Battery lawn mowers

[Tortuga]

On 5/10/2023 at 5:07 PM, Tortuga said:

I'm currently looking at the Greenworks 40V 20" push mower. Does being self propelled really help?

Walmart had this mower on sale so I ordered it last week. They are shipping it from Florida to California. FedEx scanned it this morning in Salt Flat Texas. 

This is Salt Flat Texas...

[ChrisW]

On 5/12/2023 at 5:19 PM, Lee49 said:

Well, huff & puff with this type! 🤣

I actually have one of those.  I can't find anyone to sharpen the blades. 😒

[Qapla]

My wife's grandfather used to sharpen those types of blade to supplement his regular income.

 

 

[ChrisW]

7 minutes ago, Qapla said:

My wife's grandfather used to sharpen those types of blade to supplement his regular income.

 

 

Did he have to buy a special tool or just a regular sharpening file.

[Qapla]

Since this would have been back in the 40's and 50's - he just used a file and did it by hand.

 

 

[Pabo]

3 hours ago, jwmom said:

I actually have one of those.  I can't find anyone to sharpen the blades. 😒

 

A lot of modern versions of the reel mower now auto sharpen the blades as you use it, which my Flymo does.

 

However, it is has not been used for a while, it may be that the blades may need to be readjusted.

 

I am not sure what make or model reel mower you have but I have found the following videos on YouTube.

 

This is for a newer model American Reel Mower and an older model American Reel Mower.

 

Gardena 380C

 

Fiskars Reel Mower

 

Great States

 

Scotts Classic 20"

 

Flymo Reel Mower which is slightly newer than mine, but the mechanisms are the same.

 

However, the methodology is very much the same for most models, but some may have slight differences in their adjustment of the blades.

 

However, please use gloves whenever you are working near the blades, as most of these videos they do not.

 

[bagwell1987]

4 hours ago, jwmom said:

I actually have one of those.  I can't find anyone to sharpen the blades. 😒

Find a saw shop, John Deer shop or other shop that sells/repairs mowers, they can do it. 

[Cushi]

I have an Ego lawnmower, along with an Ego edger, hedge trimmer, weed eater and blower. They work great. They are the first electric lawn equipment I’ve bought. I’ve had them all for over 5 years, except the hedge trimmer. 
The pros would be:

 

1. You don’t have to buy oil or gas or have to worry about spilling gas in your car on the way home from the gas station.

 

2. The Ego brand is reliable

 

3. They are less noisy than gasoline equipment.

 

Cons:

 

1. They are expensive 
 

2. Unless they’ve improved their battery life, you may not be able to cut both the front and back yard on one charge. 
 

3. Cheaper maintenance 

 

4. Have less torque than gasoline mowers, so waiting too long to cut the grass is a big no no because it wears out the motor prematurely (I found this out the hard way)

 

Hope this helps.

[ChrisW]

3 hours ago, bagwell1987 said:

Find a saw shop, John Deer shop or other shop that sells/repairs mowers, they can do it. 

I've called a few already.  Nothing so far.

[bagwell1987]

My new trimmer is an Echo, I really like it.

It's a wee bit expensive but you have to weigh the cost with performance and longevity, I'd rather save for a better product and get the durability. 

Edited May 18, 2023 by bagwell1987

[Witness1970]

On 5/12/2023 at 6:19 PM, Lee49 said:

Well, huff & puff with this type! 🤣

I remember one of those being in the yard when I was around 12 years old.  I pushed it around the yard some just to see how it worked.  My older sister said that she had actually cut grass with one of those when I was barely walking.  My dad had already bought a riding lawn mower in the 1950s.

Edited May 18, 2023 by Witness1970

[Qapla]

Not all reel mowers operate the same way. Some have a flip-over handle and will cut grass in either direction while others only cut in one direction and flipping the handle over just puts them in travel mode so the blade does not spin while pushing it.

 

 

[Tortuga]

2 minutes ago, Qapla said:

Not all reel mowers operate the same way. Some have a flip-over handle and will cut grass in either direction while others only cut in one direction and flipping the handle over just puts them in travel mode so the blade does not spin while pushing it.

Keeping it reel....

[Pabo]

 

On 5/19/2023 at 12:13 AM, Qapla said:

Not all reel mowers operate the same way. Some have a flip-over handle and will cut grass in either direction while others only cut in one direction and flipping the handle over just puts them in travel mode so the blade does not spin while pushing it.

 

 

 

I haven't come across or seen one of them. They were probably were not that popular over here in Australia. 

 

But there was a guy by the name of Mervyn Victor Richardson in the early 50's who made a engine rotary powered mower affordable to produce and lightweight to use, which that brand become to be Victa. They took Australia by storm and become synonymous with Australian culture

 

Here is a vintage model that we have in our shed. I would love to get it running one day.

 

 

 

 

[Pabo]

If you want to see a battery ride mower and walk behind mower go through some serious neglected lawn, here is a Australian guy who does "Free Mow Fridays" which he uploads onto YouTube, where the householder doesn't have to pay him to mow their lawn.

 

He is using a Greenworks ride on, and  EGO walk behind. Shame he wasn't using battry powered trimmer, but he does us a Milwalkee blower from time to time.

 

Also, it is great watching someone else working when you are not.

Edited May 23, 2023 by Pabo