About to show my ignorance.

[Greenblades]

I'm about to show how long its been since I've mowed a lawn (if technology has progressed). I really hate having to pull the cord to start the mower. Are the newer push mowers able to be started with a push of a button, or are they all mostly pull cord started. This could help tip me towards or away from whether I should get a ride on or a push mower. (Though I would love one of those automated mowers if I can find one at a good enough price.) I wish I knew all the technical details that some of the really experienced people here know.

 

[KennyV]

You can get battery key start push mowers Self propelled walk behind... Toro makes a few. expect to pay around $400 or so, Toro 22inch model 20334 Electric Start ...
It all depends on how much you want to spend on a mower.
As you get under $350 almost everything will be pull start, tho some are a bit more refined than others... KennyV

 

[RockHound]

Yeah, I've been looking at the key start self propelled mowers. I'm not sure though that they would do for me. I have a rather nasty patch of grass on the lower end of my lawn that I won't walk through let alone mow through. I wouldn't mind riding through it but it would have to have some real power and some type of non-slip tires for me to get through it. I usually have to put my waders on at some point and weed eat the spot and I HATE it.

 

[Greenblades]

Hmm, I guess I thought technology would have progressed faster and pull strings might be obsolete. I always end up hurting myself with pull strings. If I can avoid it I might go for a more expensive mower. Pull strings are at the very very bottom of my list.

 

[KennyV]

thought technology would have progressed faster and pull strings might be obsolete.

Pull start will stay around forever... it is the most cost effective and reliable way to start small engines. Electric start is the easiest ... but pull start still the most reliable ... KennyV

 

[173abn]

my dad had a lawnboy electric start that worked well for him and when he passed it went to one of my nephews.like others said expect to pay a little more.I've seen some of those robatic mowers on t.v. and I believe the price is pretty high plus the ones I've seen are electric via battery so are for small yards. russ

 

[BKBrown]

Pull start will stay around forever... it is the most cost effective and reliable way to start small engines. Electric start is the easiest ... but pull start still the most reliable ... KennyV

Does anyone else remember the mowers that had a crank to wind up a spring that in turn replaced the pull cord ? Gramp had a Reel type and Dad had a Rotary.

 

[noma]

Hi bk Brown

Yes i remember that on a snapper that my fatherend had ,and yes it worked very good it you had the engine tune -up was good

 

[BKBrown]

Hi bk Brown

Yes i remember that on a snapper that my fatherend had ,and yes it worked very good it you had the engine tune -up was good

The crank wound a spring and you pushed a lever to release the spring -- I think these may have been Craftsman (not sure) .

Does Sthil have something similar on one of their chain saws ?

 

[Hand2ThePlow]

Does anyone else remember the mowers that had a crank to wind up a spring that in turn replaced the pull cord ? Gramp had a Reel type and Dad had a Rotary.

I grew up with that type of mower, when Pop replaced it with a pull start I couldn't believe that mower technology had de-evolved to such a primative state. At least the cord had a recoil on it.

I wish more mowers offered that type of start today, cranking beats pulling that cord any day.