jeff_jeff
Bronze Member
- Joined
- Mar 11, 2004
- Messages
- 59
- Location
- WA
- Tractor
- Farm Pro 2420 (Jinma 200) & SVET46K Skid Loader, Raven MPV710 Mower
I'm on my second Raven - the first had a fuel leak out of the carb, Lowes took it back without a problem. The second arrived with all batteries dead, but started and ran well after a quick charge. Steering and handling is heavy, because of all the weight - steering improved some with more psi in the tires. The 48 volt connection for the mower deck is a standard Anderson PowerPole connector, which I'm planning to use with my home made attachments (working on a power brush). The 48v trickle charger is not yet available, but I bought one for $20 off of Ebay and changed the connector - unless I'm mowing I use the Raven mostly in electric mode for short trips around the farm and just charge it up. I wanted 220v for the backup house generator and welding, so I bought a AVR5000 step up transformer - had to change the plugs, but it works great - plugs into the 110 30amp outlet. Thing I like best is if you run out of gas while mowing, you can drive home on battery power. Deck comes off nice and easy, seems like plenty of mowing power, and turns tighter than my old MTD, but you have to slow down a lot on tight turns. The safety interlocks are a pain - the seat interlock killed the engine every time I hit a bump, and once it decides to shut down it can't be saved - it had to go. You also have to turn the various switches slowly and in the correct order, or it won't run. Both units arrived with the deck out of balance and all four tires with very different PSI readings. The rear cargo area is nice, and its nice that the gate comes off, but it can fall out when in the down position. The rear grab bars have a stylish slant, but would be much more functional if they were flat so you could put things on them. The generator panel is under the seat, not very convenient, and very hard to read the hour meter. The throttle/speed control is overly sensitive and hard to control - the cruise control works well, and lets you accelerate without changing the setting. But the unit will accelerate when going downhill under cruise control, and if you touch the brakes you have to reset cruise. The parking brake works well but takes two steps to set (foot and hand). When I asked at the store, they told me the extended warranty added three years to the standard warranty for a total of six years warranty - I asked for it in writing, and it turned out that all the extended warranty really does is pay for pick up service, it does not add years. Currently no parts or accessories available, and the owners manual isn't much. So far, I like it a lot, even with the hiccups.