Electric Batt Lawn mowers

[CWLONGSHOT]

Im needing a new mower. Mine is 23 years old gas jobber and on its last ghasps.

I have thought about these for couple years. I have lil over 1/2 acre of grass. I watched video reviews and Have settled upon a ezgo 56v 21" self prop model.
Excellent features, great reviews.

Any one with any advice or comments experiences?

CW

 

[Rick]

Couple of months ago I bought the Lowes brand Kobalt 80v 21" cut self propelled. Does what I wanted but it's real test is durability and it's much to new to know how it'll hold up. Haven't exhausted the battery and it recharges in about 20 minutes.

 

[Glaciers]

I have a four wheel drive Husky powered by Honda. Sits all winter, first pull, good to go. Love Hondas, and it's pretty quite. I use a 42" tractor for all the big flats and the Husky for the uneven and sloped areas. Buy gas, it's cheaper than non-spillable batteries. The batteries will last a long time, non-spillable are great but check the price before making up your mind. You need to buy from these sealed AGM batteries from someone who rotates his stock. Lots of stale batteries out there on shelves when talking AGM batteries. Sold alternative energy, solar and wind for 12 years and the largest seller of AGM batteries in the interior of Alaska. Sold tons of batteries each week.

 

[Glaciers]

I've probably gone through two 5 gallon jugs in 5 years and a one quart oil change every season. Electric power usually works good because of the power band. I'm just old school. The sound of neighborhood lawns being mowed, kind of sounds American, instead of a mower sounding like a computer.
I don't like changes I guess. It's cold this morning, I'm going to toss a little wood in the stove, then go clean the outhouse and haul the water in. I'll have to hand crank the truck over for a town trip.

 

[CWLONGSHOT]

Batterys are big $$ no doubt. I saw 280$ for replacement. But I get one with purch and charger. Hoping chg is a maintainer as well. (Maybe that not a "thing" with a lith ion batt?
I do not believe these are AGM batts.

 

[Glaciers]

Don't know about the newer lithium batteries. They seem great in all the power hand tools I have. But $280, I've spent $45 for gas and oil since new. Another $235 will last 26 years at that rate. I know the Honda will last longer then I will by far. I have a 1986 Honda four trax, I believe first year production, it has a plow on in the winter and a trailer in the summer. It gets a workout. One cable and the starter last year. I've had numerous Honda outboards totally reliable.. Well worth the money.
I am not on commission and I don't work for anybody, even though it sounds like it.. Sorry, I'm going to go make some more coffee.

 

[popper]

As for elec lawn mowers, they work great and are light weight. Used a Sunbeam single blade CORDED as a kid. When that motor gave out, dad put a 1/2 hp elec motor on it. It would chop through anything! Big cost was fixing the cord when cut. IMHO the motors used now are pretty iffy, stall them and they will pop. She keeps buying these elec weed whackers and I keep finding the windings melted. Batteries are a big expense and even LiIon wear out after some use. Guess when the commercial lawn guys start using elec, I'll change over.

 

[Rick]

Priced replacement batteries when I bought this mower at $180.00 for the 80v. I bought the electric to use in a few small areas I have and for a couple of steep slopes. I use the 44 inch cut riding mower for the wide open areas. Was the steep slopes I have no doubt that killed the Briggs on my snapper mower. Has a splash oil system and run them on uneven ground for awhile and the engine gets no oil. The Briggs now has quite a rod knock and little doubt because of the steep angle of those hills. Figured if I replaced the Briggs or bought a Honda the same fate would be awaiting it. Got the electric, now to see how well/long it holds up.

No, seems it's not a maintenance charger, owners manual says to not keep the battery in the charger and to unplug the charger when not in use. Install the battery in the charger and then plug in the charger. After initial charging (about an hour) I've only run the battery down to 75% (25% remaining) once and the recharge was 15-20 minutes.

 

[CWLONGSHOT]

For me its not about savings persae...

My wife cannot start a pull start mower. She dont like the noise or smell. I start for her and off she goes. (Not common) This is quieter, lighter, easier storage. Costs are about the same initially. Then NO MORE costs for electric till ya need a batt. Ooh and I was
Quoting cost of biggest baddest batters. The one that comes with is 100+$ less. Also warrenties for three years. So Amortize Amortize over that time, and its probably still a bit more than fuel and oil costs. But again. Costs alone are not my draw here. But even @ 400 ish its right there with the fancy a gas jobber.

Im mostly concerned Ill get a complete cut Without re charge and that its gonna do same job. All reports lead me to yes it will. No hills in yard very slight grade in back.

Thats a bit of a bummer about not leaving plugged... Its something to remember.

Less noise lighter and something Momma can use are what guides me this way.

CW

 

[Glaciers]

CW, so let me get this straight. You start the mower, your wife does the mowing, and now, with the new mower, she can start and mow all by herself. So you have your feet up in a lawn chair sipping a beer providing direction. You dog. You have got to fill us in on that trick. Good play.

 

[RBHarter]

Jon,
Not to stir the pot or anything but , that's not how you're supposed to do it ?

 

[Rick]

Thats a bit of a bummer about not leaving plugged... Its something to remember.

CW

Keep in mind that was with the Kobalt battery and charger, with other brands I have no idea. It is a lithium battery as are all my DeWalt tools which can be and are left plugged in with the battery on maintenance charge. What the difference is I dunno, possibly nothing more than Kobalt's lawyers writing the owners manual. Could be the charger itself, not all battery chargers are maintenance chargers. But it's not that big of a deal really, When done mowing I charge the battery (15-20 minutes), pull it out of the charger and leave it on top of the charger & pull the plug. Ready to go next time.

 

[Glaciers]

I would think more chance of fires if left on the charger.

 

[fiver]

Ion's are weird.
don't run them totally dead, and don't keep on charging a full one and they work real nice.
they will run at full speed until dead though, so no warning unless they got the little light checker thing.

I leave my charger plugged in and just throw the battery on it when necessary, when it's done I take it off and plug the battery back in to the tool.
always done it that way with all of them, and have never had an issue.

 

[Rick]

The Kobalt mower battery has a series of four lights. All four on is a full charge, 3=3/4 etc. I haven't yet run it down past one light on and that was a 20 minute recharge. So far no complaints with this mower but durability is the real test and it's too new to make a judgement one way or the other on that.

 

[Ian]

I needed a drill at MIL's house a few months ago and pulled a Ryobi Li-ion battery out of the tool bag where it had been since at least 2014 when my FIL died. Drilled eight holes no problem. My own Ryobi batteries stay up indefinitely. Main thing is don't get them hot during use and don't store them or charge them in a hot place and they'll last a long time. MIL uses a battery mower because she doesn't like the fuel smell in the garage or keeping gas around. Has had the same one fir 3-4 years and it's great. Two Li-ion batts that remove to charge, three blades, 21" cut, like green plastic cover, don't remember brand.

 

[popper]

Walk the dog around the block, behold, local lib has one on the curb for heavy haul. Yard planted in --- clover! Been used for one season.

 

[CWLONGSHOT]

Haah funny ya say cause like most things when things settel in your sights... Ya knotice them around you.
I stopped and spoke with a block away neighbor who was cuttin the yard with this mower. His front was tiny! But back long and narrow like 1/2 acre. He said he did whole thing easy one charge and he liked it allot but was lil expensive. He got gift cards for christmes or some such so his out of pocket was couple hundred no more than a gasser.

I have had all kinda of reviews poppin on my UTube feed now that I am looking and the Kobalt is popping up regularly. Im also reading that the propelled eats battery quite faster and should be used frugally. The Kobalt looks real good with just as many good reviews and a bit cheaper. With more metal less plastic.
Ill keep watching and Absorbing...

CW

 

[Petrol & Powder]

I despise push mowers, if I can't cut it with a tractor or a string trimmer, it doesn't get cut. However, push mowers are the right tool for a lot of situations.

For a small yard the battery powered mowers have some advantage. Quite, reduced maintenance, easy starting, no fuel storage.

If you're good with maintenance - A gasoline powered mower is probably still a good option. However, that means ethanol free gasoline during the season and no gasoline in it during the off season. Or maybe ethanol free gas and fuel stabilizer in the off-season. The occasional oil change/spark plug/air filter. The Honda engines are amazingly reliable & durable.
The flip side of that issue is there's very little maintenance needed for an electric mower. You charge it, turn on, turn it off, re-charge it. No gasoline to varnish up the fuel system, no oil changes, no plugs and filters. I can see the attraction for a LOT of suburban and urban dwellers. And the reduced noise will put you on the good neighbor list.
The batteries will eventually die and they're not cheap to replace but, if you're not into a lot of maintenance (and a lot of people are not) you may still be ahead of the curve in terms of money spent.
My take on this is you pick the tool that works for you.

 

[Rick]

Im also reading that the propelled eats battery quite faster and should be used frugally. The Kobalt looks real good with just as many good reviews and a bit cheaper.

CW

Then I reckon I'll just have to kill the battery cause I didn't buy a rear wheel drive mower to push it around. I have had no issues with a the battery not lasting and using the rear wheel drive is the only way it has been or will be used. Course I'm not mowing the entire acre either, only the smaller areas the riding mower won't go, the hills that are too steep and around other stuff to make life easier with the riding mower. Haven't run the battery down past 1/4 yet and mostly 1/2+ when I'm finished.