Best "Self-propelled" Mower Easy-start (Variable Speed
Want to make summer better? Forget vacations, pools, tilt-arm umbrellas, and barbecue grills. Get a self-propelled lawn mower. Really. Lawn mowing is hard work, and given that you cut your lawn on average once a week, one of the best ways to make the job a little easier is to use a self-propelled mower.
These mowers take power off the output shaft from the engine and route it via a belt to a pulley on the transmission and axle. When you move the drive control lever on the mower handle, you take the slack out of the belt, causing the pulley to turn, and this drives the transmission gears, moving the mower forward. Move the drive control lever back, you release belt tension, the pulley stops turning, and the mower stops. The belt-driven transmission is a time-tested design to power the mower and take the load off you in the process.
See quick info below on the best self-propelled mowers from our testing, then scroll down for buying advice and our in-depth reviews.
The Best Self-Propelled Lawn Mowers
What to Consider
A mower is like many consumer products in that the more features a manufacturer adds, the more expensive it becomes. But a longer or more eye-catching list of features isn't necessarily better. Sometimes less is more. Here are the most important to keep in mind.
▶ ENGINE SIZE An engine as small as 125 cc can power a mower, but most are somewhere in the 140 cc to 190 cc range. A large engine helps when powering through tall, lush grass or in extreme conditions, such as with a side discharge chute in place and mowing tall weeds in a border area. Also, the extra torque provided by a larger engine can improve bagging when the going gets tough (tall, leaf-covered grass in the fall). But if you mow sensibly and pay attention to deck height—and especially if you don't let your lawn get out of control—an engine between 140 and 160 cc has more than enough power to get the job done.
▶ REAR WHEEL DIAMETER A mower can have all four wheels the same diameter (7 to 8 inches), or it may have rear wheels that range from 9.5 inches to 12 inches in diameter. Larger rear wheels help the mower roll more easily over bumpy ground.
▶ STORAGE OPTIONS Mower manufacturers have paid attention to homeowners complaining about crowded garages and sheds and equipped some mowers with handles that fold forward, allowing for more compact storage. Some mowers have the additional benefit of this forward-fold feature and can stand on end for additional space savings.
▶ ELECTRIC START Self explanatory. Mowers that are really decked out start the engine with the twist of a key or the press of a button. It's a great option, but a luxury. Keep the mower engine tuned and use fresh fuel with stabilizer added to it, and you'll never have trouble starting.
▶ SPEED CONTROL Any number of mechanisms can control a mower's ground speed—a squeeze handle, a drive bar that you press forward, even a dial. There's no single right answer here. Look at the design and think about how you like to work. For example, if more than one person will be using the mower (and not all of them are right-handed), a drive control like that on a Toro Personal Pace mower might be the answer. Just push down on the bar to make it go faster. Let up on the bar to slow down.
▶ TWO OR THREE-FUNCTION A mower that can bag, mulch, and side discharge is known as a three-function mower, the most versatile kind. Two-function mowers bag and mulch or mulch and side discharge.
▶ DECK HEIGHT CONTROL Mowers will typically have one, two, or four levers to control the deck height. Single-lever adjustment is the easiest to use, but it requires more linkage, which adds weight and complexity. If, for some reason, you find yourself varying deck height frequently, it's a good option. Otherwise, two or four levers work just fine.
▶ DECK MATERIAL Only Honda makes a gas-engine mower with a high-impact plastic deck (there are battery mowers that have plastic decks). Otherwise, mowers generally have a steel deck, and a few manufacturers—Toro, for one—offer a corrosion-resistant aluminum deck. An aluminum deck won't rot the way a steel deck will, but you still need to keep it clean.
▶ DECK WASH This is a hose fitting mounted on top of the mower's deck. When you're done mowing, hook up a hose and run the mower to power wash the underside of the deck. We've had mixed results with these, but they're better than just letting a mass of dried grass clippings accumulate.
▶ BAG QUALITY More expensive mowers come with a more durable bag with more dust-blocking capability. If you bag a lot, especially leaves or other lawn debris in the fall, then you need a mower with a higher quality dust-blocking bag. Having said that, if you rarely bag, the standard one that comes with a mower will last you the life of the mower.
▶ WIDE-CUT Also called wide-area mowers, machines in this subgroup help homeowners better reconcile their need for more power and speed with the fact that they may not have enough storage for a large machine. A typical residential walk mower has a single-blade deck that cuts a swath from 20 to 22 inches wide. Wide-cut mowers (built for homeowner use) have either a single blade or, more typically, a pair of blades, cutting from 26 to 30 inches with each pass. Some of these are rated for light commercial use and have larger decks, in the 32-inch range, and engines that start at 223 cc and go up to about 337 cc.
Wide-cut mowers employ gear or hydrostatic drive transmissions, and they have top speeds of about 4 to 6 miles per hour. At their fastest, they move so quickly you have to trot to keep up with them. Needless to say, they're overkill for small yards; only opt for one of these if you've got a significant plot of land that you need to keep tidy, but not one so large that you'd be better off going with a full-on riding mower.
How We Tested and Selected
We put all of the mowers we test through the paces using our standard Popular Mechanics methodology: We cut turf grasses such as fescues and blue grass and rougher non-turf grasses like Timothy, clover, orchard grass, and wild oats, all in both normal and shin-deep heights. We mow uphill, downhill, and across the faces of hills. The maximum slope we cut is about 30 degrees. That may not sound like much, but it's about all you can do to stand on it, let alone push a mower up it or across it. We mow damp and wet grass to test general cutting performance and whether clippings accumulate on the tires. And we cut dry and dusty surfaces to see how well the bag filters under less-than-optimal conditions.
A couple of the mowers we've selected but haven't tested yet (the Toro 21386 and the Honda 663020). But we tested the previous, now discontinued generation of each of those machines. And based on the performance and build quality of their predecessors, we think any of these three self-propelled mowers is a likely candidate to handle your mowing needs this summer.
—BEST CUTTER AND BAGGER—
Toro 21466
Voltage: 60 | Deck size: 22 in. | Functions: Mulch, bag, side discharge | Drive: Rear | Cut area per charge: 13,524 sq ft | Non-lawn surfaces: Fair | Uphill mowing: Good | Sidehill mowing: Good | Bagging: Good
Toro mowers have garnered more recommendations from us than any other brand for two reasons: build quality and cut quality. And those were amply demonstrated in our testing as the 21466 Recycler turned in the best ratio of cut area per amp-hour of battery in the self-propelled category, while at the same time not skimping on cutting, mulching, or bagging quality.
We attribute this outstanding mower performance to three features, all upgrades to the previous version of this machine. First, the air vent at the front of the mower deck seems to improve mulching and bagging performance. Toro calls it Vortex technology, a design to increase air flow in the same way as a hood scoop on a car. The company says it helps the grass stand straighter under the mower and the clippings to be suspended longer for more thorough mulching, but it also helps airflow into the bag. We can't verify that, but we can say our results indicate the design is successful. Next, the company's redesigned "Atomic" blade configuration appears to assist the air flow and clipping movement. Finally, the three-phase, 60-volt motor is exceptionally efficient, resulting in a large cut area for a single battery.
Toro has, wisely, not altered some of the previous features that make this mower work: rear wheel drive, a one-piece deck that's all steel (no plastic nose), rear-wheel drive, 11-inch wheels to help it roll over roots and crevices, and the same fold-forward handle that was an industry breakthrough when it was introduced some years ago.
—BEST U.S.-BUILT—
Ryobi RY401150US
Voltage: 40 | Deck size: 21 in. | Functions: Mulch, bag, side discharge | Drive: Rear | Cut area per charge: 15,292 sq ft | Non-lawn surfaces: Fair | Uphill mowing: Good | Sidehill mowing: Good | Bagging: Good
This is Ryobi's top-of-the-line mower, and it's American-made construction is something we wish we saw more of. It delivers a tremendous cut area with its two (6-Ah) batteries providing a total of 12-Ah of capacity, and its X-shaped blade leaves a pristine surface in its wake. Ryobi estimates the design should provide 70 minutes of run time; we didn't time our cut, but it strikes as plausible. Its rear-wheel drive and reasonably aggressive tread pattern provide good hill climbing and sidehill cutting performance, and its bagging on all surfaces (level, sidehill, and uphill) is also commendable. Its other ease-of-use features include an easily installed or removed bag that mounts and dismounts straight up and down through the handle; deck adjustment is quick and easy thanks to a single-level deck height adjustment. The straight edge deck is polypropylene; it will never rust and needs very little care other than basic cleaning.
—BEST WIDE CUT—
DR Power SP30
Engine size: 223 cc | Deck size: 30 in. | Functions: Mulch, side discharge bag | Drive: Rear | Non-lawn surfaces: Very good | Uphill mowing: Very good | Sidehill mowing: Very good | Bagging: Outstanding
We had the most fun using this mower from DR Power. It's simple to operate, thanks to a minimum of controls. Turn the key, pull the drive lever to make it go (all the way up to a very brisk pace), and pull back the blade engagement lever to cut. That's all there is to it. It's comparatively light, with weight distribution and geometry to make it surprisingly agile for such a big mower. It leaves a smooth cut, and its bagging performance is outstanding. We attribute that to the air flow off the deck and into the bag, which is so good that when you go to remove the bag, you don't find a loose pile of clippings, rather a tightly packed hay bale. Our test indicated that every morsel of grass goes into the bag. We also like the cast-aluminum deck. Assuming it's the correct alloy and you don't abuse the machine, you should get many years out of it. We also like the single-height deck adjustment courtesy of a nice long lever with a big grip. We had only one dislike: That big engine needs a better
muffler.
—MOST MANEUVERABLE—
Craftsman M215
Engine size: 159 cc | Deck size: 21 in. | Functions: Mulch, side discharge, bag | Drive: Front
Craftsman mowers have been doing very well in our tests, so we can recommend this one because it's so much like the many other of the brand's models that we've tested. If you're looking for a good blend of maneuverability and power, you'll get it with this American-built mower. Its front drive makes it plenty nimble. Though it's important to note that front-drive mowers do lose some traction when running uphill, particularly with a full grass bag. But if your slope is less than 20 degrees, and you're not bagging uphill, you'll be fine. The side discharge will also help you handle tall grass. Adjust the two deck levers to bring the mower up to full height and have at the rough stuff. The fact that the mower bags, mulches, and side discharges is a plus, enabling you to handle a wide range of mowing conditions, from early spring and late into the fall. Three-function mowers like this are our preference for that versatility.
—MOST COMFORTABLE HANDLE—
Toro 21386
Engine size: 163 cc | Deck size: 21 in. | Functions: Mulch, side discharge, bag | Drive: Rear
This is a beauty of a mower, with a cast-aluminum deck and a smooth-running Briggs & Stratton 163-cc engine. We tested the Honda engine-equipped version, and it proved both an effective bagger and mulcher, even of moist grass. Equipped with rear-wheel drive and the Personal Pace system (the farther you push the drive bar, the faster the mower goes), it's an effective hill climber and moderately effective on sidehill cutting. It has 7.5-inch tires on all four corners, which causes this Toro to bump up and down a bit on washboard surfaces. But the good news is that it's equipped with a far higher quality tire than we're used to seeing these days. We didn't notice them pick up any grass on moist surfaces. Other features we like include its forward-fold handle that has a built-in shock absorber that Toro calls a Flex Handle Suspension, and a high-quality grass bag that loads through the handle, from the top.
—MOST DURABLE—
Honda 663020
Engine size: 166 cc | Deck size: 21 in. | Functions: Mulch, side discharge, bag | Drive: Rear
Honda mowers enjoy a sterling reputation. And having tested their walk and self-propelled mowers for the last 30 years, we feel confident that this mower is a great choice for homeowners looking for power and durability. The 663020 features an upgraded engine from its predecessor, with the switch from the GCV 160 to GCV 170. The slightly larger engine is built to withstand long hours of operation; in fact, it's primarily used in pressure washers. And if you do your own maintenance (and most owners who buy this class of product do), you'll appreciate the easily accessible spark plug and the fuel shutoff valve that enables better winter storage. Close the fuel shutoff and run the mower until it sputters to a halt. The few drops of gasoline left in the carburetor will evaporate. Open the shutoff valve in the spring, and the mower should start easily, thanks to the high-energy ignition that Honda engines are known for and a carburetor free of gasoline deposits. All this maintenance stuff is great, but we can also tell you that our past test findings on other Hondas prove that their cut quality is outstanding for cleanliness. Sharp blades deliver a velvet-like finish. And their bagging ability is also quite good, in the same league with other well-bagging mowers from Cub Cadet and Toro. In all, if you take mowing seriously, you should enjoy this Honda.
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Source: https://www.popularmechanics.com/home/lawn-garden/a27103287/self-propelled-lawn-mowers/
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