Troy Bilt TB130 or Craftsman 37037

[saildavenu]

Hi, (re)new to the forum but you guys helped with a Toro riding lawn mower problem years ago and greatly appreciated it. My 23 year old Toro Wheel Horse RER continues to run great on the Briggs 12 HP but now I need to buy a new push mower for the kid for a neighbors yard. Because we don't use it a lot I'm not interested in spending Honda lawnmower money or in self propulsion, the kid and I can use the exercise. My main criteria, unless someone has reason to talk me out of it, is a powerful, reliable engine. I'm thinking the rest of the push lawnmower technology isn't a whole lot different, but if others differ on that view happy to hear it. Using all those criteria I seem to be down to two choices, the Troy-Bilt TB130 with a Honda 160 engine (both of which seem to rate very reliably) and the Craftsman 37037 with the big Briggs Platinum 775 (exclusive to Sears). I've heard nothing but good things about Hondas but have had great experience with Briggs and starting to lean that way mostly because of the higher torque (sometimes the grass gets long and wet) They're both 3 in 1 decks so assuming cut will be about the same, I'll mostly be mulching (again the need for power). I was looking at a similar Craftsman with the smaller Kohler (I have fond memories of old Kohlers) but the Courage series seems to get a fair amount of bad press here and its cheaper(!) which suprised me and made me think they've cheaped it down.

Here are the links to the two, I'd appreciate any perspective on whether they're significantly different in any way.

http://www.troybilt.com/equipment/troybilt/tb130-triaction--high-wheel-walk-behind-push-mower

Craftsman 190cc* Briggs & Stratton Engine, High Wheel Rear Bag Push Mower 50 States - Lawn & Garden - Lawn Mowers - Push Mowers

Thanks much!

Dave