OutdoorKing Repair Forum Forums Repairs and Maintenance Questions on Walk Behind Lawn Mower Frames Four Stroke Lawn Mower Frames Self Propelled Mower recommendations - new or used

Hi Nick,
as you have worked out it ain't easy, there is nothing there that will do it all. Be careful with the 4 strokes on sloping ground as they could oil starve the motor. The 550's are good but having small wheels make it hard to get through longer grass. The ultimate machine would be a 24 that was self propelled but they didn't build something like that and nobody else has. Only thing I could suggest is getting a Mobilco shiremaster or something similar and seeing if you can fit a Victa 2 stroke motor on it. The Deutschers are good but still 4 stroke and this may cause issues with the oil starvation, depends a bit on how steep the ground is.
Nick thinking about it another option would be an Ariens and fit a 2 stroke to it I had one here that somebody had fitted a Suzuki 2 stroke to it but I think the motor would have been a bit short on power. Other disadvantage is the blade is driven directly off the crank whereas the genuine slashers that have a big blade carrier out front taking the load off the motor.