I have one for 2 years now and don’t like it. -The good things about it are, it starts and runs great, cuts well, the self-propel works good. -The bad things are, it’s really heavy, the handles are flimsy and not strong enough for the mower, the way the handle attaches to the mower is not remotely strong enough and will break, the cut height adjustment levers are not the same between the front wheels and back wheels (meaning for the cut-blade to be level the back wheel adjustment needs to be 2 notches lower than the front wheel adjustment), the entire back of the mower is made of cheap flimsy plastic and will break as that is what the push-handles are attached too (making the entire lawn mower a piece of garbage), it’s a very expensive mower that won’t last more than a couple years and not really fixable after that. -Hope this helps someone who is interested in this mower
No kidding! I just picked one up for free-99 at the dump. The thing is literally brand new. Must have been used less than 10 times. The handles where folded right over.
Crazy reading these comments, I mowed commercially with this mower for 3 years before mine shit the bed, It still starts on the first pull when warm, second when cold. I bet I have 200 hours on it.
No choke?? What are they thinking? Small carberator engines without a choke that’s just asking for problems with starting down the road. You’re already having to use a pull rope to start the engine, what’s another 2 seconds to toggle the choke for a quick crank?
I have two M230s, and 15 year old Craftsman Briggs with the pull self priming also. That old machine starts fine after all these years, and it sits out year round even in the snow. No problems, it's a tank!
Just got this mower. I have a big piece of land to mow. I have a rider, but it's old, and I thought there would be times this machine would need to do the whole thing. Turns out the tractor is working, so I just left a little to try it out. Anyway, the side discharge chute kept falling off. I wound up mulching instead. Now, I know I let the grass grow too thick, and that's bad, but humans are imperfect creatures. I would have expected it to be a bit more rugged than that.
@@toolinhand I don't want to return it because I'd have to downgrade too. Plus I already returned a kobalt mower that died on its first run to get this one. I'm just going to buy the bolts. Even tho this really made me mad because there's no telling what else it's missing out of the box.
@@toolinhand I'm taking one of the bolts to lowe's today. My worry is it could be missing more internally or something. I hope not because it was the only 163 they had. If I take it back I'd have to get a 140 or smaller.
@@brandonwilliams4637 there are instructions on how to slide the handle all the way out. The way it's packed, the handle is past the deck, and in the way of the blade.
I bought this POS about two months ago and it started hammering, that it there was a mechanical banging inside the engine. It started out loping, power going up and down. Then when I started it up it hammered. It got through the yard that day okay, but now it will start and runs for a few seconds and dies. The carbeurator is made of high density plastic and the directions say you don't ever need to change the oil. Nope probably not if it only lasts two months. Don't waste your money. This same mower with the Troy Built brand on it lasted me years without any problems until one day it just died on me.
I set mine out too early this yr....ran for about 10 minutes, quit...and have never got it started again this yr....LOWES will do nothing about it either!...I have checked the carburater, changed oil, cleaned & changed fuel, checked sparkplug, air filter is useable!....NOW it makes a a crazy sound when pulling the rope and it won't start.....Only occasionally it will sort of try to start; but, only teases me and then won't even try for hrs!...I can do nothing about my grass which BTW- I live on a major thru-way n the middle of town...Embarrassing is an understatement!!!
@@toolinhand Only if my fuel is so bad that it clogged it up up as soon as I cleaned the carb' which I did beforehand...I will take it apart again and see though!...
@@toolinhand Not sure why I didn't do it today; but I was too occupied with trying to fix my old mower...wound up cracking the whole damn engine trying to straighten the spindle...hahahahahahaha! tomorrow(today) I will clean the carb' again on the M230..and yes I'll use some wire for the ports!!!
Yes, I had the same issue. It seems to be widespread problem with these. interested in knowing what the reviewer did. Would be nice to know that steps to take each year
@@ktop4u mine same problem. New last year, but wouldn't start this year. I cleaned the carburetor and emptied and put in fresh gas and bam she roaring. I know now to run it out of gas before storage to keep carburetor clean
Great review however mine only lasted a few months I have upgraded to a Honda...Craftsman is not what it use to be I say don’t waste your hard earned money on this.
