In this article we are going to give you a review of the Craftsman M105 Gas Mower.
Read on to find out more!
Manufacturers of lawnmowers and tools like Craftsman are well known…
…for producing high-quality products.
With their Craftsman M105 3-in-1 gas-powered push mower, this is true.
The first thing they mention is that the product is made in the USA…
…out of their manufacturing facility in Tupelo, Mississippi…
…and it comes with a 2-year manufacturer’s warranty.
Upgraded protection plans of three and four years are also available.
While this is a statement of confidence, Craftsman goes beyond just their word…
…and their good name in terms of the quality of the build…
…as well as the nuts & bolts engineering of the M105.
The motor of this push mower is a Briggs & Stratton 140 CC 4-stroke gasoline engine…
…that powers the blades under the cutting deck, which measures 21 inches in diameter.
The engine is equipped with Craftsman’s popular auto choke ignition system…
…which spares you from priming and choking the engine.
Here are a few words from James…
I’ve been using the Craftsman M105 to mow my lawn for over a year.
It’s the best lawn mower I’ve ever used. Why?
First, it has a three-horsepower, 140 CC Briggs and Stratton engine…
…that never needs oiling. It also has an automatic clutch…
…and a four-wheel hydraulic system for superior traction in any kind of terrain.
Best of all, it comes with a five-year warranty and a fuel-efficient, 36-inch cutting width.
As far as I’m concerned, it’s the perfect lawn mower, and also thanks a bunch for my…
…gardening buddy, he gave me some yard advices before I knew this!
Let’s jump right in!
Review of the Craftsman M105 Gas Mower
- 140CC OHV GAS POWERED ENGINE: Engine comes equipped with recoil and auto choke. No more fussing with a primer or choke - just pull to start!
Its versatility makes the Craftsman M105 very useful.
It can be used as a side discharge lawnmower, a mulching lawn mower or a bagging lawn mower.
With its dual-lever system, you can adjust the height of the 21-inch cutting deck…
…from as low as 1.25-inches to as high as 3.75-inches according to the condition of your lawn.
Key Features
- Gasoline push mower
- 140 CC Briggs & Stratton engine
- Auto choke ignition system
- 3-in-1 mulch, bag or side discharge
- 21-inch diameter cutting deck
- Cuts from 1.25-inches to 3.75-inches
- Weighs just 65 lbs.
- 2-year warranty
- Made in the USA
Performance
The 140 CC Briggs & Stratton engine on the Craftsman M105 generates enough power to…
…drive the blades under the cutting deck’s 21-inch diameter.
Auto choke ignition works nicely and spares you from the hassle of dealing…
…with primers and adjusting the choke at just the right time.
One minor complaint about the Craftsman M105 is that it’s a push mower…
…without any sort of self-propulsion system. Although it only weighs 65 pounds…
…Craftsman designed its wheels to make it easy to move even on bumpy surfaces.
Keep reading…
Ease of Use
It is easy to push the Craftsman M105 across your lawn…
…thanks to its 7-inch front wheel and 8-inch rear wheel.
Easy to use, the dual lever cutting deck adjustment system lets you independently…
…adjust the front and rear of the cutting deck.
In addition, the Craftsman M105’s handles can be folded down neatly for compact storage.
It is an excellent solution for people with a small garage or a small garden shed.
The gasoline engine cannot be hung on a wall due to the fact…
…that its internal fluids can shift over time, potentially causing leaks.
“Most people report it starting on the very first attempt, and the engine boasts an auto choke feature, so there’s no need to mess around pushing a primer bulb before you start. Another nice touch is that the pull cord rests halfway up the handle, so there’s no need to bend right over to grab it each time you start up this mower.”
Tom Greene – Author at lawnmowerguru.com
Special Features
The 3-in-1 versatility of the cutting system is convenient.
The mower can be set up for side discharge, rear discharge bagging, or mulching.
With the auto choke ignition system, it’s easy to start and very convenient…
…for those who aren’t mechanically inclined.
Dual adjustment level deck adjustment system lets you quickly adjust…
…the height of the 21-inch high cutting deck from as low as 1.25 inches to as high as 3.75 inches.
Over the winter, the Craftsman M105 can be stored on a heavy-duty free-standing garage shelf…
…due to the folding handles that make it compact and easy to store during the season.
Cut Quality & Options
Push mowers like the Craftsman M105 are very versatile.
Decks can be adjusted between 1.25-inches and 3.75-inches.
In times when the grass is growing vigorously…
…you may want to keep it short during seasonal rain and sun.
You can leave it longer if the weather turns hot and dry for a week or more…
…which will help protect some of the soil’s moisture.
In addition to being 3-in-1, the Craftsman M105 is a true lawn mower.
If the machine is set up for side discharge, the harvested grass blades…
…will be thrown out of the side of the 21-inch diameter cutting deck.
With the rear discharge mode, you can collect grass clippings in the bagger…
…to feed your compost pile or side-dress your garden plants.
Furthermore, mulching modes can help feed your turf and prevent thatch buildup…
…from choking your lawn. It leaves behind a few tiny bits of grass that gradually…
…decompose to provide nitrogen back to the roots of your grass.
However, if you’ve noticed your grass growing vigorously…
…you might want to alternate between mulching and bagging every other week.
Go on…
Maintenance
Starting the engine is relatively easy thanks to the auto choke ignition system.
Additionally, this produces less carbon buildup in the carburetor…
…which reduces long-term problems with spark plug fouling.
Even so, some basic routine maintenance, winterization, and blade sharpening will still be required.
This is to be expected with gasoline-powered push mowers like the Craftsman M105.
There are relatively few replacement blades available for the Craftsman M105.
Buying new blades every year or two will not be a headache…
…as opposed to learning the fine art and science of sharpening lawn mower blades by yourself.
Safety Features
Craftsman’s M105 push lawn mower has all the hand safety controls you’d expect…
…from a gasoline-powered machine. Be sure to completely turn off the Briggs & Stratton engine…
…before removing the bagger from the rear of the 21-inch cutting deck.
Cost-Effectiveness
The 140 cc Briggs & Stratton gasoline engine has impressive fuel efficiency for a four-stroke engine.
Additionally, the auto choke reduces maintenance costs over time.
Even so, the 3-in-1 functionality is what really reduces that buildup issue…
…which saves you the most money by preventing a lot of seasonal aeration.
Drawbacks of the Craftsman M105
I’m being completely honest. Upon digging into what consumers really think…
…about the Craftsman M105, we did not find many negatives.
There was no real complaint that we came across.
As a result, here are a few things you should consider before deciding whether to buy or not.
- You Might Find the Bag Small – Several people have complained about the grass bag being too small on the M105. Because of this, it is necessary to dump it more often, which in turn makes mowing your lawn take longer. If you plan to use the mower on a small lawn, the size of the bag probably won’t matter too much to you, but if you plan to use it on a medium lawn, it’s something to take into account.
- Some Find It Heavy –
- Whether you find it heavy or not will really depend on your physical strength. Because it’s a push mower, there’s no self-propelled feature to aid you in moving it around your lawn. Although its wheels do roll smoothly over the ground, it weighs around 70 lbs, which is quite a bit for a mower. The mower is certainly not the heaviest on the market, but you should keep that in mind when choosing one.
Sum Up!
Craftsman’s M105 gas mower is a mid-range gas mower…
…that comes with a lot of features for the price.
With a 21-inch cutting deck, it is an ideal mower for both small and medium lawns…
…and is powered by a reliable Craftsman engine.
It is proudly made in the USA (Mississippi).
Conclusion
It’s not often that you can say that about gas mowers these days…
…but the Craftsman M105 is a great gas mower for the money and is made in the USA.
This mower does all the basics well with very few downsides.
There is only one reason we can think of not buying it: if there are a lot of inclines, dips, and slopes.
Other than that, it looks and feels great.