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OT: Electric lawnmowers?

Gulfcoastguy
Gulfcoastguy Posts: 7,335
in EggHead Forum
Anyone own one? My push mower is doing it’s annual “I don’t wanna “ for the first grass cutting. If I can’t resolve the situation I am thinking about a battery powered Ego lawnmower. I have a total lot space of less than a quarter of an acre.
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  • TEXASBGE2018
    TEXASBGE2018 Posts: 3,831
    edited March 2020
    I don’t but my buddy does. I was thinking about one for my almost half acre lot. They work terrible with any kinda moisture on the grass. Gunks up the blades. The batteries also usually only last about 25-30min he says.


    Rockwall, Tx    LBGE, Minimax, 22" Blackstone, Pizza Party Bollore. Cast Iron Hoarder.

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  • DoubleEgger
    DoubleEgger Posts: 19,174
    if you’re going electric, might as well get the roomba like mower 
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  • Gulfcoastguy
    Gulfcoastguy Posts: 7,335
    TEXASBGE2018 said:
    I don’t but my buddy does. I was thinking about one for my almost half acre lot. They work terrible with any kinda moisture on the grass. Gunks up the blades. The batteries also usually only last about 25-30min he says.
    That probably depends on the battery. It looks like30 minutes for the 40 volt up to 1.5 for the 80 volt one. With a gas mower I can cut it all in 30 minutes. 
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  • Gulfcoastguy
    Gulfcoastguy Posts: 7,335
    DoubleEgger said:
    if you’re going electric, might as well get the roomba like mower 
    Too many irregular edges, pavement, vicinity to thieving public.
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  • 1voyager
    1voyager Posts: 1,161
    edited March 2020
    Gulfcoastguy said:
    Anyone own one? My push mower is doing it’s annual “I don’t wanna “ for the first grass cutting. If I can’t resolve the situation I am thinking about a battery powered Ego lawnmower. I have a total lot space of less than a quarter of an acre.

    One of my neighbors has an electric mower. It seems to take much longer for him to mow his yard than it takes me to mow mine. (Roughly same size yard with similar landscaping.)

    Possible solution for your gas-powered mower - Moisture in the gas may be the issue for hard starting in spring. Do you use Sta-Bil fuel stabilizer during storage in winter months? It does the job with my Briggs and Stratton. 1 - 2 pulls to start at the beginning of the season. I'm assuming that you change the filter and plug every couple of years.
    Large Egg, PGS A40 gasser.
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  • Gulfcoastguy
    Gulfcoastguy Posts: 7,335
    Nope, winter is real short here and it got new filters last spring.
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  • jdMyers
    jdMyers Posts: 1,339
    I switched last year to a husqvarna auto mower.  It cuts 10 to 12hrs a day almost every day.  Man to only have to weed wack every couple days is awesome.  It cuts so often it's like carpet and it's removing 1/8th maybe of grass.  Uses razor blades.  A few quarks to work out in the beginning but No rake, no pushing.  Love it

    Columbus, Ohio
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  • kl8ton
    kl8ton Posts: 6,421
    jdMyers said:
    I switched last year to a husqvarna auto mower.  It cuts 10 to 12hrs a day almost every day.  Man to only have to weed wack every couple days is awesome.  It cuts so often it's like carpet and it's removing 1/8th maybe of grass.  Uses razor blades.  A few quarks to work out in the beginning but No rake, no pushing.  Love it

    How large is your yard? 
    Large, Medium, MiniMax, 36" Blackstone
    Grand Rapids MI
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  • brimee
    brimee Posts: 127
    I had the STIHL electric push mower for a year when I had a small yard, I loved it because the only maintenance was charging the battery. I did a lot of research and decided to stay away from the cheap ones. My brother is using it now.

    I moved to an acre, still wanted the low maintenance so I got a Ryobi zero turn, I like it too but now I have to check tire pressure too. It sure beats having to keep up with gas and oil changes tho...
    Brian
    Fairview, Texas
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  • Gulfcoastguy
    Gulfcoastguy Posts: 7,335
    kl8ton said:
    jdMyers said:
    I switched last year to a husqvarna auto mower.  It cuts 10 to 12hrs a day almost every day.  Man to only have to weed wack every couple days is awesome.  It cuts so often it's like carpet and it's removing 1/8th maybe of grass.  Uses razor blades.  A few quarks to work out in the beginning but No rake, no pushing.  Love it

    How large is your yard? 
    1/4 acre minus 1610 for the house minus a short driveway to the house and a long driveway to a detached two car garage. 30 minutes of mowing with a push mower.
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  • Cornholio
    Cornholio Posts: 1,048
    How much are the replacement batteries? I had an EGO blower which was awesome but the battery started dwindling faster than I expected to where it barely held a charge to get much more done than blow my garage out. The replacement for that was too expensive. I kept the gardener that the previous home owners of our new house had and if/when I get new lawn toys they will be gas. 
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  • TEXASBGE2018
    TEXASBGE2018 Posts: 3,831
    edited March 2020
    Gulfcoastguy said:
    TEXASBGE2018 said:
    I don’t but my buddy does. I was thinking about one for my almost half acre lot. They work terrible with any kinda moisture on the grass. Gunks up the blades. The batteries also usually only last about 25-30min he says.
    That probably depends on the battery. It looks like30 minutes for the 40 volt up to 1.5 for the 80 volt one. With a gas mower I can cut it all in 30 minutes. 
    Ya those numbers are in ideal conditions
     (perfectly flat yard, grass that’s already cut short,etc.) My buddies is 80 volt and it lasts him about 30min. You might be able to get it done with 1 battery but I’d have a backup in case. Also realize the grass won’t cut as cleanly because those blades aren’t able to quite hit the rpm that a normal gas mower can. So you end up usually making a couple passes over the same spots.


    Rockwall, Tx    LBGE, Minimax, 22" Blackstone, Pizza Party Bollore. Cast Iron Hoarder.

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  • WeberWho
    WeberWho Posts: 11,527
    Any small motors need to be running ethenol free gas. Especially with it being 15% ethenol now. 
    "The pig is an amazing animal. You feed a pig an apple and it makes bacon. Let's see Michael Phelps do that" - Jim Gaffigan

    Minnesota
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  • rcone
    rcone Posts: 219
    My neighbor has an ego and really likes it, we have tiny yards. I am probably going to wait for a Milwaukee tool version.....I am quite vested in Milwaukee batteries. 
    "Feed me, or feed me to something; I just want to be part of the food chain" Al Bundy

    LBGE, SBGE, Carson Rotisserie, Blackstone Griddle  

    Milwaukee, Wisconsin 
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  • leemschu
    leemschu Posts: 615
    I have the dewalt and it does fine. I also have 12 battery’s for it(I’m in construction). Moisture in the yard and really thick grass give it trouble though. If I had but to do it again I’d get the Husqvarna auto mower (if I didn’t have so many trees) or a big zero turn (if I didn’t have a wife) so I could mow in like 5 minutes.... but I like the no real maintenance deal and I always have batteries charged.
    Dyersburg, TN
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  • jdMyers
    jdMyers Posts: 1,339
    kl8ton said:
    jdMyers said:
    I switched last year to a husqvarna auto mower.  It cuts 10 to 12hrs a day almost every day.  Man to only have to weed wack every couple days is awesome.  It cuts so often it's like carpet and it's removing 1/8th maybe of grass.  Uses razor blades.  A few quarks to work out in the beginning but No rake, no pushing.  Love it

    How large is your yard? 
    I would call it slightly bigger than a regular city house yard.  I had it at my old house and brought it when I moved.  Never looked back.  It crosses the driveway, sidewalk etc.  stays within the burried loop kinda like electric dog fence wire. 
    Columbus, Ohio
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  • StillH2OEgger
    StillH2OEgger Posts: 3,896
    edited March 2020
    I've had a Worx battery powered lawn mower for probably 10 years or so and it still works great. I did replace the battery after the battery life dwindled. I have pretty small area to mow so I can't tell you how long mine will run, but I'm very pleased with it. It's great to have instant start and no gas, oil, filters, spark plugs or any of that stuff to worry about. I'm sure there are far more and better options for electric at this point.
    Stillwater, MN
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  • Gulfcoastguy
    Gulfcoastguy Posts: 7,335
    WeberWho said:
    Any small motors need to be running ethenol free gas. Especially with it being 15% ethenol now. 
    I buy ethanol free for the yard tools. No 15% around here yet even with the refinery about 15 miles away.
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  • Gulfcoastguy
    Gulfcoastguy Posts: 7,335
    Cornholio said:
    How much are the replacement batteries? I had an EGO blower which was awesome but the battery started dwindling faster than I expected to where it barely held a charge to get much more done than blow my garage out. The replacement for that was too expensive. I kept the gardener that the previous home owners of our new house had and if/when I get new lawn toys they will be gas. 
    $247 for the strongest or $197 for the next size down.
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  • littlerascal56
    littlerascal56 Posts: 2,110
    I run Honda motors on everything. With StaBil in regular 10% ethanol gas.  They usually start on the first pull, unlike Briggs & Strattons! 
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  • Gulfcoastguy
    Gulfcoastguy Posts: 7,335
    littlerascal56 said:
    I run Honda motors on everything. With StaBil in regular 10% ethanol gas.  They usually start on the first pull, unlike Briggs & Strattons! 
    My current lawn mower just happens to be a Honda.
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  • nolaegghead
    nolaegghead Posts: 42,109
    edited March 2020
    I run ethanol free in all my engines that aren't used regularly.  If you get water in the gas, it will let you know as it will stop working and you drain out the water. 

    The problem with ethanol is that it mixes with the water and forms a corrosive milky solution that settles out of the gas, polymerizes into goo and clogs filters, jets and injectors.  

    If your mower stopped working and you were running ethanol-free gas, the morning cooling and warming cycles probably condensed water in the tank through the cap vent and you have water in your gas.  Drain all the gas out, including the carb and filter, put fresh gas in and it should run fine.  Worst case, and most common problem, is the water clogged the filter or let some corrosion clog a jet in the carb.  Those vacuum valves are notorious for failing. 

    Either way, if the fuel change doesn't immediately fix the problem, carbs cost like 30 bucks or you can take it to a small engine repair shop and they'll charge you 45 to fix.

    It is extremely rare for rings and valves to fail on a mower.  You can bend the crank if you hit a rock or root but it will run but shake violently.   It is 95% a fuel problem every time.

    Electric mowers are fine.  I had one but it was early on before the lithium chemistry batteries.  You will get 1000 charges off a good lithium battery if you don't run it dead.  Less power with electric, obviously.
    ______________________________________________
    I love lamp..
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  • nolaegghead
    nolaegghead Posts: 42,109
    If you do have water in it, after you drain all the fuel, run one tank of ethanol gas in it or use the additive.  It will take out the remaining water.  Just run the tank until dry then put the ethanol free back in.
    ______________________________________________
    I love lamp..
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  • Gulfcoastguy
    Gulfcoastguy Posts: 7,335
    I had tentatively decided to drain the tank but the hint to refill it with ethanol gas is well received. Unfortunately the next three days have rain forecast. 
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  • gdenby
    gdenby Posts: 6,239
    I have a Neuton CE6, which has been replaced w. a new line which has a Li-ION battery. My older one has both the minuses and pluses mentioned above. The run time depends on how tall the grass is, and how wet it is. I usually need to do the lawn at least every 10 days, or make several passes to get the grass down.

    My lawn is maybe 2000' sq.

    The motor is quiet, and there are no fumes, which are the main reasons I went w. it. I switched from corded mowers cause moving the cord around was a pain. After the 1st year, I bought a 2nd battery to be sure to have enough run time to do the whole lawn.

    These particular batteries seem to fail if over heated, and they need to be properly charged and stored over winter.
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  • Eoin
    Eoin Posts: 4,304
    Get a bigger battery if available - Lithium batteries prefer a charge range of 80% down to 20%, the life cycles increase dramatically over 100% to 0% use.  The worst is to drain to zero, sticking to 20% where possible helps a lot.  A bigger battery makes this easier. For storage, ideally you want to be below 80%, holding at 100% for a long period is not ideal.
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  • bradleya123
    bradleya123 Posts: 485
    This why we have no grass just pine straw for a yard!!  I'm tellin ya it's the way to go.  Although I do have to pick up pine cones and limbs that fall but no mowing!!!!  
    Retired Navy, LBGE
    Pinehurst, NC

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  • alaskanassasin
    alaskanassasin Posts: 8,930
    nolaegghead said:
    I run ethanol free in all my engines that aren't used regularly.  If you get water in the gas, it will let you know as it will stop working and you drain out the water. 

    The problem with ethanol is that it mixes with the water and forms a corrosive milky solution that settles out of the gas, polymerizes into goo and clogs filters, jets and injectors.  

    If your mower stopped working and you were running ethanol-free gas, the morning cooling and warming cycles probably condensed water in the tank through the cap vent and you have water in your gas.  Drain all the gas out, including the carb and filter, put fresh gas in and it should run fine.  Worst case, and most common problem, is the water clogged the filter or let some corrosion clog a jet in the carb.  Those vacuum valves are notorious for failing. 

    Either way, if the fuel change doesn't immediately fix the problem, carbs cost like 30 bucks or you can take it to a small engine repair shop and they'll charge you 45 to fix.

    It is extremely rare for rings and valves to fail on a mower.  You can bend the crank if you hit a rock or root but it will run but shake violently.   It is 95% a fuel problem every time.

    Electric mowers are fine.  I had one but it was early on before the lithium chemistry batteries.  You will get 1000 charges off a good lithium battery if you don't run it dead.  Less power with electric, obviously.
      Go to your liquor cabinet and show me cloudy bottles of ethanol blended with water.
    South of Columbus, Ohio.


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  • 1voyager
    1voyager Posts: 1,161
    littlerascal56 said:
    I run Honda motors on everything. With StaBil in regular 10% ethanol gas.  They usually start on the first pull, unlike Briggs & Strattons! 
    My Briggs and Stratton usually starts on the first pull. 
    Large Egg, PGS A40 gasser.
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  • brentm
    brentm Posts: 422
    I think it depends on how long they "sit" without use.

    To the OP.  I'd run what you have until it fails.  Replace the spark plug and check/fill the oil level.  Clean out the air filter...  sharpen/balance the blade.  assuming no ethanol gas related issues.  
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