This is the second Troybilt self propelled lawn mower I have owned.  The first was had a grass catcher...this one mulches.  I liked the first mower, but moved across the country and was unable to take it with me.  I bought this mower in March of 2010, for a fraction of what I paid for the first one.  I was most pleased with this aspect.  I did not realize when I purchased the mower it did not have a grass catcher. It was easy to assemble, even though it was heavy to remove from my truck.  The assembly instructions were well laid out, detailed and easy to follow.  It was assembled within fifteen minutes.  My daughter was the first to use it.  She has never used a self propelled mower and was quite excited with the ease to cut the hilly from yard.  I had expected to find grass laying on the ground since it did not have the grass catcher, included.  Much to my surprise this was not the case.  There is a layer of bedrock only about two and  a half inches below the surface of my yard and the mower mulched anyway! When I came my turn to mow the lawn a few weeks later, I found myself wondering as I pushed the mower up one hill and held back on it as it went down another "if this is self propelled I wonder how hard this yard would be to cut if it was just a push mower!"  It was not until I had thought I had completed the front yard and saw a swatch of grass I had missed, I discovered something unrealized.  When I restarted the mower with ease, (on the first pull), I noticed a second bar underneath the handle.  Not knowing what it was for I squeezed  it...whoosh I was flying behind the mower.  I was able to mow under the low branches of the cedar trees in the yard with ease...it even almost knocked of my ball cap.  I still joke with myself about using my self propelled mower without the self propel engaged! It was bogging down in the tall grass until I raised the front wheels and it cut through the grass with ease.  I noticed there was no apparent way to raise the back wheels, but having the front elevated did the trick! I am completely satisfied with this mower.  It cuts the mow time about a third.  I recommend it to anyone who needs a little help with pushing, (I had knee surgery two years ago), and to anyone who does not have a great deal of time mow the yard.

Ribbit483

Jacksonville, OR