Lever. One of the things I do not like about the machine. You are right next to it and it puts out the heat. And dirt, rocks, chips hitting all parts of you. Most days you have to plan where the wind is going, hope you can put the machine down wind from you where the dust is not blowing back on you. Sometimes there are no options. I tend to watch out the edge instead of through glass. You pay for that eventually. The other thing I don't like is the ground speed. I walk at a good clip, not with this machine.