How to choose a lawn mower
Which lawn mower to choose, how to work correctly
Types of lawn mowers
Depending on the technical characteristics, as well as on the operating mode, all lawn mowers can be conditionally divided into:
- Professional
- Household
Professional lawn mower designed for industrial use, performing a large amount of work for a long time, and is perfect for use by utilities or in agriculture. Naturally, for this, the lawn mower must have not only high technical performance, but also the appropriate build quality. As a rule, professional models have engine power from 1.8 hp. And above, they are equipped with both a trimmer head with a line and a steel knife. over, the thickness of the fishing line is greater than usual (from 2.4 mm), and the knife can be 3, 4 and 8 lozenges (the latter is used for mowing tall, weaving grass and for hay harvesting). There are also knives with a large number of teeth, they visually resemble saw blades and are used for mowing bushes. In addition, a distinctive feature of a professional lawn mower is a non-separable bar, in the middle of which the shaft moves. On the one hand, this is not very convenient, especially when transporting and storing the tool, since the device is quite large, and on the other hand, such a design prevents sand, dirt, dust from getting into the middle, which significantly extends its resource. over, the connecting mechanism of the two shaft parts may loosen over time, which causes backlash. Separately, it is necessary to dwell on the shaft, which is located in the middle of the rod and transfers the engine torque to the cutting attachment. It comes in two types: flexible and rigid. The flexible shaft has the appearance of a cable and prevents damage to the gearbox when a knife strikes from a stone or tree trunk. It simply absorbs this blow. At the same time, the rigid shaft (metal pin) resists deformation under load. These lawn mowers are used for mowing dense thickets and bushes.
Household lawn mowers intended for work near the house, in the garden, in the garden. They rarely exceed 2 HP and can also be fitted with a line trimmer and steel blade. Structurally, they are similar to professional models, but there are some features:
- A number of household models are equipped with a curved bar, which is convenient when working in hard-to-reach places (under benches in the garden, near flower beds, between trees), since such lawn mower less overall than its counterpart with a straight bar;
- A type of handle, which can be bicycle type (like professional models), or it can be D-shaped. In the second case, a handle is attached to the mower bar, which the user holds with one hand, and the other hand holds the tool by the bar near the engine. Users’ opinions were divided: which design is more convenient. The matter, as they say, is a matter of habits, since it will change from a bicycle handle to a D-shaped one or vice versa, as practice shows, not everyone succeeds
- Household models are more often found with a collapsible bar, which is very convenient for storage and transportation, since disassembled lawn mower two times less, and assembling it back is not difficult and takes a minimum of time.
Another feature that significantly distinguishes a household model from a professional one is its cost. The latter will be much more expensive. Therefore, before choose a lawn mower it is necessary to decide which tasks you will perform with its help. If you have a plot of up to 15-20 acres, it is absolutely not necessary to overpay and buy a professional tool, since in this case a household lawn mower can perfectly cope with such a volume of work.
How to choose a lawn mower
Lawn mower or a gasoline trimmer is a convenient, mobile, practical and therefore very popular tool with which you can mow grass, stiff shoots, thickets of small shrubs in your summer cottage, near your house, in the garden before harvesting potatoes. Recent times lawn mowers became very popular in agriculture for harvesting hay. However, a large selection of models with different technical indicators and a wide range of prices raise a natural question from the consumer: which one to choose for a lawn mower in a price-quality ratio, and so that its technical characteristics meet the tasks that will be performed as much as possible. In this article we will try to tell you what lawn mowers are, for what types of work they are suitable, as well as the basic rules for operating a gasoline trimmer.
We work as a lawn mower: basic rules
The main requirements for working with a lawn mower directly depend on the rules for operating a gasoline 2-stroke engine. Such a motor runs on a fuel mixture of gasoline and 2-stroke oil, which is prepared in a ratio of 1:50, that is, 1 gram of oil is added to 50 grams of gasoline. It should be said that when starting work with a new tool, it is recommended to add a little more oil. Let the lawnmower work at 50% of its capacity on one tank of such a mixture, then feel free to fill in the usual mixture. When preparing a fuel mixture for your lawn mower, remember that it is suitable for use for no more than two weeks, after which its properties change, which negatively affects the operation of the tool as a whole. Therefore, do not rush to prepare it in large quantities, and also drain the fuel from the tool during long breaks between mowing. There are also models with 4-stroke engines, in which oil is poured separately with gasoline, they are more economical and have a longer service life. But such lawn mowers have more weight and cost more.
Before starting work, we recommend that you carefully inspect the area and remove stones, branches, and other debris from it, which you may not notice in the grass during work, which can lead to breakage or to premature wear of the cutting tool. When working with a gasoline trimmer, you must remember that it is not only a practical and convenient tool, but also quite dangerous. Since the trimmer head with line or steel blade turns at a high speed, the following safety rules must be observed when working:
- Do not use tools without the protective shield that comes with every lawn mower
- Wear glasses when working to prevent grass particles from getting into your eyes
- The engine heats up during operation, therefore, when removing the tool between mowing, it is better to hold it by the bar or the handle.
How to start a petrol trimmer?
- Prerequisites
- How do I start the trimmer or lawn mowers?
- Starting the lawn mower for the first time or after a long period of inactivity
- Adding fuel through the spark plug holes
- Checking the ignition system
- Cleaning the engine
- Checking the integrity of the spark arrester
- Unstable carburetor operation
- Draining fuel from the gas tank
How to start the trimmer correctly is a question that owners are puzzled with in the event of a device breakdown. And after a successful trimmer repair, the owner tries to avoid repeating the same situation.
Prerequisites
The reason why the trimmer fails may be:
- Tank overflow;
- Excessive pumping of fuel into engines equipped with a manual supercharger;
- Wear in the motor of valves, cylinders, injectors, cam followers and other moving parts;
- The tanks are out of gasoline and / or oil;
- The spark plug is out of order;
- Clogged fuel or air filters;
- The valves in the motor are out of alignment or burnt.
How do I start the trimmer or lawn mowers?
The new trimmer is simple during commissioning.
- Check the motor type of the device. Trimmers are equipped with a 2- or 4-stroke motor.
- Buy oil for this type of motor. Gasoline for the trimmer – AI-92/93/98, sold at all gas stations.
- Mix oil with gasoline. Mineral oil is mixed in a ratio of 1: 34 with gasoline, synthetics – in 1: 50. Follow the trimmer manufacturer’s recommendations for oil viscosity (see the label on the flask). All-season oil 5W-30 is used more often. Do not use untested car oils.
- Pour a small amount (for example, 0.5 liters) of the resulting fuel into the tank.
- Close the air damper by sliding the desired lever (see instructions).
- Turn the ignition key (or handle) to the "on" position – otherwise the trimmer will not start. Beginners often make this mistake.
- Pump some fuel into the carburetor – if there is a manual "rocker" with a separate button or lever (see instructions). It takes 4-7 clicks.
- Place the trimmer on a level surface.
- Pull on the starter cord gently until you feel it slow down. Then pull it out sharply, but not completely. Repeat this movement up to 4 more times.
- If the engine does not start, open the air damper again, otherwise the candles will flood with gasoline with further movements of the cord. Perform 2-3 attempts to start the engine with the handbrake open.
- If the engine still does not start, close the throttle and make several more attempts to start it.
- After starting the engine, press the throttle lever to idle.
Starting a warm engine
It’s very simple. Move the switch to the working position and pull the cord before starting. If you do everything according to the instructions, then there should be no problems with starting a working lawn mower.
Fuel mixture and refueling
For the convenience of preparing the fuel mixture, it is better to have a special canister, where one part contains gasoline, and the other contains 2-stroke oil. We recommend getting one like this, it is very convenient to use https://ru-sad.ru/prinadlezhnosti-dlya-sadovoy-tehniki/dlya-benzopil/kanistryi/
Next, take a measuring container with a scale applied to it, with its help you can prepare the mixture as accurately and quickly as possible. Look in the instructions what brand of gasoline and 2-stroke oil https://ru-sad.ru/prinadlezhnosti-dlya-sadovoy-tehniki/masla-i-smazki/ are recommended by the manufacturer of your lawn mowers. Pour gasoline and oil into a container for preparing a fuel mixture, according to the proportions indicated in the instructions. Then carefully pour the prepared mixture through a funnel into the trimmer fuel tank. The ratio of gasoline to oil should be exactly as indicated in the instructions. This is a very important point!
Starting lawn mowers with cold engine
To start the lawn mower for the first time, locate the choke lever and set it to the "closed". Turn on the ignition on the handle. If your model has a manual fuel pump, popularly called suction, then press it 3-5 times until you see the fuel mixture inside the primer. The tool is now ready to run. Place the trimmer on a flat surface to ensure a stable position. Pull the starter rope gently until you feel its resistance, and then pull the rope towards you with a sharp movement 3-5 times.
If the engine starts after 5 jerks, open the choke. If this does not happen, open the air damper anyway (if the damper is open and you continue trying to start the engine, the fuel will flood the candle and you will have to dry it, and this is a waste of time).
If the engine does not start when the throttle is open, close it and continue pulling the cord. The first launch can be quite difficult and require up to 15 jerks. After the engine has started to work, press the throttle lever once, so you engage idle. Now let the engine run and warm up. After that it can be stopped by pressing the button. "Stop".
How to start a tiller correctly?
Tillery is a rather serious and not cheap gardening technique. If you want it to fully perform its functions, serve for a long time and reliably, then you need to carefully look after it and follow all the recommendations for use prescribed by the manufacturer.
When you bought the equipment, it is important to know how to start the tiller correctly. There is a certain sequence of actions, consisting of preparing the equipment for launch and its immediate launch.
Preparatory stage
After that, you need to add fuel. In the operating instructions, you will find information about which gasoline is suitable for your particular model of the tiller. Also, you can check this information with the sellers. Another important point concerns two-stroke engines, where gasoline must be diluted with oil in a certain proportion.
Only after that you can proceed directly to the inspection of the entire tiller. That is, you have to check all the joints, the fastening of the steering wheel and wheels, the clutch and throttle cables, and so on.
Step-by-step instructions for starting the tiller
After all the checks, you made sure that the oil is filled in a sufficient amount, gasoline or diesel fuel corresponds to the model of your tiller, and all fasteners and systems are in correct and working order. Now we will tell you how to start a tiller:
- Gasoline tiller. You need to open the petrol tap, and the choke lever should be in the "Start" position, and also turn off the ignition. After that, you need to pump it a couple of times with a manual starter, turn on the ignition, and pull the starter again. In this state, the tiller will start, and you must move the choke lever to the "Run" position. If your model of equipment has an electric starter, you can immediately turn on the ignition and start it;
- Diesel tiller. Diesel Tillers are known to be a little harder to start. over, if you plan to work on it in the winter, then you should be aware that diesel fuel tends to freeze. Therefore, you first need to warm up the equipment, and only then give loads. So, if the unit is new, then its entire system is airy. To pump it, you need to work as a starter. If the starter is manual, you can, of course, pull it yourself, or you can do the following procedure. Unscrew the fuel supply valve and unscrew each supply connection from it. In this case, you need to unscrew, wait until the fuel flows and tighten again. Continue this until you reach the nozzle. For manual start open all valves and set the throttle to the middle position. Hold the decompressor with your finger, squeeze it out and pump it several times. After that, release it and pull until it returns to its original position. Now press the decompressor again, and without supporting it press the starter. The tiller should start.
As you can see from the above, gasoline and diesel tillers start differently. It is important to read the instruction manual carefully and strictly follow the manufacturer’s advice. Also, you need to use only high quality fuel and oil, suitable for your type of tiller model. And then you will not face problems when starting up and further working on the machine.
First start-up and running-in of lawn mowers
Correct initial start-up and running-in of a lawn mower are very important steps in getting started with a new tool. On the one hand, they allow you to preserve the service life of a gasoline engine, laid down by the manufacturer, since at this stage, the grinding of moving units and parts takes place. On the other hand, the first necessary skills of working with a trimmer are acquired when it comes to the first tool in life.
- Preparing for the first start of the lawn mower
- Inspection of the lawn mowers gearbox and its lubrication
- Preparing the correct fuel mixture
- Starting the trimmer for the first time
- Let’s start running lawn mowers
Preparing the correct fuel mixture
Before starting the running-in of the new engine of the lawn mowers, it is also necessary to properly prepare the fuel mixture. As is known for two-stroke engines, it is prepared from special two-stroke oil and gasoline, taken in certain ratios. You can find out the proportions from the instructions that came with the tool or on the lubricant label. From the instructions, you will also learn the recommended type of fuel, as well as the recommended type of engine oil.
When going to run in a new lawn mower, many are faced with a problem in preparing the fuel mixture. And the reason for this is the disagreement in the instructions of the tool manufacturer and in the instructions of the engine oil manufacturer. The former recommend a 1:25 ratio. The latter recommend 1:50. Whom to believe? How to proceed?
According to experts, if manufacturers write a ratio of 1:25 or 1:30 in the instructions for a lawn mower, then most likely this is either a cheap tool with poor cooling, or the manufacturer does not know what kind of oil the consumer will add. But here you need to understand that an excess of lubricant does not in the best way affect the performance of the trimmer. Excess oil does not completely burn out when the engine is running. It cokes, clogs the cylinder and piston.
How to deal with this situation when running in a new tool? The ideal option would be to purchase exactly the oil recommended by the lawn mower manufacturer. In the case of run-in engines, when it is not possible to purchase the recommended oil, it is best to purchase a good Husqvarna two-stroke oil for the gasoline-powered tool of the same name. It is not cheap, but it lasts for a long time. It is necessary to stir it as written in the instructions on the bank.
Inspection of the lawn mowers gearbox and its lubrication
The gearbox must be checked on a regular basis before starting the petrol trimmer. Lack of lubrication or a small amount of it increases the friction of the gear transmission of the gearbox, which operates at rather high speeds. The result is overheating and gears. The lawn mower gearbox is out of order. To prevent the occurrence of such a breakdown during operation, regular inspection helps.
If, before starting the gasoline spit, it is detected that there is insufficient or no lubricant in the gearbox, LITOL is put into the body. For this it is necessary to unscrew the screw on the bend of the gear housing and to inject LITOL in the amount of 1-2 ml.
Inspection of the lawn mowers gearbox and its lubrication
The gearbox must be checked on a regular basis before starting the petrol trimmer. Lack of lubrication or a small amount of it increases the friction of the gear transmission of the gearbox, which operates at rather high speeds. The result is overheating and gears. The lawn mower gearbox is out of order. To prevent the occurrence of such a breakdown during operation, regular inspection helps.
If, before starting the gasoline spit, it is detected that there is insufficient or no lubricant in the gearbox, LITOL is put into the body. For this it is necessary to unscrew the screw on the bend of the gear housing and to inject LITOL in the amount of 1-2 ml.
Preparing for the first start of the lawn mower
Before you start the lawn mowers for the first time, you must perform a number of sequential actions:
- Inspect the gearbox and lubricate it;
- Prepare the correct fuel mixture.
Preparing the correct fuel mixture
Before starting the running-in of the new engine of the lawn mowers, it is also necessary to properly prepare the fuel mixture. As is known for two-stroke engines, it is prepared from special two-stroke oil and gasoline, taken in certain ratios. You can find out the proportions from the instructions that came with the tool or on the lubricant label. From the instructions, you will also learn the recommended type of fuel, as well as the recommended type of engine oil.
When going to run in a new lawn mower, many are faced with a problem in preparing the fuel mixture. And the reason for this is the disagreement in the instructions of the tool manufacturer and in the instructions of the engine oil manufacturer. The former recommend a 1:25 ratio. The latter recommend 1:50. Whom to believe? How to proceed?
According to experts, if manufacturers write a ratio of 1:25 or 1:30 in the instructions for a lawn mower, then most likely this is either a cheap tool with poor cooling, or the manufacturer does not know what kind of oil the consumer will add. But here you need to understand that an excess of lubricant does not in the best way affect the performance of the trimmer. Excess oil does not completely burn out when the engine is running. It cokes, clogs the cylinder and piston.
How to deal with this situation when running in a new tool? The ideal option would be to purchase exactly the oil recommended by the lawn mower manufacturer. In the case of run-in engines, when it is not possible to purchase the recommended oil, it is best to purchase a good Husqvarna two-stroke oil for the gasoline-powered tool of the same name. It is not cheap, but it lasts for a long time. It is necessary to stir it as written in the instructions on the bank.