Best Commercial Walk-Behind Lawn Mowers (Buying Guide 2020)
Whether it is a vast expanse of turf or a lot the size of a car parking, you would like to keep the grass trim and well maintained.
Walk-behind lawn mowers come in three different options:
Reel Mowers: Reel Mowers use a reel of blades that spin while you push the machine. These machines trim the grass instead of tearing. Manual reel mowers are lightweight, produce no fuel emissions, and require little maintenance beyond sharpening the blades. Motorized reel mowers offer a reel’s close-cut and are powered by gas.
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Reel mowers can get blocked by twigs and trash, making them a less-than-ideal choice if your yard contains lots of trees. They are ideal for smaller lawns or those who frequently mow without need to handle tall grass or other trees.
Electric Mowers: Electric mowers are available in two styles, corded mowers and cordless or battery-powered mowers. Electric mowers are comparatively less expensive than gas mowers; they generate no fuel emissions and do not require regular oil changes or frequent tune-ups; furthermore, they create less noise. A corded electric mover’s primary drawback is that you cannot venture away from the electrical source in case of a corded electric mower.
Battery-powered mowers cut a 20- or 21-inch swath, and are equipped with interchangeable batteries. They can start with a push of a button, produce no exhaust emissions, and are quieter than gas models. Additionally, they don’t require oil changes and are easy to store and maintain.
However, they have a limited runtime—usually enough to cut 1⁄3 acre. Besides, battery-powered self-propelled models consume up to 20% of the battery to power the wheels, which will reduce the amount of grass they can cut. Battery-powered models are comparatively pricier than gas counterparts, but they are much more economical in the longer run.
Gas-powered: Gas-powered mowers are the most popular lawn mower option and are available in two variants, push movers or self-propelled mowers. Push mowers need the user to push the mower forward, while self-propelled mowers use a drive wheel to move forward. The user only needs to guide the machine while mowing and is of great assistance in mowing hilly lawns with noticeable inclines.
Gas-powered mowers are comparatively more expensive than electric or reel mowers. They generate harmful emissions, have noisy engines, and require frequent tune-ups, and blade sharpening. However, they are not limited by rechargeable batteries and are more efficient, especially when cutting larger yards. Also, they are more durable. Most gas mowers cut a 21- or 22-inch swath, they can easily handle long or thick grass and weeds. Some models can simultaneously bag, side-discharge, and mulch clippings.
What are commercial walk-behind lawnmowers
Residential walk behind lawn mowers are adequate for maintaining a relatively smaller area that requires sporadic cleaning. However, if you have a large area and a lot of thick grass that needs regular upkeep, then commercial walk-behind mowers would be ideal. These machines are designed for heavy-duty performance and dependability. Commercial lawn mowers are equipped with bigger engines, aluminum mowing decks, and bumper guards. Whether it is mowing steep inclines or a wide-open space, commercial walk behind lawn mowers are more than capable of getting work done efficiently.
Advantages of Commercial Walk-Behind Mowers
- Most of the commercial walk-behind mowers are self-propelled.
- These machines are easy to maneuver and convenient when a property has lots of landscape beds that interrupt grassy areas.
- Tight Spaces: Due to their compact size, walk-behind mowers can squeeze through openings and in between closely laid landscape beds. They also provide a precise cut on lawn areas in between hardscape and walkways.
- Twists and Turns: Walk-behind mowers are easy to maneuver while cutting a landscape containing beds with curved edges and other borders against walkways, patios, driveways, etc.
- Steep Slopes: While riding mowers are more efficient on gentle slopes, sharp inclines might pose a risk of them toppling over, and hence walk-behinds are safer on hills. Additionally, they have a smaller footprint than riding mowers and are convenient to store and transport.
- More Grass Per Pass: Blade tip speed is the contact times per second that your mower blade turns. Faster revolution provides less clumping and a cleaner the cut. A typical residential walk mower uses one blade to cut a swath from 20 to 22 inches wide. On the other hand, commercial walk mowers have a cut width from 32 to 54 inches, thereby helping you cover a broader area in less time and effort.
- Commercial walk-behind mowers are powered by engines ranging from 223 cc to 337 cc. The high power-to-weight ratio improves speed and comes handy when cutting difficult expanses, such as lush and tall grass or leaves on the grass in the fall. They are also useful in mowing the border area to keep weeds and non-turf grasses from encroaching on the lawn.
Things to Consider While Buying a Commercial Lawn Mower
Engine: Commercial mowers commonly use a 2-cylinder engine instead of a 4-cylinder engine.4-cylinder engines are complex in design and carry more moving parts and may be prone to failure considering the harsh environment and long hours. On the other hand, 2-cylinder models have no cams, lifters, or valves and carry substantial horsepower and displacement as compared to a residential 4-cylinder. While 2-cylinder engines will burn more oil and are less efficient, considering durability and longevity, 2-speed commercial units are superior.
Terrain: Hilly or rough terrain can wear out a residential mower in less time. A commercial mower is powerful enough to overcome different terrain and grass types. If your lawn has hills and uneven terrain, it is recommended that you buy an all-wheel-drive self-propelled model.
If your lawn is medium-sized to large and relatively flat, a self-propelled model would be ideal.
If you have a medium-sized lawn and would prefer to mow yourself, a push lawn mower would be well suited.
Types of Drive: Front-wheel drive is ideal for a lawn or a flat surface mowing. Front-wheel drive allows you to push down on the handle, reducing traction on the front wheels and maneuver into and out of corners.
Rear-wheel-drive are best suited for uphill or sidehill mowing since they can be pushed on the handle going uphill without losing traction on the front tires.
Deck: Standard mowers deck is made of steel; however, they are prone to rust as they are exposed to harsh weather conditions. Cast aluminum decks are rust-resistant and will handle absorb vibrations and are more durable than steel decks.
Mulching/Bagging: Mulching mowers cut the grass into smaller fragments (repeatedly cut and recut them), which fall on the lawn as mulch. Mulching is beneficial for the ground as it returns nitrogen-rich grass clippings into the field. Mulching works well if you mow the lawn regularly, and the grass is not tall.
Mulching mowers are suitable if you mow often and want a pristine lawn as the finely chopped grass clippings to fertilize the park and help make it more drought resistant.
Mowers have a bag attached to their rear, that collects clippings as you mow, giving your lawn a clean, freshly manicured look. Once the container is filled with clippings, it can be easily disposed of in a yard waste bag or a compost pile.
Side Discharge: Side discharge mowers release clippings from the lawnmower sides. These clippings eventually decay into the lawn and are a useful option if the yard has tall or coarse grass. Rear and side discharge are ideal for taller, wilder grass, rougher grass types, and seldom-cut lawns.
Flexibility: Few commercial walk-behind lawn mowers offer height adjustments features for mowing different heights of grass and varying mowing conditions. Self-propelled walk-behinds are designed with single and multi-speed options.
Furthermore, some mowers feature adjustable cutting areas, which allow the user to change the blades easily, thereby allowing you to mow different surfaces without leaving the deck every time.
Push or Self-propelled: An acre is 43,560 square feet, mowing an ¼ acre of lawn would require walking for up to two miles. You should also decide on the type of cutting system required based on the kind of lawn and the frequency of mowing.
A hydraulic fluid drives hydrostatic mowers past an impeller that spins an output shaft, controls ground speed. These mowers provide the smoothest operation and the most reliable transmission, but they are the most expensive. The typical front or rear-drive walk mower uses a belt-and-pulley arrangement to direct power from the engine’s output shaft to a gearbox on a front or rear axle. These machines are reasonably easy to maintain and repair.
Blade Width: Large blades are more efficient in cutting even surfaces, however mowing an area with uneven terrains such as hills or golf courts would be difficult with large blades.
Lawnmowers with facilities for collection eliminate rake clippings after cutting, hence saving time and additional effort. The collection helps avoid allergic reactions to grass and decrease the spreading of weed seeds.
Mower engines may be traditional side-valve design, overhead-valve, or overhead cam depending on the price. The rear wheel of the walking mower is generally larger than front wheels as it provides greater maneuverability.
Ball-bearing wheels are more comfortable to push than bushing-type wheels and better suited for larger yards with difficult terrain. They are also easy to maneuver when hauling clippings or clippings mixed with mulched leaves.
Warranty: Always buy a lawnmower backed by a minimum guarantee of one to two years. Additionally, you should also check what the warranty covers to avoid surprises.
Additional Features
Front caster wheels are great for elaborately-landscaped yards that require a lot of pivoting. However, they are challenging to track in the bumpy ground or mowing sidehills.
Wash-out fittings allow you to attach a garden hose to clean accumulated grass clippings from under the deck. As grass holds moisture and chemical residue, a clean deck would provide resistance to deck corrosion.
A blade-brake clutch allows you to release the operator control handle without stopping the engine completely. That way, you can pause your mowing, move whatever obstacle out of your way and continue mowing without restarting the engine.
Best Commercial Walk-Behind Lawn Mowers (With Reviews)
1. Greenworks PRO 21-Inch 80V Self-Propelled Cordless Lawn Mower MO80L510
The GreenWorks Pro 80V is designed for durability and heavy-duty jobs. The self-propelled lawnmower features a brushless motor that delivers the power and performance of a 160cc gas engine. The machine is equipped with a 21-inch durable steel deck that can cut more cut on each pass, adding more efficiency and large 10-inch rear wheels. The cordless lawnmower is equipped with smart cut load sensing technology that adjusts the power displaced based on the thickness and length of the grass.
The Greenworks PRO 21-Inch is lightweight and easy to use. The lawnmower comes with a single lever height adjustment and 3-in-1 operation for mulching, bagging, and discharging. The machine allows you to choose between side discharge to throw the cut grass out to the side of the mower and rear discharge to collect the grass in the rear bag.
The GreenWorks Pro 80V offers up to 70 minutes of run time with fully charged 5.0AH Battery (battery and charger come included with the package). The cordless lawn mowers are also compatible with battery and charger models GBA80200, GBA80400, and GCH8040. The 2ah battery charges within 30 minutes while the 4ah battery charges within 1 hour.
Pros
- The mower can be easily stored vertically
- High-Quality Steel Deck
- Smart Cut Technology
- Ball Bearing Wheels
Cons
- When mulching the mower sometimes leave a strip of clippings on the right-side wheel track
- Only rear-wheel drive
- Slightly Heavier
Why Buy: The GreenWorks Pro MO80L510 self-propelled mower is flexible and convenient to use. The device is durable, robust, quieter, eco-friendly, and is ideal for a lawn size up to 1 acre.
2. Snapper CRP218520 / 7800968 NINJA 190cc Rear
The commercial walk-behind mower comes with a rear-wheel-drive system with a smooth turn differential and 10″ rear wheels. The rear-wheel driving system improves mower traction and provides better maneuverability without damaging the grass.
The Snapper CRP218520 is equipped with a Briggs & Stratton professional series engine that features easier starting, smoother and quieter operation, increased durability, and spin-on oil filter for a longer lifespan.
The 93-pound gas-powered snipper CRP218520 unit is equipped with a Ninja mulching blade along with a seven-position height of cut adjustment (from 1.25 inch to 4 inches) to finely mulch grass while the deck blows them back into the lawn. The lawnmower comes with a heavy-duty, 14-gauge steel mowing deck, reinforced bracing, steel Axle, and wheels. The Snapper lawn mower comes with a 3-year limited warranty for residents and a 1-year limited commercial warranty.
Pros
- Briggs & Stratton engine offers easy starting and smooth operation
- Rear-wheel drive for solid traction
- Easy maneuverability and minimal grass damage
- Ninja blade with multiple cut options
- Heavy-duty 14-gauge steel mowing deck
- Reinforced bracing and steel axles
- Easy height adjustment
- Foam-grip handlebar
Cons
- No bagging options
- Self-propelled activator is in an awkward location
- Engine runs fast on small yards
- Vibration can cause gas leakage
Why Buy – The Snapper is ideal for massive yards with tougher-to-cut grass. The machine’s easy-rolling wheels come with ball bearings for a smooth-moving mowing job season after season. This baby slices through the grass in mulch or side-discharge mode, tackling ditches and other yard obstacles with ease.
It’s easy to push, does not get clogged up, and can set the deck high and ride over all the sticks and rocks without bending your crankshaft.
3. Great States 415-16 Push Reel Lawn Mower
The Great States Manual push reel lawn mower features a 16-inch cutting reel a 5-blade cylinder with an adjustable cutting height of 0. 5 inches -2. 5 inches for a clean, even cut. The lawnmower comes with 10-inch composite wheels with radial rubber tires, making it easy to push. The lawnmower is equipped with a 2-inch welded shrub bar and allows effortless height adjustment of 1/2-inch to 2-1/2-inch.
The Great States 415-16 manual lawn mower is made of heat-treated alloy steel, making them long-lasting. The lawnmower comes with a T-style handle with a cushioned grip, and lightweight design makes it easier to maneuver. The device is easy to assemble, quiet, and easy to maintain with no spark plugs to foul or engines to clog up. The device doesn’t generate sound and leaves any residue for the environment.
Pros
- Lightweight and Easy to carry in different yards
- 16-inch cutting width makes mowing fast and easy
- Durable and compact
- Reasonably Priced
Cons
- Does not Cut tall grass and weed seed stems
- Blades may require frequent sharpening
- No bagging options
Why Buy –
The durable Great States 415-16 is a compact and easy to maneuver and is suitable for those who have limited storage space. The manual reel mower’s 16-inch cutting width makes mowing fast, and comfortable and smooth-rolling wheels provide excellent traction.
4. Lawn-Boy 17732 21-Inch 3-in-1 Discharge Rear Wheel Drive Self Propelled Lawn Mower
The Lawn-Boy 17732 21-inch Self-Propelled mower is equipped with a rear-wheel-drive self-propel design that provides improved traction and control in all mowing conditions.
The lawnmower is powered by a Kohler XTX commercial-grade engine that delivers robust performance, and operator-centric design provides user-friendly maintenance. The Lawn-Boy 17732 is equipped with a lightweight, yet durable 21-inch steel deep dome deck provides excellent mulching capabilities and superior cut quality. The 2-Point Height-of-Cut System helps to adjust cutting heights efficiently.
The lawnmower is covered by the Lawn-Boy 3-Year Tru-Start commitment (starts with 1 or 2 pulls or Lawn-Boy will fix it for free) and the 2-Year Full Coverage warranty. The Lawnmower is CARB Compliant for the state of California.
The Lawn-Boy 17732’s versatile cutting system allows you to choose between mulching, bagging, or side discharge. The machine is equipped with a larger bag that easily holds more clippings and enables you to empty it faster and less often.
Pros
- Kohler XTX OHV Engine
- Engineered Tri-Cut System
- Two-Point Height of Cut
- 3-in-1 Discharge Ability
- 3-Year Tru-Start Commitment
- 2-Year No Worry Warranty
Cons
- The battery for the electric-start option is located on the left side of the handle which can easily get knocked off if you’re not careful
- Subpar bag design
Why Buy – The 21-inch Lawn-Boy comes with easy-to-use features, combined with excellent cutting performance and reliability that make it a great value. The machine features a durable 21-inch steel deck and Tri-Cut cutting system for exceptional cut quality and is backed by one of the best warranties in the industry.
5. Sun Joe MJ408E-PRO Electric Lawn Mower
The cutting-edge MJ408E-Pro electric lawn mower provides a gas machine’s power with the convenience of an electric unit. The push lawn mower features a powerful 13.5-amp with a durable 20-inch wide steel blade that gives precision on each pass and features a convenient 7-position manual height adjustment for maximum control.
The Sun Joe MJ408E-PRO starts at the push of a button and is effortless with virtually zero maintenance. The electric lawnmower is equipped with a detachable 14.5-gallon rear collection bag for quick and easy disposal. The machine is ETL-approved and carries a full two-year warranty.
Pros
- Easy to assemble and operate
- Seven height adjustments allow for cutting different thickness of grass efficiently
- Wide 20-inch mow width
- Low Maintenance
Cons
- Small rear bag, hence needs to be emptied frequently
- No extension cords
- Not self-propelled
Why Buy –
The electric lawn mower is an excellent option for short to medium-sized lawns. The powerful machine is functionally perfect and provides precision cut and multiple height adjustments.
Bonus Tip – Maintenance
Regular Maintenance:
Clean the unit regularly, and after washing, dry the lawnmower and grease all fittings. Ensure to cover all electrical components to protect them from water infiltration. You can use compressed air or a leaf blower to dry difficult to reach mower parts and fissures.
Store the mower in a shed or garage while not in use as long time exposure to harsh weather conditions accelerates rust formation and reduces the machine’s longevity. Visually inspect oil, belts, tires, and the overall machine for loose nuts and bolts before each use.
If the lawnmower is kept idle for a long time, such as winter, disconnect the battery and store it in a warm place.
Gas Powered Lawn Mowers:
Check the guards, deflectors, and covers before starting the lawnmower for the first time. Check the blade control, drive control, and ground-speed control to make sure they’re working correctly. Clean the exterior surfaces of the cutting deck and engine after every use and look for spilled fuel and any accumulation of dirt, oil. Keep the air intake screen and cooling fins clear. Check the grease level in the transmission periodically, check and sharpen the mower blade when needed, and check the belts each season.
Battery Care & Maintenance:
If the battery is not used for more than three months, fully charge the battery at room temperature and store it indoors. After three months, check the charge of the battery and charge if necessary.
Electrical Lawn Mowers:
Check all fuses and replace the ones that have blown.
Check for loose or corroded electrical connections as well as frayed wires.
Lawn Cut Problems:
Clean the underside of the lawn mower’s cutting deck. Use a scraper to remove accumulated grass clippings, which tend to form a solid crust.
If your lawnmower is cutting lower on one side, check your tire pressure in all tires. Follow your manual’s inflation recommendation, as this varies based upon mower weight and other factors. If you notice uncut spots, stringers, or discharge problems, this can be due to dull, bent, or broken blades. Inspect the lawnmower blades and sharpen or replace them as required.
Check belt tension for proper spring adjustments and any obstructions either above or below the deck. Ensure the deck is level. Check the engine RPMs using a tachometer. Inconsistent RPMs will affect cut quality.
If your lawnmower tires are slipping, check that the inflation matches what is recommended in the operator’s manual. Also, examine the tires for wear and tear and replace them if needed
FAQs
Q. How to ensure proper and secure attachment to all products?
Ans. Press the battery firmly into the tool. You should hear the battery click into place.
Q. What is proper storage in hot/freezing temperatures?
Ans. The battery should be stored indoors to ensure extended battery life. Never store the battery near a furnace or exposed flame.
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