American Lawn Mower Company 50514 14″ 11-Amp Corded Electric Lawn Mower Review
A high-quality corded electric lawn mower like the American Lawn Mower Company 50514 can be a very cost-effective way to mow a relatively small suburban lawn. While the cord might limit your overall distance from the outlet to the maximum range you can cut, it also helps deliver immediate power without having to worry about recharging batteries or dealing with messy, smoky, stubborn gasoline engines.
The American Lawn Mower Company 50514 has a 14-inch cutting deck, which is just the right size for the 11-Amp electric motor that serves as the lawn mower’s beating heart. It’s designed to be connected to a standard 50-foot long standard household extension cord.
The height of the cutting deck is also very easy to adjust. You can quickly set it as low as 1 inch or as high as 2.5 inches for the prevailing conditions of your lawn.
This corded electric lawn mower also has two in one versatility. You can set it up as a mulching mower which transforms the harvested grass clippings into tiny pieces that decompose quickly into the turf. If you prefer you can easily switch it over to being a bagging lawn mower. It comes with a 15-gallon grass collection bag with indicator included in the initial purchase.
One of the under-sung things about the American Lawn Mower Company 50514 is the fact that you can adjust the control handle height. This is nice if you have different people mowing your lawn throughout a given summer or you happen to be above average in height. When you are done mowing the lawn the handles also fold down to save storage space.
Key Features
- Corded electric push mower
- 14-inch diameter cutting deck
- 1 to 2.5-inch cutting deck height
- 11 Amp electric motor
- Connects to a 50-foot extension cord
- 2-in-1 mulching or bagging
- Comes with 16 gallon bagger
- Adjustable handle height
- Compact storage
- 2-year warranty protection
Performance
When connected to a 50-foot extension cord the 11-Amp electric motor in the American Lawn Mower Company 50514 is very robust. It does a great job of cutting even thick bladed grass like Bermuda or Kentucky Bluegrass. Just bear in mind that when you go beyond a standard 50-foot distance with a typical household extension cord, the performance of the motor might be suboptimal.
This is just part of the physics that goes with how extension cords work. If you do need to go farther than 50-feet, you might want to try upgrading to a contractor’s or commercial grade extension cords, which are engineered to deliver significant power over a greater distance.
If there is a minor complaint in the specifics of the American Lawn Mower Company 50514 it’s the lack of a self-propulsion system. Though once you start manually pushing this 26-pound lawn mower you will likely agree that it’s no bother at all.
Ease Of Use
The American Lawn Mower Company 50514 was designed to be very easy to use. Not only is it lightweight and easy to store, but it can also be set to your desired height. This, of course, translates into superior comfort while operating this corded electric push mower. The fact that it only weighs around 26-pounds is also helpful.
For what it’s worth the height of the cutting deck is easy to adjust. Switching between mulching only and bagging was also conveniently engineered. The level indicator on the 16-gallon grass collector is a nice touch. Though in all reality you usually won’t need to worry about it filling up in a single mowing session.
Special Features
The 2-in-1 versatility can be used to mulch as well as bag. This is a great way to prevent thatch buildup in the upper levels of the turf. The tiny mulched pieces of grass easily decompose back into the turf. If you want you can just as easily switch the American Lawn Mower Company 50514 over to bagging mode. This lets you bring the harvested grass clippings to your garden or to give you compost pile a nice boost.
The handlebars and ergonomic controls might not seem like they are all that “Special” on paper. Though the height adjustment lets you set it comfortably to the height of the operator. They also fold down easily and this corded electric lawn mower is small enough to be stored hanging on a heavy-duty storage hook.
Cut Quality & Options
The 14-inch diameter cutting deck of the American Lawn Mower Company 50514 is perfect for a small lawn. Being able to set it up as a mulching or bagging lawn mower is a versatile way to deal with harvested grass clippings.
The ability to set the cutting height as low as 1-inch for wet, sunny conditions or as tall as 2.5-inches is very handy.
Maintenance
As a corded electric lawn mower the American Lawn Mower Company 50514 is very easy to maintain. You don’t have to worry about any batteries to charge, oil to change or the risk of failing sparkplugs complicating your life.
You do need to occasionally change the cutting blades, and you need to make sure that all the grass clippings are cleaned out of the bagger at the end of each mowing session. If you have particularly thick grass or you are cutting while there’s still dew on your lawn, you should also take an extra minute or two to clean the underside of the deck.
Safety Features
The American Lawn Mower Company 50514 has all the same safety hand controls you expect in a push mower.
Cost-Effectiveness
The American Lawn Mower Company 50514 is a very cost-effective push mower. The fact that it’s a corded electric lawn mower means you don’t have to worry about the long-term costs of battery replacement or dealing with smelly gasoline or oil change costs. You’ll never have to deal with the cost of a bad sparkplug or carburetor cleaning.
Though if you do want to mow beyond the 50-feet allowed by a standard household extension cord, you will need to shoulder the minor cost of a commercial-grade power cord, which will take you out to 100-feet from the nearest outdoor outlet.
