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12 of 13 people found the following review helpful.
Does the job---but a bit too basic for many users
By Stoney
SUMMARY
An excellent value for maintaining a small, well-cared-for lawn without an excessively thick turf mat, IF none of the "cons" below are show-stoppers for you.
MY CHECK LIST FOR THE PERFECT LAWNMOWER (yours may differ) "yes" = features of this mower; "not" = features this mower lacks
yes> All metal deck---beware of other mowers which have a black plastic "extention" or "bumper" to which the front wheels attach
yes> Easy to start. In this case, partly because the engine is small.
yes> Priming bulb. Helps make the lawnmower easy to start.
yes> Briggs & Stratton engine (or any engine sold by Sears) Either assures that maintenance parts (e.g., spark plugs), and repair parts (e.g., starting rope assembly) should be readily available
not> Variable-speed engine. With a variable-speed engine You can run just a little above idle for a quick trim (e.g., just to cut the weeds that are sticking up) without disturbing the neighbors, or can you "rev-up" for dense patches of grass
not> Large rear wheels. With large rear wheels you can push down on the handle to lift the front wheels a little to overcome resistence caused by patches of dense grass, an excessively thick turf mat, or holes/depressions (into which the front wheels sink).
not> Lean-able, foldable handle. Makes it possible to store the mower in smaller spaces
not> Sharp blade. Lawn experts insist that sharp blades are best for the grass--the grass heals faster from a clean cut.
not> Oil filler. Makes it easy to add oil when necessary
not> Mulching mower, or with a mulching adapter. Mulching is less work than emptying a bag every few minutes. Also by definition, a mulching mower (or mower with a muching adapter in place) does not have a side discharge chute which gets in the way of cutting close on the right side.
not> Rear bagging attachment. If the bag isn't used, then "rear-bagger" mowers mulch. If the bag is used, "rear-bagger" mowers are efficient leaf vacuums---even if only used 2 or 3 times per year
not> Easy cutting height adjustment. (albeit, honestly I never change the cutting height)
OTHER PROS
> Light and maneuverable.
> Cuts remarkably well for a mower with a dull blade
> Slightly lower profile than most gasoline mowers---so you can mow a little lower under overhanging branches without snagging
OTHER CONS
> Comes almost completely disassembled. Takes about 1 hour for assembly. Assembly requires a variety of SAE box wrenches (and a socket set helps). I suppose you could manage with two adjustable wrenches, but that would slow assembly and make it more difficult.
> Handle does not lean in nor fold. In my case, the mower could not fit in my utility shed.
> No mulching adapter.
> Side-discharge chute gets in the way. You cannot cut within several inches of a wall or fence on the right side.
> No oil filler. Instructions DO NOT describe how to fill the oil reservoir. Many reviews of this engine on similar lawn mowers complain that it was hard to start or seized up after running a short while---which is exactly what happens if the engine does not have any oil. My guess is that many users, not finding an oil port, didn't fill the oil reservoir. Perhaps they though the oil was supposed to be mixed with gas (as in for 2-cycle engines).
> Height adjustable only by de-installing and re-installing each wheel.
> Blade VERY dull. Proclaimed to be a "safety" feature. Most users will not notice, since lawn mower blades become dulled rather quickly and still seem to adequately "cut" the grass, and few users regularly sharpen blades.
> The engine is one-speed---like most less than $300 mowers.
> Small wheels. The small wheels make the mower harder to push through thick grass, or excessively thick turf mats, or irregular lawns with holes or depressions.
> Small rear wheels. If you push down on the handle, you just push the small rear wheels down into the turf mat, making the mower even harder to push.
> The small, one-speed, engine, dull blade, not-easily-adjustable cutting height, and small wheels, all contribute to making this a poor choice for cutting lawns with patches of tall lush grass.
> The angle of the handle is a bit low, and not adjustable. I'm 5'8", and the low handle forces me to bend over to push, which causes me backache. So, if you are 5'8" or taller, you may also get backache with this mower.
ASSEMBLY SUGGESTIONS
> Box (upside down) can be used as a platform for assembly
> Some bicycle-type grips, e.g.,2 Pcs Bike Bicycle Anti Slip Sponge Handlebar Grip Black Red or ¾ pipe insulation (cheap at any hardware store) can provide cushioned handle at the top edge, install before assembling handle. Important if the vibrations bother you.
> Install handle before back wheel
> Apply a little grease to the wheel axle bolts during assembly.
> Fill oil LAST (if the lawnmower is on its side for a long period, the oil gets places it shouldn't be).
> Fill oil through the dipstick inspection port, requires a small funnel (not supplied)
> Requires every drop of the included bottle--if you spill any, you need additional oil. So, use a funnel.
> Do NOT overfill the oil reservoir. It is hard to judge the oil level of clean oil. Simply using a funnel and all the oil supplied is the best judge, but you should check the oil level at least the first few times you use the lawn mower and at the begining of the season.
> Do not discard your old mower until the new one is assembled, you may be able to salvage components from your old mower such as:
>>> bolts and knobs to make the handle foldable.
>>> mulching adapter / side discharge bag.
>>> larger wheels.
>>> It may even be possible to reuse height-adjustment mechanisms from older mowers, but that may require drilling new holes.
0 of 0 people found the following review helpful.Good, simple, reliable (so far) mower.
By S. Musicant
Exceedingly easy mower to assemble; the wheels, handle and deflector shield are all that need to be attached to the mower deck, and all require a couple of nuts and bolts. Takes maybe 20 -25 minutes, just get the proper (simple) tools, as per the easy instructions. In fact, the assembly is so intuitive, the instructions aren't really even necessary. I mean, you know what a lawn mower looks like, where else are the wheels going to go? Ships in a 26 x 22 x 15.2" box, as per the description.
Once assembled, fueled, oil poured in (oil included in a VERY easy to pour container, btw), and primed with the priming bulb (again, per the instructions), this starts on the first pull. Every time. Typical Briggs & Stratton engine. Good stuff.
My one criticism is that the blades don't cut very close to the edge of the deck, so even if you push the mower rightagainstthesideof thehouse, there will be a gap - a bit larger than most - requiring edging.
As for the criticisms that it's a "basic" mower with few if any controls... well, that's what you're paying $150 for! It's as simple as it gets, hence the price. Not a valid criticism to say it's too simple. If you want more features, buy a mower with more features!
0 of 0 people found the following review helpful.
Great Little Mower
By LorrieB
I love this machine. I had an older one like it and it lasted a long time. It was a great mower and easy to operate and maintain. When it finally quit, I bought a newer one just like it. I am very satisfied.
Product Feature
- 148cc Push mower
- 20" Steel deck
- Side discharge capabilities
Product Description
Yard Machines 148cc Briggs & Stratton 450 Series engine delivers reliable cutting performance. 20-in wide cutting path offers a great balance of maneuverability and cutting capacity for mid-sized areas. Durable steel cutting deck. 7-in front and 7-in rear wheels with manual height adjusters.
Product Detail
- Amazon Sales Rank: #9439 in Lawn & Patio
- Brand: Yard Machine
- Model: 11A-020L700
- Dimensions: 15.25" h x22.00" w x26.00" l,49.00 pounds
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