What's the trick for mowing a half-football field sized steep slope with a
gas push mower?

I need to mow the steep hill at the side of my house which is overgrown
with tall grasses and weeds. It looks like half a football field on its
side, with the shorter distance being the fall line.

I don't know the degrees but it's hard to walk along the slope, mostly due
to the unconsolidated soil and the slope; but it's possible to walk it; but
with a mower, things get harder fast.

When I tried to mow down the fall line, it was way too hard as I
accelerated down and couldn't pull the mower up (and kept falling down,
which doesn't seem safe).

When I tried to mow across the fall line, I could barely hold the line to
cut a swath but it was always a steep diagnal. Gravity pulled the mower so
that it actually moved at a 45 degree angle to my sidewise motion, which
itself was something less than straight across the fall line due to the
slope.

I thought of tying a rope to the handle and letting gravity mow straight
down the fall line; but it might be difficult to pull the running mower
back up.

Before I try something stupid, I figured I'd ask you guys if you've solved
the problem of trying to mow with a gas push mower (it's all I have) on a
steep slope.

In ,
Elmo spewed forth:
What's the trick for mowing a half-football field sized steep slope
with a gas push mower?

I need to mow the steep hill at the side of my house which is
overgrown with tall grasses and weeds. It looks like half a football
field on its side, with the shorter distance being the fall line.

I don't know the degrees but it's hard to walk along the slope,
mostly due to the unconsolidated soil and the slope; but it's
possible to walk it; but with a mower, things get harder fast.

When I tried to mow down the fall line, it was way too hard as I
accelerated down and couldn't pull the mower up (and kept falling
down, which doesn't seem safe).

When I tried to mow across the fall line, I could barely hold the
line to cut a swath but it was always a steep diagnal. Gravity pulled
the mower so that it actually moved at a 45 degree angle to my
sidewise motion, which itself was something less than straight across
the fall line due to the slope.

I thought of tying a rope to the handle and letting gravity mow
straight down the fall line; but it might be difficult to pull the
running mower back up.

Before I try something stupid, I figured I'd ask you guys if you've
solved the problem of trying to mow with a gas push mower (it's all I
have) on a steep slope.

Hire a Mexicaneg

On Fri, 11 Jun 2010 00:46:48 -0500, ChairMan wrote:

Before I try something stupid, I figured I'd ask you guys if you've
solved the problem of trying to mow with a gas push mower (it's all I
have) on a steep slope.

Hire a Mexicaneg

They'd still need to mow the lawn.

I noticed thick white smoke when I was mowing on the hill ... any idea what
that can be from? It's a craftsman 25" or so 4-stroke push type.

I wonder if I can find a moveable winch that I can put at the top of the
slope to mow consequitive stripes down the fall line until the
approximately 200 or 300 feet long by 100 to 150 feet wide slope is fully
mowed.

Any suggestions?

"Elmo" wrote

They'd still need to mow the lawn.

I noticed thick white smoke when I was mowing on the hill ... any idea
what
that can be from? It's a craftsman 25" or so 4-stroke push type.

The white smoke is oil getting past the rings as the motor is tipped over.

Walk across the slope and never let the mower get above you. Best move is
to plant a ground cover that does not need mowing. Just let it go natural.

On Jun 11, 1:35*am, Elmo dcdraftwo...@Use-Author-Supplied-
Address.invalid wrote:
On Fri, 11 Jun 2010 00:46:48 -0500, ChairMan wrote:
Before I try something stupid, I figured I'd ask you guys if you've
solved the problem of trying to mow with a gas push mower (it's all I
have) on a steep slope.

Hire a Mexicaneg

They'd still need to mow the lawn.

I noticed thick white smoke when I was mowing on the hill ... any idea what
that can be from? It's a craftsman 25" or so 4-stroke push type.

I wonder if I can find a moveable winch that I can put at the top of the
slope to mow consequitive stripes down the fall line until the
approximately 200 or 300 feet long by 100 to 150 feet wide slope is fully
mowed.

Any suggestions?

Doesnt thick white smoke mean anything to you? You are ruining your
motor, you cant do it with a 4 stroke you are starving it of oil, it
going to fry, They only possible way is a 2 stroke lawnboy. Since 2
stroke is no longer made, a used one. But I have a hill like that and
a mowing it with a mower nearly killed me many times, push the mower
up and slip and it comes running down on you, walk it down and you
will still slip on a wet patch. A weed wacker is better, but I just
planted ground cover and plants and said screw mowing it, a dangerous
pain in the ass. Around here the State stopped using small 4 strokes
on steep highway areas, they went Lawnboy because the 4 strokes didnt
last 1 year. Now that 2 strokes are no longer made I guess its weed
wacker for areas they used small mowers

On Fri, 11 Jun 2010 04:03:46 -0700 (PDT), ransley wrote:

Doesnt thick white smoke mean anything to you?

I was afraid of that which is why I asked.

I wonder at what angle a lawnmower can no longer handle slopes.

I know cars are more complicated, but they can handle slopes ... and
airplanes too ... so there must be something in a (slope) lawnmower that
keeps the oil moving at angles.

Elmo wrote:
On Fri, 11 Jun 2010 04:03:46 -0700 (PDT), ransley wrote:

Doesnt thick white smoke mean anything to you?

I was afraid of that which is why I asked.

I wonder at what angle a lawnmower can no longer handle slopes.

I know cars are more complicated, but they can handle slopes ... and
airplanes too ... so there must be something in a (slope) lawnmower that
keeps the oil moving at angles.

Blowing smoke may be better than blowing none. At least the rings are
getting oil. Who knows about the crank and the rest of the insides.

"Elmo" wrote in message
...
On Fri, 11 Jun 2010 04:03:46 -0700 (PDT), ransley wrote:

Doesnt thick white smoke mean anything to you?

I was afraid of that which is why I asked.

You should feel silly for not reading your owner's manual, in which it
clearly tells you which way the mower can be tipped for maintenance
purposes. Extrapolate from there....

On Fri, 11 Jun 2010 15:20:33 +0000 (UTC), Elmo
wrote:

On Fri, 11 Jun 2010 04:03:46 -0700 (PDT), ransley wrote:

Doesnt thick white smoke mean anything to you?

I was afraid of that which is why I asked.

I wonder at what angle a lawnmower can no longer handle slopes.

I know cars are more complicated, but they can handle slopes ... and
airplanes too ... so there must be something in a (slope) lawnmower that
keeps the oil moving at angles.
The GOOD lawnmowers with oil filters stand a chance because they have
an oil pump and full pressure lubrication. 2 strokes stand up even
better - much as I hate the noisy stinky critters.

On Jun 11, 10:20*am, Elmo dcdraftwo...@Use-Author-Supplied-
Address.invalid wrote:
On Fri, 11 Jun 2010 04:03:46 -0700 (PDT), ransley wrote:
Doesnt thick white smoke mean anything to you?

I was afraid of that which is why I asked.

I wonder at what angle a lawnmower can no longer handle slopes.

I know cars are more complicated, but they can handle slopes ... and
airplanes too ... so there must be something in a (slope) lawnmower that
keeps the oil moving at angles.

I honestly stopped cutting mine, its to dangerous, slipping on muddy
areas and having the lawnmower come back to your feet while its
running, I knew eventualy my mistakes would cost me big, I went the
weedwacker route, then I terraced and planted plants. Get a 50 lb bag
of black oil sunflower seed, and have sunflowers.

In article ,
Elmo wrote:

On Fri, 11 Jun 2010 04:03:46 -0700 (PDT), ransley wrote:

Doesnt thick white smoke mean anything to you?

I was afraid of that which is why I asked.

I wonder at what angle a lawnmower can no longer handle slopes.

I know cars are more complicated, but they can handle slopes ... and
airplanes too ... so there must be something in a (slope) lawnmower that
keeps the oil moving at angles.

Your own link (previous post) said that the engine in the slope mower
stays level.

Aerobatic airplanes have "inverted fuel and oil" systems that keep
things working in any attitude. Staying inverted for more than several
seconds in a plane without such features is not recommended.

On Fri, 11 Jun 2010 04:03:46 -0700 (PDT), ransley
wrote:

On Jun 11, 1:35Â*am, Elmo dcdraftwo...@Use-Author-Supplied-
Address.invalid wrote:
On Fri, 11 Jun 2010 00:46:48 -0500, ChairMan wrote:
Before I try something stupid, I figured I'd ask you guys if you've
solved the problem of trying to mow with a gas push mower (it's all I
have) on a steep slope.

Hire a Mexicaneg

They'd still need to mow the lawn.

I noticed thick white smoke when I was mowing on the hill ... any idea what
that can be from? It's a craftsman 25" or so 4-stroke push type.

I wonder if I can find a moveable winch that I can put at the top of the
slope to mow consequitive stripes down the fall line until the
approximately 200 or 300 feet long by 100 to 150 feet wide slope is fully
mowed.

Any suggestions?

Doesnt thick white smoke mean anything to you? You are ruining your
motor, you cant do it with a 4 stroke you are starving it of oil, it
going to fry, They only possible way is a 2 stroke lawnboy. Since 2
stroke is no longer made, a used one. But I have a hill like that and
a mowing it with a mower nearly killed me many times, push the mower
up and slip and it comes running down on you, walk it down and you
will still slip on a wet patch. A weed wacker is better, but I just
planted ground cover and plants and said screw mowing it, a dangerous
pain in the ass. Around here the State stopped using small 4 strokes
on steep highway areas, they went Lawnboy because the 4 strokes didnt
last 1 year. Now that 2 strokes are no longer made I guess its weed
wacker for areas they used small mowers
Yea, 2 stroke weed wackers.

Elmo wrote:
On Fri, 11 Jun 2010 00:46:48 -0500, ChairMan wrote:

Before I try something stupid, I figured I'd ask you guys if you've
solved the problem of trying to mow with a gas push mower (it's all I
have) on a steep slope.

Hire a Mexicaneg

They'd still need to mow the lawn.

I noticed thick white smoke when I was mowing on the hill ... any idea what
that can be from? It's a craftsman 25" or so 4-stroke push type.

I wonder if I can find a moveable winch that I can put at the top of the
slope to mow consequitive stripes down the fall line until the
approximately 200 or 300 feet long by 100 to 150 feet wide slope is fully
mowed.

Any suggestions?

That's why I was going to suggest. Put a winch on your ATV or lawn
tractor and lower and raise the push mower with the cable.


--
LSMFT

I haven't spoken to my wife in 18 months.
I don't like to interrupt her.

On 2010-06-11, ChairMan wrote:

Hire a Mexicaneg

Goat(s)!

Probably cost more, but will do a better job. Taste good, too.

nb

On Jun 11, 6:33�am, Elmo dcdraftwo...@Use-Author-Supplied-
Address.invalid wrote:
What's the trick for mowing a half-football field sized steep slope with a
gas push mower?

I need to mow the steep hill at the side of my house which is overgrown
with tall grasses and weeds. It looks like half a football field on its
side, with the shorter distance being the fall line.

I don't know the degrees but it's hard to walk along the slope, mostly due
to the unconsolidated soil and the slope; but it's possible to walk it; but
with a mower, things get harder fast.

When I tried to mow down the fall line, it was way too hard as I
accelerated down and couldn't pull the mower up (and kept falling down,
which doesn't seem safe).

When I tried to mow across the fall line, I could barely hold the line to
cut a swath but it was always a steep diagnal. Gravity pulled the mower so
that it actually moved at a 45 degree angle to my sidewise motion, which
itself was something less than straight across the fall line due to the
slope.

I thought of tying a rope to the handle and letting gravity mow straight
down the fall line; but it might be difficult to pull the running mower
back up.

Before I try something stupid, I figured I'd ask you guys if you've solved
the problem of trying to mow with a gas push mower (it's all I have) on a
steep slope.

What you need is a hoss. Or sheep. Or rent the ground out to some-
one that has a horse/sheep. You will need good fencing to keep it/
them in.

(Or some other grazing animal.)

On Thu, 10 Jun 2010 23:32:58 -0700 (PDT), harry wrote:

What you need is a hoss. Or sheep.
(Or some other grazing animal.)

I wouldn't mind having one (just one) grazing animal.

I would want that animal to eat whatever grows ... no more ... no less.

If the slope is about 200 to 300 feet long and the fall line is 100 to 150
feet down the hill, what grazing animal do you think would eat exactly that
in a year?

On Jun 11, 12:38*am, Elmo dcdraftwo...@Use-Author-Supplied-
Address.invalid wrote:
On Thu, 10 Jun 2010 23:32:58 -0700 (PDT), harry wrote:
What you need is a hoss. *Or sheep. *
(Or some other grazing animal.)

I wouldn't mind having one (just one) grazing animal.

I would want that animal to eat whatever grows ... no more ... no less.

If the slope is about 200 to 300 feet long and the fall line is 100 to 150
feet down the hill, what grazing animal do you think would eat exactly that
in a year?

==
I would not recommend using a push power mower on this acreage.

Do not pull the mower up or down while cutting grass, and using a rope
to control it is absolutely insane.

If you MUST mow this acreage with the push mower then mow at a 45
degree angle up and back down the slope. As a farmer I find this the
most efficient way on steep hills and safer and easier as well. If you
want to wreck your mower then go straight up and down and soon the
bearings will be shot and there is always danger of you falling and
the mower coming back down over you. The same thing can happen when
going down if you slip you could slide right under the mower. The
smoke is likely from the crankcase oil flooding past the cylinders to
the combustion chamber when pointing downhill. As long as it doesn't
foul the plug too badly this will usually clear when you mow on the
level again. Make sure the motor oil is up to the proper fill
line...do not overfill.

Most mower manuals do not recommend mowing on steep slopes. Period.
==


Steel-toed shoes are a must and the soles should have adequate grips
for the terrain.

On Fri, 11 Jun 2010 00:41:59 -0700 (PDT), Roy wrote:

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From: Roy
Newsgroups: alt.home.repair
Subject: What's the trick to mowing grass on a steep hill with a gas push
mower
Date: Fri, 11 Jun 2010 00:41:59 -0700 (PDT)
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On Jun 11, 12:38=A0am, Elmo dcdraftwo...@Use-Author-Supplied-
Address.invalid wrote:
On Thu, 10 Jun 2010 23:32:58 -0700 (PDT), harry wrote:
What you need is a hoss. =A0Or sheep. =A0
(Or some other grazing animal.)

I wouldn't mind having one (just one) grazing animal.

I would want that animal to eat whatever grows ... no more ... no less.

If the slope is about 200 to 300 feet long and the fall line is 100 to 15=
0
feet down the hill, what grazing animal do you think would eat exactly th=
at
in a year?

=3D=3D
I would not recommend using a push power mower on this acreage.

Do not pull the mower up or down while cutting grass, and using a rope
to control it is absolutely insane.

If you MUST mow this acreage with the push mower then mow at a 45
degree angle up and back down the slope.

I'll try the 45-degree approach to see if it works for this uneven slope.

The problem with goats is I don't really wanna get into that. And I could
plant cover (it's chaparral out here in California), I guess, but I like
the grassy slope.

On Fri, 11 Jun 2010 15:25:42 +0000 (UTC), Elmo
wrote:


The problem with goats is I don't really wanna get into that. And I could
plant cover (it's chaparral out here in California), I guess, but I like
the grassy slope.

What about a roomba, or whatever they call the battery powered
electric lawnmower that propels itself, and then goes back to the
charging station.

No oil to smoke. No operator to get his toes cut off. If it flips
over, might there be someone else at the bottom of the hill? Maybe it
is set up to turn off if it flips over. There really shoudl be some
extra safety stuff on a cutting machine that runs around with no one
in charge. Black and Decker makes one.

On Jun 11, 11:25*am, Elmo dcdraftwo...@Use-Author-Supplied-
Address.invalid wrote:
…I could plant cover (it's chaparral out here in California),
I guess, but I like the grassy slope.

From your first post I take it you haven't gone to the bother of
maintaining the grassy slope until now, so why not take this as an
opportunity to save yourself some backbreaking labor and do Mother
Nature some good?

Talk with your local agriculture extension (or some place similar)
about creating a plan for gradually converting the slope from non-
native, water-slurping grass to something native, low-growing, low-
maintenance, and visually more interesting? It might not have to be
chapparal—there are plenty of Cali-native low-maintenance vegetation
possibilities.

And by developing a multi-year implementation you spread the cost out.

On Fri, 11 Jun 2010 00:41:59 -0700 (PDT), Roy
wrote:

On Jun 11, 12:38Â*am, Elmo dcdraftwo...@Use-Author-Supplied-
Address.invalid wrote:
On Thu, 10 Jun 2010 23:32:58 -0700 (PDT), harry wrote:
What you need is a hoss. Â*Or sheep. Â*
(Or some other grazing animal.)

I wouldn't mind having one (just one) grazing animal.

I would want that animal to eat whatever grows ... no more ... no less.

If the slope is about 200 to 300 feet long and the fall line is 100 to 150
feet down the hill, what grazing animal do you think would eat exactly that
in a year?

==
I would not recommend using a push power mower on this acreage.

Do not pull the mower up or down while cutting grass, and using a rope
to control it is absolutely insane.

If you MUST mow this acreage with the push mower then mow at a 45
degree angle up and back down the slope. As a farmer I find this the
most efficient way on steep hills and safer and easier as well. If you
want to wreck your mower then go straight up and down and soon the
bearings will be shot and there is always danger of you falling and
the mower coming back down over you. The same thing can happen when
going down if you slip you could slide right under the mower. The
smoke is likely from the crankcase oil flooding past the cylinders to
the combustion chamber when pointing downhill. As long as it doesn't
foul the plug too badly this will usually clear when you mow on the
level again. Make sure the motor oil is up to the proper fill
line...do not overfill.

Most mower manuals do not recommend mowing on steep slopes. Period.
==


Steel-toed shoes are a must and the soles should have adequate grips
for the terrain.

For that job you want either an electric or a 2 stroke gas mower and
a set of ropes and a "dolly" on a track at the top with a winch
arangement to raise or lower the mower one mower width at each end of
the traverse.
Run the dolly back and forth, raising or lowering the mower for each
trip back and forth. 2 strokes will run upside-down with a Tillotson
or Walbro regulator carb installed.

Elmo wrote:
On Thu, 10 Jun 2010 23:32:58 -0700 (PDT), harry wrote:

What you need is a hoss. Or sheep.
(Or some other grazing animal.)

I wouldn't mind having one (just one) grazing animal.

I would want that animal to eat whatever grows ... no more ... no less.

If the slope is about 200 to 300 feet long and the fall line is 100 to 150
feet down the hill, what grazing animal do you think would eat exactly that
in a year?

Goats, get a couple of them, they will eat the weeds and leave the
grass. They love to climb on things, like cars, so better have a good
fence. They make nice pets, my neighbor has one because his wife was
allergic to cow's milk. His wife is long gone but the goat is still
around.

On Fri, 11 Jun 2010 06:27:30 -0500, FatterDumber& Happier Moe
wrote:


Goats, get a couple of them, they will eat the weeds and leave the
grass. They love to climb on things, like cars, so better have a good
fence. They make nice pets, my neighbor has one because his wife was
allergic to cow's milk. His wife is long gone but the goat is still
around.

I know how that works. My wife is long gone but my girlfriend is
still around.


Just kidding.

On 6/11/2010 2:38 AM, Elmo wrote:
On Thu, 10 Jun 2010 23:32:58 -0700 (PDT), harry wrote:

What you need is a hoss. Or sheep.
(Or some other grazing animal.)

I wouldn't mind having one (just one) grazing animal.

I would want that animal to eat whatever grows ... no more ... no less.

If the slope is about 200 to 300 feet long and the fall line is 100 to 150
feet down the hill, what grazing animal do you think would eat exactly that
in a year?

Check around in your area for folks who rent grazing animals for just
your need. There are at least two families I know in this area who have
goats who do that.

On Jun 11, 7:38�am, Elmo dcdraftwo...@Use-Author-Supplied-
Address.invalid wrote:
On Thu, 10 Jun 2010 23:32:58 -0700 (PDT), harry wrote:
What you need is a hoss. �Or sheep. �
(Or some other grazing animal.)

I wouldn't mind having one (just one) grazing animal.

I would want that animal to eat whatever grows ... no more ... no less.

If the slope is about 200 to 300 feet long and the fall line is 100 to 150
feet down the hill, what grazing animal do you think would eat exactly that
in a year?

Can't say. It depends on the nature of your soil, the vegetation, the
climate and the rainfall. If you're not interested in animal
husbandry hire out to some one that is. Animal husbandry is skilled
work. Don't do it yourself unless you're prepared for lots of work.
Some people find it rewarding.
Most Grazers are in fact browsers, (ie they eat leaves in
preference) They only eat grass when there's nothing else. Slope is
neither here nor there to grazers. NB, goats are very hard to fence
in.
You can control them to an extent with electric fences.
More expense..........

If the slope is about 200 to 300 feet long and the fall line is 100 to 150
feet down the hill, what grazing animal do you think would eat exactly that
in a year?

With any grazing animal on soft soil, you'll end up with little
terraces (terracettes).

-Zz

On Fri, 11 Jun 2010 19:13:49 -0700, Zz Yzx wrote:

With any grazing animal on soft soil, you'll end up with little
terraces (terracettes).

I've seen those terracettes ringing a hill. I always wondered who created
those paths for the cows.

On Fri, 11 Jun 2010 06:38:54 +0000 (UTC), Elmo
wrote:

On Thu, 10 Jun 2010 23:32:58 -0700 (PDT), harry wrote:

What you need is a hoss. Or sheep.
(Or some other grazing animal.)

I wouldn't mind having one (just one) grazing animal.

I would want that animal to eat whatever grows ... no more ... no less.

You need a metered sheep for that. They are sold by the square foot.

If the slope is about 200 to 300 feet long and the fall line is 100 to 150
feet down the hill, what grazing animal do you think would eat exactly that
in a year?

You need a sheep rated for 30,000 square feet.

Check with NHTSA, the National Home-Trained Sheep Adminstration.

Many years ago I had a summer job mowing the grass and other grounds maintenance
at a large apartment complex. We used the rope method on some of the steep hills
there. If you decide to push the mower accross the slope, don't drag it
backwards; make sure you actually turn it around so the opposite side is
facing downhill from time to time. Most push mowers do not have very sophistcated
lubrication systems and prolonged use with one side downhill can damage
the engine. I remember seeing one catch on fire from overheating.


--
Make it as simple as possible, but no simpler.

Larry Wasserman - Baltimore Maryland - lwasserm(a)sdf. lonestar. org

On Jun 11, 1:33*am, Elmo dcdraftwo...@Use-Author-Supplied-
Address.invalid wrote:
What's the trick for mowing a half-football field sized steep slope with a
gas push mower?

I need to mow the steep hill at the side of my house which is overgrown
with tall grasses and weeds. It looks like half a football field on its
side, with the shorter distance being the fall line.

I don't know the degrees but it's hard to walk along the slope, mostly due
to the unconsolidated soil and the slope; but it's possible to walk it; but
with a mower, things get harder fast.

When I tried to mow down the fall line, it was way too hard as I
accelerated down and couldn't pull the mower up (and kept falling down,
which doesn't seem safe).

When I tried to mow across the fall line, I could barely hold the line to
cut a swath but it was always a steep diagnal. Gravity pulled the mower so
that it actually moved at a 45 degree angle to my sidewise motion, which
itself was something less than straight across the fall line due to the
slope.

I thought of tying a rope to the handle and letting gravity mow straight
down the fall line; but it might be difficult to pull the running mower
back up.

Before I try something stupid, I figured I'd ask you guys if you've solved
the problem of trying to mow with a gas push mower (it's all I have) on a
steep slope.

There is no trick. You simply use one of these (pick the model that
matches your requirements)

http://www.flymo.com/node2417.aspx?nid=16702

Just swing it back and forth as you traverse the slope.

DerbyDad03 wrote:
On Jun 11, 1:33 am, Elmo dcdraftwo...@Use-Author-Supplied-
Address.invalid wrote:
What's the trick for mowing a half-football field sized steep slope with a
gas push mower?

I need to mow the steep hill at the side of my house which is overgrown
with tall grasses and weeds. It looks like half a football field on its
side, with the shorter distance being the fall line.

I don't know the degrees but it's hard to walk along the slope, mostly due
to the unconsolidated soil and the slope; but it's possible to walk it; but
with a mower, things get harder fast.

When I tried to mow down the fall line, it was way too hard as I
accelerated down and couldn't pull the mower up (and kept falling down,
which doesn't seem safe).

When I tried to mow across the fall line, I could barely hold the line to
cut a swath but it was always a steep diagnal. Gravity pulled the mower so
that it actually moved at a 45 degree angle to my sidewise motion, which
itself was something less than straight across the fall line due to the
slope.

I thought of tying a rope to the handle and letting gravity mow straight
down the fall line; but it might be difficult to pull the running mower
back up.

Before I try something stupid, I figured I'd ask you guys if you've solved
the problem of trying to mow with a gas push mower (it's all I have) on a
steep slope.

There is no trick. You simply use one of these (pick the model that
matches your requirements)

http://www.flymo.com/node2417.aspx?nid=16702

Just swing it back and forth as you traverse the slope.


I had no idea they still made those! Or maybe started making them
again. I see Husqvarna has the name. Do they sell them in the US?

On Fri, 11 Jun 2010 08:17:33 -0700 (PDT), DerbyDad03 wrote:
There is no trick. You simply use one of these (pick the model that
matches your requirements)

Going to that page clued me in that the real solution is something called a
"slope mower".

It's out of the budget for now ... but in the future ... I think this is
self-leveling slope mower (up to 34°) might be just the way to go!

The slope I have is steeper than that in this picture but it gives an idea:
72LC All-Terrain Slope Mower: http://www.deweze.com/deweze/ATM/ATM.html

This one goes to 40 and the pictures are a bit more like the slope that I
have, only it's much rougher and less even and there are trees all around
in my slope.

SuperSlopeMaster SSM38-72D http://www.kutkwick.com/superslopemaster.htm

On Jun 11, 11:53*am, Elmo dcdraftwo...@Use-Author-Supplied-
Address.invalid wrote:
On Fri, 11 Jun 2010 08:17:33 -0700 (PDT), DerbyDad03 wrote:
There is no trick. You simply use one of these (pick the model that
matches your requirements)

Going to that page clued me in that the real solution is something called a
"slope mower".

It's out of the budget for now ... but in the future ... I think this is
self-leveling slope mower (up to 34°) might be just the way to go!

The slope I have is steeper than that in this picture but it gives an idea:
72LC All-Terrain Slope Mower:http://www.deweze.com/deweze/ATM/ATM.html

This one goes to 40 and the pictures are a bit more like the slope that I
have, only it's much rougher and less even and there are trees all around
in my slope.

SuperSlopeMaster SSM38-72Dhttp://www.kutkwick.com/superslopemaster.htm

I live in the US but used to be part of a "global team" with members
from Australia.

Other than the time difference making conference calls and prompt
responses a bit difficult, we had a great time comparing life in the
US with life "down under".

It was an Aussie who told me about the Fly-Mo. He said he had one and
that they are great on slopes. He said he has one area where he
lowered it down on 2 ropes and could swing it back and forth.

On Fri, 11 Jun 2010 09:06:19 -0700 (PDT), DerbyDad03 wrote:

It was an Aussie who told me about the Fly-Mo. He said he had one and
that they are great on slopes. He said he has one area where he
lowered it down on 2 ropes and could swing it back and forth.

I don't think I fully understand the "fly mo" hover mower.

Can I just tie a rope to the handle and lower it down from the top of the
slope bank and walk back and forth at the top of the hill holding the flymo
on the grade with the rope?

On Jun 11, 1:29*pm, Elmo dcdraftwo...@Use-Author-Supplied-
Address.invalid wrote:
On Fri, 11 Jun 2010 09:06:19 -0700 (PDT), DerbyDad03 wrote:
It was an Aussie who told me about the Fly-Mo. He said he had one and
that they are great on slopes. He said he has one area where he
lowered it down on 2 ropes and could swing it back and forth.

I don't think I fully understand the "fly mo" hover mower.

Can I just tie a rope to the handle and lower it down from the top of the
slope bank and walk back and forth at the top of the hill holding the flymo
on the grade with the rope?

Dunno...I'm just telling you what I remember from a few years back
when I first heard of "hovering mowers". The guy had some way of
controlling it with a rope. Mayby he just lowered the mower striaght
up and down.

Elmo wrote:
On Fri, 11 Jun 2010 09:06:19 -0700 (PDT), DerbyDad03 wrote:

It was an Aussie who told me about the Fly-Mo. He said he had one and
that they are great on slopes. He said he has one area where he
lowered it down on 2 ropes and could swing it back and forth.

I don't think I fully understand the "fly mo" hover mower.

Can I just tie a rope to the handle and lower it down from the top of
the slope bank and walk back and forth at the top of the hill holding
the flymo on the grade with the rope?

You'd probably need to attach much closer to the bottom - near the vertical
center-of-mass ideally.

On Fri, 11 Jun 2010 08:17:33 -0700 (PDT), DerbyDad03
wrote:

On Jun 11, 1:33*am, Elmo dcdraftwo...@Use-Author-Supplied-
Address.invalid wrote:
What's the trick for mowing a half-football field sized steep slope with a
gas push mower?

I need to mow the steep hill at the side of my house which is overgrown
with tall grasses and weeds. It looks like half a football field on its
side, with the shorter distance being the fall line.

I don't know the degrees but it's hard to walk along the slope, mostly due
to the unconsolidated soil and the slope; but it's possible to walk it; but
with a mower, things get harder fast.

When I tried to mow down the fall line, it was way too hard as I
accelerated down and couldn't pull the mower up (and kept falling down,
which doesn't seem safe).

When I tried to mow across the fall line, I could barely hold the line to
cut a swath but it was always a steep diagnal. Gravity pulled the mower so
that it actually moved at a 45 degree angle to my sidewise motion, which
itself was something less than straight across the fall line due to the
slope.

I thought of tying a rope to the handle and letting gravity mow straight
down the fall line; but it might be difficult to pull the running mower
back up.

Before I try something stupid, I figured I'd ask you guys if you've solved
the problem of trying to mow with a gas push mower (it's all I have) on a
steep slope.

There is no trick. You simply use one of these (pick the model that
matches your requirements)

http://www.flymo.com/node2417.aspx?nid=16702

Just swing it back and forth as you traverse the slope.

Why would that be less dangerous? It says nothing about hills on the
webpage and it seems to me that if it's floating, it's even easier to
get your foot under it.

Not only that, if it's heavy, its tendenecy is to keep all 4 wheels on
the ground. Since the user of the flymo will be uphill from the
mower, won't every time he lowers his arms cause the front of the
mower to go up and the rear to go down, making for a very uneven cut
and a blade that can easily throw things at anyone in front of it.

Just some thoughts. Maybe I'm wrong. But I don't see why this is
especially suited for a slope.

On Sat, 12 Jun 2010 00:40:49 -0400, mm wrote:

I don't see why this is especially suited for a slope.

I looked up hover mowers (electroluc flymo, eastman industries hover mower,
allen, draper, etc.).

The marketing makes it seem so simple, but there must be a good reason why
we're all not using a hover mower.

One problem is that they apparently can't cut high grass; another is they
reputedly don't work well on uneven surfaces; yet another, I'm told, is
that rocky soil (which is what I have) chips the weak plastic blades; yet
another is that the blades are purportedly puny, about 2 inches, so hover
mowing a large area might not be a whole lot better than whacking with the
weed whacker.

They seem to be available in 4 stroke, 2-stroke, and in 110/220 corded.

This hover mower idea might work, especially if it can hold itself on a
bank being controlled by a rope ... but that remains to be seen whether it
can actually be remotely controlled from the top of the slope.

On Jun 12, 1:57*am, Elmo dcdraftwo...@Use-Author-Supplied-
Address.invalid wrote:
On Sat, 12 Jun 2010 00:40:49 -0400, mm wrote:
I don't see why this is especially suited for a slope.

I looked up hover mowers (electroluc flymo, eastman industries hover mower,
allen, draper, etc.).

The marketing makes it seem so simple, but there must be a good reason why
we're all not using a hover mower.

One problem is that they apparently can't cut high grass; another is they
reputedly don't work well on uneven surfaces; yet another, I'm told, is
that rocky soil (which is what I have) chips the weak plastic blades; yet
another is that the blades are purportedly puny, about 2 inches, so hover
mowing a large area might not be a whole lot better than whacking with the
weed whacker.

They seem to be available in 4 stroke, 2-stroke, and in 110/220 corded.

This hover mower idea might work, especially if it can hold itself on a
bank being controlled by a rope ... but that remains to be seen whether it
can actually be remotely controlled from the top of the slope.

" I looked up hover mowers"

Where?

"the weak plastic blades"

The HoverMowerT site (aka Eastman Industries) says:

"Stainless steel blades for long life and clean cut"

"the blades are purportedly puny, about 2 inches"

Come on...where are you getting your info?

Once again, the HoverMowerT site (aka Eastman Industries) says:

Cut Width: 19 inches

"can't cut high grass"

I'm not sure what your definition of "high grass" is, but the
HoverMowerT can be set for a cut height of 4". That must mean it can
cut grass higher than that. It doesn't say how much higher, but it's
gotta be higher that 4" if it can cut it *down* to that height.

As I said earlier, I'm not endorsing them, I'm just quoting from their
website.

"For a fast professional cut on steep slopes, wet grounds, lake banks,
sand traps, retaining walls and awkward hard to reach angles
HoverMowerT is the answer!"

On Jun 12, 12:40*am, mm wrote:
On Fri, 11 Jun 2010 08:17:33 -0700 (PDT), DerbyDad03



wrote:
On Jun 11, 1:33*am, Elmo dcdraftwo...@Use-Author-Supplied-
Address.invalid wrote:
What's the trick for mowing a half-football field sized steep slope with a
gas push mower?

I need to mow the steep hill at the side of my house which is overgrown
with tall grasses and weeds. It looks like half a football field on its
side, with the shorter distance being the fall line.

I don't know the degrees but it's hard to walk along the slope, mostly due
to the unconsolidated soil and the slope; but it's possible to walk it; but
with a mower, things get harder fast.

When I tried to mow down the fall line, it was way too hard as I
accelerated down and couldn't pull the mower up (and kept falling down,
which doesn't seem safe).

When I tried to mow across the fall line, I could barely hold the line to
cut a swath but it was always a steep diagnal. Gravity pulled the mower so
that it actually moved at a 45 degree angle to my sidewise motion, which
itself was something less than straight across the fall line due to the
slope.

I thought of tying a rope to the handle and letting gravity mow straight
down the fall line; but it might be difficult to pull the running mower
back up.

Before I try something stupid, I figured I'd ask you guys if you've solved
the problem of trying to mow with a gas push mower (it's all I have) on a
steep slope.

There is no trick. You simply use one of these (pick the model that
matches your requirements)

http://www.flymo.com/node2417.aspx?nid=16702

Just swing it back and forth as you traverse the slope.

Why would that be less dangerous? *It says nothing about hills on the
webpage and it seems to me that if it's floating, it's even easier to
get your foot under it.

Not only that, if it's heavy, its tendenecy is to keep all 4 wheels on
the ground. *Since the user of the flymo will be uphill from the
mower, won't every time he lowers his arms cause the front of the
mower to go up and the rear to go down, making for a very uneven cut
and a blade that can easily throw things at anyone in front of it.

Just some thoughts. Maybe I'm wrong. *But I don't see why this is
especially suited for a slope.

Are you looking for a hover mower's web site that specifically says
that they are good for slopes?

Stolen without permission from:

http://www.hovermower.com/hovermower.htm

"For a fast professional cut on steep slopes, wet grounds, lake banks,
sand traps, retaining walls and awkward hard to reach angles
HoverMowerT is the answer!"