Using Ride on Mowers
For large grassy areas and yards that are simply too big or too tough for a push mower to do the job effectively, a ride on lawn mower presents the perfect solution. Ride on mowers have blades that cover up to a 60 inch turn radius and cut through grass and other vegetation at a speed of about 3600 RPM.
A riding mower generally has a motor that ranges from 10 to 25 horsepower. Because these are powerful machines, it’s important to understand how to operate a lawn mower properly to ensure your safety, whether you’ll be using a riding or push mower.
Users of a ride on mower operate the vehicle by sitting on top of it. The positions of the engine and blades may vary depending on the brand and model. Most come with four wheels, and the two back wheels are generally larger than the ones on the front. A mower that have the “zero degree” turning feature may also have extra wheels on the sides to enable these maneuvers. Sit on lawn mowers may run on gasoline or diesel.
Educating yourself on riding lawn mower safety should be done before starting the engine. Before beginning, survey the lawn and remove any rocks, toys, and other large objects. If you happen to run over any objects, injuries or damages could happen since it will be sent flying in an unknown direction. It is also important that children and pets not be in the area when the lawn mower is in use.
Most sit on mowers are similar to cars, and can be started by turning a key in the ignition. Typically, the mower must typically be in neutral and the blades disengaged before starting the engine. After you get the mower started, you can adjust the height level and engage the blades according to how short you plan to cut the grass.
When you want to start mowing, you’ll shift the machine into drive with your foot on the break. Then, slowly release the break to start moving. The path you take to cut the grass is up to you, but many people like to mow in straight rows, while others opt to outline the edges and move from the outside to the inside. While this entirely depends on your personal preference, you will soon learn that some techniques get the job done faster than others.
There are other safety concerns to think about when using a ride on mower. The most important is to never leave a mower unattended while it is running, even for a moment. If you need to hop off to move a tree limb, rock, or other item, you must shut off the engine first. Many models are equipped with a safety feature that shuts off the engine when you remove your weight from the seat, even for an instant. If this isn’t the case with your model, make sure to cut the engine before you get down.
You should also exercise caution when mowing a steep slope. Ride on mowers, obviously, are vastly heavier than push mowers and can therefore be in danger of tipping over. Rather than mowing from side to side, you should mow steep slopes in an up and down pattern.