Bigger lawn mower wheels. Interesting Notes on Lawn Mower Wheels

Interesting Notes on Lawn Mower Wheels

The wheel gets a ton of credit for being one of the top inventions of all time. Lawn mower wheels are vital to mowing too. What lawn mower wheels do in regards of mower life, quality of cut, and saving down time is of huge importance. Without the invention of the wheel, there is no lawn mower. Actually there is no society as we know it! So there is that.

Push Mower Wheels

Lawn mowers have a few different types of wheels to get you rolling. No pun intended. Your average push mower may have simple plastic wheels or metal ones on commercial grade machines. The metal wheels may have rubber on the outsides to act as mini tires. While the plastic wheels will most likely be plastic all around, simply having a “tire like” look on the outside of the wheel. The better the push mower, the better the wheel set up generally. You don’t put high dollar wheels on a Ford Pinto. You save those for a slick Ford Mustang. The same holds true for lawn mowers.

On Larger Mowers

Lawn mower wheels on bigger mowers are a different animal. What lawn mower wheels do on a push mower is quite different than the role they play on a riding mower. On a small mower the wheels are important indeed. On a big mower, they are even more vital to the operation. Wheels and tires on a walk behind commercial lawn mower are much bigger than on a small push type machine. These wheels are metal with rubber tires around the wheels for heavier duty work. Some tires may be solid rubber to prevent flats, while most are air filled for smoother use.

Special Material for Lawn Tractors

On riding mowers the wheels and tires get even larger. On home owner lawn tractors the wheels are made of metal and almost always equipped with air filed tires. Of course there are “no flat” tires that you can purchase for replacement. These replacements take away the irritation of flat tires, but make the ride rougher on the operator. It is a trade off and you have to consider the terrain you normally mow in order to make that choice. Front tires are more likely to go flat than the back ones typically. They hit nails and receive the most abuse since they are ahead of the back tires. So I wouldn’t recommend getting sold tires on the back of a lawn tractor, only the front ones. If you want to learn how to repair a flat tire, check here (instruction video is included!)

Swivel Wheels

On a zero turn lawn mower the wheels and tires are of even greater importance. There is a lot of quick turning involved with these mowers and they are generally heavier than other machines. You want to have a good base of operation for these type mowers. The wheels and tires are that base. The front wheels do a lot of spinning with the zero radius turns. So they need to be properly greased. Not when you get the free time either buddy! They need grease on a regular schedule or you will be replacing some wheel bearings. That is a messy, greasy, and unpleasant job. So do yourself a huge favor and keep those wheel bearings greased up for maximum use. The back wheels don’t need any grease on these mowers as they do not pivot like the front ones. But air pressure is vital to getting a nice even cut on your turf. The same lawn tractor guidelines on “no flat” tires goes for ZTRs as well. The back tires are always air filled, but the front tires can be solid rubber if you make that trade off in ride comfort.

Wheels and tires are what move the mowers along. There are other important parts of a lawn mower. But without the lawn mower wheels doing their job, you would have a heck of a time mowing the lawn….unless your yard is the size of a pillow!

Lawn Mower Wheel Won’t Turn? – Top 3 causes

Pushing a mower isn’t fun, especially a self-drive model, they’re even heavier. But help is at hand and you are in the correct place for self-drive repair. I’m a mechanic for over twenty years and I’ve repaired a ton of these types of issues.

A mower wheel won’t turn for three common reasons:

In this post, you’ll learn how to diagnose why your mower wheels won’t turn and you’ll learn how to fix them right now.

Mower Drive Belt Worn

Mower drive systems are driven by a belt and two pulleys. The belt is fitted to the engine’s crankshaft pulley which drives a second pulley on the transaxle. The drive belt works really hard, despite this they tend to last years without issue. Belts of course wear out over time, no big surprise there.

A worn belt commonly results in the belt:

Common symptoms of a worn-out drive belt include:

Checking The Belt

To check the belt, the mower will need to be turned on its side. But before we do that we’ll need to make it safe to work on and to that, we’ll remove the spark plug wire and turn the gas off (to prevent accidental starting).

Gas tap – If your mower has a fuel tap, turn it off. You can read all about finding and using your fuel tap here “Mower fuel shut off valve”.

A mower may only be turned over with the carburetor side facing upwards. Turning a mower incorrectly will cause the engine to flood with gas and oil, possibly preventing the mower starts.

Turn over – Mower carburetor side up, need help finding carburetor side? I wrote a post about turning your mower over correctly and you can read about it here, “Which way to tilt your mower”.

Is Belt On Both Pulleys, Loose or Worn Out?

Most mowers are rear-wheel drive and so the transaxle is located at the rear wheels. All mowers employ a shield on the underside of the deck, it protects the belt, pulleys, and transmission from flying debris. You usually don’t need to remove the shield in order to verify if the belt is on the pulleys, your view is obscured but you should see enough. However to replace a belt the cover will need removing. Have your WD40 to hand as old grass eats the shield bolts.

The belt on Pulley’s – With the mower turned over, air filter side up, check the belt is fitted around the transaxle pulley and crankshaft pulley.

Tight – If the belt is around both pulleys, go ahead and check it’s tight. A loose belt won’t transfer power. It may be loose because it’s worn or there may be a missing component such as a tension spring or perhaps the transmission itself employs an adjuster to remove belt slack by pivoting the transmission.

Many basic drive systems are adjusted by removing slack from the drive cable (see below).

Worn Out – A worn belt is the root cause of many a self-drive problem.

If the belt is in place, tight, and in good condition, then move on to the next section, the belt isn’t the reason your mower wheels aren’t moving.

If on the other hand your belt is loose, broken, or has jumped off, you’ll need to replace it. It’s possible to refit a jumped-off belt, but you’ll soon be refitting again. Belts usually jump off because they are worn out.

New Belt – Fitting a new belt is a job you can take care of, however, some mowers are challenging to work on. Many will require blade removal and some may require partial removal of the rear axle.

You may find this video helpful “Self drive troubleshooting”, which includes fitting a drive belt.

Mower Drive Cable Needs Adjustment

Mowers use a belt and pulleys to get power from the engine to the axle, but all that power is useless without control. Power is controlled by way of a transaxle lever, attached cable, and bail lever at the handlebars. Cables are just like bicycle brake or gear cables, they are a two-part component – black outer casing with a steel braided inner cable, and like a bicycle brake cable, they stretch out and break over time and need adjusting and eventually replacing.

All good drive cables will have a user-friendly adjuster that allows for easy drive cable adjustment.

How To Check If Your Mower Drive System Needs Adjustment?

Test – To check if your drive cable needs adjustment, apply the drive bail lever at the handlebars and drag the mower backways.

If the cable is adjusted correctly, the drive wheels will lock, if they slip, we’ll need to adjust. This whole process is covered below or checks out “Self drive troubleshooting video”.

How To Adjust The Mower Drive System?

Locate – First locate the drive cable, follow the cable from the transaxle to the bail lever to confirm you have identified it correctly.

Now look for an adjuster screw, commonly it’s at the handlebar anchor where the cable fixes to the handlebars, otherwise an inline adjuster may be fitted.

Open – All adjusters incorporate a lock nut. Open the lock nut and adjust the outer cable to remove slack from the inner braided cable.

Adjust – Lengthen outer to remove inner braided cable slack.

Test 1 – Before tightening up the lock nut, check by applying the bail lever and pulling the mower backways (as before). Wheels should lock, readjust until they do.

Test 2 – When it’s adjusted, pull the mower backways again, this time without the bail lever applied.

The wheels should turn freely. If they don’t, back off the adjuster until they do. Now your drive cable is in the sweet spot, go ahead and tighten the locknut.

Check out this post, “Honda self propelled slow” it covers a Honda drive adjustment in greater detail, but all mowers run similar setups. If you need video help check out the “Self drive troubleshooting” which covers many of the common problems.

Mower Wheels Worn

Most mower wheels are made from plastic and many use plastic gear inside the wheel. The axle drive gear which is metal, wears away the plastic wheel drive gear and the mower drive slips at first, before eventually losing drive altogether. The only fix is to replace the wheels, most wheels are inexpensive but some Honda wheels can be spendy.

To check the drive wheel we’ll need to remove them. A single fastener in the center of the wheel removes them. However, a plastic wheel cap will likely conceal the fastener. A flat screwdriver will pry loose the cap. Loosen and remove the fastener and the wheel pulls off.

Check – Check the gears inside the wheel, if they’re worn you’ll need to replace them. Best to replace both axle wheels. This is a Honda wheel and the gear is metal, they last longer than the plastic teeth but will wear out too. Check out “Fitting a wheel video”.

Drive Gear and Pin Wear

Drive Gear – While the wheel is off go ahead and check the drive gear and axle pins. They wear out on older mowers, learn more in this post “Honda mower slow”. or, if you need video help, check out “Self drive troubleshooting”, which covers wheel and drive pin replacing from start to finish.

Axle Pins – Axle pins transfer power from the axle to drive gear and are under constant stress, and are a common drive fault. Replacing is all covered in “Self drive troubleshooting”.

If you need new wheels, check out the Amazon link below.

Hey, I’m John, and I’m a Red Seal Qualified Service Technician with over twenty-five years experience.

I’ve worked on all types of mechanical equipment, from cars to grass machinery, and this site is where I share fluff-free hacks, tips, and insider know-how.

And the best part. it’s free!

Should Lawn Mower Wheels Be the Same Height?

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• Why the height of the wheels and deck affects the experience
• Problems associated with sloping mowers
• Height specifications for lawnmowers

What Height Should Mower Wheels Be?

The height of a lawnmower should be between 2.5 to 3.5 inches (6.4 to 8.9 cm), but don’t let it get any longer or shorter than that. Tall and short grass are both bad for your lawn. Fortunately, it’s very easy to change the height of the mower in a few seconds.

Below, you’ll find out why the height of your mower’s wheels and deck matter.

• The height affects the size of the grass. Organo-Lawn points out that the height of your deck and wheels directly impacts the health of your grass. When it’s too low, you’ll have all sorts of issues. If it’s too high, you’ll have a disorganized lawn. Adjust the wheels and deck, knowing how they’ll affect the grass.

• Dense grass needs to be cut evenly. If you’re dealing with dense grass, then it has to have sharp blades to cut it down to size. Many companies tilt their mowers or lower the height because it makes it easier for the mower to cut dense grass. Furthermore, it prevents an uneven, choppy appearance.

• If it’s too low, the grass will reveal dirt and weeds. Low-cut grass is a staple of most neighborhoods, but it shouldn’t be lower than two inches, or dirt will show itself. Also, low-cut grass tends to provide more oxygen and hydration for local weeds to grow. You’ll notice dirt and weeds more than the appealing lawn that you’re working for.

• Tall grass invites bugs and weeds. If you don’t adjust the wheels and deck low enough, bugs will call it home, and weeds will grow. Keep in mind that most weeds need to be removed by their roots to stop them from coming back. Nevertheless, bugs will climb up the tall blades of grass and feel concealed.

• The deck and the wheels can be at different heights. When the deck of the mower is slanted, it’s inevitable that the wheels will be a bit higher or lower. Never confused the two heights since they have very different effects. Low wheels and a high deck will be easy to push, but it won’t cut much grass at all.

As you can see, the height of the wheels and deck can drastically change the performance of the lawnmower. Make sure you know how to adjust both of them before you start mowing your lawn.

If you want to learn more about why some mowers are slanted, proceed to the next section.

Why Are Some Mowers Slanted Forward?

You might’ve worked with tilted mowers that look different from traditional lawnmowers. In fact, all mowers used to have an even deck. If you’re curious about why your mower is tilted, or you want to know more about the benefits, then keep reading.

Here’s a list of five reasons that some lawn mowers are tilted:

• It limits air from getting into the blade assembly. Gravely mentions that their mowers are slanted to prevent air from getting into the mower, which could otherwise slow the movement. It could also prevent the blades from pushing debris efficiently, leading to clogs and a plethora of other problems.
• Slanted decks prevent too much debris from flying around. When the deck is level, grass will fly whichever direction the blades throw it. However, the slanted deck is angled to throw the debris to the back of the mower directly into the bag. It’s an incredibly efficient process that most mowers don’t have.
• You’ll be able to go downhill fairly quickly. SInce the deck is tilted, it helps you move forward and downhill without an issue. You won’t be limited, nor will you feel the push-pull resistance that’s present when you’re pushing a level mower. If you have a hilly yard, then a slanted deck is a good option.
• It’s more aerodynamic, allowing you to move the mower easier. The tilted deck cuts through the air and grass in front of you, much like the shape of an airplane moving through the sky. Rather than being flat and air-resistant, a tilted mower slices through the air and pushes easily.
• There might be a misalignment on the lawn mower. Although tilted mowers usually have a designed purpose, they could be misaligned due to a mechanical error. Tilted mowers could be caused by loose wheels, rusted bearings, and broken mower decks. All of these issues cause a wiggling, loose deck that tilts forward.

Now that you know why some lawn mowers are tilted, you might feel like you want to get one. Most of them are excellent mowers, but it’s a good idea to know what you’re getting yourself into before you buy a new one.

To discover two major cons that come with sloped mowers, read on.

Downsides of Sloped Mower Decks

Sloped mowers have their pros and cons, both of which deserve to be recognized. There are only two issues that you might have to deal with if you choose to go with a sloped mower.

It’s Harder to Move Uphill

While it’s easier to push the mower downhill, the front of the deck can scrape the grass, making it harder for you to push it uphill. Even if you’re using a riding mower, the front bumper will undoubtedly scratch steep hills. Do your best to lift the mower and tilt it back as you’re moving it uphill unless you’re mowing.

If It Tilts Too Far, It Could Damage the Blades

All mowers with tilted decks come ready to go, but as they grow old, the deck can misalign and move forward. Another possibility is if you lower the deck too much and raise the wheels at the same time. Either occurrence will cause the blades to slice into the deck. It’ll ruin the blades, smoke the engine, and cut into the deck. In other words, you’ll have to buy a brand-new mower.

Both of these problems aren’t always present, and they’re easily avoidable. As long as you’re a responsible owner, then you’ll be able to use a sloped mower. The wheels don’t have to be the same height as the deck, but they need to be aligned with one another.

Conclusion

The wheels on a lawnmower are all the same height. The illusion that they’re not is often caused by the deck sloping forward. Make sure your mower is level and aligned before you start mowing the grass.

Here’s a quick rundown of the post:

• Your mower’s wheels should all be at the same height: 2.5 to 3.5 inches (6.4 to 8.9 cm).
• A slanted deck will make it look like the wheels aren’t the same height.
• Slanted mowers have trouble moving uphill, but they’re more aerodynamic than their level counterparts.

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The 6 Best Self-Propelled Lawn Mowers of 2023, Tested and Reviewed

Michelle Ullman is a home decor expert and product reviewer for home and garden products. She has been writing about home decor for over 10 years for publications like BobVila.com and Better Homes Gardens, among others.

Barbara Gillette is a Master Gardener, herbalist, beekeeper, and journalist. She has 30 years of experience propagating and growing fruits, vegetables, herbs, and ornamentals.

Emily Estep is a plant biologist and journalist who has worked for a variety of online news and media outlets, writing about and editing topics including environmental science and houseplants.

If you dream of a lush, green lawn, but dread the maintenance involved in keeping it that way, then a self-propelled lawn mower can make your life easier. These mowers not only power the blades but also power the wheels to make your pushing requirements little more than guiding the machine across the grass.

Brock Ingham, gardener, landscaper, and founder of the website Bigger Garden, says, The main advantage of a self-propelled mower is that it requires less effort to operate than a push mower. This can be beneficial for people with large lawns or those who have difficulty pushing a mower due to physical limitations. Self-propelled mowers can also provide a more consistent cut, since the speed is controlled by the mower rather than the operator. Overall, a self-propelled lawn mower can make mowing easier and more efficient.

Henry Bravo, founder and editor-in-chief of SmartGardenHome.com, adds, Self-propelled lawnmowers are much easier to maneuver around obstacles, and they can handle uneven terrain without a problem. Plus, I can adjust the speed so I can mow quickly or at a slower, more leisurely pace. And I love that I can easily switch between mulching, side discharge, and bagging capabilities.

We bought and tested several self-propelled mowers, both gas and electric, and evaluated many others based on their power, the size of lawn they can handle, their options for handling grass clippings, their range of cutting heights, the easiness of using the mower, and their overall value.

Best Overall

EGO Power Select Cut 56-Volt 21-Inch Self-Propelled Cordless Lawn Mower

• Variable-speed self-propel
• Generous battery runtime
• Fast recharging
• Folds for compact storage

Earning the top spot in our tests is a battery lawn mower that rivals the power of a gas mower but without the smelly fumes, the oil changes, or the frustrating pull cord. Instead, this self-propelled mower from EGO has a 56-volt, 7.5-Ah battery that provides up to 60 minutes of runtime on a single charge; that’s enough to mow most lawns up to a 0.5 acre and more than enough for our small yard. We put the mower to the test in early spring, mowing a lawn just out of winter dormancy that was patchy, wet, and ferny.

Other than attaching the bag, assembling the mower was easy. And a mere press of the button brought it roaring to life. This mower has a 21-inch cutting deck and a one-hand lever that adjusts the cutting heights through six different settings for grass heights of 1.5 to 4 inches. We found it very easy to adjust.

The lawn mower easily handles all common types of lawn grass, including tougher warm-season varieties like Bermudagrass, zoysia, and St. Augustine. A few buyers have complained that it struggles to lift overly tall grass high enough for an even cut. However, we found that it struggled a bit in the wet grass as well, becoming stuck at one point in a ferny patch. Aside from that, it delivers a precise and crisp cut that is sure to impress.

The speed of the mower is variable, so you can set it to match your stride from a leisurely 0.9 mph up to a brisk 3.1 mph. As this was our first time using a self-propelled mower, there was a bit of a learning curve. At first, it felt like the mower was pulling us along. However, we soon got the hang of it and appreciated the ease of adjusting the mower’s speed. We also liked the adjustable handle, which made it more comfortable to mow.

We found that the mower was easy to maneuver, even around obstacles or sharp turns. As the self-propelled function does most of the heavy work, this is also a great mower for yards with slopes. At nine inches in diameter, the mower’s wheels are fairly large, and it is rear-wheel drive, which also helps when mowing over rough terrain or hilly areas. You can dispose of the grass clippings in the included 2-bushel bag, discharge them to the side, or mulch them into fine clippings to quickly decompose them into healthful lawn nutrients. This mower even has a LED headlight, so you can mow early in the morning or at dusk to take advantage of mild temperatures.

Most of the mower’s construction is heavy-duty plastic for weather and rust resistance, but that might not be as durable as steel, although we felt it seemed quite sturdy. Once you finish mowing, the handle folds all the way down for easy storage. We really appreciated this feature, as the mower doesn’t take up as much room in the garage. This mower comes with a 56-volt battery and a fast charger that has the battery ready to go in just an hour.

How It Performed Long-Term

We are extremely satisfied with the performance of the lawn mower, particularly with how long the battery lasts. It can easily handle mowing the lawn three times without requiring a recharge. Even when it does need to be recharged, it only takes around 20 minutes. The mower is also highly effective when dealing with thick, tall grass and can even tackle 10 days of uncut grass without issue. Additionally, it can handle damp grass and leaves with ease. Initially, it took some time to become familiar with turning it on and utilizing the self-propel feature, but once we did, mowing the lawn became a breeze.

Price at time of publish: 549

Cutting Width: 21 inches | Power Source: Battery | Weight: 62.6 pounds | Grass Discard Options: Bag, mulch, side-discharge