A pioneer in the field of manufacturing reliable outdoor equipment, Poulan Pro has been hailed for its massive range of lawn mowers. The Poulan Pro PR500N21SH is an oil-based lawn mower for home-owners with basic requirements and limited budget. What’s all the more alluring is the fact that this model comes mostly pre-assembled, pre-oiled and has a highly reliable Briggs and Stratton 140 cc Engine. You can easily alter the 21” steel deck to either mulch the trimmings or bag them for disposal. Weighed at around 60 pounds, this machine beats all conventional notions of a ‘bulky, hard to manage’ oil-run mower.
Product Info:
- Walk Behind Lawn Mower
- Petrol Mower
- 500E 140cc Briggs & Stratton engine
Features:
- 21 inch cutting deck
- 2-in-1 (side discharge and mulch capability)
- 4 Height Adjusters with 5 positions
- 7 inch front and 12 inch rear wheels
- Weight: 71 lbs
- 2-years warranty
Poulan Pro PR500N21SH, 21 in. 140cc Briggs & Stratton Walk Behind 2-IN-1 Mower
Amazon.com - This 21 in. 2-in-1 cutting deck design delivers a clean lawn in no time. Cutting height adjustment: Four-point
- Powered by the dependable 140 cc Briggs & Stratton Engine delivering the right amount of power in a compact, lightweight package
- Easy rolling High Rear Wheels for added maneuverability on any terrain. Cutting deck material : Steel. Cutting height, maximum (approximate): 3.44 inch
- 2-in-1 side discharge and mulch capability allows you to spread grass clippings to the side, returning key nutrients to your lawn so your grass can grow healthy and thick
In-depth Review of the Poulan Pro Lawn Mower PR500N21SH
Ease Of Use
Having heard rave reviews of the Poulan Pro PR500N21SH lawn mower about 7 months back, I’d decided to test the machine myself. The good thing is that you don’t need to break your head over assembling it, and it even comes pre-oiled. I noticed a slight oil leakage when I received the shipment, but I decided to ignore that and go ahead with using it. No doubt, it’s pretty easy to move around and doesn’t take a toll on your back like other fuel-based mowers. But to tell you the truth, the pull cord that would earlier start with 2 pulls has now gotten to irk me. It takes the yanking of a lifetime to get it started! And lest I forget, let me mention another major downer.The mesh-covered inlet on the fuel tank is so small that it’s humanly impossible to pour oil into it without spilling!
Cut Quality
In all honestly, if your lawn is composed of multiple grass types, this is the mower to get, That is at least what I thought at the beginning my test period. This Poulan PR500N21SH powered push mower treats wild grass, small twigs and anything else in its path as the same. Once the cut height is set, it really does not differentiate with anything in its way. In fact, the maximum number of passes you will ever need with this Poulan Pro mower is two and that is only with a really soggy lawn.
I must admit that for the first 2 months, the cut quality of the Poulan Pro PR500N21SH was really good. It was only during the third month that it started halting so often that I had to call up Customer Support. Of course the mower was under warranty and I didn’t have to shelve out any cash. However, despite the so-called ‘motor-repairing’ that was done by the technician, its cutting abilities certainly diminished. I’ve been repeatedly testing it ever since then, and I realized that for easily-mowable grass species like Buffalograss, the cut quality is satisfactory. But when it comes to thick patches of Zoysia or Fescue, you’re left with an uneven and unsightly turf!
Height Adjustment
For a lawn mower of dimensions around 30 x 25 x 18 inches, front wheels of 7” diameter and rear wheels of 12” diameter, the 5-position height adjustment is quite good. Most mowers in the given price range offer only 2 to 4 variable heights to work at. The only issue is that there are 4 height adjusting levers as opposed to single-lever height adjustment that many advanced models offer. Adjusting the height can be a bit of a bother as you have to individually alter the height of each wheel. Thankfully, only a preset number of configurations are available on the wheels so it’s a matter of knowing what’s best for your terrain and grass type. For uneven terrains, it is best to set the front tires a bit lower than the back wheels as this helps generate a tighter grip on the surface and induces slight traction going forward, even uphill.
Motor Power
The Poulan Pro PR500N21SH lawn mower comes with a 140 cc Briggs and Stratton Primer Engine that generates 5.0 Torque. Well, that certainly appears good on papers, but in reality it’s quite different. Well, I’ve mentioned about the slight oil leak when the mower was initially delivered. I made a mistake of ignoring that and the problem has only worsened. In addition to leakage, there’s a lot of overheating, which necessitates a break of every 15 minutes, lest the plastic frame starts to melt, or worse if something explodes. Honestly, the engine isn’t even powerful enough to handle grass blades over 3 inches.
Anyways, this gas mower comes with motor oil so you won’t have to purchase it the first time around. Just add the gasoline and power up the engine to get going. Noise wise, the engine doesn’t sound too aggressive, which is great if you intend to mow early in the morning while your neighbors are asleep.
Maintenance
The Poulan Pro PR500N21SH lawn mower comes with a 2 years limited warranty. This is again, not a bad deal considering its price. But after just 7 months of use, I’ve had to deal with a lot of snags. I’ve already told you about the engine overheating and the fuel tank leakage. Another major bummer is that the wheels are not very durable. The left front wheel on my mower cracked when I was trying to push it up a mild slope, and I had to get it replaced. Thankfully it was under warranty, but this mower will sure as heck prove to be a cash-trap once the coverage is over!
As for the blades, they are reinforced, stainless steel with precision cut so you won’t have to bother with them for at least couple of years.
Cost Effectiveness
If you’re just looking for a temporary quick-fix for your lawn, or a mower that you need a back-up mower that you need to use sparingly, maybe in case your regular mower broke down or something, then this model from Poulan Pro can be considered as cost-effective. Otherwise, it’s not a very smart or thrifty purchase for sure!
- Silent Motor
- Price tag
- Overall quality
- Mower blades and deck gets easily bend by small rocks
