Craftsman 21-in. FWD Gas Self-Propelled Mower with Battery Start

Purchasing a lawnmower is a significant investment for any homeowner, especially when it comes to maintaining that pristine, well-manicured lawn. Recently, I had the opportunity to put the Craftsman 21-in. FWD Gas Self-Propelled Mower with Battery Start through its paces. After several months of use, I’ve developed a nuanced perspective of what this mower has to offer.

Initial Impressions

Out of the box, the Craftsman mower certainly looks the part. The red and black color scheme is aesthetically pleasing, and the overall build seems robust. As someone who values ease of use, the battery start feature caught my attention. The idea of a push-button start is quite appealing, especially for those who might struggle with a traditional pull cord. The mower also boasts a 3-in-1 deck, allowing for side discharge, mulching, or bagging, which adds a lot of versatility.

Assembly and First Use

The assembly was relatively straightforward, though it required a bit of elbow grease to get everything set up correctly. One issue I encountered early on was adjusting the front wheels. The lever wouldn’t budge, and upon closer inspection, I noticed the rod connecting the wheels was bent. This was disappointing, as it rendered the front wheel adjustment unusable right from the outset.

Upon starting the mower for the first time, the battery start feature worked flawlessly. It fired up with no issues, and I was able to get to mowing right away. The dual-lever height adjustment offers six settings, providing decent flexibility for different grass lengths. With a cutting width of 21 inches, the mower covers a good amount of ground per pass.

Performance Over Time

Initially, the mower performed well. It was effective at mulching and bagging, and the Dust Blocker bag did a satisfactory job of minimizing debris. However, as weeks turned into months, several issues began to surface.

One of the most glaring problems was the mower’s engine performance. The 159cc engine started to sputter and lose power after only a few uses. I found myself walking at a snail’s pace to prevent it from stalling, which significantly slowed down my mowing time. On more than one occasion, the mower refused to start altogether, even after multiple attempts and some basic troubleshooting.

Another critical issue was the noise level. While the engine is more powerful than some lower-end models, it’s also substantially louder. This might not be a deal-breaker for everyone, but it did attract unwanted attention from my neighbors, especially during early morning mowing sessions.

Maintenance and Durability

Maintenance proved to be another point of frustration. The mower started showing signs of wear and tear much earlier than I anticipated. After just a few uses, the blade began to rattle, and the overall performance became increasingly erratic. Despite performing standard maintenance tasks like changing the spark plug, using fresh gas, and cleaning the air filter, the mower’s reliability continued to decline.

One particularly concerning issue was the presence of white smoke emanating from the engine, accompanied by oil leaks. This is often a sign of internal engine problems or improper oil handling, but the mower’s manual and support resources were insufficient in addressing these issues. Attempting to resolve these problems on my own became a time-consuming and ultimately futile exercise.

User Experience

From a usability standpoint, the front-wheel-drive (FWD) system was a mixed bag. On flat terrain, the adjustable mowing speed was a nice feature, but the FWD struggled on uneven ground or inclines. Additionally, the mower’s weight (84 lbs) made it somewhat cumbersome to maneuver, especially in tighter spaces.

One positive aspect was the mower's dust blocker bag, which did a good job of keeping debris contained. However, attaching and detaching the bag was not as seamless as I would have liked. The connection points seemed flimsy and prone to misalignment.

Conclusion and Recommendation

After several months of use, it’s clear that the Craftsman 21-in. Gas Self-Propelled Mower with Battery Start has potential but ultimately falls short in several key areas. While the battery start feature and 3-in-1 deck are great in theory, the mower’s inconsistent engine performance, maintenance challenges, and durability issues make it hard to recommend.

For those who might be mechanically inclined and enjoy tinkering with their equipment, this mower could represent a project rather than a reliable tool. However, for the average homeowner seeking a dependable, low-maintenance lawnmower, I would advise looking elsewhere. Investing in a higher-quality model with better reliability will save you time, money, and frustration in the long run.

In summary, despite its promising features, the Craftsman mower’s drawbacks overshadow its advantages, making it a tough sell for anyone in need of a dependable lawn maintenance tool.