I just moved into a rental duplex with a yard of about 3,000 square feet to take care of. Not huge, but not a postage stamp either. Being a rental unit, the "grass" in the yard is mostly dandelions, crabgrass, and broadleaf weeds, with the occasional patch of dense fast-growing grass. In other words, a whole lot of exactly what this mower supposedly can't handle. But it is light enough and the cutting path is narrow enough that you can power it through, and if it stalls, back up a couple of feet and try again. It's a very well-made mower, the blades are pre-sharpened, the reel turns easily and smoothly, and the mower cuts cleanly even through the heavy stuff with very little effort. It took me about 40 minutes, with plenty of overlap between passes, to complete the neglected and overgrown yard.
The only change I made was to set the reel to the highest mowing level, 1 3/4 inch, which is around what most gas mowers cut at by default. The lower preset level would probably cause the mower to constantly bog down in the thickest part of the broadleaf weeds. At the highest level, it just takes the tops off of them. For a rental yard, the results look fine, about on par with the neighbors' gas-mowed yards.
I wouldn't want to tackle a large yard with this little mower. It would be easy, but would take forever. For a smaller yard, it's well-suited. The actual cutting width is about one foot. If you figure on 1/2 or 1/3 overlap between passes, you're really only cutting 6 or 9 inches width per pass. So, even a smaller yard will take a while. But the mower is remarkably easy to push. Not much harder than a full-sized self-propelled gas mower, seriously.
Assembly is quick. You'll need a pair of pliers or vise grips. Assemble the handle sections by attaching them with bolts and locknuts. The locknuts have plastic wings on them so you can tighten them by hand. Slide the foam grips onto the upper handle sections. The completed handle assembly then slides onto two inward-facing pegs at the top of the mower section. The outward pressure of the handle lower arms pretty much keeps them in place on the pegs, but there are C-clips to push onto grooves in the pegs to keep the handles in place. You'll need the pliers to squeeze the C-clips into the grooves. That's it, the mower is assembled.
Adjusting the height of the reel involves removing two bolts and locknuts that hold the back rollers in place. You'll need a wrench to do that. There are holes in the vertical supports for the back rollers, and holes in the back of the mower. Remove the bolts from the preset holes, move them to other holes, replace the locknuts. It took me longer to move the reel to the highest setting than it did to assemble the mower.
As the instructions suggest, hit the blades and reel with plenty of WD-40 before and after each use to keep them rust-free and also to help keep the grass from sticking to the moving parts.
Overall, I'm very pleased with this little mower. It's a small dog that thinks it's a big dog, and it gets the job done. For the price, the quality is remarkable. It's surprisingly easy to push and use. A great value. Recommended.
American Lawn Mower Company 1204-14 14-Inch 4-Blade Push Reel Lawn Mower, Red
4.3 | 13,930 ratings
Price: 89.99
Last update: 06-21-2024
About this item
4-blade reel mower with a cutting width of 14” and durable 8.5” polymer wheels for maximum maneuverability. Lightweight at only 19 pounds. Reel Lawn Mowers are great for small lawns..Deluxe hand-reel mower ideal for most turf grasses.
This push lawn mower has an adjustable blade height of 0.5”-1.75”. Capable of cutting grass up to 4 inches tall and is less effective on taller grass.
Manual grass cutter is environment-friendly alternative to other lawn mowers. This push mower is pollution-free, noise-free, low maintenance, lightweight and easy to use.
A reel mower uses a cutting action that does not bruise or damage the blades of grass. For best results using a reel push mower, mow no more than 1/3 of the grass blade, so that the roots stay intact.
Increase the amount of overlap while using your push mower if your lawn reaches a height of 4 inches or more. It’s better to mow smaller amounts more frequently than it is to let the grass get long. Try not reel mower when the grass is wet.
This push lawn mower has an adjustable blade height of 0.5”-1.75”. Capable of cutting grass up to 4 inches tall and is less effective on taller grass.
Manual grass cutter is environment-friendly alternative to other lawn mowers. This push mower is pollution-free, noise-free, low maintenance, lightweight and easy to use.
A reel mower uses a cutting action that does not bruise or damage the blades of grass. For best results using a reel push mower, mow no more than 1/3 of the grass blade, so that the roots stay intact.
Increase the amount of overlap while using your push mower if your lawn reaches a height of 4 inches or more. It’s better to mow smaller amounts more frequently than it is to let the grass get long. Try not reel mower when the grass is wet.
Product information
| Brand | American Lawn Mower Company |
|---|---|
| Power Source | self-propelled |
| Material | Alloy Steel, Polymer |
| Color | Red |
| Style | 14-Inch, 4-Blade |
| Item Weight | 1 Kilograms |
| Cutting Width | 14 Inches |
| Number of Positions | 5 |
| Operation Mode | Manual |
| Product Dimensions | 24"D x 20"W x 42.5"H |
| Item Weight | 2.2 pounds |
| Manufacturer | American Lawn Mower Company |
| ASIN | B00004RA3F |
| Country of Origin | China |
| Item model number | 1204-14 |
| Customer Reviews |
4.3 4.3 out of 5 stars
13,644 ratings
4.3 out of 5 stars |
| Best Sellers Rank | #634 in Patio, Lawn & Garden (See Top 100 in Patio, Lawn & Garden) #2 in Walk-Behind Lawn Mowers |
| Is Discontinued By Manufacturer | No |
Top reviews from the United States
JK
Perfect for renters. Small dog that thinks its a big dog.
Reviewed in the United States on May 23, 2018P G
perfect for my uses, and frankly kind of fun
Reviewed in the United States on April 11, 2019