Bolens 550 Series Mower

by Kevin Williams
(Detroit Mi)

Last summer of 2010 I purchased a Bolens MTD, Briggs & Stratton lawn mower, 550 series 185cc 5.50. I reside in Detroit Mi and believe this mower was purchased at Home Depot however I cannot remember and not positive. The first thing I noticed about this mower when I got it home that I did not realize in the store and I new I would not like is that you must put oil into it as well the gasoline, and this has always been an issue for me.

I hate mowers which require you to do this for I am never sure if I've put to little or to much oil in it. Subsequent to assembling the mower and adding gas and oil it fired up with no problems, however, just one short week later when I went to cut my grass again it would not and when it finally did start it would subsequently shut down in some 60 seconds, and I cannot remember what I did to get it running.

But I will tell you this, about 13 days ago when I took it out to do my lawn for the first time this year again I had a terrible time starting and keeping it running, I primed it three times as directed as well changed the plugs and checked the oil but it ran as if it was not receiving sufficient gas and shortly after would stop.

So I just primed it more times every time I would start it, I understand this might sound crazy but true, the magic number appears to be 15. i.e. The times I primed it to get it running smoothly and without shutting down.

Far as performance I really cannot complain but for when cutting tall grass about six inches or so it wants to stop and I have to tilt it backwards with it's nose up to keep it going. This mower is essentially used for a normal average size home lawn and I would not recommend it, simply due to it's difficulty to start, I could not believe how hard it was to start after using it just one time last year, and again when I took it out this season it was even harder.