the_marq

So I need a new lawnmower, not just because my grass is now 2 feet tall, but because my old one is about to crap out. I have been hearing about these new electric mowers that you plug in to charge and then mow your whole yard cordlessly on a single charge.

Automatically I would think this kind of arrangement would result in a pretty wussy lawnmower. I have a pretty big yard and thick thick grass that is tough enough to mow with a regular mower.

Has anyone had any experience with this sort of device? What are your thoughts?

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#3 in a series

amonkie

We had a rechargable lawn mower, and I HATE it!!!!!

First problem was that my dog would chew through the charge cord, and so that was an expensive thing to remedy. When cutting the grass, it was very hard to tell when it was actually cutting because it made noise when turned it on, but you didn't have the feedback to tell you the grass was getting shorter. No Joke, I mowed our front yard three times in a row one afternoon, and not once did it actually cut the grass. We have gone back to a pull motor and grass basket, best choice ever.

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Calling from deep in the heart, from where the eyes can't see and the ears can't hear, from where the mountain trails end and only love can go... ~~~ Three Rivers Hare Krishna

MSD

Electric lawnmowers are stupid. If nothing else, the exhaust from a regular one keeps the mosquitos away. If you really want to get lazy, you can do what I did and get a gas powered mower with electirc start (half price, it was returned and rebuilt because some moron couldn't understand the concept of keeping it upright.) It's a lot easier on the sprained shoulder (injury duration is approaching two years,) and it cost as much as the one I was planning to get.
Was the expensive part the replacement cords, or the defibrilator to revive the dog after he chewed it?

the_marq

yeah, in the end I bought a 6.75hp gas mower. It's even selfpropelled (pretty bad ass actually, I may even paint flames on the side).

The rechargable sounded good in theory...but to be honest I like the noise of a good gas engine...and smell.

__________________
The Truth:

Johnny Cash could have kicked Bruce Lee's ass if he wanted to.

#3 in a series

flstf

Could you elaborate on what "keeping it upright" means? I mean what was it that caused the first owner to have problems. I have been considering getting one of the electric start mowers.

Rodney

Rechargeables are best for light-duty work: a small lawn with grass that's not high and thick. If you don't have that, go with gas or a push-mower (the ultimate no-fumes option).

MSD

Not tipping it over so oil and gas flow out of the carb and into the air filter. Not like on a hill, I'm talking about tipping the thing more than 90° with the air filter side down.

Charlatan

Gas mowers are nasty.

The last house I owned had a lawn and I used an electric mower... The cord was only a minor inconvenience and I didn't have crappy two-stroke smoke choking me...

The real solution is to get off the grass kick... my current house has no lawn whatsoever... groundcover, plants and stone... I love sitting and drinking a beer (or coffee) while my neighbours sweat it out with their mowers...

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amonkie

the dog never had even so much as an electric burn in his mouth - he chewed the the lawn mower, vacuum cleaners, EVERYTHING. Always came out completely unscathed - which is why he kept doin it

__________________
Calling from deep in the heart, from where the eyes can't see and the ears can't hear, from where the mountain trails end and only love can go... ~~~ Three Rivers Hare Krishna