Buying guide for best Troy-Bilt lawn mowers
If you own property with a lawn, you understand the importance of having a well-built lawn mower. You count on your lawn mower to start when you want it to and finish each job successfully, whether you mow every other day or prefer to wait until the grass is tickling your calves.
Troy-bilt lawn mowers deliver a solid performance at a decent price. The company has been around for over eight decades and has proven itself to be a reliable maker of lawn mowers, so whether you need a simple walk-behind mower or a riding mower, Troy-bilt is a great place to start looking.
In this guide, we explore the details of Troy-Bilt lawn mowers so you understand what you’re getting for your money. This includes an exploration of price: Troy-Bilt mowers can cost a couple hundred dollars or a couple thousand, depending on what you choose. We also provide information about several of our favorite Troy-Bilt lawn mowers for your consideration.
Key considerations
Your primary consideration when shopping for lawn mower, regardless of brand, is the type you need. Would a simple push mower suffice, or do you need a riding mower? Would a self-propelled push mower serve you better than a basic push mower, or would you like the opportunity to exert a little of your own power over the machine?
Let’s take a closer look at Troy-Bilt push mowers, self-propelled mowers, and riding mowers.
Troy-Bilt push mowers
The motor of a Troy-Bilt push mower turns the blades beneath the mower deck at high speed. However, the motor does not propel the mower forward. Instead, you will be pushing it.
Push mowers are the least-expensive offerings from Troy-Bilt, and they work well. Note that these machines typically have a 21-inch cutting deck, so to cut an area 10 feet wide would require six passes. Additionally, it’s important to realize that working with a push mower will be more physically demanding (and tiring) than other mower types, especially if you will be mowing hilly areas.
Troy-Bilt self-propelled mowers
In the case of Troy-Bilt self-propelled mowers, power generated by the motor moves the equipment forward, reducing your physical load. (If you want a robotic lawn mower, which is a lot like a Roomba but for the outdoors, check out our page on robotic lawn mowers.)
Troy-Bilt offers self-propelled mowers that are all-wheel drive (AWD), rear-wheel drive (RWD), and front-wheel drive (FWD). Troy-Bilt AWD lawn mowers move smoother and with greater power than the others, but they also cost more. Troy-Bilt RWD mowers tend to cost a little more than FWD mowers, but they are easier to control.
All of Troy-Bilt’s self-propelled mowers cost more than their push mowers. However, they demand less energy from you, and you can adjust the motor speed to a comfortable walking pace. The cutting deck width of a Troy-Bilt self-propelled mower is nearly identical to that of a Troy-Bilt push mower; the average width is 21 inches. Again, this means that six passes would be required to cover an area that is 10 feet wide.
Troy-Bilt riding mowers
Some people view riding mowers as the ultimate mowing luxury because you can sit on the seat while you mow. You needn’t push the mower or work up a sweat. However, the engine of a Troy-Bilt riding mower has more components than the engines of its simpler mowers, thereby requiring more maintenance.
In addition to a more comfortable lawn care experience, Troy-Bilt riding mowers offer larger cutting widths, from 36 to 54 inches. The larger cutting deck makes big jobs go faster than they would with a self-propelled or push mower. In an area 10 feet wide, you’d only need to make three or four passes to complete the job.
Notably, some Troy-Bilt riding mowers have a zero-turn steering mechanism. This allows the mower to make sharp turns and to turn 180 degrees in a smoother and faster fashion than a riding lawn mower without the mechanism. As you might expect, zero-turn riding lawn mowers cost more than their traditional riding lawn mower counterparts.
The Troy-Bilt brand originated in 1937 as Rototiller Inc. but changed its name to Troy-Bilt in 1968 to settle a disagreement over trademarks.
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Features
Discharging
With Troy-Bilt mowers, you can pick a model with a side discharge or a rear discharge. Rear discharge is preferable when mowing near fences, as the discharge bag won’t get in the way like it might if it were on the side. All Troy-Bilt mowers can use a mulching kit, so you can run them without a bag attached, if desired.
Dual-lever height adjustment
Rather than adjusting the height of each wheel individually, as commonly occurs with other brands of walk-behind mowers, you can use the dual-lever system to adjust the height of all four wheels at the same time.
Hydrostatic transmission
With Troy-Bilt riding mowers, the transmission system eliminates clutching when you switch between forward and reverse as well as when changing motor speed. This creates a far smoother ride. When the transmission system is not smooth, the riding mower can jerk back and forth, creating an uncomfortable ride.
TriAction cutting system
With a walk-behind mower from Troy-Bilt, the TriAction system creates an extremely clean cut. The system pulls the cut grass away from the blade, allowing it to spin freely.
DID YOU KNOW?
Rear-wheel walk-behind mowers still require you to walk behind the mower and steer it, but they are typically easier to control than front-wheel drive mowers. All-wheel drive mowers are the smoothest of the three.
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Accessories
Lawn mower cover: Family Accessories Riding Lawn Mower Cover
Water-resistant and with UV protection, this cover protects your investment. The material consists of rip-resistant polyester so you can be certain it will last.
Gas can: Surecan 5-Gallon Gasoline Can
If you have a mower with a gasoline-powered engine, you’ll need a high-quality gas can. This Surecan model has a spill-proof design, draining the gas from the bottom of the can for maximum efficiency.
Troy-Bilt mower prices
Inexpensive: Walk-behind push mowers are the least-expensive style of Troy-Bilt mowers, typically costing between $200 and $350. Self-propelled walk-behind mowers typically cost between $300 and $500. The latter cost more than the former because they require engine power to drive the wheels.
Mid-range: Troy-Bilt riding lawn mowers have a far higher price point than push and walk-behind mowers. The price for these machines (without the zero-turn function) ranges from $1,200 to $2,500.
High-end: Zero-turn riding mowers have the highest prices in the Troy-Bilt family of mowers, costing between $2,500 and $3,500. Zero-turn riding mowers are more expensive because they are easier to control and include a complex steering mechanism.
Troy-Bilt mowers range in price from $200 to $3,500, with zero-turn riding mowers costing the most.
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Tips
Here are some tips for maintenance for your Troy-Bilt lawn mower.
- Changing oil: Troy-Bilt mowers have a drain plug to simplify the process of draining the oil from the engine. It is recommended to drain the oil from the engine at least once a year. Walk-behind mowers usually have a 16-ounce oil capacity, while riding mowers usually have a 64-ounce capacity.
- Checking spark plugs: Troy-Bilt recommends changing the spark plug annually.
- Cleaning filters: Filters on a Troy-Bilt mower need cleaning or replacing annually. This includes a fuel line filter, an oil filter, and an air filter.
- Inspecting belts: Belts on Troy-Bilt riding mowers need replacing every couple of years — sooner if a belt shows wear. The belt is located on the mower deck.
- Sharpening blades: Sharpen the blades of your Troy-Bilt mower at least once a year. If you mow in woody areas or mow frequently, you may need to sharpen them two or three times per year. Blades may need replacement every two to four years.
FAQ
Q. Beyond mowers, what products carry the Troy-Bilt brand name?
A. Non-mower products made by Troy-Bilt include tillers, snow blowers, string trimmers, leaf blowers, leaf vacuums, and edgers.
Q. Do Troy-Bilt lawn mowers give me the option of collecting clippings in a bag rather than mulching?
A. It depends on the model of lawn mower you select, but the majority of Troy-Bilt mowers do have the option to add a bag or bagging system for collecting clippings. With certain models, the bag ships with the mower at the time of purchase. With a few models, you must purchase a bag or bagging system separately.
Q. Must I have my Troy-Bilt mower professionally maintained, or can I do it myself?
A. Troy-Bilt mower engines are similar to those from other brands. They do not require any unique or special maintenance steps to keep them running. If you are familiar with working on lawn mower engines and performing basic maintenance, such as replacing fuel filters, changing the oil, and cleaning air filters, it may be possible to maintain the Troy-Bilt mower yourself.
