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Once
upon a time you couldn’t mow wet grass, or grass on slopes
or under bushes. Now there are power mowers that do all these things
with much less work than before.
When
shopping for a power mower make sure it has the horsepower and cutting
width for your needs without being larger and more powerful than
you can really use. For example, a ride-on mower only comes into
its own in a large area or in gardens where snow accumulates.
A
self-propelled mower is one where the engine drives the mower and
also the wheels so you only have to steer it. These are suitable
for large areas and sloping gardens where pushing a mower uphill
alone would be difficult.
Mulching
mowers.
These
mowers cut grass clippings so finely (around 6cm in length) that
the particles decompose into humus or mulch, fertilising the lawn
each time you mow. These mowers have multi-pitch blades, which,
in effect, cut the grass once as usual, then suck the clippings
upwards and cut them again while still airborne until the clippings
which fall back are shredded to minute particles.
Reel
mowers.
Although
perhaps not as versatile as the rotary mowers, this type has blades
which work in a scissor-like way, giving a very fine, bowling green,
type of finish.
MOWER
MAINTENANCE:
Sharp
mower blades are essential for effective mowing. Nicks and cuts
in the blade can often be seen where rocks and sticks have connected
with the blade but these do not affect cutting ability. If the blade
is not sharp, however, it mashes the grass instead of cutting, leaving
a brownish tinge on the cut surface. To check the blade, first disconnect
the spark plug lead and tape it out of the way to prevent accidental
starting. Block the blade with a piece of wood and a G-clamp then
remove it with a wrench, putting penetrating oil on the nut to loosen
it. When the blade is free, file it smooth and balance the blade
by filing extra off the heavy side, Rest the blade on a pencil to
check it is in balance.
If
the blade is too worn to be sharpened, replace it with the correct
mower blade. While the blade is out, clean the mower housing underneath
to remove caked-on clippings.
Spark
plugs. Remove the spark plugs using a spark plug wrench and check
the electrodes. If they are dirty, clean with a wire brush, and
blow off all residue. If they are pitted or cracked, replace with
the appropriate plugs. Set the gap on the plug using a gauge, to
the gap specified in your owner's manual. Replace the plug, clean
and oil the threads then hand tighten the plug. Tighten with a wrench
about a third of a turn Do not over tighten.
Oil.
As with your car, a 4-stroke mower requires clean oil to run smoothly.
If the oil is dirty, drain it while hot and replace with a suitable
motor mower oil. While you’re at it, lubricate moving parts
on top of the mower through oiler points if provided, and spray
with a spray lubricant onto throttle and cable. 2-stroke mowers
run on an oil-petrol mix and do not have a separate oil sump.
Air
filter.
Clean the air filter with warm water and household detergent then
coat with light-weight oil and squeeze out the excess. Dry type
filters can be vacuum cleaned. Air dry the filter, reassemble and
put in new oil.
Electric
mowers.
As
well as the petrol driven type, there are electric mowers. These
are quieter to run and create no fumes. The disadvantages are the
limits created by the power cord, and the need for care in the direction
you mow to avoid crossing the cord. On suitable sized lawns, they
are the quickest and quietest way to mow.
Edgers.
Once
you have mowed the bulk of the lawn you need a tool to trim the
edges alongside paths and garden beds. A power edger can save a
lot of work because it does not need any pushing or traction, so
can be used on hard and soft surfaces. If you do not have a concrete
or masonry mower strip dividing lawn from garden beds it is necessary
to clip the edges each time you mow to prevent grass runners from
invading the garden beds. Ideal for this is a power edger, which
has no blades but uses a length of line like fishing line, whirling
at high speed to cut the grass with a whipping motion. These are
sold as complete units or as attachments for a power drill and the
line can be replaced as necessary.
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