Why won't my mower cut grass uphill in 5th gear?

expert EXPERT September 26, 2007

If you can cut normally in 5th gear on level ground then your mower is probably working normally and the reason it cannot make it uphill is due to the increased load. Just like raising the incline on a treadmill makes for a harder workout, trying to cut uphill puts more load on the engine of your mower.

There is only so much power available from any engine, which is one of the reasons there are multiple gears to choose from. The lower gears do not just provide a slower cutting speed but they also put less load on the engine. That is true on all engines, even the big truck you see out on the road, which have very powerful engines, need to shift to lower gears and slower speeds to get their cargo to the top of some hills.

If you check your owners manual you will see that your mower is not recommended for cutting more than a 15 degree slope and that the mower should be put into a lower gear before you even start up the slope. While those limitations for your mower might seem aggravating they are actually more than comparable with others in its class and quite good performance from its' small single-cylinder engine. There are mowers available with more powerful engines that might handle your yard more easily, though all of them do still have their limitations.