Mrs DaveK recently decided to buy anew lawn mower to do the trim after I mow with my tractor. She decided to buy a Sears mower that advertises "Never change the oil". You just top it up as needed. It seems to me that they assume it will self destruct as the dirty oil wears the parts so you will need to buy another one. Or, do they think we have become so stupid as not to be able to change the oil once in a while. Needless to say there is no part that is accessible for adjustment or cleaning if needed. What a marketing scheme.
- Thread starter DaveK(IN)
- Start date
rustyfarmall
Well-known Member
Anything that Sears sells has a built in life expectancy. You will get about 2 years of trouble free service, another year of fighting with it but it still works, and then you'll throw it on the scrap heap and go buy another new mower.
It's a push mower? Every push mower I've had since 1990 (only 2) was tip the machine over to drain the oil. If you can tip the new mower over to drain the oil, I'd continue to do that.
As others have said, most owners never change the oil in push mowers or small snow throwers, so manufacturers and retailers are delivering what their market wants to buy. The mowers still last about three years and the snow blowers last ten years. Most owners are happy with that, those that are not happy learn to do better maintenance.
As others have said, most owners never change the oil in push mowers or small snow throwers, so manufacturers and retailers are delivering what their market wants to buy. The mowers still last about three years and the snow blowers last ten years. Most owners are happy with that, those that are not happy learn to do better maintenance.
1948CaseVAI
Well-known Member
I haven't seen a oil drain on a push mower for 20 years or so. I also have never changed the oil on one. Honestly they are cheap enough that they are simple consumables, not meant to last. I spend $400 on one, use it for three years, then throw it on the daughter's scrap metal recycle pile and get another new one.
Problem with that is that old dogs like me -- moderately old , but a real dog as to some things --- hurt when we have to throw away things . Just don't want to do it particularly when it comes to machinery . Hurts me to do so or maybe I'm just cheap . Yeah I think it is the latter.
Bought a push mower with 4hp briggs motor in about 1980. Busy part of my life then and kinda forgot about changing oil in the thing the first 3 years. Every time I check it, it was full and green oil.
After about 8 years I decided to see how long it would run before it blew.
At 12 years the wheels fell off and I don't think I added a total of 2 quarts of oil in the 12 years. Never did change it.
Oh and it got 10% ethanol gas the whole time as well.
Gary
After about 8 years I decided to see how long it would run before it blew.
At 12 years the wheels fell off and I don't think I added a total of 2 quarts of oil in the 12 years. Never did change it.
Oh and it got 10% ethanol gas the whole time as well.
Gary
Maybe nowadays, but not always. Just now I was using a Sears mower that I've used weekly (except in winter) since 1989. All I've ever replaced on it besides oil was air filter, blade, spark plug, starter rope, the soft flywheel key,
and wheels. Oh, and I cleaned the carb once.
I also have a Sears lawn tractor from 1980 (admittedly with one engine replacement) and a garden tractor from 1995 (replaced the fuel pump and starter solenoid and of course many batteries).
and wheels. Oh, and I cleaned the carb once.
I also have a Sears lawn tractor from 1980 (admittedly with one engine replacement) and a garden tractor from 1995 (replaced the fuel pump and starter solenoid and of course many batteries).
ObsoElitist
Member
That describes everything in the store for $9.00
Dave in GA
Member
I'm still trying to figure out how to do an oil change on my Stihl string trimmer. 4 years old and I haven't done one. Not me. The trimmer.
Steve@Advance
Well-known Member
Kajun, we think alike! I've had 3 push mowers in my adult life, so about 40 years or so.
All were given to me free. The first 2 still ran when I was offered something better. Just keep fixing them, lot cheaper than buying new.
All were given to me free. The first 2 still ran when I was offered something better. Just keep fixing them, lot cheaper than buying new.
blue water massey
Well-known Member
My push mower was bought by my dad about 1970 its a 20 in with a 3.5 hp briggs motor and still going. When I mowed the home stead it took 3 tanks of gas per cutting of his lawn. I got it from him around 1990 and its still the only push mower I've owned.
On a side note I also own and regularly use a 1975 rear tine roto tiller 5hp brigs and a 1970
MF 12 lawn tractor with a Tecumcie motor on it.
The MF uses 4 gallons of gas and the push mower 1 gallon weekly in them.
Newest thing I own is my toro 4 stroke string trimmer and its going on 7 or 8 yrs now, and gets 2 tanks of gas a month.
Everything gets oil changes in the fall for winter storage. Fill the tanks with gas and stick em in the shed. Never use any additives in either the oil or gas and none of them have ever being overhauled including the carbs.
On a side note I also own and regularly use a 1975 rear tine roto tiller 5hp brigs and a 1970
MF 12 lawn tractor with a Tecumcie motor on it.
The MF uses 4 gallons of gas and the push mower 1 gallon weekly in them.
Newest thing I own is my toro 4 stroke string trimmer and its going on 7 or 8 yrs now, and gets 2 tanks of gas a month.
Everything gets oil changes in the fall for winter storage. Fill the tanks with gas and stick em in the shed. Never use any additives in either the oil or gas and none of them have ever being overhauled including the carbs.
Donald Lehman
Well-known Member
As a former small engine mechanic, I can assure you that there are a whole lot of them out there who are too stupid to check or change the oil. I suppose I shouldn't use the word stupid, but should say inexperienced and unfamiliar with anything mechanical. That would probably be a fairer assessment.
Anonymous-0
Well-known Member
Run it outta gas, remove the dipstick or fill plug, turn it upside down into a bucket, set in the shade, have a beer, put it back on it's wheels and fill with oil and gas.
Have another beer.
Good to go.
Simple.
Donald,
You mentioned you are a former small engine mechanic. May I ask why you changed jobs?
Back around 1975 a high school classmate graduated from community college small engine repair school and started working at a lawn care dealer. He soon shifted over to a motorcycle and snowmobile dealer. He said there was no money in repairing lawn equipment compared what there was in recreation equipment. Even back then most people considered lawn mowers disposable, and just bought a new one rather than fix the old one. Recreation vehicles were the opposite. Most guys wanted their baby fixed fast no matter what it cost, so they could take it out and wreck it again next weekend, LOL.
You mentioned you are a former small engine mechanic. May I ask why you changed jobs?
Back around 1975 a high school classmate graduated from community college small engine repair school and started working at a lawn care dealer. He soon shifted over to a motorcycle and snowmobile dealer. He said there was no money in repairing lawn equipment compared what there was in recreation equipment. Even back then most people considered lawn mowers disposable, and just bought a new one rather than fix the old one. Recreation vehicles were the opposite. Most guys wanted their baby fixed fast no matter what it cost, so they could take it out and wreck it again next weekend, LOL.
I work in the industry. It seems that they (B & S) have polled customers and the majority wants to never have to change their oil. (Most never check their oil either) So Briggs says o.k.
They say its 'Supposed' to last something like 10-12 years treated like that.
My customers that don't check their oil usually kill theirs off the second year. . . .
They say its 'Supposed' to last something like 10-12 years treated like that.
My customers that don't check their oil usually kill theirs off the second year. . . .
I have a toro and a lawn boy, both mowers are exactly identical except the engines, toro has a tecumseh and the lawn boy has a honda. The tecumseh has a drain plug and the honda gets tipped over. Both mowers were bought at the same time and are 12 years old.
These are both cheap residential models, I did not consider these mowers to last this long but I still take care of them. Change the oil and air filter every season and other maintenance as needed. Both engines have outlasted the transmissions two times so far, next transmission to go out it will either be converted to push only or time to get another mower.
These are both cheap residential models, I did not consider these mowers to last this long but I still take care of them. Change the oil and air filter every season and other maintenance as needed. Both engines have outlasted the transmissions two times so far, next transmission to go out it will either be converted to push only or time to get another mower.
john in la
Well-known Member
My dad ask me to change the oil in his snapper push mower.
I looked all over for a drain plug then finally ask dad how do you drain the oil.
He told me he just turns the mower over and lets it drain out of the fill tube.
Holds less than a quart of oil.
I looked all over for a drain plug then finally ask dad how do you drain the oil.
He told me he just turns the mower over and lets it drain out of the fill tube.
Holds less than a quart of oil.
tractorguy2
Well-known Member
I used to sell snappers. There was a belt guide under the deck that had to be removed to get to the drain plug.
MarkB_MI
Well-known Member
- Location
- Motown USA
I'd say it's a case of the engine manufacturer (Briggs & Stratton) understanding and serving its market.
It's a simple fact that 95 percent of lawn mower owners never change their oil. Most don't even both to CHECK it until the piston rod comes through the side of the case. (And if they're your tenants and it's your mower, they'll be careful to top off the oil before they report the unexplained engine failure.) So rather than expect customers to perform maintenance they'll never do, it makes a lot more sense to make maintenance unnecessary. The new Briggs engines are designed to run cooler and to keep dirt out of the oil. Of course if you choose to change the oil, the engine should last even longer.
It's a simple fact that 95 percent of lawn mower owners never change their oil. Most don't even both to CHECK it until the piston rod comes through the side of the case. (And if they're your tenants and it's your mower, they'll be careful to top off the oil before they report the unexplained engine failure.) So rather than expect customers to perform maintenance they'll never do, it makes a lot more sense to make maintenance unnecessary. The new Briggs engines are designed to run cooler and to keep dirt out of the oil. Of course if you choose to change the oil, the engine should last even longer.
ShadetreeRet
Well-known Member
Yep, a customer brought a push mower into the shop one time, engine locked up, no oil. When I informed him that it had locked up due to no oil in crankcase, he said, "I don't understand why, I filled it up last spring!"
ShadetreeRet
Well-known Member
This is one instance that the blame cannot be placed in Sears lap! This engine was designed and manufactured by Briggs & Stratton, so if it does not hold up blame it on B&S. BUT, as many comments below indicate, few people maintain their mowers properly anyway.
In the first place many people have postage stamp lawns. Mower gets run 15-30 minutes once a week for anywhere from 6-9 months a year. At 30 min, for a full year it amounts to 26 hours of operating time. So about 100 hours in just under 4 years? Now most engines like that want a once a year change or longer based on number of hours run. And this isn't yesteryear. Both the metal alloys used in the engines, especially bearings and rings have improved but so has oil. Now me, I'll change my oil a little more often than that.
Rick
Rick
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