American Lawn Mower 1304-14 14-Inch Economy Push Reel Lawn Mower With T-Style Handle And Heat Treated Blades
by American Lawn Mower Company
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List Price: Our Price: $78.99 You Save: $1.00 (1%) Availability: Usually ships in 24 hours Category: Lawn & Patio See more product details |
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Tools and Hardware Reviews of American Lawn Mower 1304-14 14-Inch Economy Push Reel Lawn Mower With T-Style Handle And Heat Treated Blades
Customer Review: Fine on short grass, bad with twigs and tall plants
Summary: 3 Stars
We bought this for ease of use (no gas, no trailing cord), lack of noise and air pollution, and affordability. We have a steep lawn, too, and a manual mower felt safer (you stop and it stops, no whirring motor-driven death blades). On those counts, this mower has more than met expectations.
However, it has two major flaws. First, any twig (down to 1/8" diameter) will stop it, forcing you to stop, reach between the blades, and pull out the twig. I expected that it would stop with sticks, but even the tiniest twigs we have stop it. Second, it does a terrible job on tufts of grass, grass seed stalks, etc. We have the mower on its highest setting, but it just bends over tall plants rather than cutting them. I'll go over the same tuft of grass many times from different directions -- if I'm lucky, eventually the tall grass will be matted down or crushed, but not cut. We just bought a sting trimmer to deal with any tall (>4" grass) due to this issue. I imagine this wouldn't be a problem for someone with a nice sod lawn they cut frequently, but for people like us who do the lawn only when it starts looking a bit ragged (yes, we're "those neighbors"), this is a major flaw.
Customer Review: Love This Mower!
Summary: 5 Stars
I never thought I'd buy a push mower due to my bad back. I have a townhouse so don't have a big yard, but its a decent size for a townhouse. I had a gas mower for many years and it finally gave out so I decided to get a push mower instead mainly b/c I was tired of having to go fill up a gas jug every few weeks, plus for the size of my yard, a gas mower is a tad overkill.
Anyway, assembly was quite easy. Took me about 15 minutes or so working at a leisurely pace. Very simple installation. For the most part, you just have to assemble the handle assembly, attach it to the actual blade/mower part, and voila, done. I was pleasantly surprised at the fact its light weight. Looking at it, it seems like it would be much, much heavier, but its quite easy to pick up.
The actual mowing is really easy. It cuts very well. Much faster than using a gas mower for my situation since I don't have to worry about filling up the gas tank.
I highly recommend this mower. Its actually fun to use too.
Customer Review: A fun toy to keep your lawn trim, enjoy some exercise and enjoy a summer evening!
Summary: 4 Stars
I enjoy mowing my lawn around dusk, when things have cooled down. This mower is very light and is EASIER to push than a power mower. It does the job. Using it regularly makes the job easier. I have a large plot and I do a little each evening to keep things in place.
I did augment the handle by attaching a sawed-off broom handle to the T-handle, using a couple of small hose clamps. It made the handle more ergonomic by allowing a wider spacing on my hands, which eased the pushing process. I read on another review that the handle was not so sturdy, so I do recommend this inexpensive and worthwhile addition.
I enjoy meditating (I do Transcendental Meditation). Mowing the lawn in the evening after meditation is a perfect way to experience the tranquil joys of watching the stars come out, smelling the fresh cut grass, getting a little bit of healthy exercise and keeping the lawn looking good, all at once. It makes mowing fun - not at all a chore - I look forward to it!!
Customer Review: All Star Mower
Summary: 5 Stars
I love this mower! It does a better job on what I cut then a professional mower does on the rest of the yard. Assembly was a snap, only the handle bars had to be put on. The reel and wheels were assembled in the factory. It is excellent in extremely bumpy areas, extreme grades, and very hilly areas. The mower is very easy to push anywhere and easily climbs steep hills. Also the 14 inch width is perfect for tighter areas, like between flower beds and pathways. After weeks of mowing I don't have to sharpen blades, check oil or mess around with fuses. Just a nice brushing to get the clipping off her and some WD-40 as recommended.
I named my girl Miss America. She certainly can stop traffic. People seemed amazed that she can do the work they use massive lawn tractors for. Yes, she cuts extremely tall (a foot or higher) grass. She just needs a few passes to make a fine all-natural green manure out of it.
Customer Review: Finally found it
Summary: 5 Stars
My old push reel lawn mower (probably more than 50 years old) needed replacement --- the blades were so old they wouldn't stay sharp, and the wheels were slipping because of bald tires. I tried a push-reel lawn mower from Sears, and it was so bad that I took it back for an exchange, because I thought it was defective. Who would market a lawn mower that doesn't cut grass? The second one was just the same. Since the Scott's mower appears to be exactly the same, probably from the same factory, that didn't seem worth trying.
Finally I found this American Lawn Mower model, like my old models. It works beautifully. After using it for a month or so, I find my lawn looking better than ever. I guess the grass appreciates a clean, sharp cut.
I had tried a neighbor's cordless electric, and I actually find this one easier to push. This one will probably need to be replaced in about 50 years too.