Step-by-step instructions for assembling an electric lawn mower with your own hands

Lawn mowers are one of the most profitable and practical lawn care devices today. Therefore, it is not surprising that many people are trying to create a truly high-quality and uncomplicated device with their own hands. Moreover, in the process it is possible to create an improved variation of the classic mower, supplementing it with parts from other equipment.

Today, to design this unit the following can be used:

• Old vacuum cleaner;
• Unnecessary washing machine;
• Bulgarian;
• Chainsaw, etc.

Despite the fact that these machines are used in different areas and for other needs, with a little “magic” on them, you can get a truly high-quality homemade product.

Electric lawn mower application

An electric or gasoline lawn mower can hardly be called an essential item.

And yet, it helps to make a neat lawn, which is not just a well-groomed area that attracts the eyes of neighbors, but also speaks of the status of its owner. Finding an electric lawn mower that suits your preferences is not a problem these days.

However, such a pleasure will cost a lot, so for many, a do-it-yourself electric lawn mower is a more attractive option. To assemble the much-needed home-made electric structure, you need to spend only a few evenings, easily finding a medium-power motor on the farm: from a chainsaw, vacuum cleaner, drill, even a washing machine.

A homemade electrical device allows you to save a fair amount and get pleasure from creativity.

What does an electric lawn mower consist of?

Of course, the most important part of it, including a homemade electric lawn mower, is the motor. Engines are capable of converting energy into any other form of mechanical energy.

They are divided into primary, which convert energy resources into mechanical energy, and secondary, which converts energy that is generated by other sources:

• chemical energy of fuel - internal combustion engine;
• fuel, i.e. when burning fuel - a piston engine;
• igniting the compressed air mixture in the cylinders - gasoline;
• working by igniting fuel under pressure - diesel, which is characterized by its low cost and the possibility of long-term operation;
• gas, operating due to the supply of heat (with a constant volume);
• electric.

When choosing a motor, you need to know that the quality of the haircut directly depends on the engine speed: the higher this value, the higher the quality. That is, it depends on the linear speed, which is directly dependent on the speed of the cutters: the higher it is, the greater the grip.

It is known from practice that the optimal option is a home-made electrical design with the following characteristics:

• motor power 1 kW;
• number of revolutions – 1.5 thousand rpm;
• grip - 50 cm. A less powerful engine - 500 kW (1500 rpm) will also mow weeds. But doing this will make him worse. At the same time, the knives of low-power motors become dull faster.

The electric mower has a convenient control handle and blades. Since the homemade design is powered from the mains, a long cord is required. To make work convenient, you cannot do without wheels, which are attached to the lower part of the frame, which holds all the parts together.

For convenience, a protective casing is used.

Prevention

It is also very important to monitor the condition of the carburetor. It needs to be cleaned periodically. Its casing is dismantled. The screws are unscrewed. It comes out of the plastic. Garbage (if any) is removed from it. There is a cover under the casing. The carburetor is located underneath it. He's filming. First, the fuel hose is disconnected (the fuel tank and carburetor communicate through it). Fuel may leak from it. You need to be more careful. The carburetor is removed and held in place by a pair of bolts. Next comes its analysis.

The bolt holding the fuel compartment cover is unscrewed. Special cleaning agents are required for cleaning. WD-40 will do just fine. It is necessary to thoroughly clean the fuel channels of this mechanism. A thin copper wire is required. Cleaning begins with the fuel compartment. The mechanism is soaked abundantly. The carburetor is left alone for a short time. This process is repeated several times. Channels are cleaned with copper wire. Let's blow them under pressure. After these operations, the mechanism is assembled using the reverse algorithm.

Clogged compartments and passages are the most common cause of engine problems. Constant monitoring of their cleanliness will significantly extend the life of the engine and make it work more efficiently.

Where to find parts

For an electric mower, a motor with a power of 500 W or more from outdated household appliances that is in working condition is suitable. This could be a vacuum cleaner, drill, chainsaw, grinder or washing machine.

The greater the engine power (ideally 1 kW), the lower the homemade device will operate at lower speeds. Consequently, the knives will become dull less.

In addition, the gripping area depends on the motor power, i.e. area cut by a knife at a time.

The size of the homemade electric mower and the diameter of the knife, which is also considered one of the main parts, the quality of which affects the result and service life, depend on the selected engine.

What should a homemade knife be like?

So that the knife does not need to be sharpened often, it is recommended to make it from high-quality steel. They sharpen it to protect the engine shaft from damage, unevenly: they sharpen the edges sharply, without touching the place where it is adjacent to the shaft, since the grass is practically not cut in this place, but is only wound onto the knife.

Tool steel strips 20-50mm wide and 2-3mm thick are a suitable starting material for the manufacture of this part. Although a thick knife is stronger, a thin blade cuts weeds better.

The knife can be:

• a strip, the ends of which are sharpened and serve as knives;
• consist of two knives, fixed to each other at an angle of 180 degrees. They can be located straight or inclined.

In the first option, the length of the knife and the width of the grip are equal - 30-50cm. The length of the knives used in the second case does not exceed 50-80 cm. There are several ways to fasten the knives - using one bolt or two. The second option is, of course, safer. But knives secured with a single bolt can, if an obstacle arises, fold without deforming or breaking.

In shape it can be straight, curved (like branded electrical devices), figured (trapezoidal). The part, sharpened at both ends, can be solid with a hole in the center for a screw.

The knife may be a composite structure, i.e. a sharpened piece attached to a steel strip by welding or bolting. The most unusual knife will be one that is a sharpened solid disk.

This type of knife is the safest: an ordinary knife can break if it hits a stone, but this does not threaten the disc.

Handle of a homemade electric mower

The handle can be made of any length and shape - at the discretion of the master. In practice, they often use the chassis from a baby stroller, which solves three problems at once, since it simultaneously serves as a frame, handle and wheels. If there is no stroller, it is made from pipes or cuttings of garden tools.

Whatever the handle is made of, the main thing is to choose it correctly according to the height of the person who uses the lawn mower. Its optimal length is about 90 cm.

At the final stage, connect the cord and install a mesh that protects from cut weeds. The mesh is attached above the lawn mower. At this point, the work of assembling the lawn mower is completed, and you can proceed to testing it.

Chainsaw

Building a lawn mower from a chainsaw is quite simple if you follow our recommendations:

• First of all, without changing anything in the design of the unit, we simply move it onto a frame measuring 50x60 cm. We advise you to first weld it from 25x25 corners. Wheels of the required diameter are attached to the edges of the cart;

• Now you need to disconnect the “steering wheel” and the tire from the saw;
• Using water pipes, attach the handle to the cart. We attach the “steering wheel” to it, which we removed from the chainsaw, extend the fuel supply hose and the “throttle” cable;
• After this we attach the engine to the frame. Make sure that the shaft is always at the bottom;

• To regulate the height of the grass to be trimmed, weld a piece of pipe 8 cm long and 5 cm in diameter coaxially onto the “star” from a chainsaw. Another piece of pipe 8 cm long and already 5.8 cm in diameter is placed on it with a gap.
• The disc and blades are attached in the same way as a mower from a vacuum cleaner.

Wheels

Wheels provide convenience when working, allowing the mower to move easily. It has already been said that the best option for choosing wheels is a baby stroller. But wheels from a vacuum cleaner or a large children's car are also suitable. As a last resort, they are carved from wood.

Video: Homemade lawn mower

The diameter of the wheels for a homemade electric mower is selected based on the fact that the distance between the ground and the blade is 5-6 cm. This height is optimal from the point of view of aesthetics and the quality of lawn cutting. When the grass is cut higher, the latter “breaks” and the lawn becomes uneven. If this value is reduced, it is dangerous to work due to the unevenness of the ground.

There is no consensus on the required number of wheels. It can be 2,3 or 4 wheels.

The design's two wheels give it maneuverability and allow you to cut grass even in hard-to-reach places. And it’s easier to find them of the same diameter than 3 or 4.

We recommend:

• Do-it-yourself lawnmower from a washing machine
• How to choose an electric lawn mower
• Do-it-yourself repair of electric lawn mowers

In the latter case, it is possible to very precisely set the distance to the ground of the knives. In a three-wheeled device, a pair of wheels is located on the side of the handle so that the structure can be easily lifted from the front and turned around by pressing on the handle.

It is more difficult to work with small wheels, which is why it is recommended to choose a larger diameter.

Simplified diagram

To install blades on a homemade electric lawn mower, you will need to do the following:

• Make two holes in the disk, 2 centimeters from the edge. They are necessary for installing knives. They are attached to the circle using M6 bolts;
• Knives must be cut from a hacksaw or saw. They should be 60 mm in length and 30 mm in width;

• The bolts must be secured in such a way that the knives can rotate freely around their axis when pressure is applied to them. This property is very useful if you find some hard object in the grass. This will protect your homemade lawn mower from frequent breakdowns.

Now you need to install the mechanism for turning on the device. Run a wire to the motor from a standard toggle switch. This DIY mower made from a vacuum cleaner is perfect for a small amount of work in a summer cottage.

Frame making

The frame is made of thick plywood or metal. In order for a homemade structure to be safe and less likely to need repair, a protective casing is also required. The best material for its manufacture will be metal.

The size of this part depends on the length of the knife. But, rarely, when the maximum width is made more than 60 cm. Taking a sheet of metal with a thickness of at least 3 mm, cut out a square of 50x50 cm (or 60x60cm). The hole for the engine must be made in the center (at the intersection of the diagonals of the square).

The flange motor is attached from below directly to the homemade frame. To securely fasten the motor with ears, you will need additional fasteners that need to be welded to the frame.

The metal frame is more reliable and less susceptible to deformation. But, if there is no metal, you can make it from plywood or boards.

The casing is necessary to prevent weed cuttings and other debris from getting onto the engine shaft. The simplest option would be to use a tin can. If you want to make the casing you can make it look more aesthetically pleasing. The high casing will also protect the electrical mechanism.

Required components

The simplest version of a lawn mower includes the following parts:

• knives;
• engine;
• wheels;
• handles for controlling the structure;
• protective casing;
• a frame on which all mower components will be attached;
• parts for controlling the system: RCD, switch, cable and plug for connecting electricity.

The frame of the lightest model will include a metal sheet with a thickness of 2 to 3 millimeters with a hole in the middle for the passage of the motor shaft. The sheet is combined with a frame made of metal corners. The engine is attached to the sheet on top, a casing with protection is installed on the bottom, wheels are mounted on the sides of the axle, as well as handles for controlling the device.

If the product uses a flanged motor, then it can be attached to the sheet itself by drilling holes in the latter that will be identical to the holes in the flange. If the engine is of a classic type, then several perpendicular racks from the corner must be welded or screwed to the sheet so that they coincide with the engine feet.

Special holes are made in the corners for mounting the engine. If the holes are created as grooves, this will help align the engine with the frame when mounting. This assembly will be very useful for selecting the optimal grass cutting height. The easiest way would be to create holes for different engine heights.

The central place of the lawn mower will be a unit, which will consist of a mandrel with short knives attached to its surface (one long blade can also be used).

Assembling a lawn mower

For assembly you will need the following tools:

• welding machine;
• hacksaw for metal.

The finished casing is put on the shaft, then a sharpened knife is installed, securing the entire mechanism with a bolt. When this is done, the wheels are attached to the frame, for which angles with pre-drilled holes must be welded to it.

The size of the wheels is selected in such a way that the knife passes over the ground at a height of 5-7 cm. If it is lower, there is a high probability of its contact with the ground, and if it is higher, it will crush weeds (not cut).

Electric mower made from a drill

The frame is made in a curved shape. An example would be a homemade device made from a drill, where a wide knife is attached instead of a drill. The drill is attached to the handle of the frame.

The advantages of such a device include:

• lack of connection of the power cord, since a drill mechanism is used;
• Possibility of cutting grass at curbs and under trees.

It is not difficult to come up with an attachment to the drill frame, but in terms of operating time and reliability, a homemade lawn mower based on it will be many times inferior to asynchronous motors, which are more often used for these purposes. Therefore, for the care of large areas, preference is given to the latter.

A drill is more suitable if you need to assemble a homemade trimmer.

Bulgarian

Using a similar principle, you can make an electric lawn mower from an angle grinder. It turns out to be less powerful and small in size. Most often, it is not knives that are attached to it, but special fishing lines for cutting grass, as can be seen in the photo. The main advantage of a mower made from an angle grinder is that the tool can be easily removed and used for its intended purpose.

Let's sum it up

Almost all owners of summer cottages are faced with the problem of caring for their lawn. It is quite difficult to process it manually, and special devices are expensive. But there is no need to despair, because you can easily make a lawn mower yourself using available tools.

Advantages and disadvantages of homemade lawn mower designs

They depend on the parts used for assembly.

The main advantages include:

• environmental friendliness;
• low cost (since you can use any household appliance);
• noiselessness (if an asynchronous motor is used).

Low noise is undoubtedly an important indicator, but considering that any lawn mower, including a homemade one, makes manual work incredibly easier, it can be tolerated, so any other motor will do.

It is not recommended to use a vacuum cleaner motor due to its rapid overheating. If there is no other one, you can use that too. And fight overheating with the help of a proper casing made of metal mesh or with holes for air circulation.

The disadvantage of a homemade tool is that the knife is not adjustable in height. But, with certain skills, this can be corrected.

Based on a vacuum cleaner

The required details here are:

• wheels of large diameters (create smooth free movement);
• welding equipment;
• two steel sheets;
• saw/hacksaw.

Instructions for implementation:

1. A platform is cut out from these sheets. It will house the motor from an old vacuum cleaner. The engine will concentrate its shaft in the lower area. The engine also needs a protective casing. The thickness of the casing is 1.2 mm. Holes are made in it 4 mm larger than the shaft. The engine is positioned 3-4 cm from the ground, otherwise the unit will break during operation.
2. A metal disk is placed on the motor shaft.
3. The knife is prepared in several copies. A disk with a diameter of 3.8 - 4 cm is cut out of a metal sheet. The disk is put on the shaft disk end and welded to it.

Working width – 25 cm maximum.

Advantages of a homemade model:

1. Saving money.
2. Environmentally friendly.

Minuses:

1. You cannot control the height of the knife.
2. Weak level of security.
3. High probability of breakdown.

These disadvantages are not difficult to eliminate. It is important to have the necessary skills here.

Safety precautions during operation

Safety precautions must be observed both when working with a factory-made lawn mower and a home-made one, since they have knives and the tool operates from an electrical network.

It is important to check before connecting the tool to the network:

• reliability of bolt fastening;
• sharpness of knives;
• free wheel movement.

In the area to be processed, it is advisable to collect everything that could cause a breakage of the homemade structure and injury to the person operating it: wooden blocks, stones, debris. There should be no children or pets on the site.