Snapper Commercial Lawn Mower CRP218520 Review. Snapper walk behind mowers

Snapper Commercial Lawn Mower CRP218520 Review

The CRP218520 Snapper Commercial lawn mower offers an excellent value in the commercial gas sector. It has the cutting power to handle all but neglectful conditions and has a solid build. Its mechanical drive system seems antiquated, but it’s also easy to maintain and repair. With a price that can save you 500 or more over high-end models, it’s a mower well worth your consideration.

Snapper Commercial Lawn Mower Balances Quality, Performance, and Value

Our expectations of gas mowers raise dramatically when they’re advertised as commercial models. So when we tested 24 different mowers in our gas mower and battery-powered mower reviews, we anticipated a jump up in performance and quality from our commercial contenders. The CRP218520 Snapper Commercial lawn mower comes to us from a brand that has enough history to know a thing or two about mowing technology.

Pros

• Solid build
• Excellent cut quality
• Handles 2 weeks worth of fast growth easily
• Ninja mulching blade improves cutting ability when mulching

Cons

• Drive handle cover likes to come off
• Drive handle is awkward to release and re-engage on every turn
• Smaller fuel tank than other commercial mowers

Shootout Results

The CRP218520 Snapper Commercial lawn mower offers an excellent value in the commercial gas sector. It has the cutting power to handle all but neglectful conditions and has a solid build. Its mechanical drive system seems antiquated, but it’s also easy to maintain and repair. With a price that can save you 500 or more over high-end models, it’s a mower well worth your consideration.

Performance

We use a variety of tests to come to our conclusions and you’re welcome to take a look behind the curtain. You can find those details in our gas mower shootout.

Cutting Power

As we consider performance, one key point is that the other commercial models we tested use Honda’s GXV160 engine and Snapper uses a 190cc Briggs Stratton professional series engine.

We started out measuring our mowers’ cutting speeds by starting out with no-load testing. The Snapper Commercial’s 21″ blade, without being put under any kind of stress, maintained 2797 RPM with a 174.7 MPH speed at the blade tips.

Out of our commercial gas-powered lawn mower options, this was the slowest. However, that’s still plenty of speed for cutting and we need to consider how it changes under load before coming to any kind of judgment.

With battery-powered motors, a light load/maintenance cut is enough to drive the engine to direct more power to the blade. Generally, we’ll see an increase in blade tip speed here. But with gas-powered engines, the blade tip speed stays remarkably similar to its no-load speed.

However, throwing the mowers under a heavier load will affect blade tip speed for gas power. When we upped the pressure, we saw an 8.9 MPH drop with this Snapper Commercial lawn mower. It’s the biggest reduction we saw, dipping to 165.7 MPH.

The blade is still able to cut well at that speed, but the engine does seem to bog down easier than other commercial models.

Torture Test

We threw this mower into our torture test, where we cut a straight line into 5 weeks’ worth of grass growth and walking at a consistent 2.5 MPH. When the mower quit, we measured the distance.

It’s worth noting that there are too many variables for this to be a completely objective measurement of a mower’s performance. So, we didn’t factor in these results in our final scoring.

With that disclaimer, the Snapper Commercial lawn mower traveled just 13′ before it bogged down. The winner of this test made it 100′ further and one of our battery-powered mowers mowed past 60′. However, it cuts 2 weeks’ worth of growth almost as easily as 1 week’s worth.

The takeaway is that if you’re in a situation where you have to tackle neglectful overgrowth, start by cutting as high as you can and take your time until you get it under control. For grass that’s just gone for an extra week or 10 days, it’s going to cut well.

Cutting Area

Ideally, you want to be able to mow without having to refuel halfway through the job. It’s not as big of a deal as having to charge a battery, but it still takes time and breaks up your workflow. We measured the cutting area we were able to get on a tank of fuel to see who excels in this category.

The Snapper Commercial lawn mower only has a 36-ounce fuel tank and that limits it compared to other commercial mowers. Still, you’re looking at more than an hour of runtime on a tank.

With its 21″ blade, that works out to 26,022 square feet of mowing per tank, or 0.60 acres before you’ll need to stop and refuel.

Fuel Efficiency

While the cutting area is a legitimate consideration, the other side of the coin comes down to fuel efficiency. How much fuel will your engine use? Will it sip or gulp down the gas?

With 68 minutes of runtime on a tank, you’re looking at roughly 2.12 acres of cutting per gallon of fuel. That’s right in the middle of the 1.88 – 2.57 acres/gal range we tested.

As an interesting side note, the residential mowers were quite a bit more efficient, hitting a range of 2.11 – 3.02 acres/gallon.

Feature Set

Variable Self-Propelled Drive

The Snapper Commercial mower has a few interesting features about its drive train and allows for a variable walking speed up to 4 MPH. It functions by using a mechanical disc transmission. The disc slides left or right against the flywheel—further out to go faster or closer in to move slower. To set your pace, just adjust the lever on the left side.

To engage the drive, there’s another lever you need to hold down against the handle. It works and is comfortable enough, but there are a couple of downsides. First, you have to let it back up and re-engage it every time you stop the drive to turn. That wouldn’t be the case if it were front-wheel drive.

The rubber cover on that lever likes to come off as well. For long-term use, I’ll probably use some electrical tape to keep it from sliding.

Deck Material

We would expect nothing less than a steel deck for any mower that claims to be commercial grade. The Snapper Commercial model doesn’t disappoint here.

As long as we’re taking a look at the deck, we might as well talk about the unorthodox design of the Ninja Mulching Blade. This X-shaped blade provides better suction and more cutting surfaces than standard blades. In practice, this blade design is part of what helps us confidently mow through 2 weeks’ growth without slowing down.

Height Adjustment and Range

The Snapper Commercial mower gives you 7 height level adjustment stops that range from 1.375″ to 4.25″. This type of range should be able to tackle most types of grass pretty effectively.

We like single-point height adjustments, but they’re rare on gas lawn mowers since the single point has to be the weight of the mower for height adjustments. The Snapper Commercial uses an adjustment on each of its 4 wheels just like the rest of its commercial competition. It takes more time to adjust your height, but your mower is more durable and stable.

Handle Positions

Rather than using multiple handle positions, the Snapper opts for a slide on the handle adjustment. This actually the whole setup much more customizable than simple 2 or 3-position pivot points.

Discharge Options

As the Ninja Mulching style, Snapper focuses primarily on mulching with bagging as a secondary option. If you want to side discharge instead, you can pick up the shoot separately.

Value

Where both eXmark and the Honda will run you well north of 1000, the Snapper seems like a downright steal at 799 (or even less online). That’s where the whole story starts to wrap up. Snapper gives you confident cutting and a quality build for 500 less than you’ll pay for a high-end Honda.

Plus, this mower comes with a 3-year residential warranty. If you’re using it commercially, you get a 1-year warranty on the mower.

The Bottom Line

The CRP218520 Snapper Commercial lawn mower offers an excellent value in the commercial gas sector. It has the cutting power to handle all but neglectful conditions and has a solid build. Its mechanical drive system seems antiquated, but it’s also easy to maintain and repair. With a price that can save you 500 or more over high-end models, it’s a mower well worth your consideration.

Snapper Lawn Mowers

Choosing a new lawn mower is no easy task. After all, there are so many brands, models, and features to pick from. Here at Jim Coast Sales Service, you and your lawn mower search are in good hands. We’re committed to providing all the information you need to guide you to the lawn mower that’s right for you. We share in your passion for lawn care so we, too, know how important this investment is.

We carry a broad range of products right here at our dealership, which includes the legendary Snapper lawn mowers. We’ve gathered some essential details on a few of the models below. Visit us in Duke Center, PA near Bradford today to check them out! At Jim Coast Sales Service, we also offer a convenient service department and can assist with any repair and maintenance needs, too.

Snapper Riding Mowers

If you’re looking to sit back, relax, and enjoy the ride as you mow then you should check out the Snapper riding mowers. These beastly machines are built to get down to business so all the heavy lifting is done for you. There are various models to choose from and they’ve all been designed to provide ease of use.

Snapper Walk-Behind Mowers

As for the Snapper walk-behind mowers, these machines are gas-powered and there are four different series to choose from. Whether your yard is modest or massive in size, there’s a Snapper walk-behind model for the job. The revolutionary “3-N-1″ convertibility allows you to convert your mower from a side-discharge to mulching, and some models even offer bagging.

Snapper Zero-Turn Mowers

When you need to get your lawn mowed and looking flawless in record time, check out the Snapper zero-turn lawn mowers. These bad boys offer superior maneuverability and speed. One of the best qualities you’ll find in these lawn mowers is that they’re highly efficient while still being extremely affordable. This level of quality is simply unmatched.

Contact Jim Coast Sales Service

Call us at (814) 817-6565 or stop in for the perfect recreational vehicle or parts you’ve been looking for. We’re here to help.

Snapper SP65

Easy to use, easy to own, this premium lineup of Snapper Self Propelled Lawn Mowers offer better maneuverability on flat, hilly or uneven terrain. The high-performance Briggs Stratton EXi and Professional Series Engines featuring ReadyStart is easy to start-no prime, no choke, just pull for power (select models). The versatile 3-n-1 cutting deck lets you choose your cut finish from mulching, bagging or side discharge (select models). The single-lever height adjustment makes adjusting the mower height easy with 6 grass-cutting settings. The deck washout port lets you easily clean the mower with a garden hose Less

Easy to use, easy to own, this premium lineup of Snapper Self Propelled Lawn Mowers offer better maneuverability on flat, hilly or uneven terrain. The high-performance Briggs Stratton EXi and Professional Series Engines featuring ReadyStart is easy to start-no prime, no choke, just pull for power (select models) Read

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Features

Just the Right Height

Short or tall, these lawn mowers are adjustable for all operators. Choose from 3 operator handle height settings for comfortable mowing

Simple to Start

Briggs Stratton Engines have the power, durability and features to keep you mowing year after year. ReadyStart No Choke Starting makes choking your engine a thing of the past and allows for quick and easy starts every time. Plus, some models even feature JUST CHECK ADD no oil changes needed. Ever.

Choose your desired cut finish with 3-n-1 lawn mower decks that allow you to mulch, rear bag or side discharge.

Choose Your Speed

Self-propelled mowers make mowing even easier. Choose from a single-speed front-wheel-drive model (SP65), or opt for a model with variable speeds for more versatility (front-wheel drive. SP80 or SP100/rear-wheel drive. SP90 or SP105).

Specifications

The Best Self-Propelled Lawn Mowers in 2023 for Making Your Yard Work Easier

These lawn mowers drive themselves, taking the load off you in the process.

By Roy Berendsohn Published: Mar 21, 2023

One of the perks of the warm-weather season is getting to spend time outside. If you own your own home and have a yard, it’s very likely that in order to enjoy your outdoor space, you need to mow the lawn. The larger the yard, the more work it will be to maintain. If you have a lot of grass to cut, you’d be wise to consider a self-propelled lawn mower especially now that there are a ton of sales just in time for Memorial Day.

The primary difference between a standard push mower and a self-propelled mower is that the former moves when you push it, and the latter essentially moves itself with only your guidance. Once the engine is running, all you have to do is squeeze a handle or push a lever and the mower will start moving forward with you as you walk.

Turning the mower around is your job, but once you have your heading, just keep the drive handle squeezed and escort the mower down the path, no pushing necessary.

From Popular Mechanics

Self-propelled law mowers take power off the engine and route it via a belt to a pulley on the transmission and axle. When you move the drive control lever on the mower handle, you tension the belt, causing the pulley to turn, and this drives the transmission, moving the mower forward.

Move the drive control lever back and the tension is released, the pulley stops turning, and the mower stops moving forward. The belt-driven transmission is a time-tested design to power the mower and take the load off you in the process.

What to Consider

A mower is like many consumer products in that the more features a manufacturer adds, the more expensive it becomes. But a longer or more eye-catching list of features isn’t necessarily better. Sometimes less is more. Here are the most important to keep in mind.

Front-wheel drive mowers tend to be less expensive than rear-wheel drive units. They can be easier to turn because you don’t have to disengage the drive wheels to do so. Simply push down on the handlebar to raise the front wheels off the ground. However, their traction isn’t as strong on hills or when the bag is full, as there isn’t as much weight over the drive wheels.

Rear-wheel drive mowers do cost more and aren’t as easy to turn, as you do need to disengage the drive—but this isn’t too much of a hassle. Rear-wheel drive mowers shine on hills and inclines, and when the grass bag is full. In either scenario, weight is shifted rearward and over the drive wheels, which enables superior traction, thus making the self-propel more effective.

An engine as small as 125 cc can power a mower, but most are somewhere in the 140 cc to 190 cc range. A large engine helps when powering through tall, lush grass or in extreme conditions, such as with a side discharge chute in place and mowing tall weeds in a border area. Also, the extra torque provided by a larger engine can improve bagging when the going gets tough (tall, leaf-covered grass in the fall). But if you mow sensibly and pay attention to deck height—and especially if you don’t let your lawn get out of control—an engine between 140 and 160 cc has more than enough power to get the job done.

A mower can have all four wheels the same diameter (7 to 8 inches), or it may have rear wheels that range from 9.5 inches to 12 inches in diameter. Larger rear wheels help the mower roll more easily over bumpy ground.

With some mowers you can start the engine with the twist of a key or the press of a button. It’s a great option, but a luxury. Keep the mower engine tuned and use fresh fuel with stabilizer added to it, and you’ll never have trouble starting.

Any number of mechanisms can control a mower’s ground speed—a squeeze handle, a drive bar that you press forward, even a dial. There’s no single right answer here. Look at the design and think about how you like to work. For example, if more than one person will be using the mower (and not all of them are right-handed), a drive control like that on a Toro Personal Pace mower might be the answer. Just push down on the bar to make it go faster. Let up on the bar to slow down.

A mower that can bag, mulch, and side discharge is known as a three-function mower, the most versatile kind. Two-function mowers bag and mulch or mulch and side discharge.

Mowers will typically have one, two, or four levers to control the deck height. Single-lever adjustment is the easiest to use, but it requires more linkage, which adds weight and complexity. If, for some reason, you find yourself varying deck height frequently, it’s a good option. Otherwise, two or four levers work just fine.

Only Honda makes a gas-engine mower with a high-impact plastic deck (there are battery mowers that have plastic decks). Otherwise, mowers generally have a steel deck, and a few manufacturers—Toro, for one—offer a corrosion-resistant aluminum deck. An aluminum deck won’t rot the way a steel deck will, but you still need to keep it clean.

This is a hose fitting mounted on top of the mower’s deck. When you’re done mowing, hook up a hose and run the mower to power wash the underside of the deck. We’ve had mixed results with these, but they’re better than just letting a mass of dried grass clippings accumulate.

expensive mowers come with a more durable bag with more dust-blocking capability. If you bag a lot, especially leaves or other lawn debris in the fall, then you need a mower with a higher quality dust-blocking bag. Having said that, if you rarely bag, the standard one that comes with a mower will last you the life of the mower.

Also called wide-area mowers, machines in this subgroup help homeowners better reconcile their need for more power and speed with the fact that they may not have enough storage for a tractor or zero-turn mower. A typical residential walk mower has a single-blade deck that cuts a swath from 20 to 22 inches wide. Wide-cut mowers (built for homeowner use) have either a single blade or, more typically, a pair of blades, cutting from 26 to 30 inches with each pass. Some of these are rated for light commercial use and have larger decks, in the 32-inch range, and engines that start at 223 cc and go up to about 337 cc.

Wide-cut mowers typically employ gear or hydrostatic drive transmissions, and they have top speeds of about 4 to 6 miles per hour. At their fastest, they move so quickly you have to trot to keep up with them. Needless to say, they’re overkill for small yards; only opt for one of these if you’ve got a significant plot of land that you need to keep tidy, but not one so large that you’d be better off going with a full-on riding mower.

How We Tested and Selected

We compiled this list based on Popular Mechanics mower testing and our knowledge of the lawn mower market at large. For our testing, we put mowers through the paces using our standard Popular Mechanics methodology: We cut turf grasses such as fescues and blue grass and rougher non-turf grasses like Timothy, clover, orchard grass, and wild oats, all in both normal and shin-deep heights. We mow uphill, downhill, and across the faces of hills. The maximum slope we cut is about 30 degrees.

That may not sound like much, but it’s about all you can do to stand on it, let alone push a mower up it or across it. We mow damp and wet grass to test general cutting performance and whether clippings accumulate on the tires. And we cut dry and dusty surfaces to see how well the bag filters under less-than-optimal conditions.

Honda HRN 216VKA

Honda HRN 216VKA

Key Specs

Honda mowers enjoy a sterling reputation. Having tested their walk and self-propelled mowers for the last 30 years, we feel confident that Honda’s entry level mower is a great choice for homeowners looking for power and durability. The HRN features a GCV 170 gas engine that’s built to withstand long hours of operation.

If you do your own maintenance (and most owners who buy this class of product do), you’ll appreciate the easily accessible spark plug and the fuel shutoff valve that enables better winter storage. Close the fuel shutoff and run the mower until it sputters to a halt. This will clear the carburetor of any gasoline, which will prevent the ethanol in it from disintegrating and causing running issues later on. Open the shutoff valve in the spring, add some fresh gasoline, and the mower should start easily.

All this maintenance stuff is great, but we can also tell you that our past test findings on other Hondas prove that their cut quality is outstanding for cleanliness. Sharp blades deliver a velvet-like finish. And their bagging ability is also quite good, in the same league with other well-bagging mowers from Toro.

In all, if you take mowing seriously, you should enjoy this Honda. If you have a little wiggle room in your budget, consider the Honda HRX, which features a mower powerful engine and a composite deck that won’t rust and is renowned for its durability.

One note is that Honda has announced that it will cease selling lawn mowers in the United States after this year—so if you’re considering buying one, best do it sooner rather than later.

Toro Recycler 60-Volt Max Lithium-Ion

Key Specs

Toro mowers have garnered more recommendations from us than any other brand for two reasons: build quality and cut quality. These were amply demonstrated in our testing as the Recycler turned in the best ratio of cut area per amp-hour of battery in the self-propelled category, while at the same time not skimping on cutting, mulching, or bagging quality.

We attribute this outstanding mower performance to three features, all upgrades to the previous version of this machine. First, the air vent at the front of the mower deck seems to improve mulching and bagging performance. Toro calls it Vortex technology, a design that increases air flow under the deck. This helps to stand the grass for a cleaner cut, which improves mulching performance, and also allows better airflow into the bag when collecting the clippings.

Next, the company’s redesigned “Atomic” blade configuration appears to assist the air flow and clipping movement. Finally, the three-phase, 60-volt motor is exceptionally efficient, resulting in a large cut area for a single battery.

Toro has maintained features that make this mower work: rear wheel drive, a one-piece deck that’s all steel (no plastic nose), 11-inch wheels to help it roll over roots and crevices, and the same fold-forward handle that was an industry breakthrough when it was introduced some years ago.

Ryobi 40-Volt Brushless Self-Propelled Mower

Key Specs

This is one of Ryobi’s top-of-the-line mowers, and it’s American-made construction is something we wish we saw more of. It delivers a tremendous cut area with its two 6-Ah batteries providing a total of 12-Ah of capacity, and its X-shaped blade leaves a pristine surface in its wake.

Ryobi estimates the design should provide 70 minutes of run time; we didn’t time our cut, but it strikes as plausible. Its rear-wheel drive and reasonably aggressive tire tread pattern provide good hill climbing and sidehill cutting performance, and its bagging on all surfaces (level, sidehill, and uphill) is also commendable.

Other ease-of-use features include an easily installed or removed bag that mounts and dismounts straight up and down through the handle; deck adjustment is quick and easy thanks to a single-level deck height adjustment. The straight edge deck is polypropylene; it will never rust and needs very little care other than basic cleaning.

Toro TimeMaster 30 in. Briggs Stratton Personal Pace

Toro TimeMaster 30 in. Briggs Stratton Personal Pace

The Toro Timemaster 30-in. mower has been around for several years and has earned a reputation as a sturdy workhorse for homeowners who want to cut down on their mowing time. It’s also used by some professionals as well. A few years ago the Timemaster got a slightly more powerful Briggs and Stratton gas engine, so it should have no issues powering through most demanding mowing jobs.

The Timemaster is rear-wheel drive and features Toro’s Personal Pace drive system that’s used on many of its self-propelled mowers. This allows the mower to move at your speed by simply pushing down or releasing the handle, which is spring-tensioned.

With a 30-in. deck, Toro claims the Timemaster will help you reduce your mowing time by about 40% compared to using a standard-sized mower. You can mulch, back, or side discharge with the Timemaster, and the handlebar can be locked in a fully vertical position to reduce space consumption in storage.

If you have half an acre to a full acre of lawn to mow and prefer the experience of a walk-behind mower versus a tractor or zero-turn, the Timemaster is worth a look.

Craftsman M220

Key Specs

Craftsman mowers have been doing very well in our tests, so we can recommend this one because it’s so much like the many other of the brand’s models that we’ve tested. If you’re looking for a good blend of maneuverability and power, you’ll get it with this mower. Its front drive helps move it along and makes it easy to turn.

It’s important to note that front-drive mowers do lose some traction when running uphill, particularly with a full grass bag. But if your slope is less than 20 degrees, and you’re not bagging uphill, you’ll be fine. The side discharge will also help you handle tall grass. Adjust the two deck levers to bring the mower up to full height and have at the rough stuff.

The fact that this mower bags, mulches, and side discharges is a plus, enabling you to handle a wide range of mowing conditions, from early spring and late into the fall. Three-function mowers like this are our preference for that versatility.

Toro Super Recycler Self-Propelled Lawn Mower

Key Specs

This is a beauty of a mower, with a cast-aluminum deck and a smooth-running Briggs Stratton 163-cc engine. We tested the Honda engine-equipped version, and it was effective at both bagging and mulching, even in moist grass.

Equipped with rear-wheel drive and the Personal Pace system (the farther you push the drive bar, the faster the mower goes), it’s an effective hill climber and moderately effective on sidehill cutting. It has relatively small 7.5-inch tires on all four corners, which causes this Toro to bump up and down a bit on washboard surfaces. But the good news is that it’s equipped with a far higher quality tire than we’re used to seeing these days. We didn’t notice them pick up any grass on moist surfaces.

Other features we like include its forward-fold handle that has a built-in shock absorber that Toro calls a Flex Handle Suspension, and a high-quality grass bag that loads through the handle, from the top.

QA

Are there special maintenance considerations with self-propelled mowers?

Yes. Both front- and rear-wheel drive mowers typically feature a drive belt, which can crack or wear out over time. Fortunately these belts are not difficult or particularly expensive to replace.

Secondly, you may have to replace the drive wheels occasionally. These wheels are driven with gears. there are typically teeth on the inside diameter of the drive wheel that line up with a gear on the axle. These teeth can wear out, especially if they are made of plastic. Higher-end mowers may feature drive wheels with a metal gear that meets the metal axle gear, which improves longevity of these components.

My lawnmower says I don’t ever have to change the oil, but just add oil when needed. Is this OK?

It’s not a good idea to never change the oil in your lawn mower. In a lawn mower, same as a car, oil degrades over time and is less effective at reducing heat and friction in metal components. Changing the oil in your lawn mower is easy to do and will significantly increase its service life. For most homeowners, changing the oil at the beginning or end of each mowing season should be sufficient, though there is certainly no harm in doing it more often.

Roy Berendsohn has worked for more than 25 years at Popular Mechanics, where he has written on carpentry, masonry, painting, plumbing, electrical, woodworking, blacksmithing, welding, lawn care, chainsaw use, and outdoor power equipment. When he’s not working on his own house, he volunteers with Sovereign Grace Church doing home repair for families in rural, suburban and urban locations throughout central and southern New Jersey.