Ariens Blade Runner™ (21") 6.5-HP 3-in-1 Push Lawn Mower

I have an old 1988 LM21S with B&S 4.5 HP engine that I purchased new in Houston Texas. This baby walked and talked for 22 years with nothing more than the occasional oil change, cable, and (the kicker) a couple of sets of rear wheels.

The newer version of this bad boy has cheapo plastic wheels. This type of rear drive machine takes one and only one type of rear wheel (OEM). The new version LM 21S wheels will not fit my machine, and are pitiful cheap-out versions by comparison.

Smaller rear axle size and plastic hubs are shocking, and shameful for such a fine piece of equipment. The older version had much larger rear axle and metal hubs, tough as a hickory stump. The new ones appear to be designed for a toy truck application, someone must be kidding.

My 1988 model was and is the finest mower I've ever owned. I would still use it IF the rear wheels were still available from Ariens, which they are not. As a result I will have to purchase a new mower, and it won't be an Ariens this time. They have taken a great machine and cheaped it out to compete with lower price equipment. This may wash with some but not with me. Tell me it ain't so...............

MD RESPONDS: "Plastic" isn't always cheap, and hi-tech plastics can be as strong as steel with less weight. Ariens thoroughly tests their products before putting them on the market, and are one of the few companies still building mowers right here in the USA.

Before you write off Ariens completely, why don't you call their Tech Support folks at (800) 472-8359 to find out the science behind the improvements of the past 20+ years. You may be pleasantly surprised!

I have an old 1988 LM21S with B&S 4.5 HP engine that I purchased new in Houston Texas. This baby walked and talked for 22 years with nothing more than the occasional oil change, cable, and (the kicker) a couple of sets of rear wheels.

The newer version of this bad boy has cheapo plastic wheels. This type of rear drive machine takes one and only one type of rear wheel (OEM). The new version LM 21S wheels will not fit my machine, and are pitiful cheap-out versions by comparison.

Smaller rear axle size and plastic hubs are shocking, and shameful for such a fi... more