I'm referring to 21" walk-behind mower. Self-propelled now seems to be almost standard, but use to be less common then push mowers. I think in most cases push is better and self-propelled is the marketing of more expensive, less durable mowers.
Let's look at the advantages and disadvantages.
Push
Advantages: less expensive, simpler and more reliable and durable, more fuel efficient, lighter and more nimble, more power available to the blade all else equal.
Disadvantages: supposedly more effort to mow, less gadget factor
Self-propelled
Advantages: supposedly less effort mowing, gadget factor.
Disadvantages: just about all possible disadvantages
Does self-propelled even have the one main advantage that it is supposed to have? In my experience no. It might be even harder to mow than a push mower especially a really light push mower with say an aluminum deck.
The reason is if you have a yard small enough for a 21" walk-behind mower that is not extremely hilly but has obstacles, probably a typical suburban yard, the self-propelled mower takes more effort fighting you when you need to back up and maneuver around the obstacles. The engagement and maneuvering of the drive system is not perfect or as nimble. That's the experience comparing self-propelled to push with my good sized, slightly hilly yard that has a chain link fence, a large detached garage etc to mow around.
Maybe if you have a large yard with no obstacles and have to mow up a slight grade the self-propelled mower might make it easier. Or maybe there's a self-propelled mower mechanism that isn't intrusive when maneuvering but I haven't seen it.
Manufacturers want to push the more expensive, less durable self-propelled mowers and have made the push mowers now almost all low-end quality. I'd pay extra for a quality push mower that is really light with an aluminum deck and made to last. I think more people would be better served by that kind of mower.
Let's look at the advantages and disadvantages.
Push
Advantages: less expensive, simpler and more reliable and durable, more fuel efficient, lighter and more nimble, more power available to the blade all else equal.
Disadvantages: supposedly more effort to mow, less gadget factor
Self-propelled
Advantages: supposedly less effort mowing, gadget factor.
Disadvantages: just about all possible disadvantages
Does self-propelled even have the one main advantage that it is supposed to have? In my experience no. It might be even harder to mow than a push mower especially a really light push mower with say an aluminum deck.
The reason is if you have a yard small enough for a 21" walk-behind mower that is not extremely hilly but has obstacles, probably a typical suburban yard, the self-propelled mower takes more effort fighting you when you need to back up and maneuver around the obstacles. The engagement and maneuvering of the drive system is not perfect or as nimble. That's the experience comparing self-propelled to push with my good sized, slightly hilly yard that has a chain link fence, a large detached garage etc to mow around.
Maybe if you have a large yard with no obstacles and have to mow up a slight grade the self-propelled mower might make it easier. Or maybe there's a self-propelled mower mechanism that isn't intrusive when maneuvering but I haven't seen it.
Manufacturers want to push the more expensive, less durable self-propelled mowers and have made the push mowers now almost all low-end quality. I'd pay extra for a quality push mower that is really light with an aluminum deck and made to last. I think more people would be better served by that kind of mower.