Product Description

5 Blade, 16" Ball Bearing Reel Mower, 4 Spider, Tempered Alloy Steel Reel & Bed Knife Blade, Unbreakable Steel Side Plate, 3/4" Welded Torsion Tube Framing Assembly, 10" Cast Iron Wheels & Pinions, Cutting Height 5/8" To 2-1/4" With Adjustable 4 Section Roller, 3 Position Wheel Height Adjustment, Painted Handle With Flared Type Design, Cushioned Handle Grips.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #39882 in Home Improvement
• Brand: American Lawn Mower
• Model: 1415-16
• Number of items: 1
• Dimensions: 22.70" h x 14.00" w x 10.20" l, 32.00 pounds

Features

• Hand pushed reel lawn mower ideal for low-growing grass up to 4 inches high
• Cutting heights from 1/2 to 2-1/4 inches with adjustable 4-section roller and 3-position adjustable wheel height
• Tempered alloy steel reel and blades held in place with unbreakable steel side plate
• 10-inch diameter cast-iron wheels; 1-inch welded torsion bar frame; powder coated flare-style cushion-grip handles
• 16-inch cutting width; assembly required

Amazon.com Review
In these modern times, where channel surfing is rapidly becoming the nation’s most popular sport, the American Lawn Mower Company suggests to return to a simpler time with this hand push reel mower. The mower runs solely on manpower, thus saving valuable resources such as gasoline, oil, and electricity while simultaneously eliminating the noise and air pollutions frequently associated with fuel-run lawn mowers. Additionally, this mower combines necessary yard work with exercise, improving both the user’s lawn and cardiovascular health. Owners of hand push mowers also benefit from a lack of fuel expenses, and may also save by allowing grass clippings to mulch for natural fertilization.

This hand push mower provides best results when used on grasses no longer than 3 to 4 inches high. Regular lubrication of the bearings and blades with WD-40 further the success of this mower. The mower features four spider five blades, ball bearing reel. With an adjustable four-section roller, the mower has a cutting length range of 1/2 to 2-1/4 inches. Both the reel and blades are constructed from tempered alloy steel and are held in place by an unbreakable steel plate. The cast iron wheels measure 10 inches in diameter and the mower covers a width of 16 inches. The mower weighs 32 pounds upon shipping with some assembly required. --Jessica Reuling

Amazon.com Buying Guide
Five Tips for Buying a Mower
Choosing a lawn mower is a matter of sifting through a bewildering array of types, power ratings, and fuel sources. Let’s break it down a little to make the process easier.

What types of walk-behind mowers are there?
There are four basic choices: push reel, electric, cordless, and gas. All have strengths and weaknesses.

• Push reel mowers are powered by you. They’re quiet, they don’t need cords or recharging, and they don’t pollute. But on large lawns, you might not want the workout you get when using a push reel mower. They also tend to be less effective on grass taller than two inches.
• Electric mowers need to be plugged into an outlet to power them, which means you’re constrained by the location of power outlets, the length of your power cord, and any obstacles that may snag the cord. If you have a small yard but don’t want the forced exercise of using a push reel mower, an electric mower may be for you.
• Cordless mowers are powered by a rechargeable battery. You don’t have to deal with the hassles of keeping a cord plugged in, but battery life becomes a constraint. Depending on the battery capacity, the size of your yard, and the height of your grass, you may not be able to complete your mowing job on one charge.
• Gas mowers offer the most power, which is best if you’ll be mowing tall, dense grass or if your yard is larger than 2,000 square feet. But you will have to keep gas and oil on hand as well as keep the engine serviced.

What do all the power measurements mean?
All that matters to you is whether the lawn mower’s blade will spin fast enough to cut your grass. Unfortunately, mowers are rated in far more technical terms.

For gas mowers, there are three power measurements you may see:

• horsepower (hp) refers to the amount of power the engine can produce;
• torque is the amount of horsepower that is transferred to the blade;
• cc (cubic centimeters) is another to measure an engine’s power based on the displacement volume of its cylinders.

There also are two types of engines: two-stroke (also referred to as two-cycle) and four-stroke (or four-cycle). Conventional wisdom is that two-stroke engines offer more power but also more pollution.
For electric and cordless mowers, power often is measured in volts, amps, or watts. To satisfy your inner techie, here’s how to calculate the horsepower:
35. Multiply the volts by the amps to get the wattage.
36. Divide the wattage by 746 to get the horsepower.

More horsepower doesn’t always mean more cutting power. That’s why, starting in 2007, most lawnmower manufacturers began rating walk-behind lawn mowers in torque power or cc’s--not horsepower. If torque isn’t available for a gas mower, higher cc figures usually mean higher torque (and more fuel used per stroke, incidentally).

However, you don’t want to buy a mower based on the power measurement alone. Make sure it has the features, warranty, and quality of reviews you’re seeking.

What features should I look for?

• Cutting Deck
  This refers to the blade housing. The wider the cutting deck, the fewer passes it will take to mow a given area. However, consider how many obstacles there are in your yard. The wider the deck, the tougher it may be to fit the mower into tight spaces.
  

• Mulching and Bagging
  Want to collect your clippings? Choose a mower with a rear- or side-bag option. Want to leave clippings on the lawn as fertilizer? Get a mower that mulches. A "3-in-1" mower will mulch, bag, or side-discharge.
  

• Wheels
  Larger wheels mean easier handling, especially over rough terrain. If you can, go with at least 7-inch-diameter wheels in the rear--larger if your yard is hilly or uneven. Some higher-end mowers have front wheels on casters, which gives you an extremely tight turning radius.
  

• Height Adjustment
  Most mowers allow you to adjust the distance between the blade and the ground. Think about how much range you really need.
  

• Safety
  Many newer rotary machines are available with a lever or bar that must be depressed to keep the mower running (some models include a handy blade-brake that lets you release the lever without killing the engine).
  Also, look for models with a rubber flap at the back to block objects thrown from the blades. You should always wear safety goggles when mowing and follow all the manufacturer’s safety instructions regardless of the mower you’re using.
  

• Batteries
  If you’re buying a cordless mower, think about how long it will run on a single charge. Most batteries take several hours to recharge, so you want to make sure it’s going to get the job done before it runs out of juice. As a rule of thumb, a typical 24-volt mower will run up to one-and-a-half hours and cut up to a third of an acre; a 36-volt mower will go for three hours and cut up to a half an acre.
  

• Cord holder
  A cord holder is useful for keeping the cord of your electric mower out of the way when you make turns.
  

• Starters
  Gas mowers are available either with recoil (pull-cord) or electric starters. Newer recoil motors start much quicker than those you remember from summers past. However, go with electric if you can afford it: your mower will start with the push of a button or the turn of a key.
  

• Self-propelled or push?
  A self-propelled mower moves forward without you having to push it. All you have to do is steer. If you have a relatively flat lawn, save a few bucks by skipping this feature. However, if your landscape has a slope or an irregular contour, a self-propelled model may be the best choice. Rear-wheel drive tends to offer better traction.
  

• Variable Speed
  If you want a self-propelled mower, look for models with variable speed. This feature allows you to make adjustments within a continuous range so you can find the exact speed that’s comfortable for you.

What servicing and maintenance is necessary?
Always buy a mower that comes with a manufacturer’s warranty and follow the manufacturer’s routine maintenance instructions for

• Cleaning the mower after usage;
• Keeping the blade sharp;
• Keeping the engine tuned up (gas mowers); and
• Keeping the battery charged (cordless mowers).

While Amazon.com does not accept returns on gas-powered mowers, the manufacturer’s Website or product manual will list the nearest service center.

What does CARB-compliant mean?
CARB is an acronym for California Air Resource Board, whose stringent air-quality standards have been adopted by many states. If your state requires compliance for gas mowers, confirm that your model is CARB-certified before you buy. While CARB-compliant mowers run cleaner than noncompliant models, they still emit pollutants. If you want to go green, an electric or push reel mower is the way to go.

Customer Reviews

Very solid mower
I've used one of these for about fifteen years, a slightly earlier model 1414-16.

It's been a very good mower. It is very easy to push, and cuts very nicely. Solid metal, yet deceptively light. Its pretty easy to maintain. Oil the bearings annually, and sharpen the blade every year or two. Once you've done it once, sharpening the blade takes about 30 minutes, a screwdriver and a wrench and some valve-lapping compound, and is pretty easy (about the same complexity as assembling a new kids bicycle), but is greasy. That's all you ever have to do. Fifteen years later mine cuts as well as the day I bought it.

I like to think I'm getting more exercise, but the truth is that because of its light weight and good cutting mechanism, its no more effort to push around than a gas mower (if you don't let your grass get too long......).

The only problem I've had is that you have to frequently tighten the nuts holding on the wheels.

If you haven't had a push mower before, a couple of caveats: It does cut more cleanly than a gas mower, but you do usually have to make two passes. Also, you have to keep current with mowing. If you let the grass get too long, you are REALLY going to sweat to cut your lawn the first time. Also, it really won't cut bermuda-type grass very well at all.

It was supposed to MOW the lawn
While this mower trimmed small patches of clover and leafy plants, it simply squashed down my grass without cutting it. It wouldn't cut anything taller than just a few inches, which I suppose is fine if you want to mow your lawn every other day. Any little piece of debris will stop this mower in its tracks - even a patch of grass a bit thicker than usual. My yard looks terrible and I am returning this mower immediately. I do not recommend this mower.

American (China) Lawn mower
I bought one of these and two of the reels would not engauge the cutting bar as they should. Left patches of grass all over.

Took it back and bought a Scott's Classic 20" reel mower. Twice the price, but its made in America and the quality is there.