The History of Lawn-Boy
The Lawn-Boy brand started as an offshoot of Briggs & Stratton and Evinrude. Currently, it continues under the guidance of Toro, one of the leading lawn care giants. It's unclear if Ole Evinrude had any interest in the production of lawn care equipment, but the first Lawn-Boy mowers were introduced under his name shortly after his death in 1934.
The early reel-style, human-powered mowers found some market success before World War II when the company went back to producing outboard motors for the military. After the war, the company came back as Outboard Marine & Manufacturing Company (OMMC) and resumed manufacturing reel mowers.
OMMC struggled to keep up with the shifting taste to gas-powered mowers. So, they acquired the Rotary Power Mower COmpany of Missouri, then rebranded the RPMC mowers as Lawn-Boy mowers. This move proved to be a success in the 1960s and 1970s as their reliable mowers became increasingly popular. However, the good times didn't last long as the brand hit hard times in the 90s, where Toro swooped in, bought the brand and took over the production of Lawn-Boy mowers.
Lawn-Boy Mower Today
Today, homeowners who want reliable, pocket-friendly and built with back-to-basics design lawnmowers can assuredly rely on Lawn-Boy. The company's mowers are truly iconic, particularly with their real-world "roll up your sleeves and get to work" feel. These mowers have been incredibly popular with the masses for decades due to their impressive power, reliability and consistency.
Lawn-Boy mowers feature wide cutting decks. They can either be push or self-propelled with a high-wheel, a rear-wheel-drive system or even variable-speed all-wheel drive. Your typical Lawn-Boy is lightweight and highly maneuverable, almost always with bagging options. Plus, ShopLawnBoy gives you a convenient way to get mower parts and accessories.
Where are Lawn-Boy Lawn Mowers Made?
Despite Lawn-Boy's convoluted history, the production of its mowers has never strayed outside US soil, at least not fully. Currently, Toro produces lawnmowers at its plants in Windom, MN, Shakopee, MN, El Paso, TX and Sanford, FL. However, some of the engines originate from Japan.
In this Lawn-Boy lawnmower review, we'll look at the best option the company offers for Honda and Kohler engines:
1. Lawn-Boy 10736 Push 21-Inch Gas-Powered Mower - Honda Engine
- High wheel design makes it easy to maneuver on uneven terrain
- 2-Point Height-of-Cut System allows you to quickly adjust cutting heights from one side of the mower
- 3 year Tru-Start Commitment - starts with 1 or 2 pulls or Lawn-Boy will fix it for free
- Powered by Honda engines
- Large, easy empty bag makes emptying the bag fast and easy
If you're just getting started on the Lawn-Boy lineup, ergo looking for a low-budget yet reliable mower, the Lawn-Boy 10734 is the way to go. This lawn mower isn't all bells and whistles, but you can rest assured that this push-propelled lawn mower starts up quickly and reliably, cuts artfully and handles as smooth as butter. However, the Lawn-Boy 10734 is mostly suited to small lawns, so you need to trim your expectations if you have a large yard or thicker, tall grass.
Key Features
- 21-inch deck
- 3 switchable modes for clipping disposal
- 2 easy-to-adjust deck height settings
- Large clipping bag for easy emptying
- Tru-Start Commitment: Honda GCV 160 OHC engine starts with no more than two pulls
a). Performance
On a relatively even lawn around a quarter-acre in size, the Lawn-Boy 10736's 11-inch rear wheels glide through as smoothly as you'd expect. It's not an all-powerful heavyweight machine, but the solid, durable build means it performs remarkably for smaller jobs under ideal conditions. It's not meant for yards with hills and stubborn, thick greenery, but it can certainly handle an odd bumpy patch or two without any problems.
b). Ease of Use
The Lawn-Boy 10736 weighs only 75 pounds, making it ideal for even the young ones handling a lawn mower for the first time. Its snappy electric starter brings the mower to life in just seconds, although it's also complemented by a traditional pull-cord system if the battery fails.
Deck height is adjusted using twin levers in the front and back of its 21-inch deck, so you can easily adapt to the terrain. However, despite the simple height adjustment, having only two height settings reduces the mower's versatility. That being said, the Lawn-Boy 10736 is a small, basic mower built for fairly straightforward mowing tasks.
c). Cut Quality & Options
Despite lacking the muscle for heavy-duty tasks, the 10736's steel deep-dome deck combines with the Tri-Cut System to deliver plenty of well-engineered finesse. The 160cc engine generates around 6.25 pounds of gross torque that ensures slick, surgical slices that result in velvety finishes and continuous healthy regrowth after each mow.
Furthermore, the Lawn-Boy 10736 allows you to switch between mulching, side-discharging and bagging. All three modes are pretty effective for as long as you stay within the limits of the mower. Some grass clippings tend to fly back and stick to the rear wheels, but it's not exactly a major drawback.
d). Maintenance
Lawn-Boy has always had impressive standards of service. The 3-year Tru-Start Commitment guarantees that the manufacturer will repair your engine if it requires more than two cord pulls to start. It also includes an extra 2-year no-worry warranty that covers all additional repairs.
e). Safety Features
On top of the Lawn-Boy 10736's impressive ease of use, the engine and blades can be killed at any time by simply releasing the safety bar that should be pressed down while the mower is still in use. This system shuts down the mower completely in just three seconds.
f). Cost-Effectiveness
For as long as you stay within the 10736's ideal quarter-acre threshold, this is a gas-sipping wonder of a mower. After all, it's a combination of Lawn-Boy and Honda, so you can be assured of dependable performance and durability. More so, you can always fall back on both warranties in case your mower needs any repairs.
2. Lawn-Boy 17734 21-Inch Self-Propelled Gas Mower - Kohler Engine
- Electric start is the easiest way to start your mower; just turn the key and mow
- 2-Point Height-of-Cut System allows you to quickly adjust cutting heights from one side of the mower
- 3 year Tru-Start Commitment - starts with 1 or 2 pulls or Lawn-Boy will fix it for free
- Kohler 149cc/ 6.5 ft.-lbs. Gross Torque/ OHV Engine
- CARB Compliant for the state of California ; Wheel Height : 7" (17.75 cm) Front / 8" (20.3 cm) Rear
Features
- 21-inch cutting deck
- 2-point height-of-cut
- 3-in-1 ready: mulch, side-discharge, bag
- 3 years Tru-Start warranty & 2-years no-worry warranty
a). Ease of Use
The Lawn-Boy 17734 packaging comes with an almost fully assembled mower so that you can have your machine running in just under 20 minutes. It also has an electric start, making it one of the easiest gas mowers to use. Plus, you also get a charging cable that connects to any conventional socket.
One turn of the key is enough to bring the lawn mower to life. It tends to snap back on start-up, particularly if you have released the throttle, but the sudden jarring doesn't take too long to get used to. However, the wheel treads are more ornamental than functional, meaning they aren't as effective on normal dry grass- expect skidding and spinning tires on wet surfaces.
b). Motor Power
The Lawn-Boy 17734 self-propelled lawn mower features a 144cc, 6.5 OHV non-CARB Compliant Kohler engine. It's definitely not the most powerful mower, but that doesn't detract from its overall performance. It has enough torque to drag uphill without you exerting any additional effort. As for cutting long grass, this Lawn-Boy mower does a fair job, although you might need a second pass with sturdy grass variants.
c). Cut Quality
Plenty of technology on this lawn mower comes from Lawn-Boy's non-electric models. That means you can expect the same superb cut quality, even on soggy patches or at the lowest height settings. That said, since the tires don't provide much traction, you might miss a few patches here and there, especially at high speed.
d). Height Adjustment
This Lawn-Boy mower allows you to choose the exact height with just one lever per axle, from 1.25 to 3.75 inches. It's impressive since it controls the whole axle instead of each wheel, thus fewer components to fret about. As such, selecting the desired height is quite straightforward, plus the lock mechanism works pretty well even over turbid surfaces.
e). Maintenance
Lawn-Boy has always won hands down when it comes to maintenance. For starters, the overall build quality is quite remarkable, so there's little to worry about. It comes with a 3-year warranty on the motor, including start-up issues. You get a free repair if your Lawn-Boy doesn't start on the second turn of the key.
f). Cost-Effectiveness
The Lawn-Boy 17734 is a tad bit pricier than its siblings. However, you're getting a quick-start, easy-to-use mower at almost half the price of rival Honda or Snapper units.
Wrap Up
Throughout the decades, the familiarly green-colored Lawn-Boy mowers have been distinguished with their back-to-basics build, ease of use, reliability and budget-friendliness. The Lawn-Boy 10736 and 17734 exemplify the unmatched quality and craftsmanship that company has been for. From 1934 to the present day, Lawn-Boy continues to pioneer their mowers with determination, imagination and innovation. Hopefully, this Lawn-Boy mowers review helps you to find the perfect machine for your yard.
Image Source: pickeringmower.com
