If you’re a lawnmower manufacturer, you’re probably aware of the benefits of using magnets in lawnmowers. For instance, they are reliable and allow mowers to run without a battery. In particular, magnets play an important role in generating power for the spark plug inside the mower’s magneto. They can also be used as a magnetic sweeper on commercial lawnmowers to avoid hazardous materials flying out at high speeds when mowing over them. 

Magnetos 

In lawnmower ignition systems, there needs to be an extremely high voltage at exactly the right time to fuel the engine. That’s why magnetos are used—they are essentially electrical generators that have been tuned to create high-voltage pulses instead of one continuous one. Electrical generators are the opposite of electromagnets consisting of a coil of wire wrapped around an iron bar that generates a magnetic field when a current is applied. In electrical generators, you move a magnet beyond the armature to create an electric current in the coil.  Inside of the magneto, there are two strong permanent magnets in of the engine’s flywheel. When these magnets move past the armature, they generate a magnetic field. When the magnetic field reaches its maximum, a “switch” opens, breaking the current and causing a voltage spike. Then, the secondary coil amplifies this voltage to spark the plug and make the lawnmower work.

Magnetic Sweepers

If you manufacture commercial lawnmowers to be used at schools, farms, sports fields, or parks, you should consider implementing a magnetic sweeper to pick up metal debris. Magnetic sweepers could prevent hazardous ferrous materials from getting caught under a lawnmower and hitting someone at high speeds. Additionally, they can help prevent flat tires. You can mount a large block magnet, such as a 2’’ x 1 x 1’’ (depending on the mower size) or a custom block magnet, onto the front of the mower. You should also position it so there’s enough distance between the collected objects and the ground because you won’t want the ferrous materials to fall off once collected by the magnet. 

Purchase Neodymium Magnets From Apex Magnets

At Apex Magnets, we sell a variety of neodymium magnets to implement in lawnmowers. We also offer custom magnets, so you can order custom magnets in various shapes, sizes, and strengths depending on the particular application.  Fill out our custom magnet request form, and we’ll review your RFQ within 1-2 business days for FREE. There’s no obligation to purchase. As always, if you have any questions about our magnets or custom magnets, don’t hesitate to contact us at 1.304.257.1193.