On most mowers you wouldn't be able to swing it on a rope as they are designed with 'dead man's handles', i.e. you have to have hold of the handlebar all the time to keep the engine running. I have seen idiots get round this by tying the handle in the 'on' position with a bungy elastic or gaffer tape. This is a recipe for cutting lumps off your own feet.
Get a grip - pay someone else to have the accident - at least they might be insured (but don't let them do the tying the handle trick on your property!)
DANGER! If you use a hover mower on a steep slope and walk down the slope with the mower in front of you, then you are in danger. Should your feet slip down the slope, you end up under the mower. Best plan, pay someone to do it, second best plan, cut along the slope, not up and down. You can lower a hover mower down a slope which works well but as has been said before, you risk cutting the flex on an electric model, or a hernia from hauling a petrol model. Either way you would need to override the dead man's handle, and that is never a good idea.
If the slope is really steep, don't grow grass on it.
The house further down the lane had the exact same issue.. His solution was the rope and a flymo - the result was mangled toes on his right foot . Be careful.. If your going to do this (even without the rope) proper footwear is essential. Steel cap toes rather than crocs or flip flops.
I am currently in my third year of product design and looking into developing an easier in-expensive solution to cutting slopes and ditches for the general public. If I can take a moment of your time would you mind answering a few questions for the research part it would really help and I would be extremely grateful!
If you have ever had to deal with the task of cutting slopes on a steep incline, what sort of issues come with doing it?
What sort of machinery or tools did you use for the job?
What drawbacks were there with using the tools or machinery you had?
If a product were to be developed for cutting steep slopes, what characteristics or features should it have to improve it for the job?
What do you believe would be the ideal set up of the machinery for tackling the task e.g. blade/ strimmer cable, pulleys for extended reach down the hill etc?
What sort of power assistance would you recommend best for the job out of battery motor, petrol or a manual method?
Are there any issues to consider when working alone?
What sort of vegetation is most commonly in need of being controlled?
Once again thank you for your time, it really will be a great help.
1. Danger of accidents with the machine, slips and falls down the slope, danger to myself and others from losing control.
2. I use my experience, training and judgement about what slope would be safe to work on - possibly use a strimmer, depending on the vegetation, but anything thicker than rough grass use hand tools. Check my insurance. If in any doubt about safety, tell the customer it's not possible, and why.
3. Slips, falls due lack of balance or insecure foothold. Machine might be too heavy or not capable of being used at the correct angle.
4. Anti-gravity app! Otherwise, sheep and goats don't do a bad job.
5. Go back to basics - why do I need to clear this slope, or is it just a whim? If I clear this slope, will it still be a hard job for the future to keep it clear or pretty?
6. Depends on size of job, location, steepness, vegetation.
7. Nothing that anyone hasn't thought of already - any H and S documentation designed for this sort of work covers it.
8. Managed grass is the most likely, I think. Beyond that, you're looking at restoration jobs, where you could encounter anything from tussocky grass or bramble through to shrubs and trees.
My garden is on a very steep slope, and was all grass/weeds when we bought the house. For a couple of years I cut all the grass with a lightweight electric rotary mower (I'm under 5ft tall!) and it was a pain, to say the least. I've now terraced the steepest parts and grow prettier things than grass on the terraces... and just mow the flattish bits.
And don't feel a failure if you need to get someone in to do the mowing. There are other gardening jobs which are far more rewarding to do yourself, in my opinion.
Since 2019 I've lived in east Clare, in the west of Ireland.
Posts
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How about loosely twisting the flex round the rope?
I suspect a petrol mower would be too heavy for ellerslie? And the fuel feed might not work on a steep slope."
Not a bad idea about the flex. Electric would be much lighter than petrol, but I don't think the slope would affect the fuel feed.
On most mowers you wouldn't be able to swing it on a rope as they are designed with 'dead man's handles', i.e. you have to have hold of the handlebar all the time to keep the engine running. I have seen idiots get round this by tying the handle in the 'on' position with a bungy elastic or gaffer tape. This is a recipe for cutting lumps off your own feet.
Get a grip - pay someone else to have the accident - at least they might be insured (but don't let them do the tying the handle trick on your property!)
DANGER! If you use a hover mower on a steep slope and walk down the slope with the mower in front of you, then you are in danger. Should your feet slip down the slope, you end up under the mower. Best plan, pay someone to do it, second best plan, cut along the slope, not up and down. You can lower a hover mower down a slope which works well but as has been said before, you risk cutting the flex on an electric model, or a hernia from hauling a petrol model. Either way you would need to override the dead man's handle, and that is never a good idea.
If the slope is really steep, don't grow grass on it.
The house further down the lane had the exact same issue.. His solution was the rope and a flymo - the result was mangled toes on his right foot . Be careful.. If your going to do this (even without the rope) proper footwear is essential. Steel cap toes rather than crocs or flip flops.
Hi,
I am currently in my third year of product design and looking into developing an easier in-expensive solution to cutting slopes and ditches for the general public. If I can take a moment of your time would you mind answering a few questions for the research part it would really help and I would be extremely grateful!
If you have ever had to deal with the task of cutting slopes on a steep incline, what sort of issues come with doing it?
What sort of machinery or tools did you use for the job?
What drawbacks were there with using the tools or machinery you had?
If a product were to be developed for cutting steep slopes, what characteristics or features should it have to improve it for the job?
What do you believe would be the ideal set up of the machinery for tackling the task e.g. blade/ strimmer cable, pulleys for extended reach down the hill etc?
What sort of power assistance would you recommend best for the job out of battery motor, petrol or a manual method?
Are there any issues to consider when working alone?
What sort of vegetation is most commonly in need of being controlled?
Once again thank you for your time, it really will be a great help.
1. Danger of accidents with the machine, slips and falls down the slope, danger to myself and others from losing control.
2. I use my experience, training and judgement about what slope would be safe to work on - possibly use a strimmer, depending on the vegetation, but anything thicker than rough grass use hand tools. Check my insurance. If in any doubt about safety, tell the customer it's not possible, and why.
3. Slips, falls due lack of balance or insecure foothold. Machine might be too heavy or not capable of being used at the correct angle.
4. Anti-gravity app! Otherwise, sheep and goats don't do a bad job.
5. Go back to basics - why do I need to clear this slope, or is it just a whim? If I clear this slope, will it still be a hard job for the future to keep it clear or pretty?
6. Depends on size of job, location, steepness, vegetation.
7. Nothing that anyone hasn't thought of already - any H and S documentation designed for this sort of work covers it.
8. Managed grass is the most likely, I think. Beyond that, you're looking at restoration jobs, where you could encounter anything from tussocky grass or bramble through to shrubs and trees.
Thank you for your response Joe, this really is a big help.
Hi Ellerslie!
My garden is on a very steep slope, and was all grass/weeds when we bought the house. For a couple of years I cut all the grass with a lightweight electric rotary mower (I'm under 5ft tall!) and it was a pain, to say the least. I've now terraced the steepest parts and grow prettier things than grass on the terraces... and just mow the flattish bits.
And don't feel a failure if you need to get someone in to do the mowing. There are other gardening jobs which are far more rewarding to do yourself, in my opinion.