Lawn mowers are one of those things that everyone needs but very few people own. When I was growing up, my dad had his own lawn mowers – until he got sick of them! Then, his friend inherited his old lawn mower and he started using it. But I think my dad knew what he was doing when he bought that beautiful Yamaha riding mower he worked so hard to save.
Lawn mowers are powered either by you pushing it with your foot or by you pulling it with your hand. A lawn mower is basically a large machine using one or more spinning blades to cut a lawn surface into an even height at all times. The height of your cut grass can be set by the style of the mower itself, but in most cases is customizable by the owner, usually by a master switch, or a wrench or bolt on the wheels of each machine. There are also riding lawn mowers, which are much like motorcycles, and have a handle bar mounted in front instead of a blade. These machines tend to be more powerful, faster, and heavier than standard lawn mowers.
All lawn mowers have two basic types of blades: electric and gasoline. Both have their pros and cons, and you should carefully consider both before you buy. Electric lawn mowers are easier to start and work with, but they also produce less horsepower. The main advantage of ride on mowers over electric is that they can move around gardens more easily, but they are much harder to control because they don’t have a joystick or throttle like an electric model.
There are many different types of lawn mowers available, including gas, battery operated, and gas powered. All use a similar motor, and the only real difference between them is in how they work. The following paragraphs detail some of these different types and their benefits.
One of the biggest benefits of riding lawn mowers over other types is the ease of mobility. Many people choose these larger mowers because they are simple to operate and maintain. They generally have a larger cutting deck, and as a result they can cover larger areas in a shorter amount of time. Because they are more bulky and take up more space, however, they are better suited to small lawns.
There are two main types of lawn mowers: electric and gas powered. Gas powered models are easier to start and run than battery powered models, but they are not as powerful. Because of this lack of power, gas powered models are better suited to very large lawns. A gasoline mower will need to be refueled with gas periodically, although there are now electric starting systems that allow you to manually do this. If you plan on cutting large lawns on a regular basis, an electric mower may be the better option. If you plan to do a lot of walking around your yard, however, an electric lawn mower will probably be your best choice.
The second major difference between these two common types of lawn mowers is in how they operate. Gas and battery powered lawn mowers work more or less the same way. In both cases, the rider pushes a lever or a switch to start the engine. The difference comes from the battery, which provides the power for the mower to move. Typically, the rider will need to make several starts for a full battery charge. (If you need to cover large lawns, a self-propelled lawn mower may be your best solution.)
Most gas powered models use a 12 volt motor, while some electric models use a 12 volt battery. The difference in voltage means that some lawn mowers require you to plug them into an electrical outlet while others will simply run on a battery charge. It’s a good idea to have your gas mowers checked out by a qualified repair man, just to make sure that they are in good working condition. If you buy a used model, it might be worthwhile to look into buying an extended warranty, which will extend the life of both the engine and the battery. These extended warranties are not offered with every lawn mowers manufacture, so you may have to shop around to find one that does offer one.