A lawn mower is equipment designed to care for a personal plot or decorative lawn. It must be selected based on the characteristics and dimensions of the site. First you need to assess the hilliness, slope and total area of the lawn.
If there are bushes or some trees on your site, you will need to go around them when using a lawn mower, so for this purpose it is better to choose a maneuverable and compact device. If you have a large lawn, you can use equipment that has a wide grip.
Composition of a homemade mower
It is better to assemble a lawn mower based on an electric motor. It should have a power of approximately 1 kW (500 W or less is possible) with an optimal number of revolutions equal to 1500 per minute, the recommended grip size is 50 cm. Craftsmen usually take the motor from old household appliances (vacuum cleaner, washing machine, chainsaw, etc. below), the main thing is the performance of the device.
In addition to the most important element (engine), the mower is equipped with:
- long cord for connecting power supply;
- convenient handle for controlling the device;
- a knife made of high-quality steel for horizontal cutting of weeds or lawn grass;
- wheels for comfortable movement on the ground with grown grass.
It is also advisable to include a protective casing in the design of the homemade device. It is necessary to use knives made of tool steel. The width should be within 2-5 cm, thickness - 2-3 mm. You can use one sharpened knife or several blades located at an angle of 180 or 90 degrees to each other (depending on the number of knives).
One of the blade design options for a lawn mower Source sdelay.tv
The shape that is chosen for the knife can also be different:
- trapezoidal;
- straight;
- curved;
- curly.
Important! You can make a knife sharpened on all outer edges, which will spin around its center on the bolt.
The handle for a homemade mower should be of sufficient length so that the user can operate the device without bending or leaning. Most often, the chassis from a baby stroller is ideal for these purposes. More options: pipes or cuttings from various garden tools. By the way, wheels can also be taken from an old and unnecessary baby stroller.
Advantages and disadvantages
The advantage of a homemade device, of course, is cost savings. The necessary components can be taken from faulty or outdated devices, as well as from improvised devices. Another advantage is the pride of the performer who managed to make serviceable and useful equipment.
The level of quality of operation of the device is directly dependent on the engine power indicators. Using an inexpensive steel alloy in a home-made device can ruin all the results. Experts advise using high quality steel for this purpose.
In terms of functionality and ease of use, industrial equipment is, of course, much better than homemade equipment. A factory-made lawnmower has several speed settings, adjustable blade heights, and produces much less noise.
Improving a homemade lawn mower, however, is quite possible. Experienced craftsmen also equip their devices with an adjustable handle, bumpers for insurance, etc.
From the washing machine
The design of an electric lawn mower, which is based on a washing machine with a working motor, is simple. Assembly algorithm:
- take a motor from an unnecessary electric washing machine with a start relay, equipped with a capacitor;
- prepare a sheet of steel with dimensions of 30 * 50 cm, cutting a hole in its center to remove the rotating part of the engine;
- attach the motor to the middle of the steel frame so that its moving part protrudes slightly from below;
Attached engine Source ad-cd.net
See also: Catalog of companies that specialize in designing and performing landscape work of any complexity
- make a knife from a steel strip and sharpen it by making a hole in the center;
- grind a flange to connect the knife to the motor;
- put the cutting knife using a flange onto the engine shaft from below and secure it with three bolts on the shaft, as well as one fastener from below (it is necessary to ensure that the cutting ends do not extend beyond the steel sheet when torsioned);
- install one wheel from an old stroller for children from the four corners of the base sheet (the distance from the knives to the ground should be about 5-6 cm);
- attach the handle to the sheet on one side and bring out the electrical wire to the handle, wrapping it in several places with electrical tape.
Gasoline equipment
A homemade device based on a gasoline saw is an excellent solution that allows you to save money. Assembly requires a frame, motor and fuel tank. The power ratings of such equipment make it possible to mow dense and large grass. The blades can be replaced with a petrol saw sprocket.
Do not forget that you need to use a gasoline-type lawn mower very carefully, observing all safety requirements, since gasoline is a flammable substance.
From the Bulgarian
The grinder is perfect for setting up a lawn mower, because it is an almost universal tool that can even be turned into an electric saw, drilling or milling machine. To conveniently and firmly attach an angle grinder to the base of a future homemade lawn mower, you need to take thick metal or cut a car wheel disc in half. If a welded box made of thick metal will be used, it is better to also provide protection on the sides so that the cut grass does not fly on all sides.
Lawn mower body with safety sides Source svoimirukami.lesstroy.net
When the frame is ready, you need to weld a handle to it. One of the options for its manufacture is to use a thin metal pipe, which is attached to the base in the middle, closer to the edge. For ease of control, it should be located next to the side closest to the mower. The grinder needs to be improved by screwing an elongated threaded nut onto the working part. After this, the power tool will need to be strengthened so that it “looks” down into the ground. Before this, you need to cut a hole in the middle of the body so that the rotating part of the angle grinder can fit into it up to the enclosing casing. The last step will be attaching the cutting part (knife) to the bottom of the grinder and installing the wheels. You can weld one or two on each side.
Safety precautions during operation
Safety precautions must be observed both when working with a factory-made lawn mower and a home-made one, since they have knives and the tool operates from an electrical network.
It is important to check before connecting the tool to the network:
- reliability of bolt fastening;
- sharpness of knives;
- free wheel movement.
In the area to be processed, it is advisable to collect everything that could cause a breakage of the homemade structure and injury to the person operating it: wooden blocks, stones, debris. There should be no children or pets on the site.
From a chainsaw
Homemade electric lawn mowers can even be constructed from a chainsaw. To do this you will need:
- engine from the Druzhba chainsaw;
- frame made of durable metal;
- protective (protective) casing;
- knives;
- wheels;
- pens.
How to make a lawn mower from a chainsaw Source ad-cd.net
First you need to make a kind of cart by welding a handle to control the mower and wheels to the finished frame. Without changing anything in the motor mechanism, you need to install it on a cart (homemade chassis), after first removing the “steering wheel” from it and screwing it to the handle of the mower. You will also need to increase the length of the fuel hose and gas cable. To place the shaft at the bottom, you need to screw it onto the frame using the hole on the gearbox. Additionally, it is necessary to use the flywheel housing studs for fastening. After strengthening the blades onto the shaft, you can begin working with a homemade tool.
General characteristics
The lawn mower includes the following components:
- herb collection;
- body design;
- wheel base;
- motor.
When choosing a lawn mower, you should also pay attention to the accessories that are included in the kit. For example, some devices come with a knife and a special plug for collecting grass.
Motor
Lawn mowers can be battery-powered, gasoline-powered, or electric. The latter can operate from a household power supply and are intended for relatively small areas.
Battery-type models are equipped with a battery. Using such a device, you will have the opportunity to process an area of 6 acres with literally one battery charge.
Motor power indicators determine the speed of processing. As a rule, such equipment is equipped with engines from various manufacturers. American and Japanese engines are considered to be of the highest quality.
The low quality of Chinese-made engines is a banal and very common stereotype. Some Chinese manufacturers make engines according to the certificates of companies from Japan.
Wheels
Equipment of different prices is equipped with different wheels: needle or ball bearings, with bronze bushings, etc. The higher the price of a lawn mower, the more convenient it is to use, because such equipment is characterized by smooth running.
Also, ease of use depends on the diameter of the wheels. That is, the higher it is, the more comfortable it will be to use the equipment.
Collection of grass
There are three types of grass catchers:
- plastic;
- fabric;
- combined.
Fabric-type grass collectors are very compact and lightweight, but they should be washed from time to time. When the cells of the mesh become clogged, an air lock is formed, which can easily cause the engine to overheat.
Plastic grass catchers are made using high quality materials. If a solid object (stone, wood chip, etc.) accidentally gets into the vessel, the body will not be damaged in any way. The plastic container is very easy to clean. Combined options are used in the most expensive devices. They combine the advantages of the varieties mentioned above.
By the way, you can make a lawn mower yourself.
Briefly about the main thing
When the question arises about how to assemble a lawn mower, first of all you should choose the desired type of homemade device.
To assemble a working mower, you need a base, engine, wheels, cutting parts and a handle.
Electric lawn mowers are assembled on the basis of a motor, which is borrowed from one of the unnecessary household appliances: drills, grinders, electric saws, and so on.
The gas mower contains a gasoline engine as the main working part.
A rotary mower cuts off excess lawn grass thanks to rotating discs.
Ratings 0
Mechanical lawn mower
Mechanical type equipment produces much less noise and also does not require energy consumption. You can even work with such a lawn mower in the rain, but it is more difficult to do. The whole problem is that it is very difficult to select gears, wheels and blades.
A mower equipped with a pair of blades requires the blades to rotate quickly. It must be created through the movement of wheels and gears. The creation of such equipment requires maximum care and patience from the performer.
Electrics
To start the engine, it is best to use the “native” control system from the washing machine.
In its absence, the same starting circuit is used for asynchronous motors as for conventional single-phase motors: the windings are connected to each other using a starting capacitor.
It is advisable to place the capacitor and other components of the electrical circuit in a plastic box, where they will be protected from dust and pieces of grass.
A regular plastic bottle can serve as a blank for such a box.
Features of self-assembly
Before starting work and choosing a model, you should familiarize yourself with the assembly features and design.
Any lawn mower should have enough mobility to cut the lawn evenly. The classic design of a lawn mower has the following device:
- Electric motor, if provided.
- Gasoline tank for models of this series.
- Parts for making a knife (for example, an excellent lawn mower can be made with your own hands from an angle grinder).
- Housing for covering the drive or tank.
- Protective guards or covers to protect the user's feet.
- Knives or fishing line.
- Wheels that will allow the structure to move evenly around the perimeter of the garden plot.
- Container for collecting clipped grass. This aspect is quite important so that the cutting process remains comfortable and brings pleasure to the owner of the site.
Do not forget about such little things as on and off buttons, equipment for winding electrical wires, and holding handles. When working independently, it is important to observe the following assembly nuances:
- First of all, install the housing for the engine. This could be a panel removed from an old electrical appliance or a frame welded from a metal sheet.
- A hole is prepared for the electric motor. A separate area is prepared for installing a gasoline tank (all actions depend on the selected lawn mower model).
- A holding handle is welded to the frame; you can additionally think through the design for smooth rotation of the machine while cutting.
- A knife is attached to the electric motor shaft. A protective cover is installed over the blade.
The assembly is completed by installing the switch buttons and cord.
Preparation
So, before you begin assembling the lawn mower, you will need to have the following items on hand:
- frame materials;
- wheels;
- pens;
- protective casing;
- engine;
- frame where all the parts will be attached;
- knives;
- control elements - RCD, switch, cable with plug for connection to a socket.
In addition, an important preparatory stage will be the creation of drawings and diagrams of the future structure. This will help ensure the correct location of all elements of the future structure and create the correct frame that can support the weight of all elements and will look beautiful from an aesthetic point of view.
You can also add various parts to the specified list, such as a chain or adapter, if the self-propelled mower is made from a drill or chainsaw.
Pen
In this capacity, you can use one of the following elements:
- stroller handle;
- plastic water pipe;
- cutting from an agricultural tool.
A U-shaped structure is assembled from these elements.
The optimal length for a user with average height is 90 cm.
A rubber hose is placed on the metal handle in the hand grip area for electrical insulation. An emergency button is attached at the top, in close proximity to the user’s hands, to stop the engine in an emergency.
Process of creation
Manufacturing a lawn mower begins by removing the electric motor from the washing machine.
Preferred engines:
- powerful;
- heavy (provide stability);
- asynchronous type (no noise).
These requirements are best met by motors from Soviet-made washing machines, and even better - from centrifuges.
If the engine is low-power, install the shortest knife: a long one will cut the grass evenly only if it is constantly sharpened.
