Outdoor Power Equipment (Lawn Mowers, Snow Blowers, Chain Saws and more) Discussions

I see an MTD single stage, 5 h.p. 21" width, with a two cycle Tecumseh engine in it for sale locally for $200.00.  Looks to be in good shape. 

Does anyone have any experience with this model and if it's a good/reliable performer and buy or not?  

aa335 wrote:

There is a lot of truth to the unchallenged Honda mentality. Again, off topic, but last year, when I was looking for a generator, well, if you want one that is quite, and can run 12 hours a day, for days on end, you get a Yamaha, or a Honda (there may be others in the U.S.). So for the same price, same output, the Honda, doesn't have the extra features, no Boost, and get this, NO WHEELS, you have to buy a Wheel Kit. How crazy is that, 150lb generator, and no flipping wheels. Needless to say, I got the Yamaha, so that is twice now Honda has lost out to Yamaha with me.

Yes Honda does need a little competition, get them back to adding some features. And for the record, I am not a Honda basher, love their vehicles, owned two of them, just think they need a little more competition in the OPE area, make them beef up the features for the price they are charging!!!

trouts2 wrote:
The woman was getting the model/serial no. data from a manual(s) she has.  Might be for the wrong machine considering where the unit was purchased.   She's supposed to e-mail me a few pics today.  Maybe that will help identify what it is.  

Personally, I'd like an older unit in great shape with a Suzuki engine in it.   Not sure what the record is for the R-Tek engine.  I know that I can massage a Suzuki two cycle engine to make more power with no ill effects.  Not sure if I can do that with an R-Tek.  

Not a chance of selling the oil guzzling Simplicity.  I'll re-power it first.   Up here, a single stage will manage most snowfalls we have.  However, two or three times a year, it would be sorely over-matched.  

rubinew wrote:

I love Honda Generators. I owned one for 8 years, a 6500ES which I used for emergency power at my house, probably ran it no more than 100 hours, the thing was a work of art. I put it on craigslist 2 years ago when I got a whole-house generator, I sold it within 2 hours for every penny I paid for it. So I got one of their 2000 watt quiet generators which is another jewel. I use it primarily when I need some power far away from the house for power tools; my family uses it for camping. I purchased it because those things are like currency for boat owners. In 10 years, I'll be able to sell it for what I paid for it yet again. The Yamahas are good too, no doubt. But the market is such that people love the Honda generators and they'll pay a premium for them.

tkrotchko wrote:

Oh I agree, Honda generators are excellent. Up here, in non electric camping, you either see Red or Blue, that is the choice of camping. Every so often, someone new will pick up a champion for Canadian Tire, or Costco. It only takes a few hours before they realize they can't hear themselves think!  Of course some will get real long extension cords, stick them in the bushes, but they won't last the summer, so away they go.

What irritated me about Honda, was the extra charges for wheels. I expect if I am going to pay that much for a quality product, I should not have to spend some more, to put wheels on it, that is the only reason I started looking at Yamaha.

I have friends that have either, and both are same db, same power (2800 watts), reliability, etc, and price. I do hope that Yamaha contiues to push in the Canada market, and makes a push into the U.S. market, it will only help us as consumers.

rubinew wrote:

Agreed.  Let's hope Yamaha doesn't water down their models.  I already have a watered down red bucket, no need for a blue one too. 

How effective are single stage machines on grades?  Do they need assistance to get up hill or will they pull themselves up?

Any comments on the Tecumseh two cycle engine?  The Toro deal went south.  The woman was flip flopping on price, whether she wanted to sell it or not etc. etc......  So I gave her an ultimatum which she refused so I'm now onto a Craftsman single state with electric start, in very good shape for $150.00.