Is Self-propelled Mower Better Than Push?
The lawn is a source of pride for many homeowners and prospective home buyers. That is why having a lawnmower that is appropriate for both your yard and your budget is more important than ever.
Today we will contrast a push mower versus a self-propelled lawn mower. We’ll discuss the differences between the two and why one (or the other) might be a better option for your yard care.
Self-propelled Mower
A self-propelled mower does not need to be pushed, as the name implies (although you still can if you want to). Instead, they have a transmission that drives the lawn mower forward for you by turning the wheels. All you have to do now is steer.
Self-propelled mowers, on the other hand, do not advance until the bail is engaged, which is the bar at the end of the handle that you must squeeze while mowing. The transmission changes gears when you press the bail.
There are the 2 types of self-propelled mowers which include:
- Front-Wheel Drive – The front wheels of this type of self-propelled mower are driven. Because the mechanics of the self-propel system are much simpler, these are usually the cheapest. They work best in yards that are more level.
- Rear–Wheel Drive – The premise is the same as before, but instead of the front wheels turning, the rear wheels turn. They cost a little more because the design to make this possible is more complicated from a technical standpoint, but they take more of the mower’s weight and are a huge help on sloped yards.
Push Mower
Push mowers are any mower that you walk behind and push, as the name suggests. Push mowers are just what they sound like: lawn mowers that you have to push forward manually.
Push mowers are the most basic of lawn mowers. They cut grass when you push them. Some use friction to cut the grass, while others use electricity. There are some that are electric, but they are rare.
This brings us to the various types of push mowers, which include:
- Electric Push Mowers – When it comes to push mowers, these are the “next evolutionary step.” They’re still lightweight, and they come in corded (mains-powered) and cordless (battery-powered) versions. Instead of a cylinder blade, they use a rotary cutting blade.
- Gas Push Mowers – The most powerful of the three, gas push mowers are also the most expensive. However, they have the most power and are likely the best choice if you need to regularly cut longer, thicker grass.
- Manual Reel Push Mowers – There is no motor or engine, just a horizontally rotating cylinder where the blades are located as you push the mower. They have a very basic design and are frequently the cheapest type of push mower.
Is Self-propelled Mower Better Than Push?
Pros of Self-propelled Mowers
- Body-friendly. Carrying a mower’s full weight and pushing it up and down your lawn can be exhausting. A self-propelled mower relieves your body of that pressure by carrying that weight for you. Only when you turn will you feel the weight.
- Mowing larger areas is more efficient. When you have a large area of grass to cut with a push mower, it can take forever. Especially if it’s a manual push mower. In this situation, a self-propelled mower speeds things up significantly.
- Safety: The majority of self-propelled mowers have numerous safety features. They frequently have a bar that acts as a gas pedal to keep the mower from running away. You can usually control the mower’s speed as well, allowing you to set the ideal pace for yourself.
Cons
- They’re heavier.
- More costly
Pros of Push Mowers
- It’s possible that it’ll be very cheap. I’m obviously speaking in broad strokes. Although there are some models of push mowers that are more expensive than self-propelled mowers, push mowers are generally less expensive.
- Push mowers are less heavy. The additional hardware required to equip a mower with self-propulsion adds a lot of weight. By comparison, push mowers are usually much lighter (definitely so in the case of reel mowers).
- There are fewer possibilities for mistakes. The mower’s self-propel system is yet another component that can fail over time. Push mowers have a simpler design (extremely simple in the case of reel mowers), so there’s less chance of expensive repairs.
Cons
- Only appropriate for small spaces
- It can be difficult to use.
- Blades must be sharpened on a regular basis.
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In conclusion
We hope that our recommendations will assist you in making a more informed decision and selecting a mower that will make mowing enjoyable rather than painful.
There is no clear winner in the battle of self-propelled versus push mowers. Both of these popular walk-behind lawn mowers have pros and cons.