All About the Walk-Behind Lawn Mower
Today’s walk-behind mower is not the push-mower of our youth. Walk-behind mowers now have features that make them faster, more efficient and easier than ever to care for and maintain! Moreover, the cut is cleaner and tighter, making mowing a beautiful lawn quickly an easy task.
What follows are standard parts and features one might find on today’s walk-behind mower:
* The starter handle/ignition/easy-start button — Engines have to start. Some walk-behind lawn mowers have the conventional starter cord; the electric engines are often started with a simple key. A new Touch-N-Mow easy starting system starts the engine with a mere touch of a button.
* A fuel cap — Gas tanks need a cap to keep debris from getting in the gasoline. Most caps are clearly marked. Your walk-behind lawn mower should have high quality, clean gasoline (gas mixtures should never be used) and if possible, enhanced with a fuel stabilizer like Fresh Start to preserve fuel.
* Air filter — An air filter prevents dirt from entering the internal engine parts, causing engine damage. It is a simple part, made of paper or foam, but important for saving your engine unnecessary wear.
* Side discharge cover — This cover protects the operator from blowing grass and debris.
* Primer — This pushes fuel into the carburetor to smoothly start the engine.
* Mower deck — The mower deck is the steel, plastic or aluminum cover that shields and protects the operator from the mower blades and any debris they might kick up.
* Wheel height adjustor — This allows the wheels to raise or lower on the deck.
* Spark plugs — These are small, cylinder shaped plugs that cause the fuel and air mixture to ignite by causing a small spark in the engine’s combustion chamber.
* Oil cap and dipstick — The oil in your walk-behind lawn mower should be clean all the time. The oil lubricates the engine parts and prevents friction. The oil tank is capped by a clearly marked cap and checked by a nearby dipstick. which checks oil quantity and quality.
* Handlebar — The handlebar, usually adjustable, is situated for the operator’s comfort. Most main controls, like the throttle, starter, safety bail or operator control bar are typically offered within easy reach.
* Bail or operator control bar — This bar is a “quick stop” function, which stops the rotating blades and shuts down the engine. The bail or operator control bar is always located within easy reach.
All About Cub Cadet Lawn Mowers
Cub Cadet History
Cub Cadet produced its first tractor in 1961 in Louisville, Kentucky. Tractors and mowers have come a long way since with steady improvements in strength, dependability and durability. Mower decks have transformed the difficult, labor intensive jobs of lawn maintenance and gardening from time-consuming and back-breaking to easy and efficient!
A simple push mower is not difficult to operate, but it does not offer the same convenience and fun that a riding mower offers. Landscaping and maintenance have not only emerged as new industries, but are now tasks that the average homeowner can handle simply and affordably.
Who Should Buy a Cub Cadet?
A Cub Cadet riding mower is easy to operate and offers a rugged durability that makes it an appropriate choice for both the average homeowner and the landscaping professional. Cub Cadet mowers use the “cut and recut” system that renders smaller grass clippings than the “cut and throw” of traditional mowers, giving a lawn a cleaner, more attractive appearance.
The maneuverability of a Cub Cadet mower means that jobs are finished quickly, saving time and energy. For added convenience, the Cub Cadet mower can also be used as a snow blower! With just a quick change of shafts and drive belts, a snow covered driveway or porch will quickly be blown clean.
Cub Cadet Mower Deck Options
Cub Cadet offers the customer many options depending on the anticipated use of the mower. They are available in the LT1000, GT2500 and GT3000 and start from a 38 inch basic, moving upwards from there according to customer specifications. The price for a Cub Cadet mower ranges from a modest $1499 to the more expensive $6500 models. Whatever the need, from personal to industrial, Cub Cadet mowers will mow with speed and efficiency, giving the lawn a beautiful, clean look.
Cub Cadet Parts Availability
Cub Cadet prides itself on the customer availability of almost all mower parts. Deck blades, pulleys, front and rear rollers, gauge wheels, bolts, springs, and a variety of belts, including starter and generator, are available at most parts suppliers. This accessibility of parts sets Cub Cadet apart from other manufacturers, ranking it among the favorites of mower deck manufacturers.
Your Lawn and Craftsman Mowers
Many of us have lawns, but do they look the way we want them to? Are our lawns pretty to look at? Can we sit and enjoy them? Can our kids play in them? Has the lawn become such a chore that we have no interest in taking care of it or improving it?
A well-kept lawn needs work to keep it looking beautiful. Fortunately, with the proper equipment, the work need not be too intensive or back breaking. Electric lawn mowers are one option for some homeowners who like the convenience of an easy start and straightforward mow. Craftsman makes an excellent electric mower that you can depend on!
Electric Mowers
In general, electric mowers are an innovative solution to the problem of heavy, sometimes difficult-to-start gas-powered mowers. Electric mowers provide a nice cut with an instant start, a light-weight frame and easy maintenance. Of course, you are limited slightly by the length of your power cord, which can make electric mowers totally impractical for people with huge lawns. Still, for many people, especially those on city or small suburban lots, an electric mower might be a terrific bet.
Craftsman Electric Mowers
Craftsman is a proprietary brand owned by Sears. Craftsman began its line of household and garden tools in 1927. Later, as lawn mowers became popular, Craftsman decided the mower was a natural fit for their goal of quality yard products. Today, Craftsman has an array of lawn mowers, both riding and push, and their version of the electric mower is among the best in the industry.
Other Craftsman Options
There are all kinds of Craftsman mower accessory options, especially deck choices. You can get a mower deck with a side or rear discharge, or a mulching feature. The Craftsman mower decks come in different sizes, allowing you to consider the size of your yard, the speed with which you’d like to do the job, and the size of the space in which you store your outdoor tools. Smaller Craftsman mower decks finish a job a little more slowly, but if your lawn is smaller or your storage meager, it may be just the choice. Larger Craftsman mower decks will mow a lawn faster, but can be quite large and difficult to store.
Should I Buy a Craftsman Riding Mower?
Craftsman carries both walk-behind push mowers and riding mowers. Typically, for smaller or average sized yards, walk-behind mowers are great! They do an excellent job cutting, can be purchased as gas or electric powered, and are reasonably priced. Riding mowers are a necessity when the yard is huge, hilly or otherwise difficult to navigate.
When purchasing a riding mower, look at the availability of parts so that you can do some of the maintenance yourself. With Craftsman, general servicing is easy and replacement parts are carried everywhere!
Important Things to Consider when Building a Deck
Houses need decks! A deck can be used and enjoyed every nice day of the year so it’s important to think about your potential deck very carefully. A deck should be built with your unique needs in mind — a design that may or may not be available in a do-it-yourself deck kit format.
Although you can find many deck styles already available, if it is not exactly the one you are looking for, why settle? Why employ a carpenter to redesign and add-on? Consider planning the design of the deck yourself! Your talent may surprise you.
* Plan the design of your deck! Put plenty of thought into this very important first step. Keep sketching until you are certain that things feel exactly right.
* Choose the wood for your deck. You may need to consult with an expert for this as there are many considerations you must take into account: type of wood, post and beam needs, and quantity of wood.
* Make sure you have all the necessary tools and keep them easily accessible. Typically, you will need a circular saw, power drill, jigsaw, hammer, framing square, wrench, gloves, mask, etc.
* Check your deck’s foundation! Make sure the foundation upon which you are building the deck is supportive and sufficient for the deck.
* Similarly, make sure that you have considered beams and extra support in your deck. As these are fairly invisible parts, it may not be something that you have adequately planned for.
* Don’t forget handrails for your deck! Deck handrails are a significant safety detail, but they can also be beautiful and utilitarian.
* Look at your deck closely. Make sure hinges are secure and that nails and screw are fully flush with the wood. It is a small detail, but one with that could have a huge safety impact.
You have created something that is uniquely yours, safe, cost effective and comfortable, so enjoy your deck!
The Advantages of Aluminum Mower Decks
Surrounding the blades of a lawn mower is a protective shield called a deck. The deck can be constructed by a variety of materials including steel, virtually indestructible plastic, Xenoy resin or cast aluminum. Steel has the advantage of cost, producing a less expensive mower, but it rusts and corrodes easily, shortening the life of the lawn mower and putting the operator at risk of injury.
Aluminum polycarbonate (cast aluminum) is slightly heavier and more costly than other materials, but it is as durable and strong as steel, and significantly, it does not rust. Generally, aluminum lawn mower decks are more expensive than those made of alternate materials, but they last considerably longer.
Below are examples of models in the mower market that make use of aluminum / cast aluminum in their deck construction.
* The TM-22 and TM-26 are models with aluminum mower decks. These mowers with aluminum mower decks are designed to be rugged and powerful enough to tackle high grass and underbrush, but are practical enough for the average homeowner’s lawn. These push/self propelled high wheel models have an adjustable cutting height, pneumatic or semi-pneumatic 20″ rear wheels and either mulching or side discharge.
* The M-22 mower model with aluminum mower deck may have the Briggs and Stratton 6 HP DP I/C/ or Honda 5 HP engine and the TM-26 may have the Briggs and Stratton 6 HP I/C/ or OHV, 8.5 HP I/C and 10.5 HP I/C/ or Honda 5.5 HP engine.
* The CV-22 mower model with an aluminum mower deck is ideal for trimming and tricky, tight spots. It is another high wheel design mower, but with a high front deck that allows it to plow through high, thick grass without clogging so therefore is ideal for tough overgrowth. It also features pneumatic/semi pneumatic 20″ wheels and has an adjustable cutting height. This mower model with aluminum mower deck may have the Briggs and Stratton 6HP DP I/C/ or Honda 5.5 HP engine.
* Rear discharge bagging mowers use solid cast aluminum in the deck to avoid rust and corrosion. They also feature a three-speed Tuff-Torq gear drive transmission, large 8-inch front, and 9-inch rear wheels, a two-in-one convertible, factory installed bagging system with mulch plug included and a specially designed “Double Wave mulching/bagging blade”. One lever controls the multiple height-of-cut settings, foam handle grips and console with cupholder provide comfort and convenience for the operator and a simple, easy to use 2.5 bushel bag empties effortlessly and efficiently. Handles adjust easily to match the height of the operator to make the task as easy as possible.