Slope mowing: Experts from AS-Motor provide tips on different lawn mowers
Mowing grass on slopes is demanding – depending on the machine, the procedures vary in ways you should be aware of.
Walk-behind, ride-on, or remote-controlled: What is the best way to work on a slope? What features should a ride-on mower have for use on steep terrain? And why should the range of a remote-controlled mower not be fully utilized even in familiar areas? The experts at AS-Motor Germany GmbH & Co KG have compiled some practical tips that not only make the work easier but also ensure greater safety when mowing slopes.
Walk-behind mowers
After a certain slope, walk-behind units should always work across the slope. This is less strenuous for the operator than steering the mower up and down the slope. Turns should be made uphill because the unit can accelerate when turned downhill; in extreme cases, the mower can even spin around. The user should not walk directly in the path of the mower; rather, the steeper the slope, the more the operator should support themselves against the slope by walking slightly lower. Twisting the handle slightly downhill – as when working along a fence or a building – significantly improves user-friendliness.
Ride-on mowers
Since the operator sits on a ride-on mower, it must always be suitable for the slope. A low center of gravity and special features such as four-wheel drive, differential lock, and/or special tires ensure that the mower maintains grip even on steep slopes. Information about the mower’s stability must always be known. The tipping limit of a ride-on mower is defined as when the steering is turned fully to one side; the unit cannot tip over unless this stability value is exceeded. But there are differences even among similar models, as illustrated by the AS-Motor Sherpa family: AS 915 Sherpa 2WD and AS 920 Sherpa 2WD have a stability of 18 degrees across the slope, AS 940 Sherpa 4WD has a stability of 20 degrees, and the XL version and the remote-controlled RC model have a stability of 21 degrees in ride-on mode. If the AS 940 Sherpa 4WD RC is operated remotely, the stability is 33 degrees.
When the terrain is steep, the operator’s sitting position becomes difficult to maintain when working across the slope. Therefore, ride-on mowers must drive up and down the slopes. Operators should be careful to avoid uneven ground that could unintentionally cause the mower to tilt at an extreme angle, especially during turns.
But since driving up and down in ride-on mode also places physical demands on the operator, it is particularly advantageous to have a ride-on mower that can be switched to remote control mode in steep terrain.
Remote-controlled mowers
Remote-controlled units enable mowing both across the slope and up and down the slope. Caution should be exercised when driving on freshly cut grass, which can reduce grip, risking the mower skidding. When working across the slope, mowing should be done from top to bottom so that the cut grass is deposited above the mower. Additionally, it is important not to go under or in front of the mower.
In the case of rotary mowers, the right side should also be avoided, as the clockwise rotation of the blades accelerates clippings and foreign objects to the right and to the right rear. Thus, the safest position for the user is behind the machine on the left side. The range of remote-controlled mowers should never be fully utilized, even when mowing on familiar terrain. The reason is: Only the operator walking close to the mower can detect foreign objects in time.
In addition to these tips, the operating instructions for AS-Motor units provide useful information. Operating instructions are mandatory reading for the safe and correct use of the mower; if the details mentioned here differ from the information in the operating instructions, the information in the operating instructions takes precedence. This information can be accessed at www.as-motor.se. AS-Motor’s YouTube channel also offers product safety videos on various mowers: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCLqXsENxtcHxyEQ4zUO147g.
