So I was at HD the other day and stopped by the lawnmower section to look at what they had and was really surprised at how FLIMSY most of their offerings were!

I like the idea of a battery powered one but they all seemed really plastic-y and not something that would last more than a couple of years.

Even the Toro's had wheel adjusters that were paper-thin metal and didn't look like they would last very long.

Only the Honda's (of course, right?) looked like they were built well enough to last very long.

I know the consensus is to NOT buy from a Big Box store and I don't plan to but I was taken a little aback by how almost disposable these mowers all were!

quote:

Originally posted by PASig:
I know the consensus is to NOT buy from a Big Box store

Depends on what you buy. For example, I have no qualms against buying a Honda mower from a big box store. I have a Home Depot Honda that's been going strong for 12 years now, with just regular minor maintenance.

Much of the time they have the lower quality to sell at lower prices. I bought a Cub Cadet from a dealer over 10 years ago, $4k worth of mower. It still runs just fine.

One can get a C.C. from the big box store, not what I bought though. I think it’s easier to sell a $375 Ruger over that $1250 Sako too.

quote:

I like the idea of a battery powered one but they all seemed really plastic-y and not something that would last more than a couple of years.

Might have something to do with wanting to conserve weight in order to increase run time... an advantage is you're pushing less weight as well.

Plastics/composites are highly improved products, lighter, stronger, faster, able to leap tall blades in a single push.

I bought a Home Despot JD 105, lasted 10 years, even with service being performed as scheduled, remember though we mow 52 weeks a year here, so that's somewhere between 15 to 20 years of hours used in Yankee time....

Bought my 130 JD from the dealer, similar price, and got the Vtwin engine vs the Kohler single on my 105.

It all depends on how well you take care of it, electrics are going to have battery replacement costs, but no fuel, so it kind of offsets...

quote:

Originally posted by PASig:
Only the Honda's (of course, right?) looked like they were built well enough to last very long.

There’s your answer right there.

quote:

Originally posted by PASig:
... Only the Honda's (of course, right?) looked like they were built well enough to last very long. ...

Unfortunately, Honda cut quality is absolute shit. I bought one because I didn't want to spend $1100 for a new Toro for the two lawns I'd use it on. A sore disappointment for sure. A total waste of $400+.

quote:

Originally posted by mark123:

Unfortunately, Honda cut quality is absolute shit.

Really?

It seems like the Toro Recycler and Super Recycler line and the Honda double blade models have rave reviews here and elsewhere about cut quality.

quote:

Originally posted by PASig:

So I was at HD the other day and stopped by the lawnmower section to look at what they had . . . I like the idea of a battery powered one but they all seemed really plastic-y and not something that would last more than a couple of years.

I bought an EGo battery powered mower at Home Depot a couple months ago.

It is solid. I am very pleased with it. Not inexpensive, though.

I showed my Driver License with the 'V' designator and got the 10% veteran's discount.



https://www.homedepot.com/p/EG...d-LM2102SP/206515944

quote:

Originally posted by V-Tail:
I bought an EGo battery powered mower at Home Depot a couple months ago.

It is solid.

Do you think that will last 5-10 years? I looked at them and wasn't impressed. The only metal parts in the entire thing seem to be the handle arms and the blade!

quote:

Originally posted by PASig:

Do you think that will last 5-10 years?

I don't know whether the mower will last five to ten years, but I don't care that much. I doubt that I'll be using it then. I'm 82.

It's easy for me to use now, even with my mobility limitations.

I have used an E-go mower for 3-4 years, and have not babied it. It holds power for quite a while, and cuts like a razor.
I did not expect to like it this much. It's great for small yards and trimming around AC units and such. It charges fast, I have not had to replace anything on it. Yes, the "plastic" is gonna scuff, but it's a tool. It works well imo.

quote:

Originally posted by PASig:

quote:

Originally posted by mark123:

Unfortunately, Honda cut quality is absolute shit.

Really?

It seems like the Toro Recycler and Super Recycler line and the Honda double blade models have rave reviews here and elsewhere about cut quality.

Yes, I got one to replace my 2004 Super Recycler which is a great mower but it needed a bunch of parts. So, going from the reviews here I picked up a Honda. It does a mediocre job if you bag the clippings but no one that cares about their lawn bags the clippings. Mulching or rear discharge leaves a row of clippings under the left rear tire. It's amateurish at best. I'm either going to pick up a new Super Recycler or buy all the parts the old one needs.

I'm on year 3 with my Ego lawnmower and nothing has broken (yet). Love it. I work it hard, take it down and work the lot next door to our vacation home in addition to our house yard. It has all kinds of ugly growing out of it down there and does the job. HOWEVER, it doesn't cut as smooth as a Honda gas mower, AND its no where near as powerful. If you bog it down you will shorten the battery life a lot and it's easy to bog it down.

That said, I prefer it over the Honda X2. BTW, my boy bought me the Ego 16" chainsaw for Christmas and with the weakest 2.5mah battery (instead of the one that 4.0 mah one that came with it) I can cut 11 12" rounds off a Doug Fir.

Now I have the Ego tools that all take the same battery:

Weed wacker
Chainsaw
Mower
Hedge trimmer
Blower

I love every one of them much more than their gas powered counterparts. However, a Stihl gas chainsaw will seriously outperform this one.

I got a Ryobi rechargeable mower, along with matching weedeater, blower and hedge clipper. The mower is indeed mostly plastic, and lightweight, but as previously mentioned, I expect it was made to be as light as possible. It's a push mower, and takes no effort unless the grass has gotten tall.

So far so good. My yard is small, but I used to greatly dislike messing with gas equipment. Things are so much easier now that it's all battery powered.

3 years on a Ryobi 40 volt mower 20” cut here. It does a fine job IMO that said however I don’t like mowing my 2 acres so only use the mower on about 1/2 acre immediately around my house just to knock down the tall grass seed heads. And I’m not particularly worried what my lawn looks like.
I don’t have any neighbors to look at it either.
If my Ryobi died today I would buy another as soon as I got to a Home Depot. I love not having to buy gas or changing oil sparkplugs or diddling with a carburetor

4-5 years at least on a Ryobi 40v here.

I forget exactly when I bought it, but it is great that it is light, my 5 year old can mow the lawn with it.

Does it feel flimsy? Kinda, but I got mine on sale, and as previously stated, if it died I'd get another. Have had no maintenance issues at all. Sharped the blade twice.

I like that I have the same battery for the hedge trimmer, string trimmer, and chain saw.

When I was growing up, my parents had a corded mower. Boooo. Gas mower over that any day.

A cordless 40v mower is waaaaaaay better than gas, because of all the things you don't have to deal with. Will it struggle if the grass is really long? A bit, but it'll do it.

Not having to deal with all that is a combustion engine is worth it.

I still have the Ariens snow blower... I don't think you'll see cordless snow blowers until a LOT more power is available.

quote:

Originally posted by mark123:

quote:

Originally posted by PASig:

quote:

Originally posted by mark123:

Unfortunately, Honda cut quality is absolute shit.

Really?

It seems like the Toro Recycler and Super Recycler line and the Honda double blade models have rave reviews here and elsewhere about cut quality.

Yes, I got one to replace my 2004 Super Recycler which is a great mower but it needed a bunch of parts. So, going from the reviews here I picked up a Honda. It does a mediocre job if you bag the clippings but no one that cares about their lawn bags the clippings. Mulching or rear discharge leaves a row of clippings under the left rear tire. It's amateurish at best. I'm either going to pick up a new Super Recycler or buy all the parts the old one needs.

A common new user error is installing the blades incorrectly. There are two blades in each set. Make sure they are 1. installed in the correct order 2. they are with the correct side down. Also read the manual to make sure you got the optimal set. Some models have multiple blade offerings. Mine is an older HRT216TDA with option to mulch, bag or side discharge. IIRC, there are 3 different blade sets offer for my model. Each set can do any of the 3 options but will be better at what is is specifically designed for.

Lastly, cut quality will be better when you set the front wheels height setting one notch higher than the back wheels.

seems to me a pretty comprehensive explanation on who makes what in the gas mower selections

https://todaysmower.com/riding-mower-brands/

The model I got is the HRR216VKA. I wouldn't exactly call myself a "new user". I'm just used to a quality machine like the Toro pro model. The Honda just doesn't stack up. I mean, it's not even close.

Can't speak about the others but you are wrong about the Toro. I bought my zero turn Timecutter 5000 at home depot about 8 years ago. That thing is absolutely bulletproof.

I mow about four acres and some of it is pasture with grass growing well up to my shoulders as I sit in it. Plows right through it. Much of the rest is hilly and rough terrain, again, it always does what I ask of it. If mine were to implode tomorrow I would buy another one just like her.