I need some lawn mower advice.
Is this the best group to ask????
I am looking for a new lawn mower and I am having a heck of a time finding what I want. I have a small yard, but not small enough for a plug-in electric. It has a number of obstacles, so a self-propelled doesn't work so well---they are so heavy when you have to push them instead of using the self-propel feature, and I have to stop using it too often. I had a rotator cuff injury, and pulling the cord to start a mower is just getting to be painful, even though I am about 80% better. Besides, I am getting older and I probably will not be getting into much better shape.
The small push mowers appeal to me for the weight, but they all have pull cords. The electric start mowers all seem to have the self-propel feature. Cordless electric mowers sound like they are heavy. Any suggestions?
For the record, I have a 30 year old self-propelled mower whose self-propelled function hasn't worked in years---I had it in the shop twice to fix it, and it never got fixed so I just gave up. The choke lever broke off, so I have to choke it down by the engine. It is a rear-bagger, and the bag will not stay put anymore so I use a bungee cord to keep it in place. What I am saying is, I really really really need a new mower----except that this poor old thing is so reliable, it started with the first pull after sitting all winter.
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The one above and many others are under $100.00, or you can spend more:
So less effort for you.
One trick to make it easier is to not let the grass become too out of control long or with weeds.
Electric self propelled:
Sears: http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_12605_07143367000P?sid=IDx01192011x000001&kispla=07143367000P&srccode=cii_17588969&cpncode=30-166923276-2
http://www.sears.com/snow-joe-sun-joe-mj420c-mow-joe-16/p-SPM7351583602?prdNo=30
Electric, not self propelled: http://www.cleanairgardening.com/corelbrilac3.html
Let us combine efforts to change the HCR system to cut by some factor my COBRA monthly payment of, seriously, $1,340.
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Batteries ain't like a car battery - buy one with a Lithium-Ion battery - they are tough, and light.
Initial cost may be higher, but ya got no gas/oil to pay for every time you use it.
When ya want to move to a different part of the property/lawn, no restarting - turn the switch off it stops - turn it on - it goes - no "idling" - and no pulling your brains out to start a reluctant gas engine.
Almost no maintenance/breakdowns.
Always buy the extended warranty, usually only 10 - 20 bucks.
The hydro cost to recharge the battery is about 1/10th the cost of gas, and I already mentioned the non-stinking thing. - Heck, ya could store it in the living room!
If you have a large yard, buy an extra battery, when the one you are using dies, put the dead one on charge (Lithium-Ion charge fast) - install the new one (same idea as a cordless drill) - then continue!
Nope, haven't had one or used a cordless lawn-mower yet, but intend to - I can't advise make or model at this point. I have a large yard with remote spots - easier to carry a spare battery back in the bush than a gas can!
I'll point out two things I think important - buy one with a Lithium-Ion battery, and get the extended warranty.
for something like that, buy local - much easier for advice, service or warranty.
You just reminded me- thanks 
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I'd left my cordless weed-eater I bought today out in my van. Just brought it in - most suggest charging the battery before use, and require some (minor) assembly. Took me over 3/4 of an hour to pick one out.
The weakest part of cordless is the battery.
I looked at different ones, almost all had the same power. But in checking the price of replacement batteries, the one I purchased cost 35$ for the 18 volt battery.
By comparison, the replacement battery for a 20 volt battery was 99$.
So it was a no-brainer, I bought the 18 volt system.
CC
Like you, I can't pull on one and this one really does start almost always on the first pull.
whether you grow it in raised beds or not, and putting a large swath of gravel over a portion of the yard. That last one hasn't worked out so well, since even with a weed barrier underneath the grass seeds blow in and take root. Since I don't like to use commercial grass killer - it eventually gets to the water supply, I think - I wind up using salt water and a flaming torch, neither of which are particularly effective over the long term. The gravel is a little pricey and has to be spread after the dump truck leaves.
The garlic beds have been the best - great hobby. I order a different kind every year, and each bulb give me several cloves, which multiply into new bulbs - you then find yourself at the end of the summer with 40 or 50 garlic plants hanging upside down inside your back porch (they don't put off the odor until you smash the garlic). But I have fresh garlic for months that way, and that has grown into learning to dehydrate and grind my own powder.
If there are any medicinal benefits, as some think, I should be well taken care of
Good garlic here sells for $2 or $3 a bulb, so it's a nice way to get a fairly pricey herb on the cheap. (Warning - you will get spoiled and begin to think the California stuff sold in the stores is tasteless, if you like garlic).
But I do like the Toro. The only problem is the pull cord broke, had to take it apart and re-assemble to fix it, but it still starts every year, just have to push the choke button down several times and hold it, or pull the spark plug and spray a little starter fluid in. And it's not terribly heavy, but I don't have too much of a hill to deal with. Mostly just a flat expanse for the dogs.
I think if I was in your position I would really consider an electric. You do have to make sure you cut fairly often to keep the load down, and make sure the blade is sharp - they don't deal with rocks as well as the power variety, and not mow when it is very wet out - but it should be lighter than the gas mower.
Good luck.
about 12 years ago. It cost me about two hundred dollars. I LOVED it . It didn't have any fancy bag on the back--just the basics. I enjoyed showing my neighbors how I could start it by just pulling up the lever on the handle with my pinky finger. I had a fairly big yard with a hill, which was no problem, really.
After I was finished mowing I would wheel it to our shed attached to our carport and plug it in. We calculated that the energy charging cost about 5 bucks a year. (hope I'm remembering that correctly).
What I enjoyed was that while I was getting a lot of exercise in, I wasn't breathing in any fumes. Like I said, this thing was not very large. It was light , but did the job. The noise level was low and didn't chase away the garden birds and squirrels.
When I downsized to a townhouse I gave the mower to my brother. About a year ago, the battery, which was not lithium, gave out. My brother had a hard time replacing it because this was bought so long ago. He did finally come across a battery of some sort, and it now works fine again. 
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and this
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And how about sittin in a lawn chair with a beer watching a robot cut ur lawn??
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AMAZING what's out there . .
here's a link for more
https://www.google.ca/#hl=en&sclient=psy-ab&q=solar+lawn+mower&oq=solar+lawn&gs_l=hp.1.1.0l4.0.0.1.1029.0.0.0.0.0.0.0.0..0.0...0.0...1c..11.psy-ab.2P0jxiB6nJ0&pbx=1&bav=on.2,or.r_cp.r_qf.&bvm=bv.45921128,d.b2I&fp=345ec6be39cf6daf&biw=1023&bih=662
CC
