How to Work a Lawn Mower

The sound of a lawn mower brings back memories of summers past. Mowing a lawn is fairly easy, but it helps to get familiar with a few lawn mower basics.
Lawn mowers come in four types: reel mowers, gas mowers, electric mowers and riding mowers.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

1. Walk around your lawn and check for any big sticks, branches, rocks or anything that might harm your blades. If using a reel mower, clear away any small sticks as well.

2. Choose the greenest mower of all: the reel mower. Reel mowers, sometimes called cylinder or push mowers, are the easiest to use and usually the least expensive. They also don't pollute the environment or make you dizzy from fumes.
   Before mowing, test the mower on a small patch of grass. If you don't like the height of the cut, adjust the blades by moving levers up or down on each side, usually on the inner part near the wheel.
   Mowing your lawn with a reel mower is hard work, so they're not the best choice for a large lawn. They also are not the best choice if you let your grass grow too long, since long grass gets caught in the wheels. Maintenance is easy: Wipe moisture and grass clippings off the blades after each use, and keep it out of the rain.

3. Pick a gas mower for a fast way to cut your lawn. Gas mowers are more involved than reel mowers, but not much. Set the grass height by moving levers near the wheels, and add gas and motor oil to new mowers. Read the manual to verify what type of oil to use.
   To start mowing, pump a button or rubber bulb on the motor three times to push gas into the carburetor. Grasp the safety bar and the handle, and hold them together while you pull the cord on the side of the lawn mower, and while mowing. If you let go of the safety bar, the engine will stop.

4. Try electric if you want a cleaner mower. They don't need oil or gasoline, but many have to stay plugged in while you mow the lawn. You'll be dealing with a cord the whole time, and many cords have been accidentally mowed over and ruined. Cordless electric mowers are available that eliminate this problem.

5. You can also ride around your lawn in comfort on a riding mower. These mowers are like small cars, with a steering wheel, an engine that uses gas and motor oil, and a standard ignition. Depending on the type of mower, you may have a clutch like a standard transmission on a car.

Tips & Warnings

• Make sure the grass is dry and your blades are sharp before you start mowing.
• Always read the directions that came with your mower before using it. Never mow up a hill. Turn the engine off when crossing over sidewalks and driveways. Be sure to wear long pants; debris can fly in odd directions.

Resources

• Tips for Using a Lawn Mower

[daydreamgalaxy]

on 7/15/2009 Thanks for the article! 5*s and Rec.

[jull14]

on 6/22/2009 A very interesting article and very helpful, I hope that you write more like this one, thanks for helping us.