Don't forget, walk behind mowers are not made like they were 20 years ago. Look at the prices and that will tell you the story. 20 years ago A Snapper Hi-Vac mower cost about $750 CAD, today they start at about $750CAD. Snapper is able to do it by keeping the same design for all this time. Others have had to cut more corners with each design change.
Ironically…I was at the John Deere dealership to buy a new Stihl chainsaw today, and a guy came in wanting a JD push mower. The sales guy said we don't sell them anymore, we sell the Hondas. Then he said we didn't even make them, they were Biggs….I had to laugh. And Garth has been around here recently, just not in this thread.
Nothing at all wrong with John Deere ag equipment. Nothing was wrong with their OPE equipment. Just some wasn't made by them.
What about string trimmers? My Troy-Bilt died last night and since it was free with the house, I didn't complain about all the issues it had. Now that it's dead, what sayeth the Beeb? I trip the shrubs that border my single acre of property but there's a lot of shrub and need something with a little power.
I've got a Stihl combi set. String trimmer, edger, shears, pruning saw, one motor. I've had it 11 years with nary an issue.
+2 on the Stihl. I would say they're the best I've seen. I have a 14 year old Stihl concrete saw that just had it's first tuneup, and I abuse the crap outa this thing.
Sthil makes good stuff. Use their motomix fuel. It has no ethanol and lasts like 2 years. It is worth the cost.