Evaluate how well a Lawn Mower meets your needs and compares to competing products
If you've completed step one you've identified what you need in a lawn mower and you've learned about the different features of lawn mowers. While you were doing your research, you probably started the process of determining which features - and thus which type of lawn mower - will best meet your needs. Now you are going to continue that process, but in greater detail.
In this step you will
evaluate the lawn mowers available on the market to determine how well they meet your personal needs and establish, by a process of elimination, an initial short-list of contenders. Then you will compare these short-listed lawn mowers to find out which ones stand out from the competition.
Evaluate how well a Lawn Mower meets your needs
Your priority at this point in your evaluation is to find the available lawn mowers in the market that best meet your needs. You can save a lot of time during this activity by quickly eliminating any lawn mowers that are unsuitable because they don't meet your key requirements. For example, if you have a limited budget for this purchase then you can ignore any lawn mowers that clearly exceed your price limit.
When researching the purchase of a lawn mower many considerations are necessary in order to choose the option that will serve your needs best. Environment, noise level, yard size and maintenance are just a few things to bear in mind.
In general, push lawn mowers are designed for individuals with smaller grassy areas (certainly less than a half acre). There are three basic lawn mower choices available - manual, electric and fuel powered.
Manual lawn mowers depend on people power to operate. They are the least expensive, are very quiet and do not kick up the dust and debris that can be found in the two other mower varieties. Because they lack a motor, the only maintenance needed is sporadic blade sharpening. They cover a modest cutting path of 14 to 18 inches (35 to 45cm), however, some newer models can cut up to 20 inches (51cm). While there are some brands that provide an average cut, in general, manual mowers will not provide a close trim and will be hard to use on unkempt yards with grass over 3 inches high. In addition, because of the exertion required to operate they are best used on a level cutting surface of less than a quarter acre.
Also very quiet and environmentally friendly, electric start lawn mowers require less stamina to operate than their manual counterparts. Like the manual option, they only require occasional blade maintenance, are eco-friendly and very quiet. With a push button start, they are also reliable and easy to use. In addition, they offer a combination of clipping modes including side or rear bagging, side discharge and mulching. They come in a variety of power options from 8 amps up to 40 amps. Electric mowers are available in both corded and cordless choices. While the cordless option has the benefit of not being tethered to an extension cord, their rechargeable batteries have a limited range before needing recharging. The cordless variety can also add up to 30 pounds to the overall weight of the machine.
Tip: Electric mowers are best for flat yards under acre. If your yard is larger or has a hilly terrain you might want to consider a fuel-powered option.
Fuel lawn mowers provide the greatest flexibility and power of all the mower choices. They typically come with a 21-inch (53cm) mowing deck and have both push and self-propelled options. Like electric mowers, they have a variety of clipping modes. Because this type of mower includes an engine, it is subject to increased maintenance including regular tune-ups and oil changes. In addition, it creates emissions that are harmful to the environment. While newer mowers have come a long way in reducing emission output, by the year 2010 there will be even stricter US government mandates on emissions.
Tip: Self-propelled options work best on hilly terrain. They are available in both front and rear wheel drive. Front wheel drive is best for flat lawns. In addition, if you generally bag your clippings, a self-propelled option is more desirable as clipping bags add considerable weight to the mower.
Fuel powered options also come with a variety of handy options including a blade break clutch option, which stops the movement of the blade yet allows the engine to keep running for short periods of time. While most fuel powered mowers come with a pull start (recoil) standard, for an additional expense an electric start can be added to for ease of use.
Tip: Before you shop, have a firm understanding of how you plan to use the machine you choose. This will enable you to pick the option best suited for your needs. Some brands are better for hilly terrain while others provide the best bagging option. Keep these needs in mind and find out which is best for your particular yard size and usage plans.
You should also consider how much maintenance you're willing to put into your lawn mower. All mowers will need to have their blades sharpened regularly, but fuel powered engines will require oil changes and draining of the engine fluids regularly. If this is more maintenance than you want to do, you'll want to consider a battery operated machine, which just needs to be plugged in to recharge.
When you were considering your requirements in a lawn mower it's likely that you singled out certain factors such as manual, electric or fuel powered, cutting deck size, noise level and cost as being of major significance. As with so many other products, the more features offered, the higher the price.
Buyz123 has created a checklist containing examples of major features; you can work from this checklist when evaluating how well various lawn mowers meet your personal needs:
Features Checklist
Power Types
- Manual push
- Electric
- Fuel Powered
Engine Considerations
- Electric - 12-volt, 24-volt, 26-volt
- Fuel - 3.5 to 6.5 horse power (hp),
- 2 or 4-cycle engine
- Hydrostatic - ensures even cut at any walking speed
Cutting Deck
- Manual and Electric -15 to 19 inches (38 to 48cm)
- Fuel - 19 to 22 inches (48 to 56cm)
- Reel, standard rotary, mulching and bagging blades, 3 in 1 blades
- Height - 1.5 to 5 inches (fuel), 1.5 to 3.5 inches (electric)
Construction
- Steel - deck
- Aluminium, plastic - body
Weight and Speed
- Electric - 46 to 80 lbs (20.9 to 36kg)
- Fuel - 70 to 125 lbs (31.8 to 56.7kg)
- 0 to 5 mph, single or variable speed control
Adjustments
- Manual adjustment levers
- Tool-free adjustment
- Wheel height, deck height, blade height, handlebar height
Extra Features and Accessories
- Edge trimmers
- Low profile
- Key start
- Mulching kit
- Vacuum bagging
- Cruise control
- Bagging kit
- Cord holder
- Mulching package
- Cup holders
- Solar panel
- Lithium or NiMH batteries
- Large capacity bags
Maintenance
- First five hours - oil
- 25 hour, 100 hour, yearly checks - oil, air filter, spark plugs, belts, blade bolt tightness, transmission, sharpen blades
Warranties
- Two to five years residential
- 90 days commercial
- Normal maintenance is usually not covered
Other Considerations
- Electric - corded, cordless
- Fuel - self propelled, push
- Rear or side bag
- Bagging capacity 1 to 2.5 bushels
- Zero turning radius
- Wheels - 7 to 8 inch front, 8 to 9 inch rear.
- Fold and store handlebars
There are a lot of features listed here, and some of them may not be relevant to your particular requirements. So, work your way through the list and assess how each of these features impact on your lawn mower needs. You can then create a personalized checklist of the features you really require in a lawn mower.
Once you have finished evaluating the lawn mowers available for sale in the light of your personal needs and arrived at a short-list of 'possibles' you are ready to progress to the next stage. This involves comparing the lawn mowers one-on-one in order to find those that really stand out.
Evaluate how well a Lawn Mower compares with competing Lawn Mowers
Comparing the items on your interim short-list, one to another, is an important part of the purchasing process - we all want to buy the best product we possibly can. So once you have established a short-list of lawn mowers that meet your needs it is time to evaluate how well they compare in fine detail. This way you can assemble a select list of lawn mowers that stand out from the crowd.
Questions to ask yourself:
Which lawn mower on my short-list offers the best value for money?
Which of these lawn mowers best meet my needs?
Which of my short-listed lawn mowers has the best warranty?
Which lawn mower is the easiest to use?
Which of the lawn mowers seem of the highest quality?
Which short-listed lawn mower is the quietest?
Which lawn mower do I like best?
By answering these simple questions, you are actually eliminating lawn mowers that aren't absolutely right for you. This is an excellent time - if you haven't done so already - to evaluate how well your short-listed products measure up in the following areas: Physical Quality, Warranty Conditions and Accessories & Extras.
Physical Quality
Regardless of the method you use when purchasing the lawn mower, you need to find an opportunity to examine the product to evaluate how well it is made, and to check that it is truly suitable for you and your purpose. This is the time to examine the quality of the materials, and how well the lawn mower is put together. Check the assembly - is the lawn mower solidly constructed? It's also important to examine the lawn mower from the perspective of ease of use. How easily is the lawn mower prepared for cleaning and maintenance? Are the controls easy to use? Make sure the lawn mower is user-friendly - some lawn mowers look great on paper, but unexpected problems will show up when you finally get your hands on them.
Physical Inspection Checklist:
- Materials - quality, appearance
- Assembly - all parts held together securely, good quality fittings
- Solidly constructed - stable, no loose components
- Proper fit of removable parts - easy to remove and replace, fit snugly
- Controls - visible, easy to use, accessible, clearly labelled
- Size - appropriate for surroundings and purpose
- Appearance - well finished, appropriate color, neat fittings etc
- Easy and comfortable to use
Warranty Conditions
Similar products may be available with significantly different terms and conditions, and you want to get the best deal you can. Parts and labor are often covered under separate warranties, for different time periods; sometimes there can be a significant difference in the warranty offered with one model compared to that offered with the next model up. It is particularly important to investigate any conditions that might void a warranty, such as accidental damage.
Warranty Checklist:
- Duration - check the specifics
- Parts, Labor, Mechanical, Electrical
- Exactly what is covered
- Exactly what is excluded
- Conditions or actions that may void the warranty
Accessories, Extras and Consumables
When evaluating similar products, it is a good idea to include accessories in your assessment. You need to be clear about exactly what accessories are necessary to run the product to its full capacity, and whether these are included with the purchase. What other facilities are required - do you need ear muffs and eye protection, for instance? What about a contract or service plan? It's also important to consider consumables, such as fuel - some products have higher associated costs than others.
Accessories Checklist:
- Accessories - included or extra cost?
- Compatibility issues - will it work with your existing products?
- Consumables - how often and how much?
- Contracts or Service Plans - conditions, penalties, costs
- What else will you need to fully utilize this product?
Once you've worked through the Evaluation step you will have a final short-list of lawn mowers that meet your needs and stand out from competing products on the market. It's time then to move on to the third and final step: Purchase.
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