Boys And Their Toys - Vintage Lawn Boy Mower

Automatic Washer - The world's coolest Washing Machines, Dryers and Dishwashers

Help Support :

I've got four Lawn Boys. One I use all the time, the others sporatically if they're running good that day. I got three of them free, one from a neighbor and two from the dump.
 
I love old Lawn Boys!

I mow with this 1963 Lawn Boy Automower.

7-2-2008-09-42-47--rickr.jpg
 
As an eBay Associate we earn from qualifying purchases.
I use it every week, and I jsut love it! I have used Lawn Boys since I was a kid, and this is my favourite of all time. I did add a mulching plate to it, and matched the colour. This mower has the 4hp "D" engine. Before this I had a 1976 self propelled model. I gave that one to a friend, and he is still using it. They seem to run forever, and long as you get the gas/oil mix right. I do pamper mine though. Rinse it off top and bottom, every time I am finished mowing.
 
I have never owned a 2 cycle motor. What is the method used for mixing the oil and the gasoline? Do two cycle motors have an oil pan where you have to change the oil periodically?

I noticed that the auction states Enjoy that classic 2-stroke smell as well as that classic 2-stroke burble. I remmber that smell! A neighbor of ours a couple of houses down had a green Lawn Boy that had a particular odor to it while he was using it.

Rickr: That sure is a beautiful lawn mower, I'm willing to bet that you are the envy of the neighborhood!
 
Hi Allen, This mower uses 1 can of Lawn Boy oil per gallon of gasoline, so it is easy to mix. I have a two gallon gas can, so I put two cans of Lawn Boy oil in first, then add the gas. The newer models use less oil in the gas mix, but I do not know what the exact mix is.
The two stroke engines do not have an oil pan, or sump. They use the gas/oil mix for lubrication. As, I said, they last and last and are easy to maintain. The most important things are to keep the air filter clean, as the incoming air acts as a cooler. And to keep the gas/oil ratio correct.
 
Mowing lawns was the first paying job I ever had. I think I was 10 or 11. Never used a Lawn Boy, unfortunately.

That semi-tripod wheel configuration would have saved me hours. Brilliant! It's like a built-in weedwacker. Although I'm guessing you need to be careful about gouging the lawn?
 
The offset wheel helps to keep the mower level, so that it does not scalp at all. Also helps to be able to trim closer.

A vintage LB is a breeze to mow with.
 
Nothin' beats a magnesium deck

I've been using lawnboy 2 strokes since...whenever.

I actually prefer a push reel, to a power mower.

But when I have to power mow, the lawboys have done the job.
I restored a 1972. It has an electric start and is self propelled. I enjoy using it.

But I wear ear plugs (net damage is cumulative), and neti pot rinse after mowing.
 
The one like Ricks is one I would love to have as well. That's what I think of when I think LawnBoy.
Not surprising is that there are still numerous in use on the streets around me with the original homeowners who are still kicking as well, now into their 70's and 80's.
 
Rick thats beautiful! Like everything else, you sure do keep it nice.

I never cared to fool with mixing the oil/gas so I never even gave a Lawn Boy a glance. Give me a plain old cheap-ass Murray with a Briggs & Stratton.

Does anyone remember the gas powered reel type mowers? Now those will chop your feet off! Funny I forgot all about reel mowers----but I do remember whan people used them.
 
My dad and grandfather both had gas powered reel lawnmowers...my dad's was bought used in about 1979 or so b/c the new house had a good bit of zoysia grass (looks better mowed short). That brings back some memories...it was a Toro Greenbrier or some such name...rather tall unit, looked like a hand-powered reel. Sears had some powered ones through the catalog in that era which were reversed-somehow, and the clippings exited from the front.

JL
 
Yeah, the gas powered reel mowers seem to have faded away not that they were ever as common as regular mowers but you'd see them now and again. On one of the streets we lived way back in the early 60's I recollect 1 gas reel mower and a couple of manual reel mowers and that was it, everyone else had regular lawnmowers. Oh except Mr Font.. he had a Toro battery electric, used a 12volt car battery. Only one I ever saw and never saw one again.
 
Yes,I remember the gas motored reel mower my Grandfather had-don't recollect the brand-bet it was Sears-He bought just about everything from them.The summers I used it was a very nice mower-ran quiet,did a great job,and was self propelled like most powered reel mowers.It had the older motor that you wound the starting cord around a pulley on one side of the motor and gave it a good pull.Usually started right up-ready to GO!As for chopping your feet-it discharged at the back-I didn't want to try it but bet if you stuck your foot back there it would just get pushed away from the blades.Reel mowers cut by shearing--like scissors-the grass gets cut when it is caught between the rotating blades and the stationary "bed Knife"that old mower was powerful enough to shear pine cones in half--when we took turns using GrandPas mower-the other would "plant" pine cones for it to run over.lots of chopped in half pine cones in those days!Fast forward today---now I just got two new john Deere mowers-A model 145 tractor and a JS45 walk mower.No old starting ropes for these!Would like to get another 2 cycle Lawn Boy though-just missed one in the want ad magazine here-called too late.they wanted $45 for it.
 
Reel mowers

Thanks for the comments on my LB Automower. I do love it! <:

Here is a couple prints of the reel mower that my grandfather used when I was a kid. I took over the lawn cutting job in 1980, and was still using gramps old Reo Royale here until about 1985. I then bought my 76 Lawn Boy used, and stopped mowing with the Reo. I gave the Reo to the same friend that has my 76 LB, and he still has the Reo also. It is stored in his garage, but has not been used for years.

One thing that I hated about the reel mower, was if the lawn got just a bit too long, the grass would tend to bend over, and not get cut evenly. I would then have to rake the grass "up" and remow. because the mower only had two wheels, it would also jerk back and forth contantly, and was a job to hold on a steady course. It was also very noisy. Still, the Reo did the job well, and for many many years. When I bought the 1976 Lawn Boy used for $100.00 in 1985, I never used the Reo again.

7-5-2008-09-56-24--rickr.jpg
 
Keeping it "reel" <:

The Reo reel mower was cool to use, because it was so old. Nobody else had a power reel in service by the 1980's so it was fun to use. Still, my parents had a non-self propelled Lawn Boy that I used when I lived at home, and I knew the rotary mower was easier to use, and made the lawn look nicer.
That was the reason I decided to purchase the used Lawn Boy for $100.00, when I could have purchased a brand new "other brand" rotary for about $69.00 in 1985.

7-5-2008-10-05-16--rickr.jpg
 
Hey Girl's---Talk to the Hand!!!!!!--------

Mr. Handsome is enjoying mowing with that Reo so much he sure doesn't want anything to do with the ladies! Tan, buff and 'stylin', you know whomever designed that ad had an eye for the boys!

Too funny!
 

Similar threads

pierreandreply4
what would be your dream vintage dishwasher to own in 2025
Replies
20
Views
598
phillymatt53
phillymatt53
D
Are modern refrigerators really worth the upgrade?
2
Replies
35
Views
1K
phillymatt53
phillymatt53
pierreandreply4
long term question what would be my chance of finding a vintage inglis washer like this one
Replies
2
Views
49
tomturbomatic
T
M
1998 Kenmore 70 series Suds Saver
Replies
11
Views
125
bradfordwhite
bradfordwhite
R
New to me vintage Canadian GE Filter-Flo
Replies
16
Views
164
appnut
appnut

Latest posts

Back
Top