Zero Turn Lawnmowers – Are They a Good Choice?

If you have a large lawn and want it to be well trimmed but don’t want all the work to do it manually you might consider a zero turn lawnmower. Zero turn lawnmowers are ideal for large areas of grass that have obstacles that you need to trim close to. They are riding mowers that can turn in a complete circle so are highly maneuverable and can get very close to objects such as benches, bird baths etc.

Originally designed for commercial use for golf courses and parks they are becoming increasingly popular for home owners as, not only are they very maneuverable but they are fast and fun to drive! each wheel on a zero turn mower is capable of independent action and by controlling the power and direction applied to the individual wheels you can maneuver the mower easily and in any direction needed.

So, if you apply equal power and direction to all the wheels it will go in a straight line but if the power to one wheel is slower it will turn in the direction of the wheel that is spinning more slowly. You can also make one wheel go backwards as the others go forwards to move in a half circle. Manipulating each wheel individually then makes these mowers highly maneuverable and easy to drive, once you’ve had some practise.

Most zero turn mowers have a hydrostatic transmission linked to the rear wheels which moves the mower as power is transferred from the engine. Nowadays most have a joystick for control although older mowers operated by less easy to use levers. Some have a steering wheel instead.

Zero turn lawnmowers are not as cheap as other lawnmowers but if you have a large area to cut they are well worth the investment. Not only are they highly maneuverable, able to trim close to obstacles without having to manually get out a trimmer and do it, but they are faster than most other mowers. They are reliable and will give years of service. The hydraulic pumps have a reputation for reliability too and the engines are durable provided regular maintenance is carried out.

Conclusion

If you have a large lawn and your budget can stretch to a zero turn lawnmower this can be a good investment. the time saved and the sheer fun of driving one of these mowers is well worth the extra cost.

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