So, based on reviews and info on this forum, I bought an Ego lawnmower. First off, it is a good mower. Secondly, it's smarter than I am.

I read the instructions, and 30 minutes into it I got it started. Honestly, I followed the directions step by step, but I got no power. I (okay, my wife) finally pulled the battery and found a plug that said, in 3 languages, "Remove." Unfortunately, one of the languages was not Freddish. There was no mention of this plug in the instructions. Perhaps normal people don't need them for this.

I decided first to set the speed on the self-propelled feature. The instructions on the knob are counter-intuitive. Or maybe, I lack intuition. I was soon nearly trailing the mower like a cape behind Superman. Finally figured that out.

I mowed a couple of circuits around the yard. Bag got clippings but not a lot. The grass didn't appear to really have been cut. I decided to lower the blade. No success. I lowered it again. No success. I pulled it into the garage and read the instructions cover to cover (English section.) Started going over the assembly instructions step by step. Oddly, the lower blade said "This Side Towards Deck" on the bottom. In my defense, my BIL had done me a "favor" by assembling it while I was gone. Got out the sockets and torque wrench.

Back to mowing. It's hot. I'm tired and frustrated. I've been at it over two hours. I took a break. Threw the battery in the charger just in case.

Battery is now topped off. I'm re-reading the instructions to see if I can do better. It does speak of straight lines rather than circles. Hmm. We shall see.

On the up side, I'm much more environmental and shit now.

The old mower is still in the garage. It's probably more than 20 years old. It was time for a change.

Wife is out shopping. She has been given specific instruction to procure beer before returning home.

quote:

Originally posted by Fredward:
I read the instructions, and 30 minutes into it I got it started.

There's your mistake right there. Section 3 of the Rules For Men, subsection C, paragraph 4(f) clearly states: "NEVER read the instructions!".

It'll bite you in the ass every time.

I got an EGo mower several years ago. Assembled it, everything worked, but I had a left-over part. Read the manual, stared at everything, couldn't figure out what that part was for; it didn't seem to fit anything.

Finally contacted EGo support. Described the part in detail. Support person told me that it was part of the packing material.

quote:

Originally posted by Expert308:

quote:

Originally posted by Fredward:
I read the instructions, and 30 minutes into it I got it started.

There's your mistake right there. Section 3 of the Rules For Men, subsection C, paragraph 4(f) clearly states: "NEVER read the instructions!".

It'll bite you in the ass every time.

I think I'll frame that and hang it in my garage!

Great thread. Thanks for the laughs.

quote:

Originally posted by V-Tail:
I got an EGo mower several years ago. Assembled it, everything worked, but I had a left-over part. Read the manual, stared at everything, couldn't figure out what that part was for; it didn't seem to fit anything.

Can those mowers cover an acre on a single charge, or would you need multiple recharges (or multiple batteries) if you wanted to mow a yard that size without stopping for a charge or change?

I don't know. My yard is about 1/4 acre, the batter fully recharged in less than 10 minutes. I only charged it to see how low it was. There was a sale on this mower, it came with two batteries. Two of my neighbors have the same mower, the said there is never a problem with the battery dying when they mow. It doesn't matter to me, if I have to stop halfway I will consider it a break and act accordingly. I bag it, and the grass is chopped up really fine in the bag. Makes for much less emptying.

quote:

Originally posted by V-Tail:
I got an EGo mower several years ago. Assembled it, everything worked, but I had a left-over part. Read the manual, stared at everything, couldn't figure out what that part was for; it didn't seem to fit anything.

Finally contacted EGo support. Described the part in detail. Support person told me that it was part of the packing material.

I'm not laughing AT you, I'm laughing WITH you. Well, OK, maybe a little "at" you...

Nice!

Just think of all the stuff that can't go wrong the next time you mow.

quote:

Originally posted by tsmccull:

Can those mowers cover an acre on a single charge, or would you need multiple recharges (or multiple batteries) if you wanted to mow a yard that size without stopping for a charge or change?

I run out of steam before the battery runs out of juice, so I take a break in the air-conditioned house and stick the battery on the charger.

My EGo came with one 7.5 Amp-hour battery. When the battery died after several years, I bought two 5 AH batteries for close to the same price as one 7.5 -- this way, there is always a fully charged battery for a quick swap.

The mower, or should I say operator, is now fully functional and the whole yard is mowed and edged. I don't lack reading comprehension skills, but ideograms tend to confuse me. Turns out the self-propelled wheels were operation but the motor was not. Ya gotta HOLD DOWN the green button. "Press" didn't quite cover it.

Further justification for keeping my gas powered mower. It came fully assembled so all I had to do was add gas. No weird buttons to push, no funny controls to figure out just gas and go.

quote:

Originally posted by Fredward:
In my defense, my BIL had done me a "favor" by assembling it while I was gone

I think BIL gets an assist on your 'oopsie'

Can't really blame BIL. He's mostly an idiot, but great with mechanical shit. Today he actually came by and asked if he could mow part of the lawn for exercise and to play with the new mower. When I took it back at about halfway, he got out the edger and went to work, then fastened my downspout dohickeys and blocks for maximum efficiency. Sadly, he is in the early stages of CTE after MANY head injuries (race car and motorcycle racer) and is slowly becoming more and more demented. Also unfortunately, he never really won a race and when we brought him out here he was very nearly broke. We run his finances, and when I discovered he was losing brain function, I helped him get a job in state government. What the hell else do you do with the brain damaged? Now he's off probation and they'll probably keep him until he's drooling.

Neighbor has an EGO push mower and eventually got the Z-turn riding EGO.

I used the push mower when cutting the grass on some new sod I'd put down and didn't want to get the heavier JD on that section.

It can move at the pace of a Gazelle trying to outrun a Cheetah, you do have to adjust the speed to your walking pace.

They cut really well and can fill up the hopper quickly.

The Rules for Men violation is clear, but that applies to the original assembly process, opening them up and finding what you screwed up by not reading them in the first place is acceptable....

Riding mower, LOL. Years ago we bought a repossessed house. I was working on it and the wife was pointing out we needed a mower. I asked her to go buy one as I worked on the plumbing. She came back bragging she'd found one for 59 dollars new. She had-a cylinder type push mower, like Beaver Cleaver used. I had to push that damn thing for years. Getting this purchase approved was a miracle.