Lawn mower fuel capacity. How Much Does a Lawn Mower Weigh

How Much Does a Lawn Mower Weigh?

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I’ve owned several lawnmowers over the years-lightweight models that are a joy to push around and bulky, heavy machines that required a fair bit of muscle power to get the job done.

Mowing a lawn is already a strenuous, time-consuming task, and the last thing you want is a machine that you can barely lug around. So the big question is how much does a lawnmower weigh?

Just like cars, lawnmowers are equipped with several different components such as a blade, engine, and a full fuel tank. How much a lawnmower weighs depends on the type of lawnmower, where riding lawnmowers weigh more than battery-operated machines and gasoline-powered machines.

Does the Weight of a Lawn Mower Matter?

The short answer is yes, the weight of a push lawn mower does matter for several reasons. Lightweight lawnmowers such as a few models from the Cub Cadet and John Deere hangar are easy to use and maneuver through your yard and around gardens.

Here are 3 noteworthy reasons why you should consider the weight of a lawnmower before making a purchase.

Transporting Your Mower

If you’re moving to a new house or cutting grass at a different location, getting a heavy riding mower in the back of your truck can be a daunting task.

Further, heavier riding mowers are generally bulkier than lightweight models, so you may have to pay an extra cost to rent a sizable van or pickup truck if you don’t have one.

Storing Your Mower

If you have a dedicated space in your garage or shed to store your mower in its standard upright position, then you can wheel the mower into the area. But if you’re going to store your lawnmower vertically, you will have to put in a little elbow grease to get it into the right position and place.

Stability and Manoeuvrability

A lawnmower from the featherweight category including models that come with an electric motor or high-powered motors is easier to maneuver and is more stable when mowing uneven, hilly, or slopy terrain.

While you should always aim to buy one of the many well-built, heavy-duty mowers to give you the control and power you need during the mowing season, the product weight shouldn’t impede your ability to turn and navigate obstacles easily especially when mowing around garden terrain.

How Much Does a Lawnmower Weigh?

The question of how much does a lawnmower weigh can be tricky to answer, given that there are several different types of mowers to choose from such as battery-operated mowers, self-propelled models, and zero-turn mowers.

How Much Does an Electric Mower Weigh?

Most, if not all, electric lawnmowers are lighter than their gasoline or battery-powered counterparts. This means they’re easier to whip around tight corners and maneuver through your yard.

What makes electric models lighter than gas lawnmowers is the lack of fuel tanks and other moving parts. However, just because electric lawnmowers are lighter compared to other types of lawnmowers, doesn’t mean these mowing yard machines are right for you.

I’d recommend buying an electric lawnmower if you’re cutting small to fairly medium yards or yards that are no more than half an acre owing to shorter run times.

Electric mowers use a cord that plugs into an electrical outlet, which you have to haul around, and can be a hindrance in your work.

Greenworks Electric Mower – Best Lightweight Electric Lawnmower

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The GreenWorks electric mower tips the scales at just 37 lbs, yet comes with an impressive set of features. It offers both bagging and mulching capabilities and is fitted with a 10 amp robust motor, which lets you cut tough grass without any hiccups.

Furthermore, the Greenworks electric mower allows you to choose from 5 adjustable heights and arrives with 7-inch wheels at the rear and 6-inch wheels at the front.

It’s a great option for a small normal yard and is easy to carry with its onsite handle. Another impressive feature of the Greenworks lightweight electric lawnmower is its durable 16-inch poly deck size., which allows you to cut more grass with each pass. For the best lightweight electric lawnmower under 150, the Greenworks mower is truly hard to beat.

Go check out my GreenWorks Electric mower review for more details

How Much Does a Gas Lawnmower Weigh?

Gas lawnmowers have a capacity of a gallon of gasoline or more, and this weight of fuel adds makes them heavier than electric as well as battery-powered machines. In terms of numbers, a gas lawn mower can weigh anywhere between 80 and 90 pounds but offers more power and some models even come with a large 20-inch deck.

If you have a medium to large size yard, gas mowers are a great lawn care option, but they’re noisier than electric models, which is something to remember if you decide to cut grass in the wee hours of the morning.

Yard Machines Gas Mower – Best Lightweight Push Lawnmower

For a barebones gas mower, the Yard Machines machine is an ideal choice for small to medium size yards. It’s equipped with a powerful 132cc reliable gas engine and features a wide 20-inch size deck.

Adding to this, the Yard Machines gas mower weighs just 47 lbs, making it one of the lightest gas lawnmowers in this segment.

The Yard Machines mower comes with 7-inch front and rear wheels and is backed by a 1-year manufacturer warranty.

How Much Does a Cordless Mower Weigh?

Cordless push mowers are also lighter than traditional gas mowers and weigh approximately 40 lbs to 100 lbs.

The batteries of these cordless push lawn mowers are fairly light and are tucked away neatly in the machine, so they don’t add to the lawn mower weight.

A cordless lawnmower doesn’t come with an oversized deck and larger wheels, making it easy to maneuver around small to medium size lawns.

Worx Cordless Mower – Best Cordless Lightweight Mower

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The Worx cordless mower weighs less than 40 lbs and comes with everything you need to start mowing and maintain a nice garden and lawn including a battery and charger.

It features patented Intellicut technology, and a single-level height adjustment lever, which allows you to choose from 6 different cutting heights.

The Worx cordless lawnmower offers a cut-to-edge design, which makes it easy to achieve crisp near fences and garden terrain.

It comes with both a low battery indicator and a full bag indicator, so there’s no guesswork when it comes to charging or emptying the bag of the machine.

To top things off, the Worx cordless lawn mower is fitted with a collapsible handle for easy storage and can mow up to 1/8 acres per charge.

For another great option, check out my GreenWorks Cordless mower review

What is the Weight of a Riding Lawnmower?

The weight of a riding lawnmower is similar to that of a tractor or heavier lawnmower type, and for several reasons. Compared to smaller electric and gas mowers, a riding lawn mower weighs more compared to a regular push lawn mower owing to its much larger wheels, which add considerably to the overall weight of the machine.

However, just like lawn tractors, riding lawn mowers such as the John Deere riding mower are powerful machines and can help you get the task of cutting grass done in no time.

In terms of numbers, an average lawn mower weighs (riding lawn mower) between 300 lbs to 600 lbs such as some John Deere models, which is the same as some heavy-duty lawn tractor models.

As per their size and features, this is the correct weight for a riding lawn mower, because all you have to do is get in the seat and maneuver the machine through your yard.

Riding lawn mowers and zero-turn mowers don’t offer the same portability as smaller household mowers, but if you’re looking for top-notch performance, they are truly hard to beat.

What is the Weight of a Zero Turn Mower?

With bigger mowers like riding lawn mowers and zero turn mowers, wheel weights and a large capacity gas tank add up to the equation, but there are other components too such as larger cutting decks that add more weight.

A top-of-the-line zero-turn mower typically weighs between 700 lbs to 1500 lbs, but again you don’t have to haul them across your lawn.

If interested in a zero-turn mower, check out my review of the EGO Z6 zero-turn mower.

Final Thoughts

When on the shopping trail for the best lawnmower, lawn mower’s weight is only an important factor to consider if you’re going to be transporting the mower, if storage is an issue or if you suffer from certain ailments that prevent you from pushing a fairly average weight mower forward in your yard.

When it comes to lawn mower weights, a gas-powered mower is heavier due to its fuel tank and multiple components than electric and battery-powered mowers, but on the flipside offers better performance than the two types. Reel mowers are the lightest types of push mowers but feature a barebones design with little or no features.

Riding lawn mowers and zero-turn mowers are much more expensive than electric, gas and cordless mowers, but if you have the money to splurge and have a sprawling yard, you really can’t go wrong with your investment.

If you’re shopping for a new mower, you might wanna check out the guides below to help you in your decision:

Hi, Alex Kuritz here. Growing up I remember that my family had one of the best lawns in the neighborhood. Richly green and lush. I did a lot as I grew up in terms of caring and tending for not only my family’s lawn but also my neighbors. I can say I have years of experience, and I am here to share it with you.

Lawn Mower Dimensions: Understanding Mower Sizes In Detail

Lawn mower dimensions comprise the machine’s length, width, and height and the width of its deck, which encompasses the cutting blade. Before you go out and buy a mower for effective lawn care, you need to know how big it is and whether it will even fit in your toolshed.

This article will discuss the dimensions of different mowers in detail and see how much land they cover. You also get to find out how mowers with larger dimensions fare compared to those of smaller dimensions.

• What Are The Different Lawn Mower Dimensions?

• – Dimensions of Riding Type of Mowers
• – Dimensions of Zero-turn Mowers
• – Size of Push Type Mowers
• – Size of Electric Mowers
• – Dimensions of Reel-type Mowers

• – Elevate the Deck
• – Measure the Diameter
• – Check the Deck Shell

• – Larger Mowers
• – Smaller Mowers

What Are The Different Lawn Mower Dimensions?

The different lawn mower dimensions you should know are the riding type of mowers, the dimensions of the zero turn mowers, and the different sizes of the eclectic of push types. over, you should also know the dimension of the reel-type.

Lawn mower dimensions depend on the type of mower you own, which, in turn, depends on the overall size of the lawn. Riding mowers and lawn tractors have an average cutting width between 36 and 54 inches, whereas the standard push lawn mower width is around 16 to 30 inches.

– Dimensions of Riding Type of Mowers

Riding lawn mowers and lawn tractors are gigantic mowers that are well-suited for large-sized lawns, parks, gardens, farms, etc. This is because their cutting decks are wide enough to mow large sections of grass in a short amount of time. These mowers are around four feet tall and six feet long from front to back, making them ideal for cutting grass across land that is around one to four acres in size.

For a riding type of mower, the average range of dimensions of the mower deck is around 36 to 42 inches. Most companies sell this mower with a standard deck size of 42 inches. Tractor-type mowers are slightly bigger, and their dimensions range from 42 to 54 inches.

One of the most popular examples of these mowers is the John Deere S120. It is classified as a tractor by the company and is around 44.5 inches tall and 54 inches wide. With a cutting deck width of 42 inches, it boosts a powerful engine making it a beastly machine able to mow down grass within minutes.

– Dimensions of Zero-turn Mowers

A Z-turn mower is upgraded to the standard riding mower but has a much better-turning radius. It is no surprise, then, that its dimensions are similar to that of riding-type mowers. Regarding your average zero turn mower dimensions, its width and height are around 48 inches, and its length is around 72 inches. These are big machines and need a proper parking spot to keep them when not in use.

Z-turn mowers come with a variety of size options for their decks. What you must be keen about is how it depends on the size of the area you aim to mow with this mower, which means that you can opt for a customized deck of your choice.

over, a lawn that is one to two acres in size will do just fine with a standard 36 to 42 inches wide deck. The deck needs to be at least 42 to 54 inches wide for a lawn between three and four acres large.

You can install a deck that is as wide as 54 to 72 inches for lawns larger than four acres, and this would be according to your need and adjustment. You cannot get decks this large in a riding-style mower or a tractor-style one.

On the other hand, a good example would be a cub cadet Ultima ZT1 mower that is the same size as a tractor-type mower but comes with a much wider deck that cuts wider stripes of grass.

– Size of Push Type Mowers

Push mowers naturally tend to be smaller in size than ridden ones. Gas-fueled engines power these mowers because they come in all sizes and shapes. What you must know is that the average dimensions of the gas-powered push-type mowers manufactured in the US are 36 inches tall and 60 inches long, this is their basic given. On the other hand, the average mower deck size for these is around 21 inches, but you will find mowers with widths.

Usually, when a gas-powered mower is fitted with a large deck, it is engineered to be a self-propelled mower. The extra weight that a larger deck adds makes a mower difficult to push manually.

As a result of this, if you are out on the hunt for the right push-type mower with a deck of larger dimensions, it’s best to look for one that is self-propelled, so that you get the most out of it. Considering these dimensions, these mowers are better suited for lawns less than one acre in length.

– Size of Electric Mowers

Many electric-powered mowers are built on the same dimensions as that gas-powered ones. With a height of around 36 inches, a standard width of 18 inches, and a length of 60 inches, they are more energy efficient and often self-propelled.

Of course, you get to choose the dimensions of the deck yourself, and it comes with that option and specifications. Which means that you can get a decent-sized deck with an electric-powered mower if you are willing to pay a large sum.

Remember that the given and the average dimensions of these mowers are bound by the ground surface area they can cover. If you own a corded mower, then there is no point in using a very large deck because of the mower’s limited movement.

For these, a smaller deck naturally makes more sense, if you think about it. Even if these lawnmowers are cordless, they need to cover more ground than an equally-sized gas-powered mower.

A practical solution is to purchase two batteries and keep them charged whenever you mow your lawn. The dimensions and the mower features make these machines suitable for most small-sized yards in the US.

– Dimensions of Reel-type Mowers

Lastly, we have the reel-type lawnmowers that many of you might have inherited from your parents and still works perfectly. These small and manually pushed mowers are only suitable for some large areas because of the hard work involved by the person pushing them. Their small dimensions make sense as they are 36 inches tall but only 24 inches long.

The cutting width of the deck can only be about 14 inches wide in this case. You can find slightly wider decks but don’t expect them to be larger than 16 or 18 inches. These mowers do not work through any engine, so that you will be the sole power pushing them ahead. A reel mower with big dimensions will be challenging to cut grass with.

How To Measure Mower Deck Dimension?

To measure mower deck dimension, all you must do is to elevate the deck, and take out the mower check. Then, you must measure the diameter of the circle, afterward, you should check the deck shell, make sure you consider the anti-scalping rollers, regarding the dimension.

It helps to know the dimensions of a mower’s deck, and you need to learn how to measure it. These dimensions are always given in the manual specifications, but it still doesn’t hurt to check on your own.

– Elevate the Deck

In the case of a riding lawn mower, you will need to elevate the deck before it can be measured. There is a lever near the control panel that you can push to elevate the deck easily.

Take out your mower jack, a measuring tape, and wheel chocks. The wheel chocks will ensure that the rear wheels stay in place and do not start rotating. If you don’t own wheel chocks, wood blocks would also help. Once the mower is secure, push the jack under it right in the center and use it to lift it at least six inches.

– Measure the Diameter

Once you have clear access to the deck, it is time to measure it. The decks for smaller mowers can be easily accessed simply by turning them over. Measure the circle’s diameter for a circular-shaped deck to find its dimensions.

– Check the Deck Shell

You must know that the deck shell on either side, the chute, and the anti-scalp rollers tend to add extra width to the cutting edge. As you do so, you know has the measurement of the decking shell.

Unfortunately, most manufacturing companies do not allow you to change the dimensions of their mower decks per your preference. If you want to buy a particular mower model, you will have to make do with the dimensions you are being provided.

Some people try to put their DIY hats on and install larger or smaller-sized decks independently. We encourage you to do something other than this. Not only is there a risk of damaging delicate mower machinery by accident, but the process itself could be more manageable. The amount of time and energy this would require is not worth it.

What Are the Significance of Deck Dimensions?

The mower can be large or small, and this size is responsible for accommodating the dimension of the cutting deck. Usually, people prefer larger mowers and cutting blades because they mow faster and cover much larger ground quickly. In reality, mowers with smaller dimensions fare much better in several aspects.

– Larger Mowers

The larger the mower, the more chance of tire tracks developing in the grass. This is an inevitable consequence that people will smaller mowers do not have to deal with.

When the ground is uneven with slight dips and mounds, a smaller mower with a deck less than 20 inches wide will be able to follow these contours much better than a larger one. A larger-sized mower will ride over these spaces and leave behind patches of grass.

Another reason bigger mowers do not give an even cut is that they have multiple blades, and all of them indirectly connect to the engine, which tends to divide the engine horsepower. There is only one blade in single mowers, which is also connected directly to the mower. This property enables these mowers to give a very neat trim to the lawn grass.

– Smaller Mowers

Another major perk of smaller mower dimensions is that they are convenient to store when not in use. You cannot just park mowers outdoors like a car. Finding a large enough storage space for tractors and riding ones is always a hassle, especially during the long winter months.

You will be surprised that a small-sized deck creates a better vacuum to lift the grass blades to cut it. The grass cut by small mowers will be neater and more uniform than a riding one can ever hope to achieve.

Conclusion

Before you go on a mower-buying spree, here is a brief recap to keep in mind.

• The average deck dimensions of lawn tractors and riding-style mowers are around 36 to 54 inches and are best suited for grass spread over several acres.
• Z-turn-type mowers are the same size as riding-type mowers but can work with specially designed fabricated decks of much larger sizes.
• Reel-type mowers are the smallest, with dimensions ranging from 14 to 20 inches.
• The only benefit of using a mower with big dimensions is that they mow grass faster, whereas smaller mowers cut grass much more finely.

The information in this article will be very beneficial whenever you decide to upgrade your old mower for a new one. The next time you are researching the dimension specs of various mowers, do not hesitate to come back to this article anytime.

Water in Gas Lawn Mower: How to Get it Out?

To start working regularly, your gas lawn mower needs three essential elements, air, spark, and fuel. If you clean the filter periodically or replace it when needed, air won’t be a problem since it is always available. As for the spark, it is never a problem if you take care of the spark plug.

The third element can be a huge problem if you have missed maintaining components for proper gas distribution. Actually, if your mower doesn’t work at all after you haven’t used it for a longer time, you should check the gas tank first. Perhaps the cause of the problem is water in it.

Why Water Occurs in Your Gas Lawn Mower

It is not rare that you have a problem with water in your gas lawn mower after heavy rains. The other possibility is that stored gas has picked up water throughout winter, especially if stored in a metal canister or in a location where it alternately warmed up during the day and got cold overnight.

That process usually leads to making a partial vacuum which pulls moist air into a fuel tank where it may condense and settle to the bottom. When you try to use your mower in spring, the first thing which will get into the tank is water.

Contamination of your mower’s fuel system by water may cause severe performance problems. Long-term damage of the unit can include corrosion in the tank, carburetor, and fuel lines.

How to Know if Water is in Your Gas Lawn Mower

Before you start getting panic and do anything, check the basic symptoms to become sure that water has got into the gas tank of your lawn mower. Knowing what to inspect may help you save your machine.

Hard starting

Since water is denser than gas, you may expect it to sink to the fuel tank’s bottom. The problem appears because your mower, as most of the models, probably draws gas from the bottom. Therefore, when you try to start the engine, water will be drawn into the carburetor before fuel and almost immediately cause the problem with starting.

If you haven’t use your mower throughout the whole season, there will be no enough fuel to go to the carburetor when you try to start the engine. The more water is at the bottom of the tank, you will face the bigger problem.

Poor performance

When the amount of water in the fuel system is not significant, you can start your engine without disturbing, but it is likely that surges won’t accelerate appropriately while increasing the throttle.

In some cases, it is possible that the engine dies under load over time. The only cure is to disassembly your mower and to dry all water which has accumulated on the bottom of the carburetor and fuel tank.

Running and stopping

In the case when there is just a small amount of water on the bottom of the fuel tank, you will be able to start the engine in the beginning. Since enough fuel come to the spark plug, the engine will start running smoothly.

However, the problem will appear when the engine keeps working as a result of the subsequent water uptake in the fuel supply. Then your mower may suddenly stop running. Sometimes it will be possible starting it again, but the same thing may repeat.

Fuel system damage

Always keep in mind that you usually may not spot the most significant damage before it is too late. If you notice any performance issues caused by collected water in the fuel system, check your engine as soon as possible.

It is the only way to see the engine’s structural and possible operational problems caused by water and prevent consequential damages such as corrosion or rust on time.

What to Do First?

When you decide to use your mower for the first time after the long, cold winter, you may face a few problems. If your mower begins to sputter all of a sudden or you notice smoke from the engine, you can be sure that the fuel in the engine is contaminated with some amount of water. Let’s see what to do in such situations.

Check the tank

Your first thought should be to check the gas tank. Since water sinks to the bottom, you need to use a flashlight to spot it. The best way is to bring your mower indoors and examine the lowest parts of the tank. If there is water inside, you will quickly notice visible, bubble-like globules of liquid in the gasoline.

Drain contaminated fuel

No matter what the cause, when water comes into the device, the crucial thing is to dry it out. So, you don’t have time to lose, and you need to react immediately.

Firstly, you should empty the gasoline tank. After disconnecting the fuel line, removing the diluted gasoline, and its depositing at a recycling station, try to dry the tank by using a small rag, compressed air, or spraying it with WD-40. Then, you should just reconnect the fuel line and to refill the tank with fresh gasoline.

Service the engine contaminated with water

If you have concluded that there is water in the tank and carburetor of your mower, you need to clean them. Don’t forget to remove the spark plug before you start working. Then, remove the carburetor, clean it, check the level of moisture in the combustion chamber, and add some engine oil to the piston chamber to coat its walls.

After cleaning and drying all parts of the engine thoroughly, you can add clean, fresh gasoline and engine oil and start your mower. Don’t worry if you missed some moisture parts. After running the engine, it will become warm and less humid spots will dry.

However, if you don’t have any experience with engine repair, maybe it is a wise decision to ask for professional help.

Summary

No matter if you have a reel mower, self-propelled lawn mower or electric cordless lawn mower, you need to protect them appropriately during winter. It is even more important to protect your gas lawn mower and its engine in which condensed water can quickly mix with fuel.

The only way to avoid every inconvenience is to store your mower in a protected place during winter. If it is not possible, buy a plastic cover and keep your machine safe.

What To Consider When Buying a Gas Lawn Mower in 2023

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Gas lawn mowers handle tough jobs, but they’re being phased out. Use this guide to pick the one you need and start shopping while you can.

Our editors and experts handpick every product we feature. We may earn a commission from your purchases.

Although corded electric and battery-powered lawn mowers are flooding the market, the gas-powered lawn mower remains the gold standard for power and performance. A gas mower cuts easily through wet grass and tough strains like St. Augustine and Bermuda. Plus, it comes with features that make mowing easier and more efficient.

There’s a problem, though: Gas-powered lawn mowers may go off the market in the near future.

California has already announced it will ban the sale of gas-powered mowers in 2025, and Honda, a major producer, stopped manufacturing them in October 2022. According to the U.S. Department of Energy, gas mowers consume 1.2 billion gallons of fuel annually. And the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) estimates every gallon burned by a gas mower adds 20 pounds of carbon dioxide to the atmosphere.

Throw in the engine noise that disturbs neighbors and disrupts wildlife, and it’s easy to envision the extinction of the gas-powered lawn mower.

For homeowners seeking the power and performance of the best gas lawn mowers, there’s no time like the present to start shopping. Even if your municipality ultimately bans gas mowers, it will probably involve new sales only, so you should be able to keep your mower for its expected life span. Here are some things to look for as you shop.

Walk-Behind vs. Riding

If you have a larger-than-average lawn, consider a riding mower — a major expenditure that’s much more costly than a walk-behind mower. Among the advantages: Faster cutting, a larger fuel capacity, and the convenience of sitting while you mow.

Walk-behind mowers, however, are easier to operate and store. If your lawn is less than an acre, they’re a more economical choice.

Wash-Out Fittings

Wash-out fittings let to attach a hose and clean the underside of the mower deck. Do this after every use and you’ll largely eliminate the grass buildup that eventually requires chipping away with a putty knife or screwdriver.

This cleanout makes the mower perform better and gives you a better-looking lawn. You can buy and install retrofit fittings yourself, but getting them pre-installed makes things that much easier.

Engine Size

Engine size for walk-behind mowers ranges from 125 to 190 cubic centimeters (cc). For riding mowers, it’s measured in horsepower (HP), with the typical range from 10 to 22.

A larger engine develops more torque. It usually has a large deck with a wide-cutting swath, letting you complete tough jobs faster. But larger engines also use more gas and are harder to handle.

Two-Stroke vs. Four-Stroke

Speaking of walk-behind mowers, you may find you have a choice between a two-stroke engine, which isn’t common anymore, and a four-stroke engine.

Two-stroke engines are lubricated by oil mixed in with the gas (you have to remember to premix it), and they’re less powerful, noisier and produce more emissions than four-stroke engines. They also use more gas. You’re better off with a four-stroke engine.

Electric Start

Pull cords aren’t that difficult if the lawn mower engine is in good condition and turns over immediately. But if the spark plugs are old or the carburetor needs cleaning, repeated pulling can be frustrating. Avoid an unwanted workout by purchasing a mower with an electric start feature.

Electric start does require a battery, but most recharge while the engine runs. Some manufacturers provide batteries similar to those for power tools that can be removed and charged remotely.

Automatic Drive

The operator usually supplies the force that drives a classic walk-behind gas mower. It can get tiring, especially on sloped or uneven ground. Enter the self-driving mower, which transfers power from the engine to the wheels via belts to drive it forward.

You can select front-, rear- or all-wheel drive. Rear-wheel drive is most popular because it keeps the mower moving forward when climbing a hill and pushing through heavy grass. If you choose a variable-speed drive, you can set it to one comfortable for you.

Blade Brake Clutch

The blade brake clutch (BBC) is a handy feature if you frequently stop to pick up debris. When you engage it, it uncouples the blade from the motor. It avoids the need to stop and restart the engine repeatedly, which is hard on the engine and generally a hassle.

Grass Management

Some gas mowers spit grass clippings out from the side of the mower deck. Some come with an attachable bag that lets you collect the clippings, and some return the clippings back to the grass as mulch. Some do all three! Find out why you need a lawn mower mulcher.

If you choose a model with a bag, make sure it’s easy to remove and you can mow without it in case you’ve navigating tall, overgrown grass.

Wheel Size

The standard wheel diameter is eight inches, but some non-propelled walk-behind mowers offer nine- to 12-inch rear wheels. These make the mower easier to push over rough terrain and up a slope. Larger wheels also keep the carriage higher off the ground and prevent scalping the grass.

Price

You can find a basic push mower in the 160 range, or spend 1,300 for a premium model with an extra-large deck and all the bells and whistles. Models costing between 400 and 600 likely have all the features you need for comfortable, efficient mowing.

Chris Deziel has been active in the building trades for more than 30 years. He helped build a small city in the Oregon desert from the ground up and helped establish two landscaping companies. He has worked as a carpenter, plumber and furniture refinisher. Deziel has been writing DIY articles since 2010 and has worked as an online consultant, most recently with Home Depot’s Pro Referral service. His work has been published on Landlordology, Apartments.com and Hunker. Deziel has also published science content and is an avid musician.