Best Self-Propelled Lawn Mower Reviews 2023. Big lawn mower wheels

I am Interested in a mower that is.

21″ (53 cm) Rear Wheel Drive Variable Speed Self-Propel (50-State)

DRIVE SYSTEM

21″ (53 cm) Rear Wheel Drive Self-Propelled with Electric Start (50-State)

DRIVE SYSTEM

21″ (53 cm) Rear Wheel Drive Self-Propelled with Electric Start (50-State)

DRIVE SYSTEM

21″ (53 cm) Variable Speed All-Wheel Drive Self-Propel (50-State)

DRIVE SYSTEM

21″ (53 cm) High Wheel Push with Honda Engine (50-State)

DRIVE SYSTEM

21″ (53 cm) High Wheel Push with Kohler Engine (50-State)

DRIVE SYSTEM

Very easy to set up out of the box. in minutes was mowing yard. I would buy this again for my city yard.

chuck49I really like this mower!

Very easy to assemble. Love the fact that with a turn of the key, it starts every time. Very efficient. A must buy.

gigiWonderful product

I’m in my 5th year with my 20″, self-propelled. I am already looking forward to my next new Lawn-Boy! I can handle it. and it doesn’t handle me. I LOVE this mower.

SteveBest handling mower i have ever used.

I bought this to replace one I had trouble starting. This one is so easy. I assembled it myself (a 57 year old independent woman). Love my new mower!

Only once in 50 years of grass cutting did I use another brand then Lawn-Boy. I will always use Lawn-Boy. I have even had one Lawn-Boy that ran well for over 20 years! That is one tough, durable, long lasting machine.

CRS35TOP OF THE LINE MOWER

Lawn-Boy in Action

21″ Lawn-Boy Line-up

The 21″ steel deep dome deck is lightweight yet durable, and it provides excellent mulching capabilities and a superior quality of cut.

High Wheel Push (10730/17730)

The 11″ high rear wheels assist you in tackling uneven or rough terrain with the powerful, reliable and easy to start Kohler engine.

Rear Wheel Drive Self-Propel (10732/17732)

Electric Start (10734/17734)

High Wheel Push (10736)

The 11″ high rear wheels assist you in tackling uneven or rough terrain with the quiet, lightweight and reliable power of the Honda GCV160 OHC engine.

AWD Lawn-Boy Mower (10739/17739)

Lawn-Boy’s all wheel drive lawn mower makes mowing slopes and hills easy. All 4 wheels are engaged and giving you great traction in tough mowing conditions.

Table of contents

Commercial: Exmark Commercial X-Series Self-Propelled Lawn Mower

best, self-propelled, lawn, mower

As we bid adieu to Honda this year, the HRC series still gets two thumbs up from us while you can get them. From there, we turn to Exnark and its Commercial X line that complements its Lazer Z zero-turn mowers well. Some professionals will certainly turn to the higher-capacity 30-inch model, but we expect the 21-inch model will find its way onto more trailers.

Exmark wisely uses a Honda 163cc GXV engine with a legendary reputation for reliability. It’s fed by a generous 1-gallon fuel tank and turns the blade at tip speeds up to 18,500 fpm. There’s also an option for a Kawasaki FJ180V engine if you’d like to step up to a 179cc engine.

The deck is 1/4-inch aluminum construction that keeps the weight down (112 pounds) while maintaining high durability. The deck is adjustable from 4.5 inches on the high side all the way down to 1 inch while the drive runs at speeds up to 4.2 MPH.

Residential: Toro Super Recycler Series 21-Inch Self-Propelled Lawn Mower

best, self-propelled, lawn, mower

Toro runs deep in the residential lawn mower sector and our favorite among them is the Super Recycler series. Getting the best of all the technology Toro has to offer, our top recommendation (model 21565) includes the Personal Pace drive system and the Smart Stow design that allows you to vertically store the mower even though it’s a gas model.

It uses a 163cc Briggs Stratton engine that produces 7.25 ft-lbs of torque and just under 17,000 fpm blade tip speed.

Toro touts a commercial-grade construction on this model and includes a lighter aluminum deck rather than steel. In addition to that, you get outstanding cut quality, especially on the mulching side (you better with the name Super Recycler!). Wrapping it up, the Personal Pace drive system adjusts to your walking pace so there are no levers or dials to adjust.

Best Self-Propelled Electric Lawn Mower

Just a few years ago, if you wanted to find the best battery-powered lawn mower, you could only find residential models. Now, there’s an emerging class of professional-grade options and we have picks for both Pros and homeowners.

Professional: Milwaukee M18 Fuel 21-Inch Self-Propelled Lawn Mower

best, self-propelled, lawn, mower

There aren’t many true commercial self-propelled lawn mowers with lithium-ion power sources. Milwaukee launched their effort in 2022 with a monstrous 10 ft-lbs of torque that tops what you typically see from a 200cc gas engine. It’s more than just muscle, though. Its blade and deck combine to handle mulching and bagging better than most.

Price: 1099.00 with two 12.0Ah batteries and dual-port Rapid charger

Residential: EGO Select Cut XP 21-Inch Lawn Mower with Speed IQ

best, self-propelled, lawn, mower

The evolution of EGO’s flagship mower is interesting. It started with the dual-battery Peak Power model that raised the bar of what lithium-ion is capable of. Then, we saw the first stacked-blade SelectCut options that improved cut quality and effectiveness in tall grass. The two technologies combined in the SelectCut XP. Now EGO adds Speed IQ to the mix.

Speed IQ is a self-propelled drive system that automatically adjusts to your pace. However, it’s not a spring-loaded set of handles like Toro uses on its Personal Pace models. Instead, there’s a sensor doing some serious engineering magic… and it works like a charm from our brief time with it at Equip Expo 2022 (formerly GIE).

Price: 599.00 bare, 999.00 with a 12.0Ah battery and Turbo charger

Best Large Walk-Behind Lawn Mower

Commercial: Greenworks Commercial 30-Inch Self-Propelled Lawn Mower

best, self-propelled, lawn, mower

Can a battery-powered commercial mower really displace gas models? Greenworks Commercial has an 82V 30-inch model that got our attention at the Equip Expo in late 2022, and it’s hard to ignore as a legitimate option. It has the power to replace a 200cc gas engine with blade speeds up to 16,000 FPM. On a full charge, it can cover up to 2 acres.

There are drive system features worth considering as well. Independent hub wheel motors engage what Greenworks calls the Easy Turn System (ETS), making the mower easier to maneuver. Another big deal is that there is a powered reverse function—something that’s incredibly helpful with the weight of mowers in this class. The controls are all up next to your hands and there’s even a display to help you keep track of your battery levels.

Price: 1999.99 bare, 2999.99 with three 8Ah batteries and a dual-port charger

Residential: Toro TimeMaster 30-inch Personal Pace Mower

best, self-propelled, lawn, mower

With 10 ft-lbs of torque delivered from its Briggs Stratton 223cc engine, the 30-inch Toro TimeMaster is our pick as the best large walk-behind lawn mower. Not only does it deliver big power to turn its time-saving 30-inch blade, but it also features Toro’s Personal Pace self-propelled drive and Spin-Stop that lets you stop the blade without shutting off the mower.

It all adds up to big-time savings on larger lawns. Grab model 21200 if you want an electric start or the 21199 if you don’t mind a recoil start and want to save 100.

Best Self-Propelled Lawn Mower for the Money

Toro’s 21-inch Recycler (21352) offers an excellent value for budget-minded homeowners. It’s a Made in the USA rear-wheel drive system powered by a Briggs Stratton 140cc engine. It comes ready to mulch, bag, or side discharge and you don’t have to worry about changing the oil. Just check the levels and add more when it’s necessary.

Best Self-Propelled Lawn Mower Brand

No one in the self-propelled lawn mower market dominates like Honda. Their engines enjoy a reputation for quality and durability every other manufacturer is shooting for, and their mowers are simply outstanding.

They typically run at a premium, though. Both Honda mowers and Honda-powered mowers are more expensive than similar designs from other brands. The big kick in the pants is Honda leaving the market, though.

That opens the door for Toro. There are a lot of Toro models we recommend for good reason and hit a wide range from budget-friendly homeowner mowers to commercial zero turns. It’s one of the best-selling brands of walk-behind mowers.

Getting hard sales figures is tough to come by, and it’s always possible we missed the mark. However, we see more Honda and Toro walk-behind mowers on commercial trailers and residential lawns than any other brand.

Best Self-Propelled Lawn Mower for Bagging

You don’t have to ditch your current self-propelled lawn mower and buy a whole new one to improve your bagging efficiency. In most cases, adding a high-lift blade to your current mower will make a significant difference. With the exception of electric mowers, you don’t need to worry too much about matching the brand making the blade, but you do need to match the arbor style and the length. The package should tell you which brands it is compatible with.

If you’re still in the market for a new mower, higher RPMs make for better airflow and bagging. Check mowers with a 160cc or higher engine and compare the top blade speeds. You can always swap blades, but you can’t change the speed.

Pro Tip: If you have a 2-point or 4-point deck height adjustment, set the front wheels of your mower one notch higher than the rear to improve bagging.

Best Self-Propelled Mulching Lawn Mower

Similar to a high-lift blade for bagging, you can improve your mulching efficiency with a mulching-specific blade. These usually have additional cutting edges that cut the clippings more times before they drop back into the grass. Keeping the blade sharp ensures you get the best mulching results every time you mow.

If you’re in the market for a new mower, look for a 160cc or higher engine to give you the torque you need to keep your blade speed high in thicker grass. Remember, you can always add a mulching blade, but you can’t make up for an underpowered engine.

Pro Tip: You get the best mulching results if you’re only taking an inch or two off the top of your grass, so make sure you stay on top of lawn maintenance during the peak cutting season.

Big lawn mower wheels

Big Car Tires Give Riding Mower A Lift

Big Car Tires Give Riding Mower A Lift TIRES/WHEELS Miscellaneous 34-4-26 Tim Grefsrud, Siren, Wis., wanted a riding mower that would cut tall grass without bogging down and plugging up at the chute, and he didn’t want to spend the money for a new model. So he modified his 15-year-old MTD 42-in. riding mower by adding big 14-in. car wheels on back, which raised the mower 3 in. “I plant some small fields with clover for deer, and I only want to mow them once or twice a year. My modified mower clears gopher mounds and doesn’t get hung up on uneven ground,” says Grefsrud. “The deck sets 5 1/2 in. off the ground when not in use.” The original 20 by 8.00-8 mower tires were replaced with P185/75R14 tires. “The 14-in. wheel rims came off a Ford Mustang, but the tires were worn so I put different tires on the rims,” says Grefsrud. “To make the car wheel rims fit the mower’s wheel hubs, I had to make some modifications. I cut off a flange on each rim and then drilled 5 holes in a flat plate already on the mower wheel hub, and then I welded in 3/8-in. dia. bolts. I also made my own lug nuts to fit the wheels and the 3/8 in. threads.” To keep the deck level, he welded on a 3-in. extension to raise each of the mower’s steering spindles. The mower deck had to be moved ahead 2 in. in order to clear the car tires, which meant the original drive belt had to be replaced with a shorter one. The seat and rear fenders also had to be raised 1 1/4 in., using aluminum spacers and longer bolts. “The deck now cuts only as low as its original highest cutting position. I usually mow about 4 1/2 in. high,” says Grefsrud. “Mowing higher keeps the deck from loading up and slowing the machine down, so the cut grass flies right out of the chute. I used the machine last fall to mow tall grass under some power lines and it never plugged up or even slowed down. It went right over gopher mounds without hitting them. “I also made a few other modifications, which my wife thought were a little excessive for a lawn mower. One was the paint job. The mower originally was painted red, but I repainted it yellow and black. I also added the muffler off a Honda 750 motorcycle muffler, a foam padded steering wheel off a go-cart, and brass shift knobs on the gearshift levers.” Grefsrud says he spent about 25 for the tires and paint, and 20 for the belt. “I already had most of the other materials,” he says. Contact: FARM SHOW Followup, Tim Grefsrud, 24268 Herman Johnson Rd., Siren, Wis. 54872 (ph 715 349-2654; muganay@yahoo.com).

To read the rest of this story, download this issue below or click here to register with your account number.

Sign up for our Free bi-weekly newsletter with stories, tips and money saving ideas delivered to your e-mail.

FARM SHOW Magazine P.O. Box 1029 Lakeville, MN 55044 Order by Phone 800-834-9665

©2023 FARM SHOW Magazine. All Rights Reserved. Contact | Terms

Why Using Bigger Tires on Zero Turn Mowers Is a Good Idea?

The main advantage of installing a larger tire on your zero turn mower is that it enhances the mower’s traction.

For instance, a zero-turn mower is a perfect machine for cutting dry grass on relatively hard and level terrain. However, if it occasionally rains where you live or your soil is a bit soft, achieving these perfect conditions can be pretty tricky.

In that case, increasing the width of the rear wheels of a zero turn mower or using larger ones, in general, can help in improving the traction of the mower on the lawn.

Additionally, using these wheels makes it easier to use the mower over different terrains, like in snowy conditions.

Your Turn Angle Will Be Increased

Turn angle stands for the minimum angle needed for turning. Ideally, the lower the turn angle of a mower, the more maneuverable it is.

As the name suggests, low turn angle is one of the significant advantages of zero turn mowers, as they’re capable of making up to 180-degree turns in any position.

By using wider tires, this turn angle will increase, which can be a significant hit to the value of the mower if you specifically bought it for the zero degree turn angle.

Deck Adjustment Is Critical to Maintain Mower’s Functionality

The engineering of a zero turn mower is greatly dependent on its height. While this may not be a problem if you only increase the width of the tires, it has a considerable impact on the functionality if you increase the height.

Larger tires result in a relatively higher lawn mower. This means that cutting the grass at a very low level can be impossible without proper adjustment to the mower deck.

As a general rule, you’ll need to lower the mower deck by as many inches as you’ve increased the height.

For example, if the new tires are 3 inches higher than the stock tires, you’ll need to adjust the deck so that it’s 3 inches lower to cancel the difference.

Yet, if you usually cut the grass when it’s relatively high and rarely need to cut it too short, you may get away with the tire upgrade without adjusting the deck.

Can I Put Smaller Tires on My Zero Turn Mower?

Ideally, the standard tires used in zero turn mowers are the lowest they can go. This means that you can only install a larger tire, but never a smaller one. For starters, you’re bound by the size of the rims.

Additionally, using smaller tires doesn’t add any real advantage to the zero turn mower like the previously mentioned upgrades, especially since you’ll also need to readjust the deck clearance in order to get the machine to work.

Smaller tires also put a lot of pressure on smaller wheels, which makes the mower slippery, harder to maneuver and tear the lawn noticeably while turning.

Conclusion

In the end, we hope that this guide helps you figure out the right thing when it comes to using a bigger tire on your zero turn mower.

Typically, installing a larger tire will generally improve your maneuvering and traction. This makes it a viable adjustment for those who don’t cut the grass too short and want better traction while operating the machine.

However, even with deck adjustment, the wider tires will come at the cost of a few aspects, mainly the turn angle, so you have to keep that in mind while adjusting your mower’s tire size or width.

Legal

Yard Troop is owned and operated by a project lover and is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. Susan also participates in affiliate programs with Bluehost, Clickbank, CJ, ShareASale, and other sites. Susan is compensated for referring traffic and business to these companies.

I love working in the yard and coming up with projects around the house. In addition, I am blogger. I’ve decided to start this blog to share stuff I learn about yard work, or any projects that are house related. These days I blog about everything related to anything pertaining to the outside of the home. Everything in this blog should be used for educational purposes only.

YardTroop.com is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. Privacy Policy

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.

Big lawn mower wheels

Farm-Maxx 2 Row Potato Planter

Spedo 2 Row Potato Planter Farm-Maxx Model SPA-2/T “Baby” 2 Row Potato Planter The Farm-Maxx Automatic Potato Planter “Baby” is a compact machine designed for small plots of land or terracing.

best, self-propelled, lawn, mower

Drum Spike Aerator

Drum Spike Aerators. Pull Type The Drum Spike Aerators are excellent for aerating hard, compacted soil to get water and nutrients to the roots of plants or grass seed, to help keep them looking.

Set of 3. 60″ Farm-Maxx, IronCraft Grooming Mower Blades

Set of 3. 60″ Farm-Maxx, IronCraft Grooming Mower Blades. 60 x 6 Fits: Farm-Maxx Models FMR-60 Grooming Mowers IronCraft Models SGM 5 Grooming Mowers

Set of 3. 84″ Farm-Maxx, IronCraft Grooming Mower Blades

Set of 3. 84″ Mower Blades. 3 Hole V1 Length: 28.5″ Width: 2-3/8″ Thickness: 1/4″ Center Mounting Hole: 3/4″ (19MM)

best, self-propelled, lawn, mower

EA Series Sicma Power Harrow

Sicma Power Harrow EA Series Compact machine for vineyards, orchards and greenhouses The new Sicma Power Harrows from Styron Ag are reliable, robust and are represented by a very wide range of.