Lawn-Boy manufactures a series of walk behind lawn mowers under the Tru-Start name. All of the lawn mowers in its line are basic in design and priced for the budget-conscious consumer. Additionally, the line of mowers includes models with conventional recoil starters and electric starters. If you're considering buying a new lawn mower or upgrading your existing one, purchase a Lawn-Boy mower with an electric starter, as you can't convert a recoil starter to an electric one later.
About Lawn-Boy Lawn Mowers
Two of the six lawn mowers that Lawn-Boy produces are electric start lawn mowers and the remaining four are recoil lawn mowers. Although the lawn mowers offer similar cutting performance, electric start mowers weigh more than recoil mowers. Electric start mowers weigh 79 pounds due to the added battery weight and recoil mowers weigh 70 pounds or less. Each mower has a 20-inch steel cutting deck and a mulch, bag and side discharge. Every model comes with a three-year Tru-Start warranty, three-year power train warranty and two-year complete warranty.
Recoil Versus Electric Start
A recoil Lawn-Boy lawn mower has a rope that you pull to start the engine. Once pulled, the rope recoils back into the mower, hence its name. While the mower should initiate with one pull of the rope, sometimes it can take multiple rope pulls for the motor to start, especially over time and with normal use of the mower. You start the engine of an electric starter Lawn-Boy mower with the push of a button on the handle. A battery energizes the button and activates the motor after it's pushed. An electric starter mower requires that its battery be recharged periodically -- usually at the beginning and end of the season, according to the Lawn-Boy website. Periodic recharging guarantees that the starter has enough power to start the mower. Additionally, the battery can fail to retain a charge over time and may require replacement.
Modifications
Unfortunately, you can't modify a Lawn-Boy lawn mower's starter to accommodate changing needs. An electric starter model has been uniquely configured to accommodate its starter with a special engine, battery and relay cord. As a result, a recoil starter mower lacks the capacity for you to add an electric starter.
Considerations
Although electric start lawn mowers are easier to start than a mower with a recoil starter, electric starter mowers are usually more expensive and require more maintenance than those with a conventional starter. If you have a physical impairment, such as a bad back, that prevents you from pulling the rope start of a recoil starter, then an electric starter mower may be a nice feature. Before you make your decision, be sure to account for the additional weight of a mower with an electric starter, which can weigh nearly 10 pounds more than a recoil mower, depending on the model, especially if you have a large lawn to cut. In the end, a recoil starter may be the better option of the two starter types for you.
