Lawn Mowers

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Are Reel Lawn Mowers Still Effective?

Donald Gordon asked:




Reel lawn mowers might seem old-fashioned to a lot of people. These are the manual “people-powered” mowers with a spinning blade that turns as you push the mower. Many of us might remember our grandparents having one when we were kids, but reel mowers are making a bit of a comeback. Let’s look at some of the benefits and disadvantages of reel mowers.

The most obvious advantage, and probably one of the main reasons for their resurging popularity, is the fact that they are environmentally friendly. There’s no emissions like with a gas mower, and they don’t use any electricity. The only power source they need is good old-fashioned manual labor.

They can also be easier on your lawn than the typical gas or electric powered lawnmower. The blades are not nearly as harsh when they’re spinning, especially when compared to some of the higher-powered mowers out there. As long as you keep the blades sharp, they cut the blades more cleanly and don’t damage them the way other mowers will.

There are a couple of disadvantages to reel lawn mowers, however. The biggest one of course is the fact that you have to power them yourself. This can be a good source of exercise, but not everyone wants to do that kind of manual labor to keep their lawn looking good. And if you don’t like doing it, you might find yourself putting it off which can lead to a messy looking yard, and even more work when you do cut the lawn.

Which leads to another disadvantage – reel mowers get progressively harder to manage as your lawn gets longer. If you let your grass grow long between cuts, you might find it’s quite a bit of work to maintain it.

Sharp blades will minimize the work, but again it means you need to either sharpen the blades yourself on a fairly regular basis, or pay someone to do it for you. This is actually the case on a gas or electric mower as well, but because they operate using blunt force, they’re a little more forgiving of a dull blade.

Reel lawn mowers can be a great way to maintain your lawn, just make sure that you consider everything involved before deciding on one. If you know someone who has one, it might be worth borrowing it and try it out before you go out and buy one for yourself.

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Using The Right Lawn Mower Care For Your Machine

Andrew Caxton asked:




Your yard will look great when you practice regular lawn mower care. The fact is that you want your yard to look great and that means taking the time to care for your mower as well. When you take the time to keep your mower working well, you will save money by not needing to make repairs and your yard will continue to look the way that you want it to.

Tips To Help You

One of the first things that you should do is to select the right type of lawn mower for your yard. Always choose one that can provide you with the best results for your yard. Then, take care of it. You just need to provide some basic upkeep to keep the machine running well. Here are some suggestions to consider.

The Engine Type

For those that have a gas lawn mower, it is important that you use the right type of gas in the machine. This may be a combination of types but be sure it is the right type. If you have a rechargeable mower engine or if you have an electric machine, you should be sure that you take care of these features in the way described by your owner’s manual.

The Blades And Parts

Another aspect of property lawn mower care is the blade’s sharpness. You will need to improve a dull blade so that it will cut the grass properly. You also want to be sure that you have this done by a professional. Your local home improvement store is likely the only source of information you need for having this done. It is essential that you know how to do the sharpening before you attempt to do the job yourself.

Next, tackle the machine itself. Remove the battery and spark plug wire. Be sure that the lawn mower is completely off at this point, too. To sharpen the blades yourself, you need to remove them properly. Even though they may seem dull they are sharp enough to ct you. Always keep the mower balanced while working with the blades; that likely means getting some help to make it happen. Check out your spark plugs next. You will find these, along with air filters, need to be cleaned and replaced when necessary to keep your machine working at its best.

Although lawn care seems to be a lot of work, it takes only minutes to get done. The benefit of having a great looking yard and a long-term lifespan on your machine makes it worthwhile!

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Lawn Mower Buying Checklist

Jeff M Haefner asked:




Given the wide variety of lawn mowers on the market today, you really do have your pick of brand names and great prices to choose from. For example, Briggs and Strtton, John Deere, Kohler, Honda, Scag and Echo.

We will help you find the right lawn mower for your needs and give you some great secrets on how to maintain the perfect lawn in your neighborhood, for less.

When buying a new mower, make sure you keep the following important criteria in mind.

1 – Compare brands, prices, engines and features

2 – Stay within your budget

3 – Does the mower start up easily with the touch of a button, or do you have to prime the pump, then pull the cord repeatedly until it starts? Does this matter to the person who will actually be using the lawn mower?

3 – Make sure the engine can handle the job for years to come and won’t die on you in just a year or two

4 – How long is the basic manufacturer’s warranty? Is an extended warranty available, or is it worth getting versus the cost of repair?

What about mowing your lawn correctly? Do you know the do’s and don’ts to get the most out of your lawn so your neighbors turn green with envy?

Here are some great lawn mowing tips to make sure you cut your lawn just right.

1 – Do not mow your lawn with a mower that has a dull blade, make sure it is sharp. Using a sharp blade ensures your lawn will recover from being cut faster after each mowing than with a dull blade. Take your lawn mower into a lawn mower parts store to get sharpened once a year.

2 – If you think mowing your lawn closer to the ground means you will not have to mow it as often, think again. The lower you cut your lawn means the greater you are inviting weeds and pests to damage your well-kept lawn.

3 – Do not cut more than 1/3 of the grass’ height when mowing your lawn. This will leave enough grass blade so it can grab the sun and build stronger roots. It also helps fend off weeds and pests.

Technology has come a long way when it comes to the options your lawn mower will come with, so your personal needs will decide which you choose to buy, along with best price and warranty.

The one item a consumer might not think of though is the store in which you buy your lawn mower. Does it really matter? If there is a manufacturer’s warranty, isn’t that all you should really worry about?

Consider this, what happens after the regular warranty has expired. Is that dealership or small lawnmower repair shop still in business? Do you have a reliable shop who will give you a great deal on parts and labor to fix your out-of-warranty lawn mower?

Customer service at any small engine shop is important. You should not have to wait in long lines or look around for help. You will be paying a nice chunk of money for a dependable lawn mower, so make sure your local dealership has the best lawn mower parts software or small engine software to effectively manage your personal account, and one that will be in business to help you for years to come.

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