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Wednesday, March 6, 2002 Two-cycle mowers path of least resistance By MIKE
FERRARA
When my lawn needs mowing, I have only one thought: Get it done. Sure, I want it to look nice when I'm finished, but spending a lot of time on my lawn is not my activity of choice for a sunny afternoon. That's why I use a two-cycle engine lawn mower. Although four-cycle engines dominate the lawn mower industry, it's well worth the effort to seek out a two-cycle model. Not only do two-cycle lawn mowers have more than enough power to get the job done, they're much easier to start, operate and maintain. For starters, there are fewer engine parts on a two-cycle mower, making it lighter weight and easier to maneuver. Since the gas and oil are mixed in one tank, maintenance is a breeze. Two-cycle engines don't require oil changes or annual tune-ups. In fact, all I need to do is occasionally clean or replace the spark plugs and change the air filter once a year. They are also great if you've got a sloped or hilly yard. Here's why: In a two-cycle engine the oil is part of the combustion process. That means you'll never have to worry about starving the engine of oil. (And, if you've ever starved an engine of oil, you know what a problem it can be.) I bought a Lawn-Boy GoldPro Series mower recently. Starting is simple, just one pull and I'm off and mowing. I especially like the Easy Stride self-propelled system on my mower. Unlike other machines I've owned, the variable speed system lets me set the speed. I simply put light pressure on the handle and the mower adjusts to the speed I want to go. When the handle is released, the drive system returns to neutral which allows me to back up the mower for close trims around trees and landscaping. Easy to start, easy to operate, easy to maintain and I get a great looking lawn. It doesn't get any better than that.
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