Self propelled lawnmowers - WHY?

Rotty · 26 Apr 2023 at 17:23

Just got a new petrol mower and it's a self propelled one, didn't buy for that reason but didn't realise how useless it is for normal folks

Pull the lever and you are off round the garden like the Keystone Cops and forever stopping and starting to turn round or do small bits

Unless you are either/both frail or have a football pitch sized garden are they any use? will I get used to using it?

At moment thinking of disconnecting the cable to the lever

adidan · 26 Apr 2023 at 17:36

Not even heard of self propelled ones TBH.

Berger · 26 Apr 2023 at 17:45

I have a Qualcast Classic which is self propelled, it has the large and very heavy drum (so you get stripes).

I wouldn’t want to be pushing it as it’s way too heavy. It’s OTT for the amount of grass I have but it was free, just needed a carb rebuild and blade sharpen.

If I had a big garden it would be awesome, but I’d be forever emptying it of cuttings, so swings and roundabouts really!

Quartz · 26 Apr 2023 at 17:47

Rotty said:
Unless you are either/both frail or have a football pitch sized garden are they any use? will I get used to using it?

They're much less effort once you get used to them.

413x · 26 Apr 2023 at 17:52

I wouldn't have manual one. It's too annoying having to turn around when the mower can do it for me.

Also for mine the propulsion is on demand. I don't need to use it. (but that would be stupid!)

scrivz69 · 26 Apr 2023 at 17:54

I would not have anything else as we have big lawn and you can cut the grass whilst drinking a beer.

Hotwired · 26 Apr 2023 at 17:55

Probably not very beneficial in an average garden no.

But used to live in a place which was 3/4 acre of land, most of the garden was lawn and only a small amount was level and some was outrageously sloped. Not uneven just sloped.

That's a great time to have powered wheels on the mower. Still shovelling tons of clippings but at least the mower manhandling is greatly reduced.

sovietspybob · 26 Apr 2023 at 19:53

You need to stop faffing around with half measures and get a proper self propelled one, non of this faffing around having to walk it around it nonsense

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aVdub · 26 Apr 2023 at 20:02

Did you do your Research Research Research before buying.......

Troop · 26 Apr 2023 at 20:30

Try mowing up this slope without a self propelled mower, see how far you'd get.

adidan · 26 Apr 2023 at 20:35

sovietspybob said:
You need to stop faffing around with half measures and get a proper self propelled one, non of this faffing around having to walk it around it nonsense

Serious question, is it clever enough to dodge cat poop or would you have to painstakingly clean it out?

builder22 · 26 Apr 2023 at 20:59

I can't understand why it would be a problem unless you're trying to use it like flymo/strimmer!

just lift the front wheels off the ground to turn?

Rotty · 26 Apr 2023 at 22:27

builder22 said:
I can't understand why it would be a problem unless you're trying to use it like flymo/strimmer!

just lift the front wheels off the ground to turn?

that was my thought but the rear wheels are powered

Rotty · 26 Apr 2023 at 22:27

aVdub said:
Did you do your Research Research Research before buying.......

obv not

Rotty · 26 Apr 2023 at 22:29

for those saying don;t use the SP option, that's what I am trying to do but while pushing you hit the lever and it's off like Usain Bolt

builder22 · 26 Apr 2023 at 22:38

what?

does it freewheel if you don't engage the clutch/SP thing

'jab the throttle' (clutch)/drag it about if it doesn't :eek:

Rotty · 26 Apr 2023 at 22:49

builder22 said:
what? does it freewheel if you don't engage the clutch/SP thing

'jab the throttle' (clutch)/drag it about if it doesn't

yes but's it's very difficult not to catch the lever when going forward

aVdub · 27 Apr 2023 at 07:58

Must be a way of isolating the lever.

What model is it?

sovietspybob · 27 Apr 2023 at 08:05

adidan said:
Serious question, is it clever enough to dodge cat poop or would you have to painstakingly clean it out?

It doesn't dodge it no, but i've never found it to be an issue with mine and there are lots of cats around here.

Even if it did get some cat muck on it, you never need to go anywhere near it so it wouldn't matter.

ANDARIAL · 27 Apr 2023 at 08:46

sovietspybob said:
It doesn't dodge it no, but i've never found it to be an issue with mine and there are lots of cats around here.

Even if it did get some cat muck on it, you never need to go anywhere near it so it wouldn't matter.

What about actively mowing cats?If it did that i would buy one in a second