When thinking about purchasing a lawn mower, everyone wonders what weight the Riding Mower will be?
Second, how much storage space does it require in your home?
In this article, we have covered all your questions.
Generally, riding mowers weigh between 300 and 700 pounds, whereas zero-turn mowers can weigh 600 and 1,200 pounds. Several factors influence the weight of these machines. There is a lot to consider when choosing a riding lawnmower. The fuel storage, construction materials, and add-ons contribute to its weight. Mowers that run on gas are usually heavier than those on electricity.
Motors, decks, and wheels all contribute to the weight of your lawnmower. Investing in a larger or smaller deck will significantly increase or decrease weight. You should calculate the weight of your lawnmower before towing it to a new location. Several variables cause the weight difference. One such factor is horsepower. A mower with higher horsepower is more likely to be heavier.
Why Lawn Mower weight is important?
At first glance, you might be confused as to why the weight of your mower matters. After all, why should you care about its mass if you are just going to drive it out and mow the lawn?
When towing or hauling a riding mower, the mower’s weight is important. A vehicle’s towing capacity indicates how much weight it can safely tow behind it. When your vehicle’s towing capability is exceeded, you may have trouble manoeuvring. A heavy load can impair your ability to stop the car.
Here are a few scenarios in which the weight of your lawn mower will be a factor:
1. Lifting
Being able to lift your riding lawn mower in the air makes it easier to work on it. A hydraulic jack will work in most circumstances, but if you need to raise two wheels in the air, you need to use a jungle jack. Knowing how much your mower weighs will help you avoid overloading it.
2. Towing Capacity
One of the best features of a riding lawn mower is that it can be used more than just cutting the grass. If you need to haul something, you must first determine. How much does a riding lawn mower weigh? Heavier mowers can haul more, but it all depends on torque and the type of machine you have. Zero-turn lawn mowers, for example, are not suitable for towing due to their manoeuvrability.
3. Gasoline Consumption
While there are various reasons why you might be using more fuel, a heavy mower could be one of them. It takes more gasoline to move a giant machine. Even if your model is electric, you need more powerful batteries to keep it running.
4. Transportation
If your mower develops serious engine issues, you will need to take it to a repair facility. You either have to drive the machine onto a flatbed truck or try to tow it in a trailer. The heavier the lawnmower, the more difficult it will be to transport in either situation. If you are concerned about the transportation issue, you should know How much a riding lawn mower weighs before buying it.
Which Factors Influence the Riding Lawn Mower Weight.
Multiple factors affect how heavy a given riding lawn mower is. Listed below are the factors that will make the biggest difference
1. Type of Riding Lawn Mower
When choosing a riding lawn mower, you typically have three options: electric, gas-powered, or zero-turn. Although the size and weight of electric and gas variants are similar, zero-turn machines are often heavier. The complexity of the engine is the reason for the additional weight.
Because zero-turn lawn mowers are designed to offer equal cuts and a smooth outcome, they require high-powered motors to assure grass blade consistency. Furthermore, the zero-turning capacity necessitates pneumatic controls, which add to the machine’s weight.
Both electric and gas-powered mowers have similar engines, and hence they weigh similarly. Electric vehicles need to use large batteries to weigh as much as a gas tank. Overall, there is not much of a difference between the two. However, an electric mower would weigh less once the battery is removed. If you need to move or raise the machine, this can help.
2. Mower Deck Material
Aluminium, steel, or plastic are the most common materials used in riding mowers. Riding mowers with plastic decks are the lightest. Aluminium is a lightweight metal that is also incredibly durable. Steel is substantially heavier than plastic or aluminium. Thus these mowers are the most durable.
3. Wheels
The tires on your lawn mower might affect its overall weight. The front wheels are usually smaller than the back wheels. Lawn Mower tires are frequently tubeless, making them less prone to flats, wear and tear. You can easily change tubes if they are broken or worn.
While your tires won’t have much of an impact on the weight of your mower, there are times when you need them to be heavier. Adding wheel weights can help if you have problems travelling up an incline. A heavier tire will also make it easier to disengage your mower if you are stuck in the mud.
4. Horsepower and Engine Size
The amount of horsepower under the hood is also a factor while considering how much a riding lawn mower weighs. Mowers can be as small as a few horses or as large as 24 horses and are used for high-end commercial cutting. The lawnmower engine becomes more sophisticated and heavier as the horsepower increases.
Most 12 horsepower motors, for example, weigh roughly 330 pounds accounting for up to a quarter of a mower’s total weight. A 24 horsepower engine, on the other hand, can weigh up to 550 pounds due to the additional components inside.
Fortunately, even though the mower weighs more, having additional horsepower allows it to move faster and more dependably. Furthermore, greater HP motors can use fuel more efficiently, so you won’t have to worry about wasting fuel.
5. Fuel
It would be best if you also account for the weight of the fuel when finding how much does a riding lawn mower weigh? A gallon of gasoline weighs around 6.3 pounds. The fuel tank size varies depending on the mower model, ranging from one to three gallons. As a result, a full tank of gas can add roughly 20 pounds to your mower’s weight.
6. Cutting Deck
Some of the machines have larger decks than others. However, other components within the cutting deck might affect its weight, including:
Outer shell – The outer shell is usually made of steel or aluminium.
Mowing Blades- These are made of steel; the more blades you have, the more weight riding a lawnmower is.
Spindles- There is a spindle for each set of blades. As a result, the heavier your mower is, the more blades it has.
Cutting decks typically range in weight from 70 to 140 pounds. Manufacturers use various materials which will have an impact on the weight. Aluminium alloys, for example, will be used more frequently in high-end mowers since they are durable, do not rust and weigh less than steel. These devices, however, will often cost more upfront due to the manufacturing process.
While a lighter or smaller deck may appear more advantageous, it is a symptom of inferior materials. This is because the cutting deck needs to withstand impediments and materials like wood and pebbles. Dents and cracks will occur in lighter materials, while heavier materials will remain durable when such material hits your deck.
Riding lawn Mower Add-Ons which adds extra weight
Riding lawn mowers are capable of much more than simply cutting grass. To complete more difficult landscape and gardening activities, a riding lawn mower can be coupled with a range of accessories.
It is crucial to consider the weight of any attachments when determining the weight of a riding lawn mower, such as when towing it on a trailer. The following are some of the most common riding lawn mower accessories along with their estimated weights:
1. Lawn Sweeper- The lawn sweeper will gather up leftover cut grass, mulch, leaves, and other waste in your yard when towed behind your riding mower. They aren’t particularly heavy, but they do add bulk and weight.
2. Grass Catcher- As you mow, these bags collect grass clippings automatically. Although the bags themselves are not particularly heavy, the arm connecting them to the mower can weigh up to 25 pounds.
3. Cultivation Tools- Tillers and other cultivating equipment are used to prepare the soil before planting. When used with a riding mower, they effectively transform your lawnmower into a garden tractor. Expect tillers and other cultivation tools to add 30 to 60 pounds to the weight of your tractor.
Conclusion
Generally, the weight of your lawnmower is fixed. However, you can adjust these settings if you prefer a lighter or heavier machine.
- The tires will need to be changed, resulting in a slight weight increase. However, some wheel weights can weigh as much as 70 pounds each, or you can make your own out of concrete.
- Do not change the cutting deck unless you have a valid reason for doing so. Also, make sure the brand-new deck will fit on your rig.