Lawn mower around pole. Lawn Mower Pull Cord Not Catching (How to Fix)

What Size Rope Should My Lawn Mower, Snow Blower or Other Equipment Use?

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When you’re selecting the size of rope for your small engine, chainsaw, trimmer, push mower or riding mower, keep these in mind :

• #3 (3/32 Diameter) and #3-1/2 (7/64 Diameter) rope is used on most trimmers and small 2-cycle engines
• #4 (1/8 Diameter) and #4-1/2 (9/64 Diameter) rope is used on most chain saws and larger 2-cycle engines
• #4-1/2 (9/64 Diameter), #5 (5/32 Diameter) and #5-1/2 (11/64 Diameter) rope is used on most 4-cycle push mower small engines
• #6 (3/16 Diameter) and #7 (7/32 Diameter) rope is used on most larger 4-cycle engines

If you ever have any questions on recoil starter rope, send us an email or give us a call!

When you’re selecting the size of rope for your small engine, chainsaw, trimmer, push mower or riding mower, keep these in mind:

• #3 (3/32 Diameter) and #3-1/2 (7/64 Diameter) rope is used on most trimmers and small 2-cycle engines
• #4 (1/8 Diameter) and #4-1/2 (9/64 Diameter) rope is used on most chain saws and larger 2-cycle engines
• #4-1/2 (9/64 Diameter), #5 (5/32 Diameter) and #5-1/2 (11/64 Diameter) rope is used on most 4-cycle push mower small engines
• #6 (3/16 Diameter) and #7 (7/32 Diameter) rope is used on most larger 4-cycle engines

If you ever have any questions on recoil starter rope, send us an email or give us a call!

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Lawn Mower Pull Cord Not Catching (How to Fix)

Nothing happens if your lawn mower pull cord isn’t catching. If your mower has a pull cord, there’s usually no way to get your mower to start, which ruins your mowing mission. It’s incredibly frustrating to do other troubleshooting to find out why your mower won’t start and realize that it’s not just that your mower needs some extra gas, but that the pull cord is faulty. In this article I’ll explain how the lawn mower pull cord mechanism works, possible causes for your lawn mower pull cord not catching, and how to fix the issue.

Why Your Lawn Mower Pull Cord Isn’t Catching

The pull cord mechanism on a lawn mower isn’t complicated, and the reason your cord isn’t catching is that one of the components of the flywheel starter assembly has failed under the stress of regular use. Typically it’s either worn or broken pawls, or a damaged pulley system. Either way, a complete OEM replacement starter assembly will typically cost less than 30 and it’s an easy DIY fix that takes a couple of minutes.

About the Starter Assembly

The starter rope is the only part of the starting system that can be seen. But inside your mower, the rope activates a series of parts that start the engine.

Learning how the mechanism functions will allow you to know how to fix a lawn mower pull cord that isn’t catching.

Sometimes the repair is simple, where the pull cord or handle itself breaks. If this is the case, simply replacing the rope or handle will be enough, and that’s a job that anyone can do.

Other issues can be the cause as well, but the good news is that these also have relatively simple fixes.

Let’s start by explaining how the pull cord on a lawn mower works, and then I’ll explain the usual reasons your cord isn’t working and tell you how to fix each one individually, and how to search for and find a brand new OEM starter assembly for your mower (what I recommend since the cost is still pretty low).

How Your Lawn Mower Pull Cord Works

When you pull the rope to start your mower, it engages the starting mechanism, which turns the engine fast enough to spark the ignition module.

The starter rope is wrapped around a pulley system. That allows it to be pulled out before it recoils into the engine. The pulley sits below the cover at the top of your walk-behind mower, and a spring is in the center of the pulley. As it’s turned, the recoil spring stretches, then snaps back when let go. This immediate snap-back retracts the pull cord and allows you to pull the rope quickly one time after another.

The recoil operates the mower’s flywheel. The flywheel sits below the starter, closer to the mower, and near the crankshaft. Magnets sit on the outside of the flywheel and generate magnetic energy as it spins. The magnets will eventually build up enough energy to fire off high-voltage sparks.

The pawls are also attached to the pulley. These are plastic wings that spin out due to the centrifugal force, helping to catch the flywheels and create a faster spinning movement.

The crankshaft is in the center of the flywheel and turns with the flywheel. As the crankshaft turns, it helps the piston move up and down, pushing more gas and air into the mower’s system. If it can’t spin fast enough, the engine won’t start.

The pawls are the most likely component to fail and it’s probably why your mower isn’t starting. That said, if the pulley or receiver is damaged, that will also cause issues.

Lawn Mower Pull Cord Not Catching: Possible Causes

There are two very common causes for a lawn mower pull cord not catching. These include:

Let’s take a closer look at each of these, and other possible causes for this mower issue.

Broken or Worn Pawls

On most modern mowers, the pawls are usually made of plastic, though some brands use metal pawls.

Metal pawls are far more durable. This component is exposed to tension from spinning out, as well as catching the flywheel.

Since this part is designed to spin out and catch the flywheel, if they’re worn out or broken, they won’t be able to do that. That prevents the engine from turning over, and it’s usually the reason you pull your mower starting cord and it doesn’t catch.

In other words, it will feel like the pull cord is pulling too freely.

To check if the pawls on your mower are broken, remove the starter and pull the rope to make them pull out. If they don’t pull out, either they’re broken or something else is broken.

To repair worn or broken pawls.

• Unplug the spark plug wire before starting the repair. This prevents the motor from starting, and is an important safety step whenever doing any work on your mower.
• Disassemble the housing (the top cover) to expose the pull cord assembly.
• Remove the center bolt and cap in order to pull the pawls out.
• Inspect the pawls and determine whether they’re damaged or worn.
• Insert the new pawls, then re-install the center bolt and cap, as well as the starter, into the engine.

The pull cord should catch again and allow the engine to start. If the pull cord continues to not work, the issue may be something else interfering with the pawls.

Damaged Pulley

The mower’s pull cord rope is stored in the pulley, as well as the recoil spring. The pulley will guide and feed the pull cord, in addition to storing it. Pulleys are usually made from plastic and this is a part that can crack.

A broken or cracked pulley will interfere with the rope pulling around the pulley. If it malfunctions or jams, the starter system will not work.

To replace the pulley, you’ll need to remove the starter system.

• Again, start by disconnecting the spark plug wire.
• Next, pull the rope out, then insert a screwdriver to secure the recoil spring and pulley.
• Remove the rope, then release the screwdriver to allow tension to return to the spring.
• Remove the center bolt and friction plate, which will release the pulley.
• Now you can place the new pulley, first aligning it with the housing post.
• Rotate the pulley, since that will tighten the spring, then insert the screwdriver to hold it in place so you can reattach the rope.
• Release the screwdriver and let the rope slowly wind up. You can then place the starter back onto the engine, reassemble, and try to start your mower.

Replacement pulleys can be bought either as just the cover or with the recoil spring combined.

It’s usually easiest to replace both simultaneously. It’s a little more expensive, but for most homeowners tackling this project it makes sense to replace the entire unit as it’s simpler.

The spring can be difficult to work with, and purchasing the entire assembly won’t add too much additional cost to the repair. In my view, it’s worth it.

Other Issues Which Can Make Your Pull Cord Not Catch

While these are the most common issues with the pull cord system, they are not the only ones that can occur.

Different lawn mower brands make their components differently. Some will use plastic instead of metal for certain components. Plastic parts will wear out faster, and are less capable of withstanding the stresses of consistent use.

The reality is that if you’re buying a new mower, you’ll find that more brands are using plastic for the flywheel receiver to cut costs and remain competitive with their price.

The flywheel receiver is a metal cup that fixes to the flywheel. This is the component the pawls will connect to. If they’re worn in addition to (or instead of) the pawls, the engine will also not catch.

Receivers are less likely to cause issues unless they’re made of plastic, but since more modern mower manufacturers are using plastic for this part, it will probably become a more common cause of failure and a reason why your lawn mower pull cord may not be catching.

Older mowers which have metal components are likely to have fewer issues, even if they’ve been used for more hours. This is one reason why it might make sense to buy a used mower instead of buying new.

Can You (and should you) DIY the Fix?

If you’re handy and like working with mechanical parts, it’s pretty easy and inexpensive to replace part or all of this component on your mower.

You’ll want to know your brand and mower model. Then you can search online for your mower brand, model number, and starter/recoil/flywheel assembly OEM.

If you’re unsure of your lawn mower model number, you can find it on a small plate on your mower. It will be alongside the mower’s serial number.

For example if I had a Honda HRN216VKA self-propelled mower I bought from Home Depot, I could search Honda HRN216VKA starter assembly OEM on Amazon and quickly find the part I need for under 30.

About Tackling This Project

Like most small engines, disassembly and reassembly is pretty straight-forward. But I always recommend taking pictures of each step so you can remember where everything went as you put the mower back together.

If you’re intimidated by the idea of doing this work yourself, you have a few options. You can:

• Check to see if your mower is under warranty. If it is, you can probably get this repaired at no cost.
• Contact a local small engine repair shop. It should be an inexpensive job that can be completed quickly. They can also do a tune-up of your machine, change the oil, and sharpen your mower’s blades for you while it’s in for servicing.

The bottom line is that this is not a major issue with your mower (even if it feels like one). You shouldn’t send your mower to the scrap heap and rush out to buy a new mower.

It’s worth fixing, and most homeowners (even those who are not mechanically inclined at all) can replace the starter assembly on a walk-behind mower.

Maintaining Your Mower

If you’re looking to keep your mower in top shape, read my articles on winterizing your mower, and my spring mower tune-up checklist.

These quick (and easy) maintenance projects at the start and end of each season will keep your mower running great for years.

The Best Lawn Mower for Small Yards, Including Cordless and Reel Mower

Welcome to the Thomas guide to the best lawn mower for small yards 2023. Thomas has been connecting North American industrial buyers and suppliers for more than 120 years. When you purchase products through our independent recommendations, we may earn an affiliate commission.

The best lawn mowers for small yards are easy to use, compact and easy to store, and, most importantly, can reach areas of a lawn, i.e., around garden beds, that larger, more heavy-duty mowers can’t. A lot of mowers on the market nowadays also include necessary accessories that deem it unnecessary for buyers to purchase various other garden tools like trimmers. Smaller lawn mowers tend to have some key features that make them unique including foldable handles and a shorter cutting width.

The list below has a selection of small units with various deck sizes, including one mower with a deck that completely detaches to transform into a string trimmer and lawn edger. Before that, our buying guide can help you know what to look for when shopping for the best mower for your smaller yard especially if storage space is limited.

Here is a list of the best lawn mowers for small yards, followed by a buying guide to help you select the best lawn mower for small yards.

Thomas’ Top Picks for the Best Lawn Mowers for Small Yards 2023

Whether you cut the lawn regularly or once a month, there are plenty of mowers to choose from for small yards. A manual mower, a reel style mower, or models with a decent cutting width, here is the list of the best lawn mowers for small yards.

Best Lightweight Mower for Small Yard: Yard Machines 20-Inch Push Mower | Buy Now

Best Practical Mower for Small Yard: BLACKDECKER 20V 3-in-1 Kit | Buy Now

Best Corded Lawn Mower for Small Yard: Sun Joe Mow Joe 20-Inch Electric Mower | Buy Now

Scroll down to read more about these top picks for the best lawn mowers for small yards, according to many happy buyers.

listed in this article were as shown in US on amazon.com (USA), homedepot.com, and walmart.com, as of May 2023

Best Cordless Lawn Mower for Small Yard—Makita XML03CM1

For a battery-powered, cordless lawn mower with a bit of punch, the Makita XML03CM1 is a strong contender. There are four 4.0 batteries included with the unit, and it has an 18-inch steel mower deck that’s easily folded away for storage. It moves around a lawn with ease and can do so quietly thanks to a special mode that keeps noise down with a constant speed of 2,500 rpm.

“I was able to cut 7,000 square feet with three sets of batteries,” wrote a customer. “I used one, inserted the second, and in the meantime charged the first set. [The] motor is really powerful and doesn’t stop on really high grass and weeds. This takes approximately 40 minutes to charge 1 set of 4.0 Ah batteries. It’s easy to remove grass from the basket and to clean the mower.”

Cutting width: 18 inches

Power: Battery powered

Weight: 79.8 pounds

Best Durable Lawn Mower for Small Yard—Toro Recycler 21-Inch Lawn Mower

One durable lawn mower that produces smooth, reliable power is the Toro Recycler. Customers have praised this outdoor power tool for handling lawns well. With a full tank of gas, it should have around 90 minutes of run time. The gas-powered mower is lightweight, made of quality materials, and can be stowed vertically. It’s also a rear-wheel drive and uses a pull cord to start.

“The Toro Recycler 22 in. SmartStow really is a great lawnmower,” wrote one reviewer. “The pulling power it has is great. Now I do my whole lawn in about one hour on one tank, front and back. I like even better [that I can] just fold the handle forward, lift, and roll into its spot.”

Cutting width: 21 inches

Power: Gas mower

Weight: 67 pounds

Best Push Lawn Mower for Small Yard—PowerSmart DB2194PR 21-Inch

Praised for getting into hard-to-reach places and for working wonders on uneven lawns, the PowerSmart DB2194PR 21-inch 3-in-1 gas push lawn mower has proven highly effective. The compact size makes it ideal for small yards, but its 21-inch cutting width allows it to hit every blade. The bag has mulching capabilities and a side discharge to direct grass clippings toward one side.

“It is pretty light and easy to maneuver,” wrote a customer. “[It] did a great job in mulching the clippings, and so far, it has a sharp cut.” Another user wrote, “I found this easy-to-use, and it’s a very effective lawn mower at a decent price.”

Cutting width: 21 inches

Power: Gas-powered push mower

Weight: 63 pounds

Best Lightweight Lawn Mower for Small Yard—Yard Machines 20-Inch Push Mower

Customers were thrilled with how lightweight and easy to maneuver the Yard Machines 20-inch push mower was. Though it doesn’t have a push-button start, buyers found that the machine started up easily and also praised it for cutting down tall weeds without hassle. Start this mower by using the pull cord and walk behind the mower to push it over the lawn.

One customer wrote, “I’ve used it for about three hours run time, and it has been constantly easy to start; it appears to use less gas for the same cutting time, and it’s quite lightweight.” Another buyer commented, “It was incredibly easy to set up, starts every time on the first pull, and powers through tall and/or wet grass.”

Cutting width: 20 inches

Power: Gas-powered push mower

Weight: 50 pounds

BUY NOW: US269 (Was US329), The Home Depot

Also Available at: Walmart, Amazon

Best Electric Lawn Mower for Small Yard—Litheli Cordless 13-Inch

There are five height adjustments on the Litheli Cordless 13-inch electric mower. This is a mower built especially for users wanting a quiet machine that’s easy to move, compact, and fit for small yards. For added protection, the machine has two safety power switches–one on the handle and one inside the battery compartment.

“It meets all my expectations,” wrote a customer. “It arrived earlier than expected. It comes mostly assembled and is lightweight but also does a great job mowing the lawn. The battery life lasted about 40 minutes on a full charge.”

Cutting width: 13 inches

Power: Cordless electric

Weight: 27.3 pounds

Best Reel Mower for Small Yard—Remington Push Reel Lawn Mower

Gas-powered mowers can be side-stepped for lower-maintenance electric options, such as the Remington RM3000 16-inch reel push power tool. It has nine different height adjustments and finding fuel isn’t necessary for its sharp blades to function. When in action, the engine runs quietly to help with cutting during the early mornings or late evenings, without feeling guilty about disturbing the neighbors.

“This mower is so easy to use and has very sharp blades,” wrote a customer. “Perfect for our smaller-sized yard. Love that I don’t have to fill it with gas, or mess with the motor. Nope—just grab and go. Mowing the yard takes only a few minutes!”

Cutting width: 16 inches

Power: Electric

Weight: 28 pounds

Best Cordless Electric Lawn Mower for Small Yard—Greenworks 40V 16-Inch Battery-Powered Mower

To help cut grass with ease, customers opted for the Greenworks 40v, 16-inch, cordless 4.0Ah electric lawn mower. It has a self-propellor mechanism that adds pressure on the lever and boosts the cut quality to power through tough grass. The batteries pop in and out of the charger with ease and the handle folds down to make for easier storage.

“This is a great mower for trimming around the house before or cleaning up after a larger mower,” wrote a shopper. “It is narrow, light, can be height adjusted on the fly, and can reach the places [that] a heavier mower would need considerable strength and stamina [to push], with minimum effort.”

Cutting width: 16 inches

Power: Electric, battery

Weight: 37.5 pounds

Best Practical Lawn Mower for Small Yard—BLACKDECKER 20V 3-in-1 Kit

There are several reasons why the BLACKDECKER 3-in-1 string trimmer, lawn edger, and lawn mower kit is worth it for owners of small lawns. This is a powerhouse of a kit and customers were impressed with this do-it-all set. Once the wheeled deck is removed, this converts into two other tools—a trimmer and edger. The mower is lightweight and cuts a 12-inch width, while the trimmer and edger are handheld tools and equally as efficient in their roles.

It has a cutting height of 1.6 to 2.4 inches and is most suitable for small yards. It can also tackle inclines. The unit comes with two batteries, and its small size makes it easy to pack away. “Lightweight and I don’t break my arm starting it, like my gas mower,” wrote one customer. “It switches from mower to weed eater and edge trimmer with a tap of foot to release.” Another person who lives on a two-acre hill added that it’s “a go-anywhere masterpiece of yardsmanship.”

Cutting width: 12 inch

Power: Two 2 Ah batteries and charger included

Weight: 14.95

Best Corded Lawn Mower for Small Yard—Ryobi 13-Inch Corded Electric Mower

This corded electric lawn mower from Ryobi impressed customers with its power output. The company produces a number of good-quality power tools, and this one is no different. It is a handy small mower with a long extension cord that’s perfect for small yards as smooth to push around and emits low noise levels. Thanks to its 23-pound frame and 13-inch cutting width, it can get close to objects and keep overgrown grass and weeds at bay.

Many satisfied customers also commented on how easy it was to dispose of the clipping bag contents once it’s filled. “This little Ryobi did an amazing job,” began one customer. “Super easy to maneuver under tree branches, rose bushes, around stumps, and on corners. Not much assembly was required. You lock the handle poles into corresponding holes on the sides of the mower and push down with force to lock into place. Very happy with my purchase!”

Cutting width: 13 inches

Power: Electric

Weight: 23 pounds

Best Lawn Mower for Small Yards with High Grass—Sun Joe Mow Joe 20-Inch Corded Electric Mower

Push mowers such as the Sun Joe Mow Joe 20-inch corded electric machine are a popular choice as they’re easy to use and eco-friendly. It’s lightweight, has seven manual height adjustments, and can cut through tall grass well. Taking less than 15 minutes to assemble, this Sun Joe electric mower for small yards is durable and requires little maintenance. It has a steel blade and is powered by a 12-amp motor.

Other features include a foldable handle, mulching disposal bag, and rust-resistant deck. “This corded electric mower works great…This gets the leaves up pretty well while the grass is not growing as quickly, as the clippings are mostly leaves,” wrote one happy customer. “I just dump the chopped up leaves from the catcher in my wooded areas and flower beds for mulch to keep the weeds down. The large wheels are easy to roll over the bumpy portions of the yard and can turn tight corners.”

Cutting width: 20 inches

Power: Corded electric mower

Weight: 51.8 pounds

The Best Lawn Mower for Small Yard—Summary

One cordless lawn mower that impressed customers with its powerful abilities to cut grass is the Makita XML03CM1 (US399, Amazon). This mower is battery-powered and has an 18-inch steel mower deck. It’s great for keeping noise levels down and easily folds to store away.

Multiple customers hardly needed to use another garden tool or accessory once they purchased the BLACKDECKER 3-in-1 kit (US160.86, The Home Depot). The set includes a lawn mower, string trimmer, and lawn edger. It’s impressively apt at doing all its jobs and is lightweight enough to reach hard-to-reach areas, such as around bushes and trees.

Though it didn’t make it to this list, the 14-inch manual reel mower from the American Lawn Mower Company (US85.49, Amazon) is another good option for anyone with complex lawns with things like exposed tree stumps and exposed roots. This is lighter than a gas mower and can get around tough patches with ease.

Choosing the Best Lawn Mowers for Small Yards—Buying Guide

To help make cutting the lawn feel more pleasurable and less like a chore, it’s best to take some time to decide what type of mower will cut the grass as quickly and efficiently as possible. There are around 15 types of general lawn mowers available. Customers often choose electric and reel mowers for small gardens, however, there are a few more options suited to smaller yards.

Cutting Width

The lawn mower’s deck is one of the most important features of this power tool. The deck not only protects the user from the cutting blade and debris flicking up but decks are often available in smaller dimensions to best navigate around a small yard. This part is usually height adjustable to tackle various grass heights and is typically made of corrosion and rust-resistant metal.

Before cutting the grass, it’s wise to think about what cutting width is required. A lawn mower with a large cutting width will be more difficult to maneuver around small yards. On the other hand, if a lawn mower with a cutting width too small is used then the task could take longer than needed. The upcoming selection features cutting ranges between 12 to 21 inches to offer a variety of options for small yards. A 16-inch cutting width is good for boxy or rectangular yards, while a yard with more obstacles is more suited to a 14-inch mower.

Other Considerations

Once the decision has been made on which lawn mower easily cuts the grass of the small yard in question, there are a few other features to consider.

• Grass catcher capacity: Check the size of the bag which is collecting the grass clippings. A larger bag means less trips to the compost heap, although it may make the mower heavier.
• Self-propelled mowers: From the list of the best lawn mowers for small yards below there are a few electric models which are self-propelled. This is a great feature to have in a mower as it means the mower doesn’t need to be pushed. Guide the mower through and it does the job automatically. This makes mowing easier and some mowers have adjustable speeds to assist as required.
• Mulch mowers: A mulching mower is where the blade and mowing deck chop the grass multiple times before spitting out the grass clippings back onto the lawn. Side discharge mowers can direct this cut grass out to the side, and usually, a bag can be installed to directly catch the clippings as they fall out.
• Assembly: Some mowers require assembling. Most will just need the handle slotted into place, and some will come pre-assembled. Check before you buy how intricate or fiddly a model is to put together.
• Handle: Depending on how tall or short the user is, it’s worth checking whether the mower has an adjustable height handle. Also, some handles can be folded down to easily be tucked away for storage which is particularly handy if you mow frequently.
• Cutting heights: Depending on the grass length, the cutting height of a mower may be a significant detail to buyers purchasing a new mower. Most manufacturers will state how tall of grass the mower will cut.
• Start: Though many mowers, typically gas mowers, have a pull cord to start, many newer mowers have a push button start which many customers find easier and preferable.

We hope our review of the top lawn mowers for small yards has been helpful. For more suppliers of related products, including lawn mowers, lawn mower tractors, lawn mower bags, lawn mower blades, and lawn mower handles, consult our additional guides, or visit the Thomas Supplier Discovery Platform.

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The Lawn Mower Buyer’s Guide: Everything You Need to Know to Buy the Right Type of Lawn Mower

Not all yards are the same, and not all mowers are either.

By Roy Berendsohn Published: May 5, 2022

Nothing kills the joy of a sunny day like the wrong type of lawn mower. Fortunately, the opposite is also true. The right type of lawn mower can make cutting your lawn a pleasure.

If you know you need a new lawn mower, but aren’t sure how much mower you need or what features you might want, don’t worry. We’ve got you covered. Use this guide to select the right machine, and happy mowing.

Step 1: Walk or Ride?

The first step is the choice between two basic types of lawn mowers: riding mower and a walk-behind. Any more ground to cover than a 1/4 acre, you’ll want to ride if for no other reason than to get the lawn done faster.

First, make an approximation of your mowing surface. Simply walk off large rectangles. counting your steps as you go. Add up the areas of the rectangles. No need to get too precise here. An average man’s stride is about 30 inches and a woman’s stride is about 26 inches, or measure your own stride for the most accurate measurement.

An acre is 43,560 square feet, so one-fourth acre is 10,890 square feet. Anything above that threshold, and you’ll likely want to get a riding mower. In fact, the vast majority of people wouldn’t dream of cutting a ¼ acre of grass with a 22-inch walk mower, but we have to start somewhere. So think realistically about how much time you have to mow your lawn on a busy weekend and select your equipment accordingly.

For lawns from ¼ of an acre to 2 acres. you’ll most likely be most comfortable with a rear-engine riding mowers, light-duty lawn tractors, and residential-duty zero-turn mowers. Anything more than two acres and you’ll want a commercial-duty zero turn mower.

Step 2: Selecting Your Features

Once you’ve selected whether you ride or walk, there are two factors that will drive your purchase—your budget and your comfort. The more you spend on a mower, the more durable, versatile, intuitive, and probably, the quicker you’ll get the job done. The opposite is also true.

It doesn’t make as much difference with a small, simple yard. But the larger and more complex the yard, the more thought you need to give to selecting mower features.

Walk Mowers

We’ll begin with walk mowers. one of the most versatile cutting machines out there.

Walk mowers are somewhat like cars in that they are available with a wide range of options, all of which increase cost and complexity. Look carefully at the product’s hang tag and talk to the sales staff to get a better sense of whether the features are useful to you.

Let’s break down all the major components and what lawnmowers use them:

Drive

Look it at this way: You can push a mower, or the mower can push itself, in which case it’s either a front-drive or a rear-drive mower (we’ll get to all-wheel drive in a moment). A self-propelled mower makes your life a lot easier when mowing hills, or when you mow and bag. There’s nothing like pushing a fully loaded mower uphill to make you appreciate a self-propelled machine.

The Lawn and the Short of it

Front-wheel drive is best for level ground with a lot of obstacles. This allows you to push down on the handle, reducing traction on the front wheels and pivot into and out of corners.

Rear-wheel drive works best for for uphill mowing and sidehill mowing. Rear wheel drive works better here because when you push down on the handle going up a hill, the front tires will not lose traction.

Yes, a handful of mowers are all-wheel drive. built for homeowners who cut across washboard surfaces, sidehill mowing, steep uphill and downhill mowing that makes good of AWD. We were dubious when these mowers were introduced several years ago, but when we cut some very rough ground, we were surprised at how much easier AWD made things.

Functions

In this section, we’re talking about what the machines actually does with the grass. Mowers can mulch clippings (repeatedly cut and recut them), discharge them to the side or rear, or bag them.

Two-function is a mower that mulches and bags. Mulching is healthier for the lawn in that it returns nitrogen-rich grass clippings into the ground, but it doesn’t work particularly well for tall-grass conditions in the spring and early summer or early fall when the lawn bounces back from summer stress.

A three-function machine bags, mulches, and side discharges. Side discharging is useful for utility mowing (mowing areas with tall weeds and non-turf grasses). It also helps if the lawn gets away from you and you need to set the mower deck to its full height and take the grass down in stages.

Common Features

We’ve barely scratched the surface of mower features. These are the more common things you’ll find on your average mower’s spec list:

Deck levers come in groupings of one, two, or four. One lever is the most convenient, but it comes with a lot of linkage that adds weight and that you have to keep lubricated if you want it to work well. Two levers are a good compromise between one and four levers. Yes, these mowers have a bit more linkage than a four-lever mower, but it’s easier to get the height right. Four levers is the standard, time-tested design.

The only way to get a sense of whether you’ll like the ground speed control is to actually get your hands on a mower at a dealership, hardware store, or home center.

The control may be integral with the handle. The harder you press forward on the drive control in the handle, the faster the mower goes. Or it may be a separate lever or even a bail (a metal rod). Squeeze the lever to increase ground speed or to activate the mower’s drive system for fixed-speed mowers.

Self-propelled mowers are equipped with three types of transmissions. Hydrostatic is the most expensive and the smoothest operating. It drives hydraulic fluid past an impeller that spins an output shaft, which controls ground speed. This is your smoothest running and most reliable transmission, but it’s also the most expensive.

The typical front or rear drive walk mower uses some form of belt-and-pulley arrangement to direct power from the engine’s output shaft to a gear box on a front or rear axle (or a gear at the wheel). There are several variations of this design, but all work well and are reasonably easy to maintain and repair.

Make Your Lawn Last

Gas engines sizes run from 140 cc to 190 cc. Larger engines produce more torque and are less likely to stall in tall grass at the beginning and end of the cutting season. A larger engine also helps drive self-propelled mowers more effectively uphill.

From least-expensive to most-expensive, mower engines may be traditional side valve design, overhead valve, or overhead cam. expensive engines provide increased durability, reduced noise, and less oil consumption.

The rear wheel size of a walk mower may be larger than the diameter of the front wheels. The wheels’ increased diameter helps it more easily navigate ruts and rough ground.

Ball bearing wheels are easier to push than those with bushing-type wheels. The larger your yard, the more difficult its terrain, or if you’re hauling around a bag of clippings or clippings mixed with mulched leaves, the more you want this option.

A blade-brake clutch is a feature found on high-end walk mowers. It allows you to completely release the operator control handle without stopping the engine. That way, you can pause your mowing, move whatever obstacle out of your way and continue mowing without having to restart the engine.

Unusual Features

A range of unusual features have been introduced in the last several years to make mowing easier or the whole mowing experience better.

Some engines require no oil change. like the small gas engines made by Briggs Stratton. The feature is known as “Just Check and Add.” You just add oil periodically to replace the small amount of oil that’s slowly vaporized in the combustion process.

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Toro’s innovations have created mowers that have power-assisted reverse and a vertical-storage design that lets you fold the handle down, tip the mower back, and store it vertically against the wall.

Front caster wheels are great for elaborately-landscaped yards that require a lot of pivoting. Front caster wheels don’t track particularly well on bumpy ground or mowing sidehills. Mowox mowers have replaced dual front casters with a single front caster wheel, perhaps the most maneuverable form of mower you can get. But Cub Cadet has been among the mower manufacturers that pioneered the use of front caster wheels.

Wash-out fittings enable you to hook up a garden hose to wash accumulated grass clippings from under the deck. A clean deck lasts longer because accumulated grass holds moisture and lawn chemical residue, which causes deck corrosion. Our tests show that these fittings do help considerably, but that you still need some under-deck scraping with a putty knife.

Wide-cut mowers with decks that range from 28 to 33 inches are a fast cutting alternative to a 22-inch mower. These are still comparatively rare products made by Cub Cadet, Toro, Troy-Bilt, and Craftsman.

Finally, electric walk mowers are a perfect fit if you have a small yard (under 5,000 square feet of mowing surface) and one that’s quite manicured. However, there are three important things to keep in mind:

• Cordless electric mowers tend to have smaller decks (19 and 20-inch sizes are the most common, though a few have 21-inch decks). That means it takes you longer to mow.
• They tend to be less powerful than their gas engine counterparts. They can struggle with tall grass, wet grass, and thick grass with leaves. For intermediate mowing conditions, cordless mowers do just fine.
• The larger the lawn, the more batteries you need. Manufacturers make recommendations about run time, but that’s very difficult to do accurately. It varies widely depending on your mowing habits and the height or thickness of the grass. We recommend you buy extra batteries so that you’re not compelled to rush the cut.

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Ride Mowers

If you can afford it, a riding mower is the way to go. Don’t get us wrong, we love walk mowers (goodness knows, we’ve used enough of them over the years here). But for speed and efficiency, there’s simply no comparison with a riding mower when you’re talking a large lawn.

When looking at riding mowers, you’ll likely come across three versions—lawn tractor, rear-engine riding mower, and a zero-turn mower. Let’s break them done one by one:

Lawn Tractor

Many people start out with a lawn tractor. With a steering wheel and a front-mounted engine, these look and feel familiar. Engine size range from 18-25 HP and most come with a single cylinder with step-up models having a V twin. Some fancier models also feature engines with electronic fuel injection.

When it comes to transmissions, less expensive models tend to be lever-operated gear transmissions. But a step-up from there comes pedal hydrostatic or continuously variable transmission (CVT) operated by a shift-on-the-go hand lever. The CVT is an automatic transmission powered by pulley drive to a sealed and lubricated gear case. You know you’re spending serious money if you’re considering a more expensive tractor with a heavy-duty foot pedal hydrostatic transmission.

Finally, how much can it cut? Well, much more than a push mower. Deck widths range from 42 inches to 54 inches. To know what size you need, divide the mower deck size by 12 to get an approximation of the acreage the mower can handle. So residential-duty a mower with a 54-inch deck can mow up to 4.5 acres. That’s a lot of grass and would result in significant wear and tear on a residential-grade mower in the course of the season. Still, it could do it.

These kind of mowers range anywhere from 1,300 to 3,000.

Rear-Engine Riding Mower

Many people with larger lawns too big for a walk mower but too small for a tractor or a zero turn should go with a rear-engine riding mower. The specifications below apply to deck under the operator’s position and not rear-engine residential/commercial mowers with the deck in front of the operator.

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Most rear-engine mowers a single-cylinder engine ranging in size from 344 to 38 cc, estimated at 10 to 11 HP. The transmission is usually a CVT operated by a shift-on-the-go hand lever. Snapper’s famous rear-engine riding mower uses the company’s time-tested disc drive transmission, but a few rear-engine riders are offered with a hydrostatic transmission.

Deck sizes stretch anywhere from 30 to 33 inches, and operators use a manual hand lever for deck adjustment and deck engagement. That small cutting size also means a smaller price tag, ranging from 1,200 to 2,400.

Zero-Turn Mowers

In the last twenty years or so, zero-turn mowers have proved their worth to homeowners and landscape contractors alike. Their design enables forward speed and steering by means of dual hydrostatic transmissions at the rear wheels, each of which is controlled by a lap bar in front of the seat.

A pulley off the engine spins the impellers on the dual hydrostatic transmissions that power the rear wheels. When you move one of the lap bars farther forward than its neighbor, it acts as a throttle, allowing more hydraulic fluid to flow to the transmission at that wheel. This causes wheel to turn more rapidly than the opposite wheel, allowing you turn corners or pivot.

Power Up

Engine size can range from 452 cc up to 700 or more, with power estimated from 12 HP to 25 HP. This is powered by either a single cylinder or commercial-duty V twin, and transmissions are either hydrostatic or commercial-duty hydrostatic.

With deck sizes ranging from 32 inches to 60 inches, these mowers cut the most grass in the least amount of time. The decks are either stamped or heavy-duty fabricated, deck adjustment uses a manual hand lever or foot pedal, and deck engagement uses a manual hand lever or an electric PTO

All that grass-cutting power comes with a price, usually ranging between 1,200 to 6,000. But now, you can knock some dollars off thanks to 2023 Memorial Day sales.

Roy Berendsohn has worked for more than 25 years at Popular Mechanics, where he has written on carpentry, masonry, painting, plumbing, electrical, woodworking, blacksmithing, welding, lawn care, chainsaw use, and outdoor power equipment. When he’s not working on his own house, he volunteers with Sovereign Grace Church doing home repair for families in rural, suburban and urban locations throughout central and southern New Jersey.