Craftsman 11A-U2V2791 149cc Gas Powered Push Lawn Mower Review
Gasoline-powered lawn mowers like the CRAFTSMAN 11A-U2V2791 3-in-1 are prized for their commanding power and the ability to make quick work of even the thickest grass. Yet one of the big complaints about them is that they tend to take up a lot of space in the garage when you aren’t using them.
Craftsman tackles this problem head-on by engineering the 11A-U2V2791 3-in-1 to be able to store vertically. This is incredibly rare in gas-powered lawnmowers due to the way it shifts the fluids inside. Yet when you store the 11A-U2V2791 3-in-1 according to the directions, it won’t suffer any complications. This effectively reduces the storage space it takes up by roughly 70-percent.
The Craftsman 11A-U2V2791 has a 149 cc Briggs & Stratton engine that delivers superior torque to the 21-inch cutting blade. It also has an innovative recoil and automatic choke system which makes for effortless and reliable starting. There are 6 different height settings with dual lever controls. It lets you set the cutting deck height from as low as 1.25-inches to as high as 3.75-inches.
This is a true 3-in-1 gas-powered lawnmower. The initial assembly has it set up for side discharge. However, if you’ve had thatch buildup problems in the past you can change it over to run as a mulching mower or a bagger. The mulcher essentially minces the harvested grass clippings into tiny pieces that will decompose easily in the upper layers of the turf. If you leave the clippings long, they can dry out into thatch which might suffocate the root layers of your grass.
It’s when you change it over to be a bagger that the Craftsman 11A-U2V2791 really starts to come into its own. The bag itself is large and connects firmly to the rear of the cutting deck. It’s also engineered to be a “Dust Blocker” which means it won’t breathe the way many other cloth baggers do. This is especially nice if you need to cut during dusty or high pollen conditions, or you have someone in the family with a grass pollen allergy.
Craftsman has a long-standing reputation for being proud of their quality manufacturing and materials. You see this reflected in the two-year warranty program that they back the Craftsman 11A-U2V2791 with.
Key Features
- 149 cc gasoline engine
- 3-in-1 versatility
- Side discharge, mulching or bagging
- The bag is a “Dust Blocker”
- Automatic choke and recoil for easy start-up
- Dual-lever height adjustment
- 1.25 to 3.75-inches
- Collapses quickly
- Can be stored vertically
- Backed by a two-year warranty
Performance
The 149 cc gasoline engine is powerful and transfers a superior amount of torque to the 21-inch cutting blade. This is very important for times when you want to set it up as a mulching mower to really mince the harvested grass clippings into tiny pieces. You also see the performance of the engine shining through when it diverts the clippings to the large rear-mounted bagger.
Ease of Use
When it comes to ease of use for a walk-behind gas-powered lawnmower, you’re really talking about how easy it is to start. With a lot of the competitors, the process of choking and pull starting can be more than a little frustrating. Fortunately, the Craftsman 11A-U2V2791 was engineered with an easy recoil and automatic choke feature for easy starting.
If there’s perhaps a minor complaint with it comes to operating the Craftsman 11A-U2V2791 it’s that the bagger can get pretty heavy and becomes challenging to disconnect at times when it is loaded to the max with harvested grass clippings. You might want to get in the habit of emptying the bagger at half to three-quarters full to get around this little foible.
Cut Quality & Options
The 21-inch cutting deck and the 149 cc gasoline engine really develop an impressive amount of power. It really lets the mulcher do its job of pulverizing the grass clippings. This speeds the rate that they decompose back into the upper layers of the turf. It can even help contribute a little nitrogen to the soil to promote future growth.
If you have to cut the grass in dusty conditions or someone in your family has a grass allergy, you’ll truly come to appreciate the dust blocker of the bagger. It doesn’t breathe like a lot of other cloth baggers do.
Maintenance
As a gas-powered walk-behind lawnmower the Craftsman 11A-U2V2791 will need seasonal oil changes, and you will need to keep an eye on the air filter to keep it free of dust, pollen and yard debris. The 21-inch cutting blade will need to be sharpened every spring. You can do this yourself with a fine-toothed mill file or a metal grinder. Though replacement blades are relatively inexpensive.
Safety Features
The Craftsman 11A-U2V2791 comes with the standard handlebar controls that you find with most walk-behind push mowers.
Special Features
The ability to store the Craftsman 11A-U2V2791 vertically with the handlebars collapsed is something you rarely see in a gas-powered lawnmower. It can save you up to 70% of the space compared to the direct competitors. It’s ideal for homes with limited garage space or a small tool shed.
The easy recoil and automatic choke are also nice features that make for reliable starting.
Cost-Effectiveness
For a gasoline-powered lawnmower, the Craftsman 11A-U2V2791 is on the positive end of the cost-effective spectrum. It’s easy to maintain and has a very friendly price point that translates into a nice return on your investment. When you set it up as a mulcher or a dust-free bagging mower it also helps prevent thatch buildup in your turf. This could in turn save you money on seasonal aerating costs.
