Gasoline lawn mower, advantages, rating, best models

Before purchasing a lawn mower with a gasoline engine, you need to carefully study the rating of the best devices. Determine the most suitable model, carefully study its design features and technical characteristics.
The best lawn mowers are considered to be devices with internal combustion engines, in other words, gasoline ones. These units eliminate the need for an electrical connection. In addition, using them for mowing wet or damp herbs completely safe.
The article will tell you about the types of lawn mowers, features, advantages, and give some tips on how to make the right choice.
Content:
- Advantages of lawn mowers with gasoline engines
- Types of gasoline lawn mowers
- Which is better: front or rear wheel drive?
- How to choose
- Selection by external features
- Features of some models
Advantages of lawn mowers with gasoline engines
The main competitors of gasoline ones are lawn mowers powered by electric drive.
Gasoline engines have many advantages over them:
- costs are reduced due to the use of AI 92 or AI 95 gasoline;
- have high maneuverability and mobility;
- have a high efficiency rate;
- able to work for a long time without overheating;
- it is possible to adjust the cutting height;
- ease of use;
- allow you to process uneven areas;
- reliable;
- low gasoline consumption;
- functionality - collect mowed grass, mulch, and dispose of cut vegetation.
Most self-propelled petrol mowers that have a mulching have a low noise level.
But gas-powered lawn mowers also have disadvantages:
- noise generated by engine operation;
- high cost of fuels and lubricants;
- produce emissions that pollute the environment;
- they require repairs and maintenance more often;
- The design features of the engine do not allow work to be carried out on uneven surfaces with a slope of more than 25 degrees. In this case, the oil does not enter the lubrication channels of the rubbing elements, which leads to unit malfunction.
Types of gasoline lawn mowers
Gasoline-powered devices intended for mowing herbs, are presented in a wide range.
They are distinguished according to certain parameters.
By engine type:
- household - used in areas occupying up to eight hundred square meters. They have a motor life of up to five hundred hours, they are equipped with a motor with a power of 5 horsepower or less;
- semi-professional – for maintenance lawns up to 18 acres in size, their service life is calculated to be up to seven hundred hours of continuous operation, and the power of the installed engine is up to 7 horsepower;
- professional – they can easily mow grass from lawns of any size, the service life is up to 1000 hours, the power exceeds 7 horsepower.
According to the cutting width of the grass being cut:
- 28-42 centimeters - intended for mowing lawns not exceeding an area of 8 acres;
- 51-53 centimeters - for use on lawns occupying a space of up to 18 acres.
By type of container for collecting grass:
- with grass catchers made of fabric - they are equipped with powerful structures. They have good filling, but difficulties arise when cleaning them from mown grass;
- with plastic grass collectors - easy to clean, but the container does not fill well;
- with a combined container for mowing herbs – both plastic and fabric are used in their manufacture, they are easy to care for and have good fillability.
By functional features:
- The cut greens are sent to the collection compartment. These types of mowers do not have the function of lateral discharge of mowed green mass and mulching;
- mulch the soil with cut grass. It is subjected to finer grinding and scattered throughout the area. Such devices are equipped with a grass catcher and a plug;
- ejection of cut greenery from the side - used when performing work on large lawns.
In addition, there are more expensive units that provide all three options.
By adjusting the height of the mowing herbs:
- individual - the presence of separate levers installed on each of the wheels, which allows you to adjust the cutting height on each side separately;
- central - have one lever that controls the height of the grass being cut;
- screw is the simplest, but rather inconvenient method. It is produced by manually moving the wheel shaft - from bottom to top and vice versa.
By type of movement:
- self-propelled - equipped with a special device that allows a gasoline lawn mower to move across the lawn automatically;
- not self-propelled - the operator needs to make efforts to move them along the soil surface.
By drive type:
- front-wheel drive – have greater maneuverability and are used on relatively smooth surfaces;
- rear-wheel drive - used when mowing greenery on hilly areas.
- They have sufficient stability when moving uphill.
Which is better: front or rear wheel drive?
The operating principle of a gasoline mower is practically no different from an electric one. The green mass is cut by rotating the metal cutting element.
The cutting height is adjusted by changing the position of the knife. The air flow that is formed during the rotation of the cutting element picks up the mowed blades of grass and directs them to the grass collector.
Due to the increased comfort during use, models with self-propelled qualities do not occupy the last places in the ratings of lawn mowers. The unit moves around the area thanks to the energy produced by the power unit and transmitted to the knife and wheels. In this regard, moving the device does not require much physical effort. You just need to set the correct direction of movement.
Most buyers are interested in which lawn mower will be the best for a particular summer cottage.
Self-propelled units have front- or rear-wheel drive.
Models with front-wheel drive have fairly high maneuverability. They are used for mowing areas that have flat surfaces, on which trees grow, flower beds, paved areas and sidewalks.
Rear-wheel drive models are perfect for cutting hair herbs on hilly areas. They are excellent at mowing greenery on lawns that have complex terrain, that is, with bumps and holes or a sloping surface.
How to choose
Various models equipped with gasoline engines have fairly high performance. High engine power ensures high efficiency.
The design of modern lawn mowers is carefully thought out by manufacturers. It became possible to install a powerful engine on a moving platform, which made it possible to remove the load from the operator. Now he doesn't have to carry the device.
A wide range of improved models makes it possible to buy a lawn mower at the right price, but also to choose a unit that satisfies the buyer’s needs regarding quality and functions.
Selection by external features
To select the optimal model, you need to rely simultaneously on several parameters, which are basic. First of all, you need to decide what the body should be made of.
Models with a plastic body will be cheaper and lighter, but experts recommend paying attention to models with metal bodies. Because they have sufficient strength, because knives moving at high speeds from the ground can lift various objects that can harm the body.
The best option is an aluminum case. It provides lightweight construction, is not subject to corrosion and is resistant to mechanical damage.
The location of the wheels in the design depends on the specific model and its manufacturer. They help increase the maneuverability of the unit and facilitate its movement across the surface of the site. The width of the wheels plays an important role; the wider they are, the less damage they cause. lawn.
You should pay attention to the diameter of the wheels. Tall grass is easier to mow if the unit has large wheels.If you constantly mow the lawn, this parameter is not particularly important.
If you need a low-power unit, you need to pay special attention to the container for collecting green mass. It should be plastic - this will make it convenient to free it from the mown mass.
The most convenient lawn mowers are those with folding rubberized handles. This makes them easier to transport and helps reduce the transmission of vibration coming from the engine.
It is convenient when the cutting height is adjusted using the central lever. Thanks to this, the lawn will be even across the entire area of the site.
It is important to pay close attention to the cutting element. It should be sharp and wide enough. This improves the quality of mowing.
The best option is when the wheels of a gasoline mower are not on plastic bushings, but on bearings. This increases resistance to wear and mechanical damage.
Engine power is the main criterion. The engine power of the mower you purchase should have some reserve. This will allow you to treat the lawn surface in all weather conditions.
Please note that part of the power of self-propelled devices goes to the wheels to move them. This needs to be taken into account.
We have compiled our own small top of lawn mowers with gasoline engines that were in demand in 2017 and recommend giving preference to products from these manufacturers: Honda, Hitachi, Craftsman, Viking, MTD, Stihl, Husqvarma, Stiga, Makita.
In addition, I would like to remind you once again that the unit requires changing the oil on time and sharpening the knives. Thanks to this, it will serve faithfully for a long time.
Features of some models
When purchasing expensive equipment, they want to be sure of the reliability of the product. This pushes them to carefully study the responses about different models and their manufacturers. The most closely studied is the possibility of operation in different conditions, efficiency and its operating capabilities.
We propose to consider the characteristics of several gasoline lawn mowers included in our rating in 2017.
Husqvarna LC 153S
The products of this manufacturer are in high demand among summer residents. These devices are quite expensive.
The Husqvarna LC 153S lawn mower is equipped with a gasoline engine. It is durable, reliable, versatile and capable of treating large lawns. The design is equipped with a wide, high-strength steel deck. For operator comfort, the manufacturer has installed ergonomic handles that allow the grip to be comfortable and reliable.
This unit is equipped with Trio Clip, central grass cutting height adjustment, and strong wheels with bearings.
The powerful engine has an easy start system.
The cut greens are collected in a special container that is quite large in size. Thanks to this, the unit can be used for a long time without interruption, which helps to extend the work process.
The central location of the lever for adjusting the cutting height makes this operation easy and relaxed. This model has a three-stage cutting system. This will help decorate the lawn.
Honda HRG 415C3 SDE
The lawn mower of this model, which has a gasoline engine, is in high demand among consumers.The main advantage of this model is its quiet operation.
Model HRG 415C3 SDE has:
- steel body;
- voluminous fabric grass catcher;
- the design of the model is ergonomic and practical;
- almost silent operation of the power unit;
- function mulching.
The model has a four-stroke engine that operates almost silently and is equipped with a system that ensures easy starting. The air damper ensures quick start of the power unit, which operates in automatic mode.
In addition, the low noise level is due to the special shape of the body and knives. This helps reduce noise by almost two decibels.
Viking MV 6 RH
Durability and high maneuverability are the main strengths of this model. Tall grass is not a problem for this device. Moving on the lawn surface is facilitated by large diameter rear wheels.
The design is equipped with a mechanism that provides free movement, which is designed to rotate around its own axis.
When using this model, the operator can take advantage of individual settings, which greatly facilitates his work. The unit is equipped with a central cutting height adjustment system.
The mower is equipped with a disc-type blade. It is convenient to use and quite reliable. There are three cutting blades on the disk; when they hit a hard object, they fold back. This helps protect the crankshaft from mechanical damage.
Let's watch a video with useful tips on choosing a lawn mower:
Comments
I have a gasoline lawn mower at my dacha and I am satisfied with its functionality, but I mow without a grass box, since it gets clogged in just a minute and the mowing process takes an incredibly long time.
I’ve been wanting to buy a lawn mower for a long time, but I still can’t decide on the choice. I learned a lot of useful things from the article, I’ll most likely stick with the gasoline one, for me this is probably the best option.