Push Mowers, Battery Vs. gas

Handloader109 · Jun 23, 2021

Hand held battery tools are handy due to the lack of cord. But battery charge during use is still a hindrance and power also. I've got a cheap corded 3/8" craftsman that will twist you hands harder than any battery drill out there. And my grandkids can still be using 30 years from now. You can't and won't be able to say that about any battery operated tool. And the higher the voltage and amperage, the more likely they will fail...

Oh, and I just put a new inner tube on my at least third hand snapper mower. I was given the mower 11 years ago when I first moved into my first house up here. The PO asked me if I wanted him to take off to junkyard as it leaked oil badly and battery was bad. As I didn't have a mower yet, I told him no and proceeded to remove the B&S engine and found it had cracked pan. Replaced it, and new motorcycle battery and fired it up... Used it 5 years for mowing a .37 acre yard, then moved and have been using for my enclosed backyard of a .2 acre size for past 5 years. And it still works well enough. Not great, burns oil, will leak a bit of gas but it cuts.... ain't no battery machine gonna last 25 or more years. (I think it it is an early 90s model....

Grumpycat · Jun 23, 2021

Handloader109 said:
Not great, burns oil, will leak a bit of gas but it cuts.... ain't no battery machine gonna last 25 or more years. (I think it it is an early 90s model....

Your Snapper has not lasted 25 years either. It has had at least one new battery and one new engine.

check · Jun 23, 2021

Fortunately, the Ryobi 18 V platform has stayed for quite a while now. I have multiple tools that use it, and with the new nine amp hour battery, I am good to go on all of them. The latest is a 22 inch hedge trimmer, and a 13 inch Weedwhacker, which I am very pleased with. They all so have come out with the “brushless“ motor, that make the tools lighter and the battery last longer. I am happy so far, and will not be going to the 40 V models.

Phil Timmons · Jun 23, 2021

I recommend Electric . . . with Cord.

8 years, still going, left outside most of the time.

RandyT · Jun 24, 2021

check said:
Fortunately, the Ryobi 18 V platform has stayed for quite a while now. I have multiple tools that use it, and with the new nine amp hour battery, I am good to go on all of them. The latest is a 22 inch hedge trimmer, and a 13 inch Weedwhacker, which I am very pleased with. They all so have come out with the “brushless“ motor, that make the tools lighter and the battery last longer. I am happy so far, and will not be going to the 40 V models.

I think the companies that have started with a basic battery platform and stuck with it even while improving their battery technology will come out on top. The companies that are changing battery styles every two years, obsoleting out the old batteries even in some cases while the product is under warranty, and no way to factory adapt the new battery into the old equipment are going to be the losers.

I have watched one company that builds battery powered mowers go from a 24 to a 36 to a 48 to a 56 to a 82 volt battery system in the past 10-12 years, and everything except the 82 no longer offers factory batteries or chargers for their products.

two_bit_score · Jun 24, 2021

Phil Timmons said:
I recommend Electric . . . with Cord.

8 years, still going, left outside most of the time.

View attachment 703440

Well, that’s one way.......certainly is.

two_bit_score · Jun 24, 2021

RANDYT said:
I think the companies that have started with a basic battery platform and stuck with it even while improving their battery technology will come out on top. The companies that are changing battery styles every two years, obsoleting out the old batteries even in some cases while the product is under warranty, and no way to factory adapt the new battery into the old equipment are going to be the losers.

I have watched one company that builds battery powered mowers go from a 24 to a 36 to a 48 to a 56 to a 82 volt battery system in the past 10-12 years, and everything except the 82 no longer offers factory batteries or chargers for their products.

Don’t Hold Back. What company?

RandyT · Jun 24, 2021

two_bit_score said:
Don’t Hold Back. What company?

After looking at the old batteries waiting on disposal. it looks like it may involve two companies. One is a 60 Volt greenworks sold under the Snapper name and the other may be an EGO 58 volt sold under the Poulan Pro name. both involved retail price refunds to the customer because parts no longer available 6 months into a 3-4 year warranty. I also have a 36 volt battery still in the box for a earthwise push mower that is now considered obsolete. All those products have since been scrapped.

two_bit_score · Jun 25, 2021

RANDYT said:
After looking at the old batteries waiting on disposal. it looks like it may involve two companies. One is a 60 Volt greenworks sold under the Snapper name and the other may be an EGO 58 volt sold under the Poulan Pro name. both involved retail price refunds to the customer because parts no longer available 6 months into a 3-4 year warranty. I also have a 36 volt battery still in the box for a earthwise push mower that is now considered obsolete. All those products have since been scrapped.

Thank You!