New lawn mower

[SlotlessMan]

I use a $20 self-propelled that I picked up a half a dozen years ago at a garage sale. It does just the backyard where the dogs hang out ~4500sf. Smokes like it just had ***, but that keeps the mosquitos away! I have another one in the shed if I cannot fix reasonably.

Plenty of cheap ones out there right now. I expect that to change.

I use an ICE Zero turn on the rest of it. ~2 acres

 

[AffableCurmudgeon]

I have never had any battery powered yard tools. I am curious about the longevity of the tool battery, both in terms of lifespan as well as capacity. In other words:

1. How long before the battery needs to be replaced with a new one, assuming that you use it once a week and it sits in a hot garage?
2. Does the battery capacity diminish over time thereby requiring you to recharge more frequently?

 

[Kuma601]

I bring in the battery packs during the summer to keep them at controlled temps. I'm using a nicad Black Decker edge hog 18V string trimmer, that pack has lasted about 4 years now. The Kobalt 40V blower is still hanging in at 3 years. I use the blower almost everyday to blow the shop floor dust out.

When the Toro Recycler dies I'll get one of their battery variants.

 

[Formula]

My neighbor has an Ego. I watch him cut half his lawn, charge the battery and finish it the next day.

 

[Kurt4440]

I have 2 push mowers: a 22 year old Honda, and a 40 year old commercial Lawn-Boy that both start on the first pull. If they become irreparable, I will switch to a battery powered push mower.
My zero turn, stand on, commercial mower will probably not be replaced with a battery powered unit, unless, there are significant advances in durability, run time, and cost.

 

[M635_Guy]

I'd recommend a switch to battery power if you are willing. I got the Ryobi 40V brushless whisper on sale. I have almost 1/2 acre and it does just fine.

I don't miss my gas mower (which I really liked a lot) at all. Absolutely would not go back to gas. I'd already switched to battery for trimmer/edger/blower, and I miss those even less. Keeping two-stroke fuel around, etc. was garbage.

I originally had an 80V Kobalt trimmer and blower, anticipating their mower would improve before I got to the point to make a call on replacing my gas mower, but unfortunately the Kobalt improved a little and the competition improved a LOT. The Ego trimmer is awesome, but the blower isn't a home-run for me (despite being the 765-CFM/200-MPH one). It's more powerful than the Kobalt, but I'm not loving the handling yet.

The Craftsman was a great one with a Honda motor, rear-wheel driver, one-handle height adjustment, a squeeze-throttle, and rear-wheel drive. It served me extremely well for at least 15 years (and probably 20), but the Ego has replaced it fully.

I have never had any battery powered yard tools. I am curious about the longevity of the tool battery, both in terms of lifespan as well as capacity. In other words:

1. How long before the battery needs to be replaced with a new one, assuming that you use it once a week and it sits in a hot garage?
2. Does the battery capacity diminish over time thereby requiring you to recharge more frequently?

The Ego battery warranty is three years, except on the mower with the 10Ah gets five years. I'm not sure how the others handle warranty.

My Kobalts have been pretty consistent. I alternated between the two batteries I got with the blower and trimmer, but can't ever recall needing more than one battery to do all the stuff in my yard. They never got subjected to the kind of drain a mower hits them with, but they saw a lot of cycles over the several-years I've owned them and they've seemed unchanged.

Companies that put 3 or 5 year warranties on their batteries have to put the quality in or warranty costs will eat them alive. This is something I have a lot of experience with in my career, and it's just not something you can cheat on - the chickens some home to roost if you try to get cute and you wind up out of business one way or another.

My neighbor has an Ego. I watch him cut half his lawn, charge the battery and finish it the next day.

Your neighbor must have gone cheap and gotten a 4Ah battery and has a 7.5Ah or 10Ah lawn.

You have to do the math on the battery capacity you need, or don't buy the gizmo.

 

[DRider]

Looking for a 22" self propelled mower, looks like the only gas engine around is the Briggs which do not seem to be what they once were, so that leaves battery power, EGO or Torro any opinions?

I bought a Honda and it's a fantastic machine. Mine is the 4HP and I got it Home Depot. Its starts on the first pull and has an easy pull system. I believe Honda is phasing out of their gas lawn mowers but there still may be some in the stores. It's a 22" self-propelled. Plenty of power, light and so easy to use. I am very impressed. But my yard was too big so I ended up getting a Scag Liberty Z zero turn in a 42". It cut my mowing time from 1.5 hours to 40 minutes.