Self-propelled Push Mover

[plowjockey]

I have never owned one, but am considering one.

DS purchased a John Deere from Lowes, last year for about $300. Seems like a decent mower, It has a decent sized B&S engine and mows forward with a lot of power, but...

When I release the drive lever and tried pulling the mower backward, I practically have to drag it with the rear(drive) wheels not turning or barely turning at all.

Is this commom with a self-propelled when pulling backwards?

I am assuming that although the drive mechanism is released from the power, there may still be pulleys or gears, still causing some resistance on the wheels.

[Toads tool]

It sucks to pull my self-propelled mower backwards. There is a lot more resistance than you think there aught to be.

[Harry Chickpea]

Depends on the mower. If you get a front drive one that has the large rear wheels, you just push down a little to raise the fronts up and it'll come right back. A lot of the resistance is because they use the smallest (read cheapest) wheels they can. Another factor can be debris build up in the gearing to the front wheels.

[fantasymaker]

I just got a nice little self propelled mower for a girlfriend of mine. We nearly wore it out playing with it around here before she took it home.
Light and easy to push in both directions quiet and does a nice job......but we are not useing the power feature.


http://mantis.com/reelmower_faqs.asp

[plowjockey]

Originally Posted by Harry Chickpea

Depends on the mower. If you get a front drive one that has the large rear wheels, you just push down a little to raise the fronts up and it'll come right back. A lot of the resistance is because they use the smallest (read cheapest) wheels they can. Another factor can be debris build up in the gearing to the front wheels.

Good point. I'd pass on a front drive anyway, as I'd heard that since the front is the lightest part of the mower, plus maybe having a bagger, a front drive mower does not get good enough traction to be effective.

Wonder if there is a rear drive that releases the wheels when pulling backwards?

[suitcase_sally]

Isn't a "self-propelled push mower" an oxymoron?

[HermitJohn]

Originally Posted by suitcase_sally

Isn't a "self-propelled push mower" an oxymoron?

"Walk behind mower" probably more technically accurate.

[fantasymaker]

You propell it your self? LOL

[IndyGardenGal]

My mom's boss gave us the Cub Cadet self-propelled mower the after it wouldn't start 1 year after buying it. We just cleaned out the carburetor, and it was good as new. I prefer it over riding mowers hands down. Even nicer is the fact that we maybe put $6 into fixing it and got a $500 mower out of the deal.

I don't recall any issues pulling it back either.

[Pamela]

I love my self-propelled mower. I mow an acre by hand and did it for years with a push mower....now that I'm a bit older its wonderful to have something pull me up the hill! Big wheels in back, front wheels power....a Toro...I love it.

[cowboy joe]

The mower deck on the tractor wore out last year...literally. The metal on the bottom of the deck wore right thru and broke off. Over $500 to replace just the frame which doesn't include new bearings and other pieces / parts. Going to buy a self propelled push mower instead...less expensive to buy, run & maintain. Haven't used one in years.

My favorite was a front wheel drive with the large rear wheels because you can lean on the handle to lift the front, then freewheel backwards. Rear wheel drive is supposedly better but I remember having to 'drag' my Dad's mower when I wanted to back up.

[greif]

i see that mantis only has 30 minutes run time.... too short

[Shrek]

I like my large snapper mower style rear wheels self propelled Troybilt walk behind mower. To back it up I lift the front drive wheels a couple inches off the ground and roll it back on the larger rear wheels.

Most of the time I dont even disengage the front drive wheels as I back it up.

[GREENCOUNTYPETE]

Originally Posted by Shrek

I like my large snapper mower style rear wheels self propelled Troybilt walk behind mower. To back it up I lift the front drive wheels a couple inches off the ground and roll it back on the larger rear wheels.

Most of the time I dont even disengage the front drive wheels as I back it up.

same here engage drive at start up and never disengage

but honestly i have been mowing a bunch with a littel junk murry 3hp i got for free i can push it faster than the self propelled goes especaly with the front drive wheels worn almost smooth from 8-9 years of mowing


i sure wish i had a rider that bags into 30 gallon rectangular garbage cans so i could get the mulch without the hastle of the litte bag

[foxtrapper]

Most self propelled mowers are a bear to move when not self propelling. And, a whole lot are front wheel drive, which is pretty durn useless in my opinion. Then there is the matter of travel speed, which is always wrong. As such, I don't like almost all self propelled lawn mowers.

The exception is the Snapper. Now that one, I do like. It's rear wheel drive, so it actually works. It's friction drive, so it's infinitely variable on speed, so I can set it right. You engage it by pushing forward, not pulling something backwards. And when released, it completely releases.

[fantasymaker]

Originally Posted by greif

i see that mantis only has 30 minutes run time.... too short

You can always buy more batteries.
But usually we just push it.