Are Electric Lawn Mowers Self-Propelled? The Answer Revealed

Hello everyone!

Pushing a lawn mower to clean up your beautiful lawn can be a kind of relaxation. But if yours is too big, you may want to look for an automatic machine that deals with this hassle. 

Many homeowners have asked: “Are electric lawn mowers self-propelled?” If yes, you must be excited to get one. Before you go, let us help you answer this question and explain more about the multiple types of lawn mowers. 

Are Electric Lawn Mowers Self-Propelled?

It depends. There are multiple types of electric lawn mowers, with self-propelled mowers being one of the most popular choices. 

These machines have automatic propulsion to help you drive the engines without pushing them. 

Self-propelled lawn mowers are simple to use as you don’t have to deal with the pushing task. They can also mow grass quickly, regardless of the lawn size. 

Electric self-propelled lawn mowers are the best option for lawns of 500m². If your lawn has gentle slopes, these machines can deal with them too. 

The main reason to get such machines is that they don’t ask you to push them forward. You will also love their steady and consistent speed. However, they require frequent maintenance and are pretty expensive. 

Read more: Black+Decker BEMW472BH Electric Lawn Mower review

Self-propelled lawn mowers are powerful and efficient

Which Is Better, Push Or Self-Propelled Lawn Mower? 

Unlike self-propelled mowers, you have to walk behind push mowers to push them, hence the name. So which is the better solution for your lawn? The answer differs depending on several factors.

Yard size

Lawns vary in size significantly, and the size affects the features you need to look for in your lawn mower. 

A push mower will be all you need if you have a small lawn. It doesn’t make sense to invest in an expensive self-propelled machine for it to run only 10 minutes around your yard. 

If your lawn is big, then you should go for a self-propelled mower. Maintaining a vast yard will be arduous, so you need an automatic cleaner to simplify it. 

Type of terrain

A self-propel mechanism will come in handy if you intend to push your mower up hills, slopes, or any other upward gradient.

Otherwise, on flatter grass, push mowers do pretty well. An electric push cutter will work fine if you only have a small yard with hills. Its light weight will make up for the absence of the self-propel engine. 

Please note that if you want a self-propelled machine for your sloped yard, choose one with rear-wheel drive. Its transmission will drive from back wheels, making it easier to climb. Meanwhile, the front-wheel drive may struggle to carry its weight up the hill. 

Budget

Push mowers are more economical as you can get one for as cheap as 60 bucks. Corded electric models are around 100 bucks or so. 

Meanwhile, self-propelled mowers are more expensive due to their add-on features. But they can help you easily handle a bigger, more sloped yard.

Read more: Do Electric Mowers Need Oil?

Choose the right model for your needs

How Do I Know If A Lawn Mower Is Self-Propelled? 

Self-propelled lawn mowers have some unique features that make them outstanding. 

• Safety bar: There is an extra bar that you squeeze for the wheels to run and drive the mower. 
• Fold-and-store: Most of these machines can fold up, so you can store them easily in your garage. 
• Electric start: You can find push-start or electric options on all electric lawn mowers. 
• Quiet operation: If you don’t like the annoying noise from lawn mowers, you will love how quietly self-propelled mowers work. 
• Three disposal options: Self-propelled mowers offer three grass disposal modes. You can decide to side discharge, bag, or mulch the grass clippings. 
• Brake clutch: This feature allows you to conceal the blade while keeping the machine running. It helps you easily cross gravel paths, empty bags, and easily collect obstacles. 

Self-propelled lawn mowers have multiple features

Is It Worth Getting A Self-Propelled Lawn Mower? 

It’s up to your requirement to determine if a self-propelled lawn mower is worth it. We will discuss the pros and cons of this machine so you can make an informed decision. 

Pros:

• Easy to use: The self-driving system allows you to skip the pushing part. You can finish cutting grass within a few minutes without spending too much labor. 
• Powerful: This model is perfect for large lawns with slopes and hills. It can climb uphills and doesn’t need you to push. 
• Speed: The machine speeds everything up significantly. During the working time, it can still keep its speed steady. 

Cons:

• Price: As you may guess, this automatic machine is more costly than push mowers. 
• Maintenance: Because of the sophisticated driving system, you have to maintain the machine regularly. 

Can You Push A Self-Propelled Mower?

Yes. Pushing self-propelled lawn mowers won’t damage or hurt the transmission. 

However, because these machines are heavier than regular push mowers, it will be challenging to push them. 

There are multiple reasons why you need to push the self-propelled lawn mower, such as:

• Defective drive belt
• Faulty transmission system
• Damaged safety cable
• Malfunctioning pulley
• Reused old mower 

If you would like to turn your lawn mower into a push mower, check this guide to learn. 

Can You Go Backwards With A Self-Propelled Mower? 

Yes, you can. There are some cases where you need to run your machine backward. However, you need to bear safety measures in mind before running your lawn mower in this manner. 

Self-propelled lawn mowers can move forward when run with power. Yet, you can push them backward manually as long as you disengage the propeller and run independently. 

Remember to release the machine’s drive lever. This step ensures that you disable the self-propelling function, allowing the machine to move backward. 

After pushing your lawn mower backward, you need to insert the drive lever back into its original position. Then, it can work with independent forward movements or self-propelling features again. 

Learn how to use the machine correctly

Conclusion 

You can find electric self-propelled lawn mowers to save you time. They are also easier on your job. Yet, due to those extra features, they’ll be more expensive. 

So, do you like self-propelled lawn mowers? Comment in the section below to let us know your ideas about them. Thank you for reading!