Lawnmower Scrap Value: What Can You Get for Unwanted Mowers?
Many pieces of equipment don’t last forever, so it’s common for your lawnmower to break down after a while and become scrap. Before sending it to the landfill or throwing it away, consider that your mower might have some scrap value. After all the cuts and trims, you can get money for the mower and put it towards a new one.
Generally, the value of scrap lawnmowers is determined by what’s left of the machine, especially if the parts are reusable. For example, steel parts are worth more than aluminum, and push mower scraps are worth far less than their riding counterparts.
Before deciding to sell or exchange your mower, reading this article will help you understand its value and what to expect.
Scrap Lawn Mower Value in 2023
What is your lawnmower made of? The material the mower comprises will deeply affect how much a scrap lawn mower commands on the market. The following indicates a general ballpark range of what to expect from some estimates.
- A push mower has an average weight of 75 pounds and costs about $1.90.
- A riding mower weighs an average of 500 pounds and costs about $15.
Some steel lawnmowers can be worth anywhere from $1.50 to $2.70, but ones with aluminum will range from $3.30 to $5.40. However, these prices are primarily for push mowers. Conversely, a riding mower could be worth as much as $18 since they’re more expensive.
Can You Scrap A Lawn Mower?
The answer is yes. You can scrap a lawnmower by yourself. However, if you take your old mower to a scrap yard, you might only get the money for the aluminum breakage. Other times, you’ll get an amount of money in proportion to the weight of your tool.
When you learn how to separate the different metal components from the materials that are not suitable for scrapping, then it’s possible to get more value out of your old lawnmower.
Additionally, the scrap yard will gladly pay you more if you disassemble the lawnmower. While the process sounds easy, it takes some work to disassemble your mower.
Taking Your Lawn Mower Apart
It takes some time and expertise to disassemble your lawnmower. The following steps will help you:
1. Remove the Gas
Find the fuel line and remove the securing clip. Empty the gas into a gas-safe container, then open the fuel shutoff if your lawnmower has one. Removing gas before taking the machine to the scrap yard is always safe.
2. Handle Removal
If you have push mowers, use the following steps to relieve the handle.
- Locate two sets of pins holding the handle onto the deck.
- Fold the handle down and remove the locking pins
- Then take out the spring latch to pull out the pin.
If there are stationary pins, you’ll have to remove them with a big hammer. Hit the end of the pin with the hammer until it exists from the other side.
3. Control Cables
Remove the control cables. If the cables fail to come off, use the bolt cutters; one snip is all you need.
4. Blade Removal
You’ll need a socket wrench to remove the blade from your mower. However, you must be careful during this step by wearing some gloves to protect your hands. If there is a cover plate, remove them using the same socket wrench first.
5. Engine Bolts
The engine bolts are mostly found on the deck. The bolts hook the engine to the deck.
6. Bracket & Wheel Removal
You can adjust the height of the deck since most lawnmowers have cast aluminum brackets. But you must first remove the wheels to get to this.
Use your hammer to crack it apart. That makes everything easier to get to.
7. Blade Adaptor Removal
Get a jaw puller to pull the blade adapter from the shaft. Use these other stows to get it right:
- Reinsert the center bolt from the blade until it presses against the shaft.
- After that, attach the jaw puller to the blade adaptor.
- Next, put the center pin against the bolt.
- Now, spin the pin until the adaptor loosens.
8. Axle Removal
If you did not break the aluminum casting on the mower, now is the time to do it to get at the axles. Give it a few good blows with the hammer so the axles come out from their spots. Ensure that you hit all four of the deck’s corners.
Tips for Pulling Apart Your Lawnmower
It’s all good trying to remove some parts of your lawnmower by yourself. But you must follow some steps to stay safe during the process. The following tips will help you.
- If you break any aluminum castings, don’t get discouraged. This will serve you well later by allowing you to get into other places like the axle quickly.
- It would help to have the perfect tools to take apart your lawnmower. However, if you do not have the right tools or are uncertain about your ability to perform the task, take it as it is to the scrap yard.
- Older lawnmowers are trickier to take apart. For this reason, you must be patient when removing items from them. Some things get stuck in some situations, leading to more time spent working on them.
- Before taking the mower apart, evaluate how much you want for it, or expect from a sale.
- You might need protective gear over your hands, especially if you must hit certain parts for extended periods.
Can You Take the Lawnmower Elsewhere?
Sure, you can. If you don’t feel like taking your lawnmower apart and want a fair price for your scrap, it’s best to find someone in your neighborhood to buy it.
There are maintenance guys around that will pay to take your lawnmower. They are better placed to receive value for the parts you want to sell.
With the internet, you have more places to sell your old mower. For example, you can count on Facebook Marketplace and Craigslist for a quick sale. Alternatively, you can give out such mowers to people who can revive them or find other uses for the parts.
Conclusion
The bottom line about lawnmower scrap value is that you can get some value for your equipment. Some old or unwanted lawnmowers can get you up to $20, especially if the parts are still helpful or recyclable.
Also, the value of your scrap might depend on its weight and the metal parts it contains. If scrapping is your final option, removing the parts and selling rather than taking the mower in one piece to the scrap yard is best.
Now that you know this, handle the process and get a better deal for your old lawnmower, or find a genuine online marketplace to sell it.
