Which Mower Is Better Self-Propelled Or Non-Self-Propelled
The mower with a wheel drive compares favorably with the one that you have to push manually by the fact that much less effort is spent on mowing the lawn. Let’s figure out how to choose a self-propelled gun.
How does a self-propelled lawn mower differ from a regular
No matter how well-groomed the plot is, its natural or artificial landscape will never be completely flat except for concrete flooded areas. As a result, any wheeled device designed for mowing grass must have, in addition to productivity, at least also maneuverability. However, even in this case, the usual trolley version of the mower in a crushed area 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 truck unit is that the drive from the motor is connected not only with knives, but also separately carried out on a pair of wheels, front or rear. Thus, when starting up, the mower starts to move by itself, which greatly simplifies the work, since it is not necessary to make efforts to push the unit, as is the case with the simplest trolley models. The devices with wide functionality have speed switching, knife speed adjustment. A self-propelled gas 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 cart models that need to be pushed by the operator, self-propelled mowers still do not differ much from the second, at least in appearance. But there are models that look and work in a completely different way. Raiders who look more like a mini-tractor. On such devices, the operator can freely move around the site, regardless of the roughness of the terrain, and control the knives in relatively comfortable conditions. It is necessary to distinguish between raiders and ordinary truck-mounted self-propelled mowers, which have to be controlled on the go.
In the photo. A raider for the lawn
Of course, at the dacha a raider is practically useless, 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. The of some models are much higher than those of mini-tractors, despite the fact that the latter are much more functional. The second determining factor is the turning radius, which is too large for a small area. And, of course, there are some difficulties in mastering the controls for those who have never encountered anything more complicated than a trimmer. Therefore, for giving it is better to choose a cart option, which is much more maneuverable and cheaper.
Photo of a mini tractor for lawn
Much more interesting is a self-propelled robotic lawnmower, smart enough to handle mowing the lawn without operator intervention. It is, of course, also not cheap, but it completely eliminates the need to spend time mowing grass. These maneuverable and nimble robots have many sensors that determine both the height of the vegetation in the area allocated to him for work, and the boundaries set using a special cord, infrared or laser beams. An automatic lawnmower is often electric, but gasoline can also be purchased, although the former has more advantages, it itself finds a base for recharging. You can control such units using the remote control.
Key criteria for selecting a self-propelled mower
Like any other units with a motor, mowers with a wheel drive differ in power source and, accordingly, in the type of engine. They are gasoline and electric. The second are also divided into two groups, namely, wired and battery models. Power mowers are of little interest to us now, so we only note that the wired options work longer than the battery ones, but are less mobile due to the cable and, of course, not autonomous, they need a socket. Gasoline engines are two- or four-stroke, the former have higher power and, as a result, noise, and the latter are distinguished by reliability and fuel economy.
Like other mowers, self-propelled can be large, medium or small, while compactness is far from an advantage, because 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 surely get stuck, unable to cope with the load. The optimal solution for price and efficiency is an aggregate with average parameters in terms of size and motor power, it is suitable for both a small summer cottage and a large area. Garden assistants with the most horsepower in the engine are usually very expensive and consume a lot of fuel, because of which they can only be justified in large farmlands.
In the photo. A self-propelled gasoline lawn mower
Before choosing a gas mower, especially self-propelled, 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 case, whether it is steel or polymer, has its drawbacks. So, a plastic case will facilitate the unit, but at the same time it will become its vulnerable part due to the low resistance to shock. The metal casing is very durable, but it will heavily weight a gasoline mower, which already has a massive engine along with a fuel tank and the fuel itself. Many 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 having a shaft with a knife with two blades (like a two-blade helicopter rotor) are quite popular. This is the easiest option to cope with almost any kind of weed. Another 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 cutting, the working sector of the knives can be narrow, within 25-30 centimeters, and wide enough, from 40 or more. An optimum strip is considered to be 40 centimeters wide.
Photo of a self-propelled gasoline rotary mower
A short overview of known mower models
In the photo. Makita gas mower
And finally, consider the brand Husqvarna, which is often acquired by novice summer residents. It causes more discontent than previous companies, since it is very difficult to replace oil in a gas mower of almost any model. The fact is that the plug for many rulers is under the engine, and you have to remove it to open the reservoir with oil. Such a picture is observed in the models Husqvarna J 55S 9612100-18, as well as R 145 SV 9614101-31, which is already an indicator.
Photo of the Husqvarna brand gas mower
This article will discuss such a popular tool among summer residents and owners of private houses as a lawn mower. Their assortment is currently quite large, so we have systematized and ordered all the information. We present to your attention a kind of instruction for choosing this unit.
- The need for a tool in the country
- Electrics or gasoline: pros and cons
- How to choose a lawn mower for a summer residence, selection criteria
- Self-propelled, non-self-propelled
- Engine power
- Type of lawn grass (width and height of mowing)
- Grass catcher availability
- Deck requirements
- Additional Features and Functions
The need for a tool in the country
A plot with a neat and well-groomed green lawn looks much nicer than chaotic thickets of grass.
But to maintain it in this state is quite difficult, because the grass has the ability to grow quickly, especially in rainy periods.
Electrics or gasoline: pros and cons
According to the type of energy consumed, lawn mowers are electric and gasoline.
Each has its own advantages and disadvantages. To understand which lawn mower is better – gasoline or electric, consider the main pros and cons of each of them.
- Maneuverability. The only significant drawback of electric models is the limited freedom of movement during operation: this is due to the presence of wire. Firstly, the length of the wire does not always allow you to get to all corners of the site, but this can be solved using an extension cord. Secondly, there is always a chance of wire getting under the knives, you constantly need to monitor this, correcting it during operation.
- Storage. Naturally, before buying any equipment you need to think about where it will be stored. As for garden tools, for the winter he usually hides in a barn, garage or even transported to an apartment. And if your premises do not have enough space, then it is better to give preference to electric lawn mowers: it even fits on the bal-KONE. In terms of size and weight, it outperforms the gasoline. Over, the latter is generally not recommended to be stored in the apartment due to the presence of a sharp smell from the fuel.
- Thrift. Electric lawn mowers are several times cheaper than gasoline. This is due to the complexity of the design of the gasoline engine. In addition, oil and gasoline are also more expensive than electricity.
- Service. The best lawn mower in this regard is electric. Such models are elementary in maintenance. Before work, they just need to be plugged into the outlet. Whereas it is first necessary to pour gasoline and oil into gasoline, monitor the level of these fluids, and from time to time carry out engine maintenance (change or clean the filter and spark plugs).
- Noisiness. The electric motor runs quietly and almost without noise. Therefore, unlike noisy gasoline, such units can be operated at any time of the day without disturbing the neighbors.
- Body material. Gasoline models are mainly made with steel bodies. They are much stronger than electric, whose cases are plastic. However, this indicator can also be a minus, because the steel is heavy and amenable to corrosion.
- Environmental friendliness. Exhaust gases, as by-products of a gasoline engine, pollute the environment. Thus, eco-tech enthusiasts will prefer electric mowers.
How to choose a lawn mower for a summer residence, selection criteria
According to the above criteria, a clear advantage of electricity-powered models is seen. Now let’s dwell on how to choose an electric lawn mower.
Self-propelled, non-self-propelled
Non-self-propelled mowers, which have to be rolled by hand, they weigh relatively little, therefore they are convenient to carry and store. But at the same time, they require a lot of physical effort if any irregularities, bumps or bumps are present on the site. Self-propelled the trolley itself moves, the person only sets the direction of movement for it. Engine power is directed not only to the operation of the knife, but also to the movement of the wheels. Such mowers have a rather impressive weight and are convenient for working in large areas.
Engine power
The engine power that the mowers are equipped with is typically between 0.8 and 3 kW. The more power, the more performance.
However, one should not blindly give preference to the most powerful models. If your lawn is well-groomed, you cut the grass in time, too powerful lawn mowers will be unnecessary. They will unnecessarily consume large amounts of electricity. But low-power engines overheat faster, so when choosing, look for continuous operation time in the product passport.
Usually, electric mowers for a standard summer house are designed to work up to 30 minutes. This time is enough to cut the grass on the site.
Type of lawn grass (width and height of mowing)
The grass mowing width depends on the size of the knife installed in the mower. Inexpensive standard models have a knife width of about 30 cm, for more advanced models it can reach 46 cm. This figure affects performance. So, you can process the entire plot in 15 passes, or you can in 9. Here, the choice of an electric lawn mower is determined from the point of view of labor costs and time spent on putting the lawn in order.
With the help of lawn mowers as a result, you can achieve different heights of lawn grass. There are three ways to adjust:
- Rearrangement of each wheel;
- Rearrangement of a wheel axis;
- Using a lever or button.
This criterion is not so important, since summer residents usually use only one level.
But if you are going to equip an art lawn on your site, then give preference to models with push-button or lever adjustment.
Grass catcher availability
Almost all wheel models are equipped with a grass catcher. A capacity for collecting mowed grass. They are soft and hard.
Soft grass collectors are usually larger in volume, but their disadvantage is that they are quickly contaminated by grass and have to be washed from time to time, and they are also less durable. Plastic containers are strong, but it is difficult to determine the degree of fullness in them. The grass catcher can always be dismantled and the mower used without it.
Deck requirements
In the deck are the working parts of the lawn mower. Knives. It can be made of (by increasing value):
- Plastic;
- Steel;
- Aluminum.
Models with an aluminum deck are not subject to corrosion. Therefore, they are more durable. Cheap lawn mowers are equipped with a plastic deck, but sometimes it is advisable to give them preference because the electric motor often fails before the plastic part is damaged.
Additional Features and Functions
In addition to the main characteristics, when choosing an electric lawn mower, you should pay attention to a number of additional functions and features.
For example, some models are equipped with a function of mulching, i.E., grinding mowed grass. The resulting mulch is used to feed the lawn.
There is also a feature such as lateral grass discharge. It will be useful when cutting grass on the sidelines. Lawn mowers differ in width and diameter of wheels. If you are the owner of a relief area with bumps, give preference to models with large wheels.
Popular models of electric lawnmowers for gardening
The best lawn mower was recognized as electric Model STIGA Combi 48 ES. This is a 1.8 kW self-propelled mower. It has a steel deck, a folding handle, an adjustable handle, and high maneuverability. Benefits also include:
- 5 levels of mowing;
- Mulching function;
- Steel case;
- Grass catcher for 60 liters.
The disadvantage is the long time of the promotion of the knife (about 30-50 s).
Another popular model is Makita ELM3711. It weighs only 14 kg thanks to the plastic case. It is equipped with a soft grass catcher with a volume of 35 l, a folding adjustable handle, suitable for processing large areas.
- Low noise level;
- High maneuverability;
- Smooth start;
- Wheels on bearings;
- Affordable cost.
Minuses:
- Wheels are loose;
- Low quality plastic;
- It is difficult to mow grass near obstacles.
The last model I would like to dwell on is Bosch Rotak 43. This is a non-self-propelled grass mower with an electric motor with a power of 1.8 kW, weighs only 12.4 kg, has a hard grass catcher with a capacity of 50 liters.
- Ease of management;
- The ability to mow grass in hard to reach places and on a relief site.
Minuses:
- No mulching function
- Expensive repairs.
We hope our article will help you decide and choose the ideal mower for your lawn.