Customer Reviews

Lawn Boy 10641 20-Inch Briggs & Stratton 675 Series Gas Powered RWD Variable-Speed Self Propelled Lawn Mower

5 star:		(29)
4 star:		(17)
3 star:		(6)
2 star:		(5)
1 star:		(13)

 

 

While this is not the classic Lawn Boy of old with a 2-cycle engine and aluminum deck, it is a quality mower with great features for the price. Lawn Boy is owned by Toro, and this is an entry level line added by Toro to extend Lawn Boys product line. It comes with a great 2 year warranty if you have any doubts.

First and foremost, it is a rear-drive mower (better than front drive) for a price less than other brands charge for front drive. Briggs and Stratton is a quality engine that usually outlasts the mower decks. Yes, its 6.5 Torque, not HP, but most mowers are rating by torque now.

Mine started in 1 pull right out of the box (after adding oil and gas). The rear drive is powerful and variable speed by the handle (another handy feature).

Yes, it does do side discharge. The accessory for side discharge is not included in the box (since many only mulch or bag), but Lawn Boy will send it for FREE if you request it (by mail per included postcard or online during registration). Mine came in less than a week, although they say it may take 4-5 weeks.

The other reviewers must have been expecting the top of the line Lawn Boy at a bargain price. This is a quality mower, and when you compare it feature for feature even lower end mowers can stack up to it for the price.

I have an expensive Honda mower($800) which is always in the shop, so, after considerable research, I bought this lawnboy as a backup mower. It has a nice engine (Briggs and Stratton 650 no-choke easy-start), rear variable-speed self-propel and fair bagging. While the honda is big, heavy and difficult to navigate, this model is light, quick and easy to maneuver. I find it more fun to use than the honda and it's much less than 1/2 the price. At this price-level, there are some minor drawbacks. E.g. there are some small holes for installation of an electric start module that are not covered over. But other rear-drive comparable self-propelled mowers start bat about $100 more. By the way, there is a 2-year full warranty. So far, I like this mower.

This is a good mower for the money. My yard is on a hill and the back yard has several small ups and downs. This mower handled the hills easily. I mowed in about a third less time and was not as tired when I finished.

My main complaint is that when you get it from Amazon, it comes by UPS and Amazon won't take it back if it doesn't work. You are stuck trying to find a Toro/Lawn Boy repair center who will do warranty repairs on a mower you didn't buy from them. When I took my new mower that would not start to be repaired. The guy at the authorized repair place said he would never buy a mower online. My new mower needed a cable adjustment. Once that was done (about a week in the shop) it works great. You can get the same mower for the same price at Home Depot and they will take it back if it doesn't work for you.

Note that the side discharge chute does not come with the mower initially, you have to write in and request a free one. But that only took a few days.

Really wanted to like this mower. Read all of the positive reviews which swayed my purchase and can't believe i'm in left field. The mower looks great and starts on the first pull every time. Fit and finish great. The issues are the rear wheel drive. I can see an advantage with a full grass catcher and traction, but making turns is definetly harder than my old front drive, since you can raise the turning front wheels as you turn and whip around. Also the drive speed with the handle all the way in is WAY to fast to cut the grass and if you hold it in partially to slow it down, you will develop carpal tunnel by summers end. Even just manually pushing the mower, I have to backtrack to get the lawn cut uniformally. Liked the price and warranty, but really dissapointed.

I agree with all the other reviews that say this is a great mower for the price in terms of cut, power and mulching. I bought it in April from my local Home Depot in PA to cut my quarter acre yard. The mower worked great for 6 months until this week. I was mowing for about 20 minutes when the mower stalled for no apparent reason. Acted like it was out of gas. After a few pulls it would start again but only run for 30 - 60 seconds. Decided after 5 attempts at this to let the engine cool and see if I could run another 20 minutes. Nope - just starts and stalls again after 30 - 60 seconds. My symptom sounds a lot like the problem R. Wenzel (Huntersville, NC) described in her review here: http://www.amazon.com/Lawn-Boy-10641-Stratton-Propelled-Compliant/product-reviews/B001MYLQDS/ref=cm_cr_pr_hist_3?ie=UTF8&showViewpoints=0&filterBy=addThreeStar

Took the mower to the nearest Lawn Boy authorized mower repair shop. They called within 1 day and claimed the cylinder sleeve was scored and there was no compression. They said it appeared to be run with no oil in the engine. That is not true - I bought it new - in a box - so unless it was damaged at manufacture, there is no way this mower was run with NO oil. I asked if they saw a leak and if there was oil in it now. (I check oil level every week). They said NO leak and yes the oil was full. Also it does start and run for 60 seconds so how could there be NO compression? Anyway they made me call Lawn Boy as they believe damage is not covered under warranty.

Lawn Boy took down my info and they are investigating. They promised to call back in a few days. I will post their response. My advice so far...save your warranty info on this mower.

UPDATE (1/15/2010) Lawn Boy directed me to a different local repair shop. The original shop, RAY'S MOWER SHOP basically said the mower could not be fixed???? I picked up the mower (in pieces) and there was no charge. The new shop (MILLER EQUIPMENT CO) found no cylinder scoring. They re-assembled the mower, saw the original shut-off problem and installed a new safety cable. It worked for about 30 minutes again and shut off. Then MILLLER EQUIP found a TSB about miss-drilled holes for the safety bar on the mower push handle. That must have been my original problem and now the mower is fixed. And all the work Miller Equipment did was covered under Lawn Boy warranty. Thanks!

I am not thrilled with this mower. The operator's manual says that gas w/10% ethanol is acceptable - but when it stopped running (after 2 mos use)& I needed to take it in to the service dealer they told me never to use ethanol gas. There was water in the carb which they said was due to the ethanol & of course it wasn't covered by the warranty altho it should have been since the manual said ethanol was okay. Also the mower is a 20" cut, however if you try and get a 20" cut on the 2nd pass, the grass totally clogs up & you have to constantly remove the side chute which is perched near the top to unclog it. So to help alleviate that aggravation, you have to make 1/2 cuts only about 10" wide so the grass gets thrown out that ridiculously high side chute. And even doing that it routinely gets clogged anyway. Why don't they make it with a built in side chute low to the ground so it doesn't clog? I do scrape it clean after every mowing so the clogging is not due to a build up underneath. Also, when it was delivered the height adjustments were both bent to the point of not being able to adjust them except for one position. Actually if it weren't for the clogging I would like it because it is built very heavy duty, it's a cute green color and it's not as noisy as my old mower. But when it starts clogging I just want to toss it into the next county.

Length:: 0:32 Mins

This mower is better purchased at a local store because you can visually inspect the box it comes in. The cardboard packaging has limited shock protection and does not hold up well to rough handling, which happens all too often when ordering by mail. Select a unit whose packaging carton does not have crushed corners, collapsed sides or punctures. That will help ensure you get a properly working, undamaged unit.

The Lawn-Boy 10641's engine is not equipped with a fuel filter. This is potentially very bad. Once dirt gets in the gasoline tank, it will be a short matter of time before the engine begins to have problems starting or running.

The engine manufacturer, Briggs & Stratton, provides an engine that is not normally equipped with a fuel filter. According to a Briggs & Stratton representative, Lawn-Boy would have to specifically order the engines to come equipped with a fuel filter, which apparently Lawn-Boy did not do. A Lawn-Boy representative confirmed that the Lawn-Boy 10641 is not equipped with a fuel filter.

The Briggs & Stratton representative said that the user can install an inline fuel filter, but the Lawn-Boy representative advised against such a modification since it would violate the warranty agreement. How ironic is that?

Install the fuel filter, and the Lawn-Boy 10641 is now a complete and excellent machine. It will cut and mulch everything in its path. The self-propel drive makes mowing quick and easy. Modulate the self-propel lever to manage going around trees and obstacles with ease. Clear the lawn area of twigs and branches larger than a quarter-inch diameter, set the height not lower than two inches (third notch), mulch rather than bag (it is greener), and you will be good to go.

Lastly, do not pour the entire content of the twenty-ounce bottle of oil into the engine. Although the manufacturer test runs the engine and drains the oil prior to shipment, there will still be residual oil in the engine sump that will add to the oil volume and can cause overfilling. Fill the engine with seventeen ounces then check that the oil level is between the two marker holes on the dipstick.

*** This mower has been made obsolete and superseded by the Model 10604 with a Kohler engine in 2011. (tomcat9 - 04/12/12) ***

We switched away from professional landscapers this summer and use this Lawn Boy for our 1/2 acre home. It's been 2 months so far and we are really pleased with this mower. It always starts on the first or second pull (we average about 1.7 pulls per start). The Rear Wheel Drive makes a huge difference; just pull the the handle and the machine drives itself - you are there just to supervise. The only pain, and this goes for all lawn mowers, is emptying the bag and clearing damp grass from the blade (a 2 minute exercise that a good stick will help you with - this needs to be done about twice or thrice during a one hour mow). Mowing your lawn will be an enjoyable task with a good new machine like this Lawn Boy.

Updated 7/16/2010 Whoa! A very bad follow up. After 3 months of average use, the pull-start cord broke. Instead of retracting into the engine, it was limp, like a yoyo that has unwound. Seemed like the simplest, fastest thing that the Briggs & Stratton Warrantee would cover. Wrong! The jokers at the Briggs & Stratton Authorized Dealership wanted me to first sign a paper that calls the 3 month old mower a "Total Loss." They refused to look at it without that signed paper as well as a $50 fee. Apparently, the warrantee means absolutely nothing and your Lawn-Boy mower is a disaster waiting to happen. I babied this mower and had a minor problem and they want to call it a "Total Loss." I am furious! I obviously didn't leave the mower with the B&S dealer and came home and called Amazon.com. I will update this review when the folks at Amazon speak to Lawn Boy and tell me what to do.

Updated 7/21/2019: Lawn-Boy was mystified and angry at the treatment I got from the guys at Briggs and Stratton (the company that makes the engine and the associated warrantee) and they told me to find a Lawn-Boy "Master Service Dealer." I brought it to W.H. Potter and Sons. These guys were cordial, honest and knowledgeable. They fixed the mower in a snap and at no charge. Too bad Lawn-Boy allowed Briggs and Stratton to be a part of their great mower. If you need service, always go through the Lawn-Boy service centers not Briggs and Stratton. It's like Night and Day!

This mower started on the first pull out of the box (after gas and oil of course). Very Nice!
The variable speed drive is very good on the small hills I have in the yard. On a little less than a 1/4 acre it fills the bag twice after about 10-14 days of no cutting. That's at a wheel setting of 3 from lowest.
The mulching function is also very good. It spread the grass out nicely.
I've just changed the oil after five hours use (recommended) and this mower cuts great! With the 2 year warranty for peace of mind, I'm very glad I picked this lawnmower.

My first delivery arrived damaged. The box had been opened and then resealed. After close inspection, I believe that it may have been damaged in transit, scrapes on both sides, one of the rear height adjustments was out of alignment. Damage to the box.
I called customer service and was very pleased with Amazon.com's service. The terms state no returns, however since this mower arrived damaged, and no oil or gas was added, a return authorization and replacement all within 2 days! I could have received a full refund. The replacement is perfect.
It was very easy to assemble, and started at the first try. Excellent mower at the right price.
I am a very happy customer. I will recommend this mower and Amazon.com to anyone.
Barry Gallagher, Charlotte, North Carolina