Ggirl,
Mine is self propelled too and let me tell you the first time I used it I tore up half the lawn because I couldn't figure out why the wheels were throwing dirt up in my face every time I wanted to go backwards. Silly me, didn't know I was suppose to let go of the bar on the handle if I want to back it up. Instead the wheels kept whirring around. I have those nice big bike like wheels on my mower and let me tell you its not a pretty sight when you want to go one way and the mower wants to go another way. Nice little holes in my yard now.