Elusive Garden Links  Lawn Mowers

Lawn Mower Basics

There are two grass cuttings principles in use today:

The scythe principle in which the blade hits the grass at high speed giving the grass no time to yield hence the blade of grass is cut. Rotary and hover mowers employ this principle.

The scissor action where the grass is trapped between two blades. Cylinder Mowers use this action.

More specific information on each machine can be found on these pages (including advantages disadvantages):

Cylinder Mowers
Hover Mowers
Rotary Mowers

Lawn Mower Books

Choosing the correct lawn mower

Below are factors that should be taken into consideration:
Size of the Lawn
Quality of the Lawn
Proximity of Mains Power
Prestige or too busy to cut the grass yourself.

Size of Lawn

With only a small area of grass to cut, a push model is the cheapest option with a narrow machine.

Moving up to a medium quantity of grass to be cut a wider machine which is power driven is a better option.

When you have a really large area to be cut it may well be you need a ride on machine.

Quality of Lawn

If you are looking for a bowling green finish and have a flat smooth lawn of fine grass then a cylinder type is the best option.

If you want those uniform stripes on your lawn choose a model with a rear roller.

For a lawn that is uneven, maybe left unattended, does not need to be cut so low. A rotary lawn mover is the one to go for.

Proximity of Mains Power

Some cylinder models require no power other than you pushing the machine. The wheels or the rear roller is connected to the cylinder through gearing such that when pushed in a forward direction the cylinder will turn.

Mains power if within say 50 metres of any part of the lawn is cheaper than petrol per given area.

If the area is too large to push a manually propelled cylinder and further than 50 metres then a petrol mower is the obvious choice.

Battery powered mowers can also be used if you are well away from a power point.

Prestige or too busy to cut the grass yourself.

On the market is a rotary type lawn mower that is solar powered and cuts the lawn when there is sufficient sunlight. A boundary cable is set into the lawn and so the edge of the lawn is the only area you need to cut. Yet another type  of rotary mower requires you to recharge a battery and then let it loose. You can find more details on the latter here.

Jan

Have your mower overhauled

Feb

Last month to have the mower overhauled, next month we need to start using it again

Mar

This is the start of the mowing year. Just a reminder, brush those worm casts away before the first cut.
When the surface is dry set the blade to cut only the very top of the grass.
About 2 cuts this month should do the trick.
Do not cut any bulbs planted into the lawn yet

 Apr

2 or more cuts are required again this month.
Set the blade to cut at 18mm or 32mm depending upon your lawn type.
Do not cut any bulbs planted into the lawn yet

 May

Reduce the blade height to midway between cutting range.
Start cutting once a week now. (this is when the Sunday peace and quite gets disturbed)

Jun

Depending on the weather, lower the blade to the summer cut, and commence mowing twice weekly. If the weather is dry though, lift the blade say 6mm

 Jul

 Depending on the weather, lower the blade to the summer cut, and keep mowing twice weekly. If the weather is dry though, lift the blade to say 6mm . Holidays are starting now, try to arrange for a neighbour or relative to cut the grass. If you cannot arrange this then mow the day before you go.
On your return raise the blade so that the top of the grass is cut. A hover or rotary is ideal for this task.. Start reducing the blade down at each cut after till back at the summer height.
 Hover mowers are really cheap these days so having one for this purpose could be handy if you normally use a cylinder mower.

Talking of Holidays I've linked up with some online travel companies click here to visit

 Aug

Depending on the weather, lower the blade to the summer cut, and keep mowing twice weekly. If the weather is dry though, lift the blade to say 6mm . Holidays are starting now, try to arrange for a neighbour or relative to cut the grass. If you cannot arrange this then mow the day before you go.
On your return raise the blade so that the top of the grass is cut. A hover or rotary is ideal for this task.. Start reducing the blade down at each cut after till back at the summer height.
 Hover mowers are really cheap these days so having one for this purpose could be handy if you normally use a cylinder mower.

 Sep

With the oncoming of autumn it is time to raise the blades about 6mm and cut back mowing to once a week.

Oct

Morning dew is starting to collect on the grass, follow my tip and brush the lawn in the morning and mow in the afternoon.
Raise another 6mm if possible for the cuts this month.

 Nov

Choose a day when the weather is neither wet or frosty and cut just once this month.
Time to clean down your machine and if required oil down the parts.

 Dec

If your mower is getting passed it, ask Father Christmas for a new one or if like me you need one of each kind then ask for that too.

Manufacturers Web Sites

Agri-Fab

Agria Werke

Al-ko alko

Allen Power Equipment

Allett

American Lawnmower Co/Great States Corporation

Ariens

Atco

B & H Manufacturing

BCS

Befco

Black & Decker (Worldwide)

Bob Andrews

Brill

Bunton

Cub Cadet

Cushman

Deines Manufacturing

Dennis

DewEze Manufacturing

Dixie Chopper

Dixon Mower

Etesia

Excel Hustler

Exmark

Ferris

Flymo

Friendly Machines

Gardena

Ginge

Goldoni

Grasshopper

GrassMasters

Gravely

Greenfield Mowers

Hayter

Honda Power Equipment

Hover Mower

Hudson Sales & Engineering

Husqvarna

John Deere

Kaaz Corporation

Kesmac

Klippo

Kut-Kwick

LawnBoy

Locke Mower Company

Masport

McLane Mower Co

McCullock

MTD

Mountfield

Murray

National Mower Company

Partner

Poulan

Power Devil
Harvard International Ltd
14-16 Thames Road
Berking
Essex
IG11 0HX

Telephone: 01788 547547

ProMow

Qualcast (UK)

Ransomes

Rapid

Roof

Roques Et Lecoeur Ales

Rotomec

Rover

Sarlo

Saylor

Scag

Simplicity

SISIS Equipment

Snapper

Stiga

Sutech

Swisher

Tandem

Texas

Trim-A-Lawn

Trimmer of Fresno

Troy-Bilt

Trust Development Co

Turfmaster

UST Corporation

Valex

Victa

Vulcan

Walker

Zipper Mowers

Looking for a second hand machine?

Try ebay in the uk - Click here!

For the ebay in the USA try Click here

Before making your purchase check out my page of
consumer opinion sites

Lawn Mower Museums

THE OLD LAWNMOWER CLUB is not a museum as such but is a useful online resource regarding lawn mower history.

You may wish to visit the  Milton Keynes Museum with 50 machines dating from the 1850s to the 1960s

When you visit the Southport Flower Show pop in and visit the British Lawnmower Museum details on how to find them are given on the site.

Wortley Top Forge Industrial Museum near to where I live contains a steam driven lawn mower. So if you visit South Yorkshire look on the map for a small village called Wortley between Sheffield and Huddersfield.

Museum of Gardening History in London as small section devoted to lawn mowers including a Ransome Atco and Greens

mowingbecomeselectra is an interesting site into the history of electric lawn mowers.

For those of you in the states try The Reel Lawn Mower History & Preservation Project  intends to preserve vintage lawn mowers.

Lawnboy

Q1. Where can you obtain a coil for a 1959, model 3050-- engine model C-70 the coil part number is #580184

Ransome Machines

Q1. Are Ransomes still produced?
Q2. Where can you find information on an Ajax machine?

A1.  The answer is yes. Textron have taken over the company but still produce lawn mowers

A2.  I emailed Textron and was sent an email back from Nigel Church. The Ajax was in production for about 20 years until 1969/70. It is a 12" hand propelled mower. You can find more information at www.ruralhistory.org email is rhc@reading.ac.uk.

Mountfield Machines

Q1. What is the correct fuel for a Mountfield machine (Leaded or unleaded
Serial # M3 PD 19259
Registered design # is 93943

Q2. I have a Mountfield M3 Powerdrive, of which the serial no. is:

M3/PD 54158.

I need the engine make to obtain a muffler. I've spent almost an hour trying to discover identifying marks but nothing evident. Couldn't get the top off due to lack of imperial tools. The only markings on it are stuck on labels "M" - presumably for Mountfield - and another one indicating "solid state ignition".

Any help with this much appreciated.
 

Victa Machines

Q1. Where can I find spare parts for a Victa machine

A1. I can find the Australian web site at www.victa.com.au I cannot find a website in the UK but www.barrus.co.uk seems to be a distributor and contains a list of local suppliers.

Kawasaki Engines

Q1. Flymo hover mower TL 30cm two stroke 1981/2 model, engine is a Kawasaki KT12ADV with a code of: 31152SA. James is having problems starting it and keeping it going. Any help anyone???

 Q2. What is the brass screw on the front of my Kawasaki KT12ADV engine connected to my Flymo TL 30cm for does it control the air petrol mix

Tecumseh Engines

Q1. How do you set up the carburettor?

Questions I've been asked

Machines:

• Atco

• Lawnboy

• Mountfield

• Ransome

• Victa

Engines:

• Kawasaki

• Tecumseh

If you have either an answer or question then email me