Outdoor Tool Bargains » gas lawn mowers

Select the right mower for your lawn

admin — Mon, 17 Aug 2009 17:12:14 +0000

Tips on picking the right mower to keep your lawn trimmed.
By Alan J. Heavens, McClatchy Newspapers

A lot of people already have taken their lawn mowers out of storage and given them a couple of workouts.
How did the mower perform? Is it time to buy another? If it is a gas-powered mower, are you thinking about switching to electric, or to battery power, or an old-fashioned push mower?

If it's time to buy a new lawn mower, here are some things to consider, no matter which side of the push/electric/gasoline debate you're on.
Chore or joy: Do you enjoy mowing the lawn, or does it become a chore after the first few outings? Would it be worth it to hire the neighbor's kid or to contract with a service? If you like mowing or think that the exercise, even in the dog days of August, is what the doctor ordered — wear a hat — then doing it yourself is the way to go.

Choose the right size: How big is your yard? How much is lawn and how much garden? Is the surface smooth or bumpy from stones? Are there places always in the shade or wetlands where moss, not grass, predominates? Would you have to run over tree roots? How easy would it be to mow around trees, bushes, walls, and similar obstacles? Is your lawn level or does it slope up or down? If it runs uphill, it might be easier to deal with it using a self-propelled machine.

Stow and go: The mower will have to be stored somewhere, which means finding a less-than-backbreaking way to get it in and out. You won't want to maneuver a heavy, gas-powered mower up and down the basement stairs, and you really should have a garage or a storage shed with a ramp if your lawn requires a ride-on mower. You'll also need a place to store the gasoline and oil — and you don't want to do that near the furnace.

Rear or side bag: The bag on most lawn mowers is in the rear, right underneath the handle. They hold two to three times more grass clippings than a side bag.

Don't go cheap: What you can afford to spend should be factored in along with the kind of mower you and your lawn deserve. Depending on the type, lawn mowers range from the manual-push variety at $80 to ride-on tractors that can cost up to $6,000. Typically, $300 to $700 can get you an electric, battery-powered, or gasoline-powered mower that suits most lawns.

The reel thing: If you're nostalgic, fitness-minded, or environmentally sensitive, the human-powered reel mower could be the one for you. Whether you push or a gas engine pushes for you, reel mowers use blades on a revolving cylinder to shear the blades of grass. Rotary mowers bend the grass first, then cut it. Rotary action is best for those who let their grass grow for weeks before cutting it.

Push vs. self-propelled: Regardless of which energy source powers your mower, you'll have a choice between pushing it as the engine whirs or simply guiding the mower across the lawn. As you might expect, self-propelled mowers cost more. Two desirable features on self-propelled models are a blade-brake clutch — which allows you to pause to pick up a kid's toys but lets the engine run so you won't need to restart — and a single-lever height adjustment for the proper cut.

Powered with gas: These include both push and self-propelled models, most with four-stroke engines and a cutting swath 21 or 22 inches wide. They are noisy, require regular maintenance, and, though federal rules have reduced emissions, still pollute more than others do.

It's electric: These are push-and-walk-behind mowers, with an electric motor driving a rotating blade. Corded and cordless versions start easily with the push of a button or flip of a switch, produce no exhaust, and have interchangeable blades. Mowers with cords are limited by distance from the electrical outlet, and there's always an opportunity to run over the cord. Cordless, battery-operated models are improving, but you must remember to charge the battery — typically 24 hours for a complete charge.

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Husqvarna R155 AWD Riding Lawn Mower Review

admin — Sat, 01 Aug 2009 20:32:36 +0000

What factors are important to you when choosing a riding lawn mower? If you have a large lawn with many obstacles and uneven grass, then a highly maneuverable riding mower will probably be the most suitable. A riding lawn mower that can cope with slopes, wet grass, and obstacles and also finely dices the cuttings to provide excellent lawn fertilizer is the new Husqvarna Rider R155 AWD and it may be just what you are looking for.

The Husqvarna Rider R155 AWD is one of the best lawn mowers for large uneven lawns. It is a well built mower that is designed to be extremely maneuverable, so it is ideal if your lawn has many obstacles like flower beds or trees. The new AWD (all wheel drive) is automatic and loss of traction will force it to engage on all four wheels. The Husqvarna Rider can easily cope with a lawn that is is sloped or when mowing in wet conditions.

The maneuverability is further enhanced by the unique articulated steering system which allows the rear pair of wheels to swing in underneath the machine. The result is superior maneuverability with a 4 inch turning radius at full lock.
The mower has 3 cutting blades and a front mounted cutting deck. Cutting heights can be set from 1-1/2 to 3-1/2 inches. The front mounted cutting deck gives excellent accessibility into corners and under benches and bushes. The use of 3 blades makes for very efficient cutting and mulching and the removable BioChip, when installed, causes the clippings to be chopped into mulch under the cutting deck before falling onto the lawn and quickly turning into fertilizer.

The Husqvarna Rider R155 AWD comes with a pressure lubricated Kohler OHV-engine and wheel weights with ball bearings ensure maximum grip while ensuring minimum stress on the transmission. The blades are engaged automatically when the cutting deck is lowered and all controls are easy to reach from the driver’s seat. The seat itself is reasonably comfortable although some engine vibrations can be felt. the lack of a flat flat floor over the deck may make it harder to mount for less nimble gardeners.
Although the Husqvarna Rider R155 AWD is expensive (more than $US9000 for the basic model) it should provide years of excellent service. Slightly cheaper, without the AWD, is the Husqvarna Rider R155G2. A good choice of riding lawn mower that will have your lawn looking professionally finished in minimum time.

Advantages
* Very maneuverable
* Easy to operate
* Well designed and built for long life
* Excellent mulching ability
Disadvantages
* Expensive
* Awkward to mount
* Engine vibrations can be annoying if mowing for long periods

Conclusion
The Husqvarna Rider R155 AWD is a well built, very maneuverable mower that will make mowing a large, uneven lawn that has obstacles and slopes very easy. The mulching ability is a nice addition but the expensive price tag will put this mower out of the reach of many gardeners. It’s sturdy construction and long life will make it a good mower to look out for in the future as a secondhand bargain.

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Lawn Mower Reviews

admin — Mon, 22 Jun 2009 21:32:19 +0000

The reviews below are a synthesis of reviews conducted by ConsumerSearch.com, an independent research firm. They compile the results from multiple sources such as Consumer Reports, Consumer Digest, Amazon, Smart Money and others and synthesize the results to draw their conclusions.

Best Gas Push Mower

Craftsman 38905

*Est. $225

If you can get by with a push mower (instead of self-propelled), the Craftsman 38905 is a good blend of performance and value. This model can mulch, side discharge or bag clippings (bag included), but in comparison … reviews, it mulches and bags better than it side-discharges. This Craftsman mower gets especially good reviews for its recoil start, which owners say almost always fires up on the first pull. The 38905 has a more powerful Briggs & Stratton engine than the cheapest Craftsman mowers, so owners give the engine better reviews. The easy-to-change bag is another plus. The Craftsman mower comes with a two-year warranty. One drawback is that changing the cutting height requires adjusting all four wheels.

Budget Self-propelled Lawn Mower

Toro Recycler 20333

*Est. $400

In comparison reviews, experts say that the Toro Recycler 20333 does pretty much everything well, from mulching to bagging and side-discharging clippings. You can even do a little of both, switching back and forth from… bagging to mulching with the flip of a switch. A blade brake means you can pause mowing briefly without cutting the engine. Owners say the recoil start generally starts on the first pull (Toro even guarantees this for three years). Most owners like the Personal Pace drive system, which powers the back wheels to match your walking pace, but many say that this takes some getting used to. The Briggs & Stratton 190cc engine is the same engine used in the Craftsman 38905 above.

Best Luxury Lawn Mower

Honda HRX217K2HMA

*Est. $900

It's expensive, but reviews praise this top-ranked Honda self-propelled gas mower for both mulching and bagging grass clippings. Instead of choosing one or the other mode, you can set the mower to bag a certain percentage… of clippings. This electric-start lawn mower meets even California's strict standards for emissions, and it's available in the other 49 states as well. The mower carries a three-year warranty and has a rustproof deck, but it's expensive -- and hard to find, except from specialty dealers. The less expensive Honda HRX2172HXA (*est. $800) just lacks the electric start.

Electric Lawn Mower

Black & Decker MM875

*Est. $250

Although you have to deal with a power cord, electric mowers are quiet and almost maintenance-free -- they're an option for those with small, relatively flat lawns. Reviewers like the rotary blades on Black & Decker… electric mowers, plus conveniences like one-lever height adjustment. The handle on the Black & Decker MM875 folds down for storage and the polymer deck has a lifetime warranty. As with all corded electric mowers, the maximum cord length is 100 feet, so it's best for small lawns. We did find a few recent owner-reviews warning of durability issues, but in performance tests, the Black & Decker electric mower mulches, side discharges and bags very well (a bag is included).

Cordless Lawn Mower

Black & Decker CMM1200

*Est. $400

According to reviews, the cordless Black & Decker CMM1200 actually does a better job than most corded electric mowers, mulching more effectively and cutting more evenly (bagging isn't its strong suit, though a bag is… included). It can mow about 1/4 acre per battery charge. The CMM1200 has a folding handle, one-lever height adjustment and a polymer deck with lifetime warranty. The downside is that it costs more than a corded electric mower, and you'll need to buy a new battery in a couple of years.

Lawn Mowers Runners Up:

Neuton CE 5.2 *Est. $390

4 picks by top review sites.

Brill Razorcut 38 *Est. $250

3 picks by top review sites.

Lawn-Boy 10795 Insight Platinum *Est. $550

3 picks including: Abby'sGuide.com, Amazon.com…

Neuton CE 6.2 *Est. $490

3 picks by top review sites.

Black & Decker MM275 *Est. $180

2 picks by top review sites.

Lawn-Boy 10683 *Est. $400