How to Turn a Rear Wheel Drive Lawn Mower (Tips & Tricks)

Not all lawn mowers are suitable for every yard. Certain mower types might not be suitable for maneuvering on a small lawn.

In case you own a rear-wheel-drive mower, it is necessary to know how to turn it during mowing so that the lawn looks velvety in the end.

That’s why we’ll try to explain how to turn a rear-wheel-drive lawn mower since they aren’t known to be quite maneuverable.

Lawn Mower Types

If you haven’t yet bought a lawnmower, it might be wise to know their main types to easily decide which one to pick.

There are two types of self-propelled lawn mowers based on the drive: the front wheel and rear-wheel drive.

Front-Wheel Drive (FWD) Lawn Mower

When someone asks how does a front-wheel-drive lawn mower works, you can easily tell from the name that its front wheels are the ones that help propel the mower to move.

The best front-wheel-drive lawnmowers work great for level terrains. Their front wheels assist in maneuvering the mower easily and provide more traction at the center.

Rear-Wheel Drive (RWD) Lawn Mower

On the other hand, the gearbox of the rear-wheel-drive self-propelled lawnmower propels the machine through the rear wheels. These mowers are suitable for terrains with steep inclines, slopes, or valleys.

However, these mowers are quite difficult to maneuver as compared to front-wheel drive lawnmowers.

Turning a Rear Wheel Drive Lawn Mower

We’ve seen that the FWD mower is very easy to turn and maneuver. During mowing, the mower is pulled along with the power of the front wheels. And due to this control over the front wheels, this is a great option for lawns with many turns.

On the other hand, since the RWD mower does not possess such maneuverability, it can still push your mower ahead no matter what it encounters on the terrain.

Still, some easy tricks can help you turn an RWD lawn mower more easily.

Trick #1

Before turning, make sure to put the mower at its lowest speed and then slightly lift the front turn.

Trick #2

While turning at a corner, there are three points to take. The first point entails that you roll to one side slowly. Then back up the mower a little bit. You can now easily turn your mower and finally run it down through the lawn again.

However, as you turn and mow back to the lawn, make sure to line up the mower deck tip to tip to get the perfect stripe every time.

Final Words

Having a clear understanding of what each lawn mower type has to offer lets, you make a better decision while investing your valuable money. But when you already own an RWD one, it is useful to know how to turn a rear-wheel-drive lawnmower.

FAQs

Which is better FWD or RWD lawn mower?

Both of these types have their benefits. It mainly depends on the type of lawn you own. If it is smooth with many turns, then go for an fwd mower. And if it has too many slopes or hills, then RWD is a good choice.