Gasoline self-propelled lawn mower make work easier on the site How to choose a gasoline 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
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-scale 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.
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. 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 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
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 different raiders that look 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.
On the photo is a lawn raider
Of course, a raider is practically useless at the dacha, 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 for a 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 lawnmower that is smart enough to handle unattended lawn mowing. 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 petrol powered lawn mower makes field work easier
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.
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-scale 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.
Pictured is 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. 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 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
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 to the knives, but is also separately conducted 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.
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, this movement is down or up. At this time, compression and expansion occurs. At the same time, fuel is injected and exhaust gases are discharged.
Four-stroke models use a separate measure for each of these 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 of cutting 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, rear-wheel drive mowers are perfect.
Front-wheel drive is 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
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.
What kind of gasoline should I put in my lawn mower?
What kind of gasoline should I put in my lawn mower? This question often arises from the newly minted owners of this technique. As a rule, this information is presented in the technical documentation of the device, but it is worth knowing about the possible options.
What gasoline to pour into the mower depends on the type of engine. It can be two- or four-stroke. Consider the features of both motors.
The fuel preparation process is quite simple: as a rule, for mineral oils, the ratio to gasoline is 1:32. 1:35, for synthetic. 1:50 as indicated on the package.
To keep your petrol lawnmower with fuel for the entire season, you only need to hover it once. To do this, take, for example, a five-liter canister and add 100 ml of oil to it. If this amount is not enough for you, repeat the procedure again.
What gasoline should I put in my four-stroke lawnmower?
And now let’s tell you what kind of gasoline to pour into a lawn mower with a four-stroke engine, the main difference of which is the presence of a crankcase. It contains oil for lubricating the engine, therefore, for this type of apparatus to function normally, it is enough to fill it with gasoline only. However, there are some peculiarities here. Since the equipment does not have an oil filter, which means that it cannot be cleaned, it must be changed approximately every 50 hours of operation.
As for the gasoline that you need to refuel the mower, it should not be of a higher grade than that recommended by the manufacturer of the equipment. Since the higher the octane number, the longer the fuel burns. This, in turn, can lead to significant problems and premature tool failure.
It is well known that gasoline is a very flammable substance and its vapors are explosive. Based on this, we recommend that you always follow a few simple rules that will ensure the safety of each user:
- Allow the engine to cool before refueling.
- Fill in only 92nd gasoline (not lower);
- Do not work with fuel if there is an open fire nearby, and smoking is also prohibited.
- To avoid exhaust gas poisoning, refuel and start up outdoors or in a well-ventilated area.
- It is not recommended to fill the tank completely; it is imperative to leave room for gasoline expansion, which always occurs when it heats up.
- Try to keep fuel away from your clothes and shoes.
In general, the maintenance of the gasoline engines of the lawn mower. A fairly simple matter that does not require any special knowledge and skills from you. For units with a two-stroke engine, you need to learn how to properly prepare the combustible mixture, as well as clean the air filter in a timely manner. For machines with a four-stroke engine, it is enough to change the oil annually and clean the air filter so that it will serve you faithfully for many years.
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