Snapper 22" Rear Wheel Drive Self Propelled Mower w/ Briggs & Stratton Platinum 7.0 torque engine and REACT™ Drive System - 49 sta

I got the front wheel drive version because it was a used returned model at the store for a really low price. Found 3 problems, 2 could live with 1 chose not to. The first 2 problems have been mentioned in other reviews, the pinching of the hands and the vibration and soreness of the wrists. Solved both by wearing my orange rubberized gloves ($1 at Aco Hardware) that I always wore before with my old mower anyway, and adjusting the angle of the handle to raise higher and change the angle on my wrists. Both problems solved. The 3rd problem was the front wheel drive belt jumping off the pulley frequently and requiring to be pushed back into place fives times in about 15 minutes. The manufacturer was very helpful on the phone. They spoke English, located in Wisconsin, answered my calls quickly, understood the problem and suggested I return my particular mower to the store for an exchange since it was less than 30 days old. I did that but unfortunately, Sears had no others like it, so I paid ~$70 more (still a good deal) for a rear-wheel-drive floor model also on sale. Having had the front-wheel-drive model to compare to, this rear-wheel-drive model is actually easier to use and so far is really nice to use. The rear-wheel-drive belt guard is a different design and the belt has not come off the pulley at all yet. Particularly impressed with the variable speed push drive system smoothness and effectiveness. Easy to push, responsive to changes in walking speed, easy to pull backward around shrubs and obstacles when needed without fighting the drive system since it disengages easily and automatically. Easy starting engine with no need for electric start or choke or push bulb as prior mowers I've owned. Four-wheel height adjustment is also a nice touch. So far have only used it with the mulching plug in mulching mode and have found it impressive in power and mulching ability with no clumping of grass clippings regardless of height or wetness of grass. Also like nice touches of gas additive holder in gas cap, and electronic hour meter and reminders for oil change, spark plug change and air filter change to help avoid problems due to lack of maintenance. All-in-all I very happy with my new rear-wheel-drive mower and it's quality & ease of use.I'll try to update this review after using the side chute and the rear bag. Thanks.

I purchased this mower 11-10-2011 and did not use it until the spring of 2012 and can not return it because the 30 days are up. It keeps pinching my hands on the handle, bumping my wrist on the sides of the handle, you have to wear gloves to use this mower. It starts hard, the wheel covers keep fallin off, sears said to leave them off (ha ha) My wifes hands tingle because of the handles I can not take it back because the thirty days are up. I guess i should have blown snow to try it out before the thirty days were up. I am a retired design engineer, I think who ever designed this mower should mow a few yards with it and redesign it. I hope I can sell it in a garage sale.