How To Start A Gasoline Lawn Mower
Petrol self-propelled lawn mower. We make work easier on the site How to choose a petrol self-propelled lawn mower for a suburban area. In the article we will compare different brands and tell you which one is better. Professional lawn mower work
Varieties of self-propelled mowers and their features
Although above we drew a line between units driven by a motor on wheels and trolley models that need to be pushed by the operator, self-propelled mowers still differ little from the latter, at least externally. But there are models that look and work completely differently. Raiders, which are more like a mini-tractor. On such devices, the operator can freely move around the site, regardless of the unevenness of the terrain, and operate the knives in relatively comfortable conditions. It is necessary to distinguish between raiders and conventional cart self-propelled mowers, which have to be operated on the go.
Of course, a raider is practically useless in the country, so choosing it for a small decorative lawn is far from the best solution. The first thing to think about is the extremely high cost. Some models are much more expensive than mini tractors, even though the latter are much more functional. The second determining factor is the turning radius, which is too large for a small area of the raider. And, of course, there are some difficulties in mastering the controls for those who have never encountered anything more difficult than a trimmer before. Therefore, for a summer residence, it is better to choose a cart version, which is much more maneuverable and cheaper.
Much more interesting is a self-propelled robotic lawn mower, smart enough to cope with mowing the lawn without operator intervention. It costs, of course, also not cheap, but it completely eliminates the need to spend time mowing the grass. These agile and nimble robots have many sensors that determine both the height of vegetation in the area allocated to them for work, and the boundaries set using a special cord, infrared or laser beams. An automatic lawn mower is more often electric, but a gasoline mower can also be purchased, however, the former has more advantages, it finds a base for recharging itself. You can also control such units using the remote control.
Petrol self-propelled lawn mower. Making work easier on the site
A wheel-driven mower compares favorably with one that has to be pushed by hand in that much less effort is spent on mowing the lawn. Let’s figure out how to choose a self-propelled gun.
How is a self-propelled lawn mower different from a conventional
No matter how well-groomed the site is, its natural or artificial landscape will still never be completely flat, with the exception of concrete-filled areas. As a consequence, any wheeled device designed for mowing grass must have, in addition to productivity, at least also maneuverability. However, even in this case, the usual carriage version of the mower on the broken terrain is quite difficult to control, especially with a significant mass. Therefore, it is much more convenient to choose a trimmer and a manual gasoline or electric scythe, or, if productivity is needed, a self-propelled mower.
The main difference between a self-propelled unit and a bogie unit is that the drive from the motor is connected not only with the knives, but also separately carried out to the wheel pair, front or rear. Thus, the mower begins to move itself when starting, which greatly simplifies the work, since you do not need to make efforts to push the unit, as is the case with the simplest trolley models. Devices with a wide range of functions have a speed changeover, knife speed adjustment. A self-propelled gasoline mower with a limited set of functions moves at a predetermined speed, which is far from always convenient, especially for women and children.
How is a self-propelled lawn mower different from a conventional
No matter how well-groomed the site is, its natural or artificial landscape will still never be completely flat, with the exception of concrete-filled areas. As a consequence, any wheeled device designed for mowing grass must have, in addition to productivity, at least also maneuverability. However, even in this case, the usual carriage version of the mower on the broken terrain is quite difficult to control, especially with a significant mass. Therefore, it is much more convenient to choose a trimmer and a manual gasoline or electric scythe, or, if productivity is needed, a self-propelled mower.
The main difference between a self-propelled unit and a bogie unit is that the drive from the motor is connected not only with the knives, but also separately carried out to the wheel pair, front or rear. Thus, the mower begins to move itself when starting, which greatly simplifies the work, since you do not need to make efforts to push the unit, as is the case with the simplest trolley models. Devices with a wide range of functions have a speed changeover, knife speed adjustment. A self-propelled gasoline mower with a limited set of functions moves at a predetermined speed, which is far from always convenient, especially for women and children.
Varieties of self-propelled mowers and their features
Although above we drew a line between units driven by a motor on wheels and trolley models that need to be pushed by the operator, self-propelled mowers still differ little from the latter, at least externally. But there are models that look and work completely differently. Raiders, which are more like a mini-tractor. On such devices, the operator can freely move around the site, regardless of the unevenness of the terrain, and operate the knives in relatively comfortable conditions. It is necessary to distinguish between raiders and conventional cart self-propelled mowers, which have to be operated on the go.
Of course, a raider is practically useless in the country, so choosing it for a small decorative lawn is far from the best solution. The first thing to think about is the extremely high cost. Some models are much more expensive than mini tractors, even though the latter are much more functional. The second determining factor is the turning radius, which is too large for a small area of the raider. And, of course, there are some difficulties in mastering the controls for those who have never encountered anything more difficult than a trimmer before. Therefore, for a summer residence, it is better to choose a cart version, which is much more maneuverable and cheaper.
Photo of a mini-tractor for a lawn
Much more interesting is a self-propelled robotic lawn mower, smart enough to cope with mowing the lawn without operator intervention. It costs, of course, also not cheap, but it completely eliminates the need to spend time mowing the grass. These agile and nimble robots have many sensors that determine both the height of vegetation in the area allocated to them for work, and the boundaries set using a special cord, infrared or laser beams. An automatic lawn mower is more often electric, but a gasoline mower can also be purchased, however, the former has more advantages, it finds a base for recharging itself. You can also control such units using the remote control.
The main criteria for choosing a self-propelled mower
Like any other motorized units, wheel-driven mowers differ in power supply and, accordingly, in the type of engine. They are gasoline and electric. The latter are also divided into two groups, namely wired and battery models. Mowers operating from the mains are of little interest to us now, so we just note that wired options work longer than battery ones, but they are less mobile due to the cable and, of course, are not autonomous, they need an outlet. Gasoline engines can be two- or four-stroke, the former have higher power and, as a result, noise, and the latter are distinguished by their reliability and fuel economy.
Like other mowers, self-propelled mowers can be large, medium or small, while compactness is far from an advantage, since the smaller the unit, the lower its power. It is logical that in tall grass with stiff stems a small and even very maneuverable mower will get stuck, not coping with the load. The optimal solution in terms of price and efficiency is a unit with average parameters in terms of dimensions and motor power, it is suitable both for a small summer cottage, and for a large area farm. The garden helpers with the most horsepower in the engine are usually very expensive and consume a lot of fuel, which can only be justified on large farmlands.
In the photo. A self-propelled gasoline lawn mower
Before choosing a gasoline lawn mower, especially a self-propelled one, it is important to consider the material from which the casing is made. For this purpose, metal and plastic are used, which determines the durability of the device. However, each type of housing, be it steel or polymer, has disadvantages. So, the plastic case will facilitate the unit, but at the same time it will become its vulnerable part due to its low resistance to impacts. The metal casing is very durable, but will make a gasoline lawnmower quite heavier, which already has a massive engine along with the fuel tank and the fuel itself. Many people choose plastic, forgetting that a self-propelled mower does not need muscular strength to move.
And finally, the units have different types of knives. Rotary ones with a shaft with a knife with two blades (like a two-blade helicopter propeller) are quite popular. This is the simplest option to deal with almost any type of weed. The other type is cylindrical, with a shaft equipped with several rows of short blades, more suitable for cutting grass. There are also differences in the width of the mowing, the working sector of the knives can be narrow, within 25-30 centimeters, and quite wide, from 40 or more. The optimal strip is considered to be 40 centimeters wide.
Photo of a self-propelled gasoline rotary mower
Huter GLM-5.0s
The German lawn mower is powered by a 5 hp single-cylinder four-stroke engine. A 1.5 liter fuel tank is enough for about 40 minutes of work or for mowing 10 acres of low grass. In this model, the 50 liter rigid grass catcher is the average for self-propelled machines. Note that the older version of the Huter GLM-5.0st has a soft rag grass catcher, which is 10 liters larger. If you want the maximum catcher size then go for the older model (the price difference is small).
The device mows grass in height within the range of 25. 75 mm and at the same time passes a strip of 460 mm wide at a time. The cutting height is adjusted using a 5-position adjuster. The body of the device is almost entirely made of metal, with the exception of the side protection of the motor. There is also a motor brake system. It turns off the motor immediately after the power is turned off, so that the cutting blade stops rotating immediately.
Al-KO Easy 4.6 SP-S
This German-made model is designed for processing an area of not more than 1000 m 2. Al-KO Tech 135 engine with an average power of 2.7 hp. Allows you to cut rather thick stems of grass even at a minimum height. By the way, the mowing height can be adjusted using a 7-position lever in the range from 30 to 80 mm. The device passes even bumps and small bumps well. There is a height-adjustable handle so you can adjust the height to suit your height.
It is worth noting that the entire structure of the device, including the deck, is made of steel (no plastic), so it is not afraid of mechanical damage. The bag for collecting vegetation here is soft, 65 liters. It is somewhat narrowed towards the entrance, so it is not always possible to quickly shake out the grass. We recommend that you do not completely clog the catcher to make emptying it easier. The weight of the device is 28 kg. Relatively small for a lawnmower with a mowing width of 460 mm.
Bagging herbs or throwing them on the ground?
If you are not going to leave cut grass on the lawn, then you will need a grass catcher, which is equipped with a gasoline lawnmower. The best models usually have both side discharge and the ability to connect a grass catcher. Most often, a bag of a certain volume acts as such a collector, into which the cut grass flies out. Grass bag devices are usually rear discharge. Note that small bags will need to be emptied more often, but are light in weight. A large bag will allow you to “pass” the entire section, but it will be very heavy and you may have to carry it together. Choose the best one for yourself.
Some models, in addition to the grass catcher, can be equipped with a side discharge (left or right), through which the cut vegetation in transit goes directly to the ground. This is convenient when you need to cut grass quickly without emptying the grass catcher constantly. If you plan to mow weeds and mulch them right away, then you will need a self-propelled gasoline lawn mower with side discharge (rating). The best side discharge models in our ranking.
Ideal model specifications
According to the power source, grass clippers are divided into electric, petrol and diesel. Gasoline models are the most popular in the market due to the maximum set of advantages in comparison with analogues. They are divided into self-propelled and non-self-propelled.
One of the main advantages of a gasoline unit is the ability to work for a long time and handle large areas. This is beyond the power of electric models.
You can read here on how to choose a self-propelled electric lawn mower for your garden.
Gasoline-powered devices are characterized by high power. You can choose a lawnmower with two-stroke or four-stroke engine. Cycle is the movement of the working piston in one of the directions.
For two-stroke models such movement is carried out down or up. At this time, compression and expansion occurs. At the same time, fuel is injected and exhaust gases are discharged.
In four-stroke models a separate measure is used for each of the above actions. The main differences are expressed in the fact that two-stroke engines have a liter and specific power more than four-stroke ones. Wherein the fuel consumption of the second option is more economical up to 30%.
In addition, such a design will reduce the noise level from the device, improve environmental friendliness and extend the life of the device. Two-stroke models are much easier to maintain due to their simple design.
The engine on the mower can be located at the front or rear. The rear engine position will provide the apparatus with greater maneuverability.
Self-propelled mower means that there is a drive on the wheels and the operator only needs to direct the machine in the right direction to achieve the result. These models are usually equipped with a gearbox that allows you to control the driving speed.
If the device is not self-propelled, then you need to make some effort to move it around the site. In this case, the cutting mechanism is powered by the engine. The advantage of such a mower is that all the motor power is spent on the main task. Cutting the grass. It is better to purchase such a device for small areas.
If you take a closer look at how to choose a self-propelled gasoline lawn mower, you can determine that they are divided into rear-wheel drive and front-wheel drive. For areas with a flat surface and lack of pronounced relief, they are perfect rear wheel drive mowers.
Front wheel drive are more maneuverable. Therefore, they are used in areas with a lot of interference and unevenness.
Manufacturers use fuel tanks of various sizes for their products. When choosing this indicator, you should also take into account fuel consumption. Then it will be possible to pick up exactly the device that can process the customer’s site without refueling.
The easiest way is to use mowers with an automatic start system. It is enough to press the button, and the engine is started, and the device is ready to work.
Mowing width depends on the size of the mower. The wider it is, the faster you can process the entire area. Such a machine is deprived of the ability to cut grass in narrow places, on paths between flower beds and in aisles.
Therefore, it is worth choosing a wide model if the site is flat, without such obstacles. A mower with a medium cutting width will be universal.
A lawn mower equipped with sharp blades will provide the best view of your lawn. This machine will neatly trim the plants, leaving the lawn green and tidy.
After such treatment, the lawn may turn yellow and the lawn will lose its fresh appearance.
How to choose a gasoline lawn mower: criteria, brands, prices
A good way to simplify work on a plot of land is to use garden equipment. Hand tools have already exhausted their capabilities, and a lot of multifunctional devices are being produced for owners of gardens and vegetable gardens.
In maintaining a well-groomed appearance of any plot of land provided for a lawn, it will help lawn mower. There are several factors to consider to get the right machine.
Disposal of clipped grass
Many modern models combine several uses for cut grass. The simplest is dumping waste directly onto the lawn. This is done backward or sideways. This procedure allows you to mow the entire lawn without stopping.
To get a neat lawn, the waste will have to be removed with a hand tool.
The second option is grass catcher application. It is made from plastic, soft durable nylon, or a combination of soft and hard materials.
It is more practical to use a plastic container. It can be easily emptied and washed with a water jet from a hose.
The third option is using the mulching function. The process consists in the use of additional equipment provided with the lawn mower.
By installing a plug in the vent hole, you can use the grass as a natural fertilizer.
Mulching knives crushes the cuttings to a state of dust and bring them into the soil right in the direction of travel. This procedure will heal your lawn in a natural way, without the use of chemical fertilizers.
In combination with mulching, it is better to use aerators and scarifiers. In this way, you can achieve the best nutrition for the roots of the plants and in the future get an ideal green lawn.