Self Propelled Or Push Type - Choosing The Best Lawn Mower

Choosing the right lawn mower is more than deciding whether you want to push the mower or pay a little extra to have the mower propel itself.

Here are a few points to consider when selecting which type of mower–self-propelled or push-type–is right for you. The three basics determining ease of use and durability are the same for push and self-propelled mowers. They are:

1. Look for large wheels, either all metal or with steel inserts, for long life and ease of pushing.
2. Look for a cleanly designed mowing deck to make the underside easier to clean.
3. Aim for the largest engine you can afford if your yard exceeds 75 feet by 100 feet or so.

There are other factors to consider when choosing a mower. Aluminum decks don’t rust, but they don’t stand up as well as steel decks to the battering from sticks, stones, and other debris picked up by the blades. You also need to select for side discharge or rear discharge, and high or standard rear wheels. If the terrain you’re mowing, large or small, is bumpy and rutted, the larger wheels make the work easier. If trimming close is a need, aim at smaller wheels all around-but no smaller than 8-inch diameter wheels. Rear-bagging mowers work closer on both sides, so they may be worth the extra money.

If you are deciding among self-propelled mowers, you must also consider the type of propulsion. Some units simply bring a rubber gear to bear on one of the front wheels. This is the cheapest form of self-propulsion and the easiest to produce, but it tends to wear quickly. It is also usually the easiest to repair. Otherwise, there are several power-transfer options, with some walk-behind mowers offering as few as one or as many as six forward speeds. For the ultimate in self-propulsion, look at a Toro Personal Pace mower. It eliminates the use of levers to switch gears and use of the throttle to hold speeds. Start the mower. Grasp the handle. Walk. The pressure of your hands on the handle varies the mower’s speed between a stop and 4 mph. Backing up is easy, as once you release the handle, the mower shifts into neutral, stops, and can then be pulled backward.

Another feature you might want to research is single-lever deck-height adjustment. Usually, the four wheel-based levers on the deck-height adjustment break, rust, lose their comfort caps, and just generally fight you when it is time to make changes. By setting mowers up to use the single-lever deck-height adjustment feature that was introduced from riding mowers, manufacturers solved some durability problems while allowing adjustments to be made more easily. This should benefit your lawn, as you’ll be more likely to change deck heights every time a change is needed.

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