down with fast and slow instead of any steady. And as far as traction I never saw a place where it went that a Snapper couldn't and wouldn't go with a whole less aggravation. I like the Honda mowers but the set speed rates and in/out drive start and stop has to be rough on the drive system to a point. I remember the old Cat #12 graders that all the blade and grader functions except main clutch and tranny were jaw clutches; either in or out. CHUG-CHUG! But I just have the old style standby rigs that suit geezers like me. Thanks for the test and Blessings!
@@HomeGaragechannel I herded that 4x4 a good while ago and there's probably a lot of improvements made to them since then but I'd still rather have an old Snapper.
I figured the awd would be number 1 but the rwd with racing slicks put up good traction numbers but being slicks on it not good in wet conditions, fwd mowers have little weight over the drive wheels and anything that bounces them up off the ground it looses traction as well as wheel condition adding to less or more traction I'm not 100% sold on wheel tread making a very big difference I do think the down force on the wheels makes a lot of difference in traction aka weight over wheel the more weight pressing down the more traction so rwd mowers are better because the rear wheels stay on the ground and have more weight over them
Surely someone has said this. But a collab or just consulting with Project Farm would be so sick. He could probably come up with some really great test for this
always, I would recommend servicing the transmission a on schedule. As for one that is already broken, I would replace transmission but at over $100, it's quite expensive .
@@HomeGaragechannel all engineered to fail. If the grind courser teeth in the gear and pinion we would get better lifespan from units. I have had some success with adding a waffer spring washer to the pinion and casing inner.
I run with Honda and its drive system is amazing, I usually set it as the 2nd from the top which gives me a good speed to walk behind but the top setting is way too fast, you literally have to run behind it lol, I tested once on asphalt and almost tripped lmao, the only con in my opinion is, since it's rear wheel self propelled, it tend to be wheely, when back is too heavy which most likely with a bag full of grass, great mower overall
My choice is Honda RWD Hydrostatic all the way. I've never understood why FWD exists on a lawnmower, other than simplicity of implementation. The heavier the bag gets, the less traction is afforded. Any turn where you have to lift the drive wheels completely negates the self-drive feature.
@@HomeGaragechannel I got a HRC216K2HXA for free from a friend of the family. He said the transmission stopped working and the cost to replace it would be $200 less than buying a new K3 model, so he bought the new one. I bleed out all the old Hydrostatic fluid, flushed it with a full bottle of new fluid, and topped it off with a little from a second bottle. Works like new for $20! 😎
The only 'problem' with Honda's hydrostatic trans is how spoiled you'll be once you get used to it. Ease of use is IMO the most important factor, and Honda's hydro wins that one hands down -- silky smooth, infinitely variable and perfectly controlled speed, with pretty much commercial-quality controls & cables.
I prefer rear wheel drive mowers. Some people with flat land prefer front wheel drive because you can pivot off the rear wheels and lift the front to turn without disengaging the drive.
Yes I have owned 2 they work quite well you just have to adj the drive cable ,the rear wheel drive does help because of the weight on the rear tires no slip
These were the only ones I had on hand, or I could wrangle from friends and family at such short notice, But as the come in, I'll do more testing on them.
@@HomeGaragechannel My Honda mower only runs as fast as the engine speed allows. The The 60V Toro self pace goes as fast as I'm capable of pushing. Since it's a 22 inch cut instead of 21 I'm able to finish my yard at least 10 minutes faster.
I have a Honda nonself propel, I like to get my exercise. Last time I went to my Doctor he asked if I exercise, I replied "Yes,I have a nonself propel lawn mower."
One could debate your measure of effectiveness. What was done was a great starting point. It you’re interested in self propelled models why not also include drivetrain design? Parts made of plastic, particularly transmissions and their gearing as well as plastic cogs on wheels are susceptible to premature failure. Buying used equipment is always a roll of the dice.
I’m my opinion, the best drive is a truly variable rear wheel drive, such as the 5 speed John Deere’s, the 3 speed toros and lawn boys, or the Honda HRX Hydros. The Husqvarna/craftsman/AYP drives are terrible, especially the plastic pulleys on the Husqvarna AWD.
power smart are crap, its made by the same company that makes Black Max at walmart. the handle bars are its week spot where it meets the deck. also it uses a proprietary blade and adaptor
To follow up to my comment. With front wheel, if you need to slow down, you just slow down. The tires might slip a bit but you are still cutting the lawn evenly. With rear wheel if you slow down the mower will pop a wheelie and then you are no longer cutting evenly. One place I mow has a rear wheel and it drives me nuts!
Generally the heavier the mower the better the drive is as it has better traction. I prefer rear wheel drive over anything 4 wheel drive is good but to me is not worth the extra money and often there is more things to break.
you make a very good point.
Watched my neighbor for years mowing his yard with a steep hill using his FWD Craftsmen. Saw the wheels always spinning and him pushing the mower like it was not self-propelled. I recommended an AWD or RWD mower to him, but since he was a know-at-all, when the mower finally gave out, he bought another FWD Craftsmen. I would send him a link to your test, but since he always doubts anything I say, I'll just let him labor on. Great test.
it's hard to convince someone of the value, of "information" just let him be, it will be ok. Thank you Anthony Hawkins.
I have the AWD Husqvarna. It’s at least ten years and still going strong. As long as you do the maintenance which pretty basic stuff, once maybe twice a year I check and grease the pulleys and engagement/release mechanism, inspect the transfer case and of course do the oil changes, filter and spark plug, it will run and run. Has always started on the first pull, even that first pull of the season, starts in the first pull. I bought it because I have a large yard that is on a hill. You entire yard has a grade, it just pulls through anything. About the mulching, get a Gator blade, that fixing the mulching problem, it will chop the grass clippings into small pieces and does a good job of scattering the clippings. As long as your not trying to cut excessively long grass in the first place.
wow your maintenance routine is fantastic!
I have always liked the front wheels drive. being able to easily lift the drive wheels when turning makes them easier to maneuver for me
yes nothing wrong with Front wheel drive at all, that's one reason why it's still be sold today.
I’ve had several of those Husqvarna AWD mowers here (in fact I have one now) and I always sell them on too. I agree with your comment about their poor mulching capability, add to that the fact that there is no side chute option and selling it is an easy choice. I’ve used and repaired pretty much every type of self propelling system and for me Toro Personal Pace is the one. The Honda is very good as well.
most RWD, I find to be better made that the FWD, but then again, they don't see the same kind of stress, as the RWD so it makes sense, I would just service it often, because they wear out.
Indeed after buying my first house I got a Toro personal space based on it getting a best buy award from consumer reports that previous year. The Honda was also a top pick of course but I went with the Toro and it hasn't disappointed.
Nice test. The Honda with the low compression might need the valves adjusted and try to check the compression again. Some overhead valve engines are touchy with valve adjustment, or maybe it is worn out like you said. Thanks for the video.
you are correct, I might have try that later this winter.
I was always wondering about this I just got my first self propelled mower so initially I didn't care but the thought was always there I have always used push mowers before either way I am just happy to have something that makes mowing easier.
you are correct, it really doesn't matter which you choose, but they will all make mowing, just a bit easier
My lawn has a steep hill on it that I have to mow and I have a Toro just like that one but it has the personal pace system on it. It goes up that hill with no problem, even with a belt that has never been replaced in its lifetime.
yes the RWD personal pace system is one of the best.
I like rear roller pro gearbox myself.. all the parts are maintainable.. you can re new the gearbox for around £90.. good video mate
thank you Mick!
This was a really cool and interesting video. I would have not thought bald tires would have done that Good.. in my opinion there all really nice mowers. I'd buy anyone of them from you because I know they fixed and maintained properly.. Great video thank you for doing this test
I know right, I think if the dirt was not "rock hard," it would have been a bit different
Nice test. You always have interesting content. I'd be choosing the honda. Proven reliability, cut quality, and a strong pulling ability. If my health was so poor a couple kgs of pulling difference would make or break my ability to mow , it's time to hang it up and hire someone else to do it.
I agree, I really do like most of what they offer as a mower.
Fantastic video
thank you Three Days Later.
Tread design is a factor plus rear wheel size and the amount of slope the yard has plus many other factors come into play on this matter
yes you are correct.
@@HomeGaragechannel thanks for your reply on your video of this matter
not a problem, I appreciate your time.
@@HomeGaragechannel anytime young man 👍😎
I like the 3 speed on my Toro commercial grade 21" with the Kawasaki
Kawasaki engines are among the best.
before I bought my Honda I was looking at mowers with that engine I really like the oil filter on them and their torque numbers but availability was an issue for me
yes those are excellent, wish I could have tested one of those.
very true.
you make a good point.
I have been waiting for this video!
thanks for your interest
Great testing and reasonably accurate. Mower weight and compression are key factors that most do not take into consideration when making a purchase, such as a mower. Nice way to test the performance levels. Overall, my RWD mowers are easy to work with. FWD is not my favorite. Novel idea on your part to conduct such a comparative analysis!!! Thank you!!😊
I appreciate it, and yes there could have been a lot of improvements to the testing method, but without a change in venue, or throwing a lot of money at it, I think I did the best I could
Awesome video. I too was surprised at what won and what came in last.
You and me both!
I really like systems like Toro's Personal Pace, as it varies the drive as a function of how hard you push on the handle. So it's trivially easy to change speed in reaction to a bogging engine. The problem with mine is the problem with any 2wd system... one of the tires is worn out, and unlike your Honda, my slick tire has very poor traction. And since the transmission is "open diff", the slick tire determines the max traction. It performed very well when the tires had good tread. I prefer rwd over fwd because the main reason to have self propelled, IMO, is hills, and rwd is way better for hills than fwd. AWD is probably best, but like you said, it's the most complex.
Thanks for this video. You went to a lot of effort to get this data.
thank you I appreciate it a lot and yes I agree the personal pace system is one of my favorites!
Should give project farm a shout for some good tests to try
thank you Matthew Cochrane.
Where did you get the drill to the crankshaft piece at?
you can get it from amazon or harbor freight which is where I got mine from.
Hex Shank Socket Driver Set, 3 Piece. amzn.to/3FOyroN
Interesting test. I believe all of those have geared transmissions. The Honda might be hydraulic; I looked but could not could not tell. Might be instructive to add one of Honda's hydraulic mowers, like an HRX217.
you are correct, all these are gears, including the Honda. Yes I'm working on getting a hydrostatic trans in for a test.
Hey bro what's up? I had a feeling that the awd mower would perform the best because of the power all the wheels have but I still would choose a rwd mower.
me too, less complex, and isn't as expensive to fix.
Have a Husqvarna HU625AWD i got nearly 6 years ago and just mowed it again. It was in good condition when i got it, but it still runs okay. I change the oil every season and basic cleaning, but it has done okay.
I still would trade the AWD for a Honda GCV or 725EXI motor for more oomph, but if it works it works.
those both great choices
5:05 some engines are designed with higher ratios, which gives more compression at the cost of more hydrocarbons. But it's not too much for such a small engine
that makes sense
Interesting test. The only disadvantage was the worn out and low compression Honda rear wheel drive. The compression relief takes away some power, but those tires show how much its been through. The first front wheel drive on the pull test seemed interesting.
thank you TargaWheels, I appreciate it and yes, I was expecting all of the mowers to be doing some sort of "burn out".
The only self propells I really like are the ones that go as you push them. It makes for a relaxing mow
I see your point.
Not sure how relaxing it would be mowing up and down the hills in my yard.. Maybe I just getting too old for this.
Rear wheel drive is the best for all around anything. Hills sure it will do it just gotta push a little. Rear wheel drive for me!
thank you Matthew does stuff!
I like front wheel drive since I use my push mower mainly on the banks that are too steep for the riding mower. Cut from the bottom and lift up the mower to let it roll back down the hill for the next pass this way its not going against the self-propel mechanism potentially saving on wear and tear.
nice explanation.
One thing I'd like to add. As a tall person with a long stride, speed of self-propelled matters. Since most mowers have a governor, the engine speed is set, so it comes down to the ability to adjust the speed with the controls. My Honda RWD has Smart Drive "paddles" which allow you to control the speed, with the top speed being fast enough for my long strides. I've replaced the rear wheels twice once they went bald. That's my only complaint with Honda - make tires that don't wear out as fast. Also, for better traction, leave the bagger on the mower whether you bag or not. It adds weight exactly where you need it.
very nice information to know thank you Anthony Hawkins.
hey home garage defiantly an interesting video. I was just wondering if you can tell me what ingredients you used to rejuvenate metering dighrams. I saw you do this in a video but I can't find it
sure, Fresh , clean, automotive Brake Fluid. However, if the diaphragm is very petrified it Cannot be rejuvenated. This process for diaphragms that are beginning to stiffen up.
@@HomeGaragechannel thanks home garage this helped a lot. its a good trick
no problem
I'd love to see a Troy Bilt 4wd with the 190 honda, this is one amazing power house. Btw my last mower was a husky front wheel drive, apart from the Honda engine this mower was nothing special and when compared to the Troy Built for mulching it was terrible. In fact I use the new one as a vacuum cleaner to suck the leaves from my driveway and lawn to make leaf mould for the garden.
nice, and yes If I can find one, I'll test it.
If you come across a Lawn Boy with Capstan drive, it would be interesting to see how it performs!
thanks I'll keep an eye out for one.
About what I expected. The Honda came out basically on top with the Husqvarna AWD being similar. I say again that AWD is a gimmick for walk behind and some riding mowers (I say some because if people invest $10-30,000 in a front mount tractor mower or a tractor with a mid-mount mower, they can be used as other things besides mowing so there's a 4WD or AWD option available). My Honda HRC216HX has really good traction unless I mow a yard that was a swamp and is incredibly wet where the wheels dig in, I guess an AWD unit may prevail here but I don't think it's totally necessary. The Honda HRC also has HST drive so all I have to do is feather the control bar to start the wheels slowly without skid marks and tearing of turf.
very nice, that reminds me, I have to get my Hondas with hydrostatics working again. thank you WJCTechyman.
slight flaw in test, as the Toro can adjust the cable to pull more or less , so depending on how that is set will skew the results. but in all a good test
hmm.. adjusting the cable would put more "tension" on the belt. As far as I know it's to adjust for wear to the belt over time, not to increase its ability to pull.
Good test. 4WD mowers are not common as walk behind ones in my area.
there not all that common here either, there are way more of the other types .
Yeah the wife wanted me to buy one of those electric lawn mowers and I said no if we ain't leaving with a gas mile more we ain't leaving with nothing but then when we got one of these Toros it's front wheel drive and I don't go up the hill so good at all I'll use it for the flat ground but okay but the self-propelled ain't so hot and thank you for the video
no problem thank you for your time.
Rear drive Toro Personal Pace. We use them at work with Briggs and Stratton engines. There's also Husqvarna AWD mowers, not the best
what's your experience with the AWD's?
I got a mower that had been running with a little bit of oil. I put oil in it now the mower is smoking the oil is ending up in the breather tube. What should i do
unfortunately not much, you can run the oil, at the bare minimum, at the bottom of the dipstick to keep the smoking down, or rebuild the engine.
Hey I am the one that sent you a picture of the cylinder of his chainsaw. I got it out back together put on new fuel lines filter and I cleaned the carb and put on a new metering diagram and the saw starts for a few seconds then dies. Any direction I should go ? Maybe reclean the carb?
I'm leaning towards turning the Fuel adjustments screws out a quarter turn.
@@HomeGaragechannel I put on the new carb that came with the kit I bought after seeing my carb had a bad seat. Now the chainsaw won't even start. After i quit pulling the rope it seems like it is drawing in more gas. Fuel lines on wrong maybe?
it's possible.
@@HomeGaragechannel well on the new carb no fuel is getting pasted the screen when I push the rocker arm.
Nice video. Very interesting.
Glad you enjoyed it
The main complaint I had with the 4x4 was inconsistent speed. I can just move so fast and that thing was up and down with fast and slow instead of any steady. And as far as traction I never saw a place where it went that a Snapper couldn't and wouldn't go with a whole less aggravation. I like the Honda mowers but the set speed rates and in/out drive start and stop has to be rough on the drive system to a point. I remember the old Cat #12 graders that all the blade and grader functions except main clutch and tranny were jaw clutches; either in or out. CHUG-CHUG! But I just have the old style standby rigs that suit geezers like me. Thanks for the test and Blessings!
I see, I don't think I've experienced that issue yet, but I'll keep my eyes out now.
@@HomeGaragechannel I herded that 4x4 a good while ago and there's probably a lot of improvements made to them since then but I'd still rather have an old Snapper.
oh yeah, I forget those, they have one of the best RWD's around, I wish had one to test.
@@HomeGaragechannel They just GO on and on!
I was expecting the powersmart to be last I am surprised on the Honda how well it pulled with the bald tires
I know right, that's was the surprise
I figured the awd would be number 1 but the rwd with racing slicks put up good traction numbers but being slicks on it not good in wet conditions, fwd mowers have little weight over the drive wheels and anything that bounces them up off the ground it looses traction as well as wheel condition adding to less or more traction I'm not 100% sold on wheel tread making a very big difference I do think the down force on the wheels makes a lot of difference in traction aka weight over wheel the more weight pressing down the more traction so rwd mowers are better because the rear wheels stay on the ground and have more weight over them
I completely agree with you on the weight on the drive wheels.
15:12 or just tack weld on the base of the mower deck a seat and control the carbs throttle manually
the weight be an issue, for the mower and also turning.
@@HomeGaragechannel didn’t even realize that till I got out of class…
Surely someone has said this. But a collab or just consulting with Project Farm would be so sick. He could probably come up with some really great test for this
it would be but I've not seen him do a collab with anyone before.
Nice job!
Thanks!
Im a TORO fan but the drive system fails terribly arm and a leg to replace. do you have a cure.
always, I would recommend servicing the transmission a on schedule. As for one that is already broken, I would replace transmission but at over $100, it's quite expensive .
@@HomeGaragechannel all engineered to fail. If the grind courser teeth in the gear and pinion we would get better lifespan from units. I have had some success with adding a waffer spring washer to the pinion and casing inner.
Good day Boy interesting, Yes honda surprised me. Thanks
me too. thank you Don Voll.
I run with Honda and its drive system is amazing, I usually set it as the 2nd from the top which gives me a good speed to walk behind but the top setting is way too fast, you literally have to run behind it lol, I tested once on asphalt and almost tripped lmao, the only con in my opinion is, since it's rear wheel self propelled, it tend to be wheely, when back is too heavy which most likely with a bag full of grass, great mower overall
yes you are correct about the wheelies. Thank you adam, the lawn guy.
My choice is Honda RWD Hydrostatic all the way. I've never understood why FWD exists on a lawnmower, other than simplicity of implementation. The heavier the bag gets, the less traction is afforded. Any turn where you have to lift the drive wheels completely negates the self-drive feature.
I hear you, I do have a couple of hydrostatics but unfortunately I haven't gotten around to fixing them yet.
@@HomeGaragechannel I got a HRC216K2HXA for free from a friend of the family. He said the transmission stopped working and the cost to replace it would be $200 less than buying a new K3 model, so he bought the new one.
I bleed out all the old Hydrostatic fluid, flushed it with a full bottle of new fluid, and topped it off with a little from a second bottle. Works like new for $20! 😎
The only 'problem' with Honda's hydrostatic trans is how spoiled you'll be once you get used to it. Ease of use is IMO the most important factor, and Honda's hydro wins that one hands down -- silky smooth, infinitely variable and perfectly controlled speed, with pretty much commercial-quality controls & cables.
Thank you rbarr775 now I really want to get it running!
very nice.
Since weight seems to be a big factor i would love to see this test with some heavy commercial mowers with aluminium decks
you are absolutely correct, as I get them, I'll do the same test.
I prefer rear wheel drive mowers. Some people with flat land prefer front wheel drive because you can pivot off the rear wheels and lift the front to turn without disengaging the drive.
you are correct, I've seen it and at first I was confused as to what they were doing but it makes perfect sense.
10:38 absolutely insane!
12:01 wow 😮
It did record over 16 KG right at 12:43
15:12 I love this man’s humor 😂
thank you
Why didn't you test a Toro self pace mower that uses RWD
Yes I have owned 2 they work quite well you just have to adj the drive cable ,the rear wheel drive does help because of the weight on the rear tires no slip
These were the only ones I had on hand, or I could wrangle from friends and family at such short notice, But as the come in, I'll do more testing on them.
yes you are correct.
@@HomeGaragechannel My Honda mower only runs as fast as the engine speed allows. The The 60V Toro self pace goes as fast as I'm capable of pushing. Since it's a 22 inch cut instead of 21 I'm able to finish my yard at least 10 minutes faster.
I have a Honda nonself propel, I like to get my exercise. Last time I went to my Doctor he asked if I exercise, I replied "Yes,I have a nonself propel lawn mower."
Nice!
I think a fairer test would be with all new tires on each mower. There's too much variance.
lol... money, too much money. Run what you brung.
One could debate your measure of effectiveness. What was done was a great starting point. It you’re interested in self propelled models why not also include drivetrain design? Parts made of plastic, particularly transmissions and their gearing as well as plastic cogs on wheels are susceptible to premature failure. Buying used equipment is always a roll of the dice.
all very good point, but there is a thing as too much information overload.
Echo srm run great for 20-30 minutes and then start to run rough and lost power, after a few hours later it run great for 20-30 minutes again.
carb
@@HomeGaragechannel Thank you.
no problem
I’d still choose the Honda even with the bald tires. It doesn’t have the “fat lady” knees in front. Hope you get my point 😅
LOL!!!
Think the Honda numbers were so high because the straps were in the back and it’s rear wheel drive
it's possible but I think was because the tires were bald and it traction on the dried dirt was too great.
My hrx217 have almost brand new tires I think they don't pull the Husqvarna its engines that engine's got 179 PSI the Honda
nice pressure
I’m my opinion, the best drive is a truly variable rear wheel drive, such as the 5 speed John Deere’s, the 3 speed toros and lawn boys, or the Honda HRX Hydros. The Husqvarna/craftsman/AYP drives are terrible, especially the plastic pulleys on the Husqvarna AWD.
you are correct, the plastic idler pulleys on the AWD systems do not last very long.
@@HomeGaragechannel I don’t think they do that much good to begin with. They flex too much, causing that loose belt symptoms you had in the video.
figured that awd and rwd would smoke fwd
and you were correct!
Yeah but the more it pulls the more you have to run after the mower. :)
sounds like you need someone else to mow your lawn then.
What about them actually cutting GRASS
not on this test
Jokes on all these mowers! My Troybilt TB160 doesn't even have a propelling system! And I just used it on Saturday
power smart are crap, its made by the same company that makes Black Max at walmart. the handle bars are its week spot where it meets the deck. also it uses a proprietary blade and adaptor
oh I didn't know that
@@HomeGaragechannel the blade adaptor is just like a blackmax which tells me its made by Ningbo Daye Garden Machinery LTD
gotta invent the hoverboard first 😝
Front wheel. That's all that needs saying.
you are correct.
To follow up to my comment. With front wheel, if you need to slow down, you just slow down. The tires might slip a bit but you are still cutting the lawn evenly. With rear wheel if you slow down the mower will pop a wheelie and then you are no longer cutting evenly. One place I mow has a rear wheel and it drives me nuts!
you are correct, the Traction of the RWD can be very difficult to mow with. so we pick and choose our own poison.
Throw the Powersmart in the dumpster
very true.
If pounds makes more sense, multiple kilograms by 2.2.
thank you A LeBlanc.
That powersmart mower looks hideous.
I know right, it seems out of place