Before you part with your cash and buy yourself a new lawnmower there are a few things you need to consider in order make an informed decision. There are so many choices available to you that it can become really confusing to know what to go for with any degree of confidence. The many different options include choosing the way the mower is powered, whether it is pushed from behind, ridden or automatic, corded or cordless and the list goes on. With a few pointers, though, you should be able to select the mower that is right for you.

Now a days there are different types of lawnmowers in the market but if you use a gas powered one then you should always make sure that it is using a fresh supply of gas. This is a critical thing to consider because it helps with the performance of the engine. As well as this, you should also make sure that you check the oil in the engine at the same time. When it comes to draining the oil, you need to replace it with clean oil after about 50 hours of using the lawnmower.

Before you chose a lawn mower, decide whether you want to buy electric or gasoline driven mower. Each type has its own ups and downs. In general you may follow the points as given below.

1. You must base your decision on the area to mow. Larger the area bigger is the mower you may want to purchase.

2. If your lawn is small you can go for an electric lawn mower.

3. If it is for large gardens or golf courses go for ride-on models powered by diesel or gas engines with controls on both the hands.

4. For sloped small lawns a Hover model suits best. They are light and easy, you need to carry them to lawn and start. They come in both diesel and electric versions.

5. If you are interested in saving money, a walk-behind lawn mower or reel mower is an excellent choice.

There are different types of models of lawnmower available in the market. Before buying any lawnmower for your lawn it is highly recommended to you that you must do a deep research or you may consult to any expert. All the mowers come in various blade lengths and it is important to buy a mower suitable for the size of your lawn. If your lawn is larger than say a tennis court you may want to consider a ride-on lawn tractor. Not only this, some of the commercial models has more than one blade and the areas on which they operate overlap so ensure complete mowing. The blades are 18 inches long; (maximum) and three blades may be employed to cut a pass width of 42 to 50 inches.

Different types of lawnmower are:

1) Rotary Lawnmowers:

Rotary lawnmowers are powered either by electric or gasoline. The rotary mower is a mowing deck, steel or aluminum that houses a single rotating blade. Above the deck the motor or engine is located and the whole deck is supported at the front by wheels and at the rear by wheels or a roller. The cut height is adjusted by raising or lowering the mowing deck, as it is connected to the wheels/roller, by way of an adjustment level.

2) Electric or Gasoline Hover Mowers:

These operate by using a single long blade, rather like the rotary mower, but it is designed so that the rotation of the blade creates a down draft that lifts the mower off the ground. The floating action of the hover mower means that the mower can be moved side to side as well as backwards and forwards so this makes it easy to cut irregular lawns with trees and so on. Also, they allow for easy cutting of grass banks.

3) Cylinder Mowers:

Cylinder mowers can be either electric or gas powered. Gas-powered mowers come with their own set of issues: you may be able to ride the mower to a nearby gas station for refills but if this is not an option you will have to fill it manually using cans which can be messy. They usually have a rear roller and combined with the precision cut of cylinder blades that create the much desired striped lawn effect. A cylinder mower is typically a more expensive type of mower than a comparable rotary lawnmower.

About the Author:

Steve Buchanan Craftsman lawn mower

This is a review of the Black and Decker (B&D) CMM1000 5 HP cordless electric lawn mower with a 19-inch cutting path. The mower has a mulching feature and came with a rear-mounted grass catcher. The author has used this model for years and offers the following observations and advice to those considering the purchase of a cordless electric lawn mower.

Convenience

This cordless lawn mower is extremely convenient. There is no need to purchase any gasoline or oil for the life of the mower. Because gasoline prices are currently so high, this is an extremely cost-effective mower. The B&D CMM1000 mower initially costs more than its gasoline-powered counterpart. However, the elimination of gas and oil purchases, oil changes, air filter changes, and all the maintenance normally associated with small gasoline engines offsets the initial price.

Almost no maintenance is required, except for an occasional blade sharpening and removal of accumulated grass from beneath the cutting deck and discharge chute.

Electric lawn mowers are much quieter than their gasoline-powered counterparts. The noise level drops even more during the cutting session as the battery gradually uses its charge.

Say good-bye to back-breaking pull starting. Electric lawn mowers start via a simple switch or lever.

Finally, the one-hand external cutting height adjustment lever requires no tools and only minimal hand strength. The height adjustment has a simple gauge showing the best height for mulching.

Safety

The mower comes with a safety key that must be inserted before the cordless electric lawn mower will start. This key cannot be inserted until the recharging cord is detached from the back of the electric lawn mower. The mower is started by pulling the safety release lever up to the padded handle, and operating the convenient start lever. The safety release must be held to the handle during mower operation. If the operator releases his or her grip for any reason, the cordless electric lawn mower promptly stops.

The cordless electric lawn mower must never be operated in wet grass because it is an electrical appliance. If there are several days of rain in a row, the owner must wait until the yard has dried sufficiently before using the electric mower. This drying often takes at least another full day after the end of the rain.

Battery Life and Charging

The B&D CMM1000 cordless electric lawn mower houses a sealed 24-volt battery inside the entirely plastic casing. No extension cord is required to operate this mower.

Anyone who has carried a car or boat battery might assume that this unit would be difficult to push because of the large battery. On the contrary, the battery is well-balanced between the two back wheels and the mower is easy to maneuver.

The battery trickle-charges via the external power supply and uses standard 110 Volt household outlets. The recharging plug can be difficult to plug into the mower in dim light or for those with limited manual dexterity. A red/green LED on the mower indicates that the mower is charging (red) or fully charged (green).

The instructions for this cordless electric lawn mower indicate that the battery reaches about 70% of its full charge in 4 hours of charging. Experience has shown that it is better to allow the mower to fully charge overnight before using it again.

Engine Horsepower

The B&D CMM1000 cordless electric lawn mower has a 5 HP battery. This is 5 HP gas equivalent at peak torque. A gasoline lawn mower will operate at full horsepower until the last drop of gasoline is used. The electric lawn mower will operate at or near full horsepower for most of the cutting time, and then gradually loses horsepower until a recharge is required.

This mower is rated for a yard of approximately 1/3 acre. Experience has shown that the mower is much better suited for 0.25 acre or less, if the owner desires to cut the entire yard in a single session. Otherwise, the mower must recharge overnight, and the remainder of the lawn must be cut another day.

Battery Operating Time

This cordless electric lawn mower can operate for 40-45 minutes on a full charge at ideal grass conditions. Ideal grass conditions include dry grass only requiring 1-2 inches to be cut. High grass, damp grass, dried grass clumps from previous mowings, and thick grass will all decrease the cutting time, because these conditions require more power and drain the battery faster. Cutting the grass very low, a dull blade, and using the mulching feature will also decrease the cutting time.

Those wishing to purchase this cordless electric lawn mower should invest in the inexpensive external grass discharge chute. This chute is not included with the mower. The mulching feature cuts the grass clippings repeatedly, and drains the battery faster. With the external discharge chute, cut grass exits the mower quickly.

Disadvantages

As stated previously, this cordless electric lawn mower operates at the rated horsepower for most, but not all, of the cutting session. Factors such as thicker or higher grass can decrease the amount of cutting time available. The unit cannot be used while the grass is wet. The rating that the cordless lawn mower can cut 1/3 acre on a single charge is optimistic. This mower does best cutting 0.20-0.25 acres on a single charge.

Recommendations

The B&D CMM1000 5 HP 19-inch cordless electric lawn mower (or comparable model) is ideal for homeowners with yards of about 0.25 acres or less, who dislike dealing with gas and oil, and prefer a quieter lawn cutting experience. The mower is easy to operate and recharge, although a few owners might have difficulty plugging the recharging cord into the mower. Note that the model reviewed was purchased several years ago, and this issue may have been resolved.

If you have a small lot, are tired of keeping flammable gasoline in the garage, and hate pull-starting a lawn mower (or are unable to), a cordless electric lawn mower is the perfect lawn mower for you.