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IF YOUR HOUSE HAS ANY lawn around it all, one of the most important tools you can have in your garden shed is a good lawn mower. If you are like me, you are probably old enough to remember the old “push” mower whose blades only turned as fast as you pushed the mower. Talk about making for long hot and sweaty summer days! Today, most of us are turning to self-propelled lawn mowers that take the hard work out of keeping our lawns under control.
The Basics
A self-propelled lawn mower uses a transmission or belt to connect the drive wheels to the engine. This allows you to simply walk behind the mower controlling the direction of travel without having to push the mower along. To engage the transmission, most self-propelled lawn mowers have a lever on the handle that you squeeze. The mower will move forward slowly under its own power.
Front-Wheel or Rear-Wheel Drive
This is a big question for those who are buying a self-propelled lawn mower for the first time. If you are blessed with a nice flat yard, a front-wheel drive mower might be your best choice. But, if you have a yard with lots of ups and downs or corners to navigate, a rear-wheel-drive mower may be a better choice as they tend to be easier to manoeuvre. Also note, that if you plan on bagging your trimmings, rear-wheel drive makes a better option. The added weight is on the back wheels providing the mower with more traction without reducing manoeuvrability.
Wheel Size
When it comes to wheels, you may have noticed that mowers come with all sizes of wheel. Big ones, little one, and some in between. Those with smaller wheels are ideal for yards that are nice and flat. If you have a yard with lots of bumps and uneven ground, you should consider buying a mower with larger wheels.
Wheel Adjustment
At the same time, you might want to consider how to adjust the wheel height. Some models use a lever at each wheel while others use a single lever that adjusts all four wheels at the same time. If you don't plan on making too many height adjustments, the style of adjuster may not matter. The single-lever style may be a better choice if you have to constantly change the mower height.
Type of Blade
Today there are three different styles of cutting blade available for self-propelled lawn mowers. These are mowing, mulching, and bagging. Today, more consumers tend to be interested in combination blades. These blades combine all three features into a single blade. Mowers equipped with these blades have a bag on the back with a closeable flap and a removable plug on the side that you can attach a discharge chute. If you leave the flap down and the plug in place, you have a mulching mower. If you have never used one before, you may find you fall in love with a mulching mower as it makes clean up a breeze and provides your lawn with much needed nutrition.
Power Source
Gone are the days of noisy two-stroke engines, mixing oil and gas, and endless stinky polluting exhaust fumes. Today's self-propelled lawn mowers come with your choice of four-stroke gasoline engines or cordless electric motors. While gasoline powered models may be more powerful and a better choice for large lawns, smaller cordless models have their own advantages. Today, you may find you have to check with your municipality and HOA as gasoline powered garden equipment is being banned in favor of electric (corded) and cordless equipment.
Options You Might Find Come In Handy
Just like buying a new car, when you buy a new self-propelled lawn mower, there are many available options to consider.
- Adjustable Handle Bars – height can be adjusted for a more comfortable fit.
- Variable Drive – adjust the drive speed to suit your pace and the terrain.
- Blade Override – stop the blade without having to turn off the engine.
- A Washout Port – many new mowers are coming with a deck washout port designed to make keeping the inside of the deck clean.
Our Pick for the Top 5 Self-Propelled Lawn Mowers
So now that you have an idea of what you should be looking for in your search for a new self-propelled lawn mower, Let's take a look at five of the top-rated models on the market.
Honda HRX
The Honda HRX offers an innovative-drives system Honda calls Smart Drive® designed to offer better overall speed control. With a twist of the dial, you can adjust the speed from 0 to 4 mph. Along with this, you get electric start, micro-cut twin blades, and a Clip Director that lets you bag, mulch, shred leaves, or discharge. Honda is the only company to offer the NeXite® deck to resist dents, rust and corrosion, which may occur over time. The GCV190 187cc engine has more than enough power for most yards.
| Pros | Cons |
| One of the most powerful engines | On the loud side |
| 2.5-bushell clipping bag | Quite heavy |
| Micro-cut blade provides a nice even cut | Complicated controls |
Troy-Bilt TB220
This Troy-Bilt self-propelled lawn mower features a 159cc OHV engine and front-wheel drive. The 231-inch deck and lightweight design makes this mower an excellent choice for small and medium sized yards. The dual-lever design makes choosing one of the three heights for better mulching, bagging or side discharging easier. It comes with a clipping bag and an ergonomically comfortable handle for those long days of mowing.
| Pros | Cons |
| Easy to assemble | Low bag capacity of only 1.9 bushels |
| Lightweight, only 80 lbs. | Lots of plastic parts |
| Easy speed adjustment | Front-wheel drive loses traction going up hills |
Poulan Pro 961420127
The Poulan Pro lawn mower offers you a guarantee that your mower will start within two pulls of the starter rope. Options for the grass clippings include mulch, bag, and discharge. The four height adjusters offer nine settings, and the 22-inch cut is big enough for most lawns in quick time. It features 12-inch wheels in the rear and 8-inch wheels up front which is perfect for most mowing conditions. It is powered by a 150cc Briggs & Stratton Auto Choke engine which offers a long working life through the reliability of its durable parts.
| Pros | Cons |
| Powerful Briggs and Stratton engine | Lowering mechanism must be fixed manually |
| Large wheels for better manoeuvrability | Some overall quality control issues |
| 3 in 1 cutting capabilities |
Husqvarna 961450023
Powered by a Honda 160cc 4cycle OHV engine, this self-propelled lawn mower from Husqvarna offers a 22-inch steel deck designed with side discharge, mulching, and bagging capability. The Auto Walk drive system lets you control mowing speed. For smoother operation and durability, both front and rear wheels ride on ball bearings. The handle has three positions allowing you to set the optimum height. This mower offers Low-Wheel, High-Wheel, and All-Wheel drive options.
| Pros | Cons |
| Auto choke makes for easy starting | Noisy |
| Auto walk system offers exceptional traction | Lots of plastic parts |
| Easy to manoeuvre | The wheels lock up when you pull it backwards |
Lawn-Boy 17732
With so many mowers coming equipped with Briggs & Stratton or Honda motors, it's refreshing to see Lawn-Boy opting to go with a Kohler engine. This 149cc engine is so highly thought of that Lawn-Boy's warranty states that if the mower doesn't start within two pulls, they will fix it for free. Like most self-propelled lawn mowers, it offers side discharge, mulch, and bagging capabilities. There are only two height adjustments, which may not be enough for every yard.
| Pros | Cons |
| Rear-wheel drive | Some issues with setup |
| Guaranteed easy start | Will not cut very short grass |
| Large wheels offer better control & maneuverability | Hard to pull back |
An Environmentally Friendly Option
One of the best things about this Greenworks self-propelled lawn mower is that it has a large 19-inch steel cutting deck. Along with the standard three cutting options, this mower can cover a large area in a short time. This helps you to get the most out of the two batteries that come standard.
| Pros | Cons |
| Eco-friendly | Only for small to medium lawns |
| 2 long-life powerful lithium-ion battery | Will not cut very short grass |
| Large wheels offer better control & manoeuvrability | Most yards will require you to use both batteries |
The Final Cut
I hope all of this information helps you make the right choice when buying your next self-propelled mower. I am a firm believer in doing my homework before spending my money, so I hope that my research helps. If you like what you have read here or there is anything you would like to see included, please contact me here.
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