Troy Bilt 21-Inch Push Mower

by Francisco Burns
(Harrisonburg, Virginia)

I currently own a Troy-Bilt 21" Push Mower, and I couldn’t be happier with it. I recently bought it from my local Lowe’s Home Improvement in Harrisonburg, Virginia for about $200 and it has been very pleasant to use. I’ve had the mower for about 8 months, and I have very few complaints about it. The bag is huge, and I can usually get away emptying it once or twice when I cut about a half-acre of grass. It really dices grass and even the occasional pile of leaves quite well.

I would recommend it for most suburban home owners, but those with yards larger than an acre should consider a more heavy duty lawnmower, perhaps a ride-on. It’s fairly light and thus maneuverable in tight corners, like the spaces around mailboxes and fence corners. On hills, the low weight really pays off. While my neighbor has a ride-on John Deere that I borrowed for the last few weeks of Fall, I still prefer this mower. I appreciate the exercise I get pushing a standard mower, even though this one requires little effort to use.

The blade adjustment is simple and easy to use, the wide blade path makes mowing quick, and it starts reliably. I haven’t had the opportunity to use it in colder conditions, but the push primer seems easy enough to use.

The one complaint I have with this mower is the side chute. I rarely cut my grass without the bag, but the first time I tried my right leg was immediately bathed in grass clippings. If you prefer going bagless when you mow, I would recommend looking into a different mower. The engine is pretty frugal on gas, but still has enough punch to glide through rough patched. If you have a smaller, relatively flat yard to take care of, this mower should suit your needs and then some.