breaking down a lawn mower

Most mowers are simple fixes, most time its a gummed up carb. Pull it off clean it up and see if it will start. May be able to resell at better than scrap value.

At the bottom of this page there are related topics to your question. Some good info in a few of them.

I own a landscape company and run only Toro's commercial types for the last 15 years. My large mowers 32" to 72" decks are both walk behind and riders. should operate for 10 to 15 years. This like anything depends on how they were utilized, run time per day, properly serviced and maintained. A good used one should sell (3 to 8 years old) $500 to $800, with everything working. That's engine should start if all ready warmed up with 1 to 3 pulls (on pull starts). Safety devices should all be working, especially the blade clutch. The engine should only be able to start with transmission in park or neutral, this is a "biggie"! Look the deck over good where engine mounts, wheel axles are and transmission mounts. We well weld cracked decks (less than 1" crack) one time in these areas, on low time mowers. A crack anywhere on the deck is a good indication on how the machine was used and maintained. We scrap a machine with any crack on the deck in blade(s) zone period. Engines and transmissions are components, meaning they get pulled for repair and move from deck to deck. On a engine if you don't know anything about it, (like when was last time it ran). Pull the spark plug, if you can smell fresh gas, you may need to clean the carburetor (I would). You should never run old gas, that's been sitting in the tank for more than four months. The best indication of a good engine is the spark plug (2 or 4 stroke). While you have the spark plug out, do a compression test. You need a compression gauge for this and they make one just for small engines. You can use a standard auto compression gauge for this (takes a little gauge interpretation), some auto part stores lend and rent these for little money. Almost 99% of mower engines are four stroke, but there are some commercial 2 stroke. A 2 stroke (cycle) needs a oil/gas premix and on a 4 stroke you will have separate gas and oil reservoir (if you have a oil dip stick it's 4 stroke). Transmission problems can be tricky and expensive on commercial equipment. I would not attempt this unless you know what your doing and you have access to a shop press.

Commercial mowers start with the small 21" decks, the same as most of you are familiar with. We call these "trim" mowers. As we use them in the small areas and for doing the outer edge of the lawn (The Picture Frame). Next size up is a 30" still a small trim mower and these are available at the "Big Box" stores for home use now. Next is the mid rage decks, these are walk behind or stand on type mowers. Deck range for mid size mowers 32", 36", and 48". The big boys toys are the ridding, zero turn with hydro drive transmissions. These have three deck sizes 48", 52" and 72".

I can't help you with homeowner brands much, but if you come across any mower type, think twice before you scrap it. As others have said some home owners have little patience and even less mechanical experience. Most mowers that have set around without running, need very little to get them cutting grass again. If you have a commercial mower think longer before you scrap it. There's more need and a larger market for 21", 30" and 32" mowers as these will get into almost anyone's backyard (a lot of gates are only 32" opening). If you do decide to scrap it take your time doing it. Try to sell the parts, there's a real good used parts market for OEM parts (E bay). If you need help with commercial landscape equipment, send me a PM and I'll do what I can for you.

A scraped 21" cast aluminum deck mower, with all the steel removed will easy get you $20 to $30.
Sorry for another Big Burt Book!

Originally Posted by Ohio Scrapper

To me mowers are worth breaking down. Pull the motor and sell as irony aluminum = 30 cents a pound compared to 9 cents as shred.

my yard buys them as Irony if the shaft is in it and clean if its pulled.

I always break them down to clean cast and steel. if you are lucky you find one with a cast AL deck!!

I figure the average price if sold as steel (if you are tossing it on the pile) is between $3.00 and 6.00 depending on weight .