Mid-mount and Front-mount Sit On Lawn Mowers

Today’s modern sit on lawn mowers offer an range of features that included tight turning radius, superb front visibility and smaller cutting decks.  Attachments and implements can also be added to a sit on lawn mower to assist their owners or operators with further home and lawn care operations other than grass cutting and collection.

The most widely found home and light commercial sit on lawn mowers within the UK are the mid-mount and front-mount variants.

The Mid-mount Sit On Lawn Mower

The mid-mount sit on lawn mower, which is often referred to as the lawn or garden tractor, can be easily identified by its position of the cutting deck between the front and rear wheels of the machine.  Since the cutting deck is positioned below the operator, the field of view around the lawn mower is excellent. These particular machines also allow the operator to manoeuvre and cut grass within millimetres of the periphery of an obstruction such as a tree.  Mid-mount sit own lawn mowers are constructed with either 2 or 4 wheel drive and are powered by either air or water-cooled petrol or diesel engines.

The Front-mount or Out-front Sit On Lawn Mower

Front-mount or out-front sit on lawn mowers, as the names imply, are manufactured with the cutting deck at the front of the lawn mower.  These particular sit on lawn mowers offer exceptional manoeuvrability with a turning circle of nearly zero degrees.  An advantage of a front mounted cutting deck is that it provides an excellent view of the cutting area allowing the operator to cut immediately adjacent to trees, hedges and other obstacles.  These lawn mowers also offer firm and steady manoeuvring on inclines for added safety.  Front end sit own lawn mowers are also constructed with either 2 or 4 wheel drive and are powered by either air or water-cooled petrol or diesel engines.

Lawn Mower Size

Clearly, the area of a lawn or paddock will often dictate the required cutting width of a sit on lawn mower.  The size of a cutting deck will determine how many trips will be required to and from the edges of the cutting area to complete the job of cutting the grass.  Other considerations of trees, bushes and other obstacles, particularly the width between any obstacles on the lawn or paddock, will also determine the overall cutting deck size.  Therefore, it would not be a wise choice to purchase a sit on lawn mower that is unable to pass between two trees or be transported down any garden path.  The slope of the lawn or paddock is also another vital consideration.  It is imperative to operate a sit on lawn mower that will provide stability and safety and will not overturn during operation

Features of the Lawn Mower

Depending on what the desired finish is required, sit on lawn mowers come in different models, which can receive additional attachments.  If a manicured cut is required then a machine with a collection system and bag is required to gather the grass clippings for disposal.  However, if collection is not required then a sit on lawn mower with a simple side discharge system or a mulching cutting deck may suffice.

Lawn Mower Storage

The most common method of storing a sit on lawn mower at home is either in a garage or garden shed.  However, some owners prefer or have no other option but to store their lawn mowers outside under cover using a waterproof vinyl sheet or similar.  Unfortunately, this particular method of storage does not provide a great deal of protection from the elements or indeed from theft unless the machine is securely anchored to the ground.  Consequently, serious thought must be given to the storage of a sit on lawn mower when it is not in use.