The Importance of Lawn Mower Deck
We are bombarded every day with new technology, inventions and incredible advancement in every area of our lives. Our daily lives have become supercharged as computers and cell phones give us instant access all the time. Even something as humble as our lawn mower has changed.
Mowers are safer, faster, cleaner and more adaptable to specialized needs than ever before. We expect our lawn mowers to do more than just a basic rough job of cutting grass; we want them to quickly and uniformly cut the lawn, clear tough patches, maybe even, with an accessory or two, blow our snow! We want to mow our lawns with a minimal of effort and maintenance, but in a maximum of comfort.
The lawn mower deck is one of the most critical parts of a lawn mower. Mower decks have also seen lots of changes over the years — improvements in materials, style and function.
The purpose of the mower deck is to act as a shield to protect the operator from grass and debris and the engine from external damage. Mower decks need to withstand tremendous heat, pressure and damage from the elements. The mower deck must be constructed of the best steel, plastics or aluminum because the load it bears is extreme and rust, cracks and corrosion will shorten the life of the mower and put the operator at risk of injury. The quality of the mower deck is directly related to the quality of the mower as a whole. It is important not to overlook this vital part when you are considering to purchase a mower.
Because it is such an important part, manufacturers have concentrated on improving the mower deck. Innovations such as the wheel horse mower deck fulfill all mower deck requirements and exceed them by promising a great performance in all weather and almost all conditions. Toro builds a mower that uses this mower deck technology.
Make sure you consider all features in the mower you may purchase. Maintenance, customer service, ease of finding replacement parts, user friendliness and cost are all worthy of research. But never, ever forget to study the mower deck. Check to ensure it is the best you can afford and feel satisfied that you have made a good choice!
Lawn Mowers: Reel versus Rotary
A lawn mower is a machine that cuts the grass and, depending on the style, size and options, may also help you do many other lawn and garden tasks. Because lawn mowers can come in so many varieties, it is important that you look at the range of features available as well cost and customer service. Honda, John Deere and Kubota are among the largest, most reliable manufacturers of garden equipment in the world, which makes them always good places to start looking!
Reel and Rotary Mowers
An immediate choice that you will be faced with is whether you prefer a reel or a rotary lawn mower. Reel mowers use a revolving cylinder with blades attached to cut the grass. When a reel mower is propelled forward, either by muscle or engine, the reel turns and rotating blades cut the grass. It is easy to adjust the reel mower to various cutting heights.
Rotary mowers are different. Rotary mowers use a flat, horizontal blade that is actually connected to the engine shaft. The blades, which are bolted underneath the deck, turn with the speed of the engine. The area under the mower deck acts as a vacuum, which lifts the grass to give it a better cut.
There are advantages and disadvantages to using a reel mower and a rotary mower. Reel lawn mowers are capable of cutting a shorter lawn because of the sheering action of the reel. Grass is cut evenly with fine clippings. Reel mowers are often used for serious lawn and turf management like golf courses. Rotary mowers, on the other hand, are often less expensive and very easy to operate. They are excellent for use in yards with high grass and weeds.
Your Options
Most lawn mower styles can come with either a rotary or a reel option. Gas, electric or rotary mowers all give you the choice. Whether you are considering a riding, self-propelled or walk-behind mower, you will have to decide! You need to think about your needs carefully; look at trustworthy brands and begin your research. Look at the grass cutting mechanism first — is a reel mower or rotary mower suitable for your needs? From there, look at the features one by one, look at the cost and look at the maintenance. Be thoughtful in these choices and you will get a lawn mower that is exactly right for you!