Husqvarna 961430103 HU725AWD 22-Inch 3-in-1 AWD Mower with Briggs & Stratton 725ex Engine

This is a two part review. I think both parts are important, because there's more to a product than just high quality and low price: a hassle-free experience is crucial too. Sometimes I wonder if there are certain things that shouldn't be bought online. This is probably one of those purchases that doesn't make as much sense to buy from Amazon. The packaging just isn't sufficient to get it through the long dangerous journey in the delivery truck. For the record, I got two of these and they both came broken from each of the major shippers: one from Brown and one from their major competitor who Tom Hanks worked for in Castaway (I can't name them without having my review blocked).______________________Product:This is a good strong mower. It starts up easier than any mower I've ever owned. The power drive is very strong and it pushes great. I like how easy it is to feather the power drive to vary the speed.I don't like to bag my grass (too much hassle), so I only use mulchers. This one cuts very well, but it doesn't seem to mulch as well as my 20 year old Toro. I'll need to be more careful about letting the grass get too tall and/or I'll have to take smaller passes at it.This mower is also very big. It has about the same footprint at the wheels as my older mowers did, but the handle is a lot longer, so it takes up a lot more room in my shed. I can fold the handle down, but that takes four bolts and it's more work than I want to go through every week. I'll have to reorganize my shed to fit it.As far as the quality goes, it's a good solid mower and I'm thrilled with how easy it is to start and run. There's just a nagging feeling that it isn't quite a $400 mower.But now the bad news, the purchase and delivery experience...______________________Experience:I received this mower in two days via Brown, just as the Amazon Prime tracking page said I would. I was already home from work and had an eye out for the Brown truck, because I knew this was going to be a heavy box. The driver was glad to see me come out and greet him, because this was way too heavy for him to unload on his own. The two of us schlepped it into my garage. So far so good, except that it would have been bad times for the Brown driver if I hadn't been there to help him out.Per the instructions on the carton, I cut the box open and rolled the mower out of the box. This was a good time-saver and a lot easier and safer than trying to lift it out of the box.The wheels felt a little strange, but I couldn't tell if that was normal or not.After I finished the simple installation instructions (four thumb screws to attach the handle and one more to attach the pull cord) I noticed that there was a broken plastic hook in the bottom of the carton. I looked around and found that it was the handle to adjust one of the wheels. The other three wheels had nice hooks, but the forth one was broken off. Bummer. I called Amazon and they immediately offered to send me a replacement, but I really didn't want to go through that and I didn't want to cost Husqvarna a sale just for a broken handle, so I asked the Amazon rep for the number for Husqvarna. That went smoothly. Husqvarna had the part in stock and dropped it in the mail. So far so good.Then the next day (before I got the part) I was moving the mower out of the middle of the garage to make room for something else and I realized that the wheel with the broken handle was actually completely wobbly and wouldn't turn freely. It turned out that the mower was more banged up than I thought. This was too expensive of a purchase for me to take a chance and to keep playing whack-a-mole with warranty claims, so I called Amazon back and told them my problem. They immediately shipped another mower to me (overnight, since this was a replacement). They also asked me to repack this one in its original box so they could come pick it up. That was easier said than done, because I had carved up the carton to unpack the mower. I used a ton of tape and packed it back up securely. Poor Brown driver. I wasn't there when he came to pick it up. I'm sure this mower is even more banged up now than it was before.This could have been avoided if the packaging were more secure. The mower sits on its four wheels in the box. If/when the box gets dropped, at least one of the wheels has to absorb the entire impact of the fall. Somebody should have thought of this, because it's very easily preventable.Amazon was awesome about shipping me a replacement. They sent it overnight via the other major shipper, which means they must have lost money on the transaction. It came right on time the next day, but would you believe that the EXACT SAME WHEEL HANDLE WAS BROKEN AGAIN?!?! Unbelievable! At least this time the wheel itself isn't broken, so there is no need to return the mower. I'll just cope with the broken handle. I really blame Husqvarna for the bad design of these handles. These rigid plastic curved pieces are just begging to break off.To summarize, this is a nicer mower than I would have found at my local big-box store. Someday the hassle of the shopping experience will be behind me. If I had it to do over again, I'd probably go a different route.

I don't feel this product is quite ready for market yet Here are my observations. The lower horizontal foot protector lost a bolt/screw, so now just hangs lopsided offering partial protection. The motor uses a automatic choke system which unfortunately, once the motor has been warmed up then stopped for over 15 minutes, it will not restart because it will not rechoke. So, around 1/2 hr. is needed before it will rechoke for starting. Once 4wd is engaged for self propelled operation and the propelling operation is released, one must then push it a additional foot or so so the system will release the wheels, otherwise one drags the wheels while pulling the mower backwards.

OK. I've had this for a year and it was used every week this summer from May through October. My house is on a steep grade and it has enough power to drag me up the hill. Its pricey but you get what you pay for. Do your annual maintenance (spark plug, change oil, replace air filter). This isn't a cheap Walmart Murray mower so it should be taken care off and it will give you a beautifully mowed yard in return.

Love it. I'm disabled and have difficulty mowing my own lawn. Despite my injuries I still like getting out in the yard and doing work and this lawnmower has made it easier and enjoyable. Totally addicted to making my yard look like a professional baseball field and having fun while doing it. The only thing I'd suggest is traversing wheels in the front for easier maneuver.

I have a very hilly home with steep grades and needed a mower to make it easier. This fit the bill and works great. The mulching result is not as good as Toro but it sure goes up hills better.

Very happy with the mower. Easy to assemble the handles, after adding the oil and gas it started right up. Cuts great and the AWD goes right up the steep hill I bought it to mow.

Live on ten acres, some place can't used the rider. Many areas are very uneven. This lawnmower is wonderful and powerful, and easy to used.

Lawn mower came just as expected. Mowed the lawn the same day it arrived. The self propelled function is quite fast. Didn't use the bag since I would have to dump so much. But I think it will be handy come leaves time. The hose connector to rinse out the undercarriage is a great feature.

I broke the mulching door recently and discovered Husqvarna discontinued the part and has no stock.Unacceptable they do this to a 4 year old machine.Won’t buy another Husqvarna product again