Customer Reviews for Jonsered L4621 21 in. 173cc Kohler XTX Gas Walk Behind Self Propelled Mower

I really wanted to like this mower. I was excited about the handle design for the self-propel, and the bigger engine (173cc). Unfortunately, I am sorry to say, this mower was a huge disappointment for me. Hopefully others will have better luck with it, but I found it to be WAY too heavy–it was extremely difficult to maneuver, especially doing a simple turn at the end of every row I cut. It left me feeling dead for two days after–I felt like I had been run over by a truck. Also, every time I turned the mower around at the end of a row I had cut, it made this loud vibrating noise. I don’t know, of course, whether it should have done this or not, or if other mowers of the same model do it, but it certainly didn’t sound right. I had heard that bigger back wheels on a mower were supposed to be better for slopes and rough terrain, and I was eager to try them for the first time. These back wheels were HUGE, like pie pans. My experience is that bigger back wheels are terrible! I will never buy another mower with bigger back wheels again. They made the mower so much more difficult to turn and maneuver. Let me tell you: it gets extremely old very quickly when at the end of every row you cut you have this very difficult time simply turning a heavy mower with huge wheels 180 degrees. And at the same time you have a loud vibrating noise and you wonder if something is about to break... Also, the tire tread on these wheels was not good. Between the poor tire tread and the excessive weight of the mower, this thing was sliding hard down my slopes when I was trying to mow across them, and believe me, that was no fun. Mowing these slopes was the main reason I purchased an AWD mower. I cut half the yard that first evening, and put the mower away until the next day to finish. I filled the gas and got started. When the tank ran dry, I filled it up again, and pulled the cord to start the mower and finish my yard. And that’s when the worst part happened: the pull-cord just kept limply coming out, slowly and silently, in my hand. There was no way to start the engine! The engine had been used only a couple of hours, and now it was defective and unable to even be started. This was a huge disappointment. This was my first experience with a Kohler engine, and I must say: I will NEVER, ever buy another Kohler engine again. Besides failing completely in less than a few hours, the Kohler engine seems too “plasticky” and cheaply-made, especially across the top. I will stick to Honda mower engines, or Briggs and Strattons. I will say that the “two trigger” handle design for the self-propel is the best and most comfortable design out there. That’s the best thing I can say about this mower. I am currently on a “sister model,” a Husqvarna L221A, which seems better in almost every way, but which unfortunately may have a design defect as well with the self-propel and the grass gathering under the deck, although it’s too early to tell for certain. If you’d like an all-wheel-drive mower--and who wouldn’t? They’re the best!–I’d recommend the Husqvarna L221A or the Toro AWD 20353, if that awful Toro Personal Pace handle design doesn’t kill your thumbs and wrists like it did to me. If any mower maker ever makes an AWD mower with a good comfortable handle design and a good engine, and free of other defects, at a reasonable price, they will OWN this market! Believe me, I’ve tried a lot of pricy AWD mowers, and it’s been impossible to find even one that’s been free of defects.

Handle Folds @ Mower Frame: Threaded Turn Nut Tightens Handle: NOT Enough Treads On SHORT BOLT Got Torn Off By 3rd Load: Replaced Bolt With 3" size 5/16": Put on 2 Fender Washers: Put Bolt in Hole in Handle: Put 4 Thick Washers Inside Handle Recess: Put Bolt Thru Case: Put 2 Fender Washers Outside case: Lock Nut Holds Handle in TIGHT: We Never FOLD Handle: My wife Loves Mower: Simple Pull Rope & Kohler is Runnng: 4 Wheel Drive NEVER Slows Down: KOHLER is a PLUS: Bagger is Easy to Remove & Replace: Side Discharge &OR Mulch Plates Replace Bagger Next Summer: I like the Curved Shape of Frame: :

During the first use I thought it would be a good mower. But in less then one season the bolts fell out and striped on handles. The muffler bolts came loose and broke when I tried to tighten them. The plastic liner around the mower blade came loose and got destroyed by the blade and the self propled drive drive keeps coming off because the tension rollers are cheap plastic and broke so belt slips off. Do not waste your moneydrive

Excellent mower. Very well made, starts great and love the all-wheel drive.