Husqvarna LC221FHE 21″ 163cc Briggs & Stratton Walk Behind Self-Propelled Gas Mower Review
A self-propelled lawnmower with electric start is meant to be the height of convenience in a gas-powered mower. You get the power of a traditional gas mower, yet the propulsion unit helps bear the burden of the weight that comes with an inherently heavy mower.
The front wheel drive of the Husqvarna LC221FHE also helps balance the unit making it move smoothly across your lawn. The large rear wheels also help it move along smoothly, sparing you some of the elbow grease or having to make multiple turns around trees and landscaping features.
The Husqvarna LC221FHE also has the convenience of a built-in bagger unit that does an exceptional job of delivering the grass from the cutting blades to the large rear-mounted bag.
The 21-inch cutting width is wide enough to reduce the total number of passes it takes to cut your lawn. The four adjustable height settings of the wheels also allow you to compensate for things like an overly wet or dry summer. If long-term conditions have been dry, you can set the wheels to their highest setting, this will leave longer blades that better shade the soil and help maintain moisture level.
Key Features
- Walk behind, Self-propelled
- Front wheel drive system
- 21-inch cutting width
- 4 height adjustments
- Highly efficient bagging system
- Easy to use electric start
- Comes with oil
Performance
The bagging system on the Husqvarna LC221FHE is incredibly efficient. It leaves little, if nothing, behind as you mow. This is especially helpful for reducing thatch build up, which can reduce your chances of needing to aerate the soil in the fall or spring.
The fact that the self-propulsion system is driven by the front wheels also helps balance this mower out when you are pushing it. This can be really helpful if you have uneven patches in your lawn. To adjust the speed, you can lightly pull on the handle. Unfortunately, this can sometimes be a little clumsy, and you should expect that it will take a little time to get used to.
Ease of Use
The Husqvarna LC221FHE was designed to be easy to use. However, the speed adjustment is a little clumsy and not always 100% reliable. It will take some getting used to, and there might be a few herky-jerky moments. The electric start system works well on paper, but it can still be a little fiddly at first.
Cut Quality & Options
The ability to adjust the height of the cutting deck to four distinct levels is nice. Especially if your part of the country is prone to swings in weather.
For instance, let’s say that things have been dry for a week or more. Then you could set the mower deck higher, to leave the blades a little longer, to help preserve moisture levels I the turf.
If things have been a little wet, or you know that your soil has a higher than normal amount of clay, you might want to set the mower to a lower setting to keep the blades short. This could also be handy for overly sunny areas of your lawn.
Maintenance
On the face of it, the Husqvarna name stands for quality and low maintenance. They have spent decades earning a reputation for quality and reliability. Especially, in Europe where they have a large dealership presence.
In the United States, Husqvarna dealerships and certified repair professionals are continuing to grow. Unfortunately, they are a little more far between than you might like, depending on where you live. This can be a little of an issue if you have a problem and need service or repair later on down the line. You might want to double check online to see if there is a Husqvarna dealer or certified shop reasonably close to you.
Safety Features
The hand controls serve as both the spend control for the self-propelled feature, as well as acting as an automatic shut off when released.
Special Features
On the face of it, the bagger might not sound like a truly “Special Feature.” Yet it does stand apart from many other baggers with just how efficiently it picks up and stored the cut blades of grass, without leaving any excess thatch behind. This in and of itself might end up saving you some money on annual aeration needs.
The hand controls for that help you adjust the speed of the self-propelled front wheels are helpful. They are a little fiddly to work with at first. You should expect it to take a little while to get used to.
The electric starting feature is also a godsend, sparing you the huff and puff of trying to start the Husqvarna LC221FHE with a pull cord.
The front wheel drive feature of the self-propelled system has the mower pull itself along. This can help if you have uneven turf, or you need to make a clever turn around the odd tree or bird bath.
Cost Effectiveness
The 21-inch cutting width is in that “Goldy Locks” zone for mower decks. A smaller cutting deck tends to get a little frustrating when you need to mow a lawn bigger than say a quarter of an acre. A larger cutting deck can be a bit of a struggle when you need to cut around trees, edging or other landscape features. This saves you money in the long run, while also sparing you a little sweat.
The fact that the Husqvarna LC221FHE comes with the appropriate oil might seem like a minor thing. Still, some mowers in this class and price range don’t come with it, and it can be a little bit of a frustration when you just want to get mowing for the first time. The oil comes with it is a little bit like opening that cool Christmas gift when you were a kid and having the batteries come with it!
