Self propelled lawn mowers‘ biggest advantage is when you’re mowing a large yard or one will bumps and slopes. This will save you both time and effort.
Buyer’s Guide to Self Propelled Lawn Mowers
The majority of self propelled lawn mowers are Gas Powered Lawn Mowers - either front wheel self propelled or rear wheel self propelled. The push mowers are just that, human powered. The upside is that the engine devotes all of its power to spinning the blades. The drawback here is that you push the machine.
Front wheel self propelled lawn mowers are the best choice for most consumers. These mowers are easy to turn and controlling them is a snap. They are less expensive than rear propelled models.
Rear wheel self propelled mowers on the other hand are much more difficult to control. They are however the most powerful lawn mowers and are ideal if you have a lot of hills on your property.
Self propelled lawn mowers will sometimes offer one set speed or variable speeds for times when a faster cut is preferred or those when a nice walk around the yard is better.
Another consideration is rather to get front or rear wheel drive. Both work well but usually rear wheel drive is often more useful for taller grass where the user will have to apply some pressure to get the mower moving again. Bigger rear wheels are often more useful for terrain that is tougher to mow as it gives leverage for the user and allows easier maneuverability.
There are other features that should come standard and if not should not be considered. These include electric start, bagging and mulching options, blade stop without turning off the engine, rust proof decks, and of course a good warranty on parts and labor for at least 2 years. These features may not come with every self propelled mower but are good options to consider.
A major consideration that is often overlooked is the vibration of the mower. Because self-propelled mower require extra power for movement, this often produces extra vibration that can be felt in the hands that are gripping and moving the mower and after extended use can cause pain. Great lawn mowers have minimal vibration or specials ways of stopping the vibration. These are some of the main features to think about before deciding on a self propelled mower.
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How To Use Self Propelled Lawn Mowers
Starting the Combustion Engines
Self propelled lawn mowers are run by internal combustion engines. These engines usually have one cylinder and run on gasoline. Most self propelled lawn mowers require a manual pull crank to start the carburetor.
Squeezing the Bar
Self propelled lawn mowers will not cut grass unless the person behind the mower squeezes a bar, which is usually near the handle of the mower. The bar then engages the mower blade, and the lawn mower will move forward. Releasing the bar will cause the blade to stop rotating. In some of the more expensive self-propelled mowers, the driver will not shut off even though the blade has stopped moving, which means you can move the mower from one location to another without having to restart it.
Safety First when using Self Propelled Lawn Mowers
Self-propelled lawn mowers are lighter and easier to maneuver, which makes it tempting for parents to let their children more the lawn. This is not a good idea, however. Rotary mower blades spin about 3,000 times all the way around each minute. In fact, around 30,000 people are injured by rotary lawn mowers every year, as reported by the American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons.
Those same blades can also throw out debris with tremendous force such as rocks, sticks, toys or other large items. For that reason, not only should children not be allowed to use a rotary mower, but they should not be in the area when one is being used.
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Hi there! My name is Natalie Robins and I work as a landscape architect in Denver, Colorado. I love beautifying gardens and have used quite a bit of lawn equipment over the years. I started this website to share my thoughts about lawn care & lawn mowers. Do check out my 
