Author Topic: I bought an electric riding mower  (Read 1461 times)

MillCreek

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I bought an electric riding mower
« on: April 21, 2021, 09:31:07 AM »
For six years now, I have been mowing 15,000 square feet of PNW grass with a gas Honda push mower.  It takes me about 90 minutes.  My wife has been bugging me to buy a riding mower, and her complaints escalated last week when she had to mow the lawn.  It took her four hours.  Orthopedics does not want me using the push mower until about 6 weeks post op due to the risk of hip dislocation before healing, so that means she has more lawn mowing to do.

I had been thinking about finding a mower that would be as simple as possible for my wife to use, if I am not available, and started looking at electric mowers that are just turn the key and go. No gas, oil, belts or other issues.  After reading comparative reviews, a Ryobi 30 inch electric mower from Home Depot will be arriving next month.  I was bummed that it was not available with lithium batteries, but the reviews seem to speak favorably of the lead-acid batteries.  I should be able to mow the grass about three times for each charge, although it is recommended that you keep the charger plugged in at all times when the mower is parked.  Lots of negative reviews on the Craftsman/Toro lithium battery electric mower.

Maybe this will turn out to be the bees' knees, in terms of mowing the lawn quickly, and it will free up more time on the weekends for me.
_____________
Regards,
MillCreek
Snohomish County, WA  USA


Quote from: Angel Eyes on August 09, 2018, 01:56:15 AM
You are one lousy risk manager.

griz

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Re: I bought an electric riding mower
« Reply #1 on: April 21, 2021, 09:49:27 AM »
I've had some poor luck with cordless mowers so was a little surprised to see a cordless rider.  But apparently they have improved a lot.  Anyway, I found this "feature" typo on the website and thought it was funny:

Quote
Optimized steering system for responsive handling gives a 16 in. turn radius a zero-turn feel
Sent from a stone age computer via an ordinary keyboard.

Perd Hapley

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Re: I bought an electric riding mower
« Reply #2 on: April 21, 2021, 02:43:51 PM »
I bought a cheeseburger from Dairy Queen.
"Doggies are angel babies!" -- my wife

cordex

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Re: I bought an electric riding mower
« Reply #3 on: April 21, 2021, 03:01:54 PM »
Cool!  I saw some neat attachments that are in the works for the Ryobi electric zero turns.  I hope yours does what you want it to do.

Let us know how it works out.

grampster

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Re: I bought an electric riding mower
« Reply #4 on: April 21, 2021, 03:06:50 PM »
Not to rain on yer parade, but I was chatting with an old friend who runs a small engine repair shop.  He fixes electric mowers, riders and push type as well.  He said they break down frequently and they are very expensive to fix.
"Never wrestle with a pig.  You get dirty, and besides, the pig likes it."  G.B. Shaw

MillCreek

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Re: I bought an electric riding mower
« Reply #5 on: April 21, 2021, 03:22:10 PM »
^^^In terms of electric riding mowers, there seem to be three brands commonly available in the US: Ryobi, Troy Bilt/Toro/Craftsman, and Cub Cadet/Weibang.  The Cub Cadet and Troy Bilt seem to be unavailable now or the model has been dropped.  The Toro/Craftsman at Sears and Lowe's get terrible reviews.  The Ryobi seems to do better, but I think the sticky wicket will be how long/how many cycles the deep-cycle lead acid batteries last.  It would have been much cheaper for me to get a gas JD lawn tractor or the like, but I know my wife would never use it, and this whole hip issue has reinforced to me the value of having a backup plan for the Honda push mower.
« Last Edit: April 21, 2021, 03:45:28 PM by MillCreek »
_____________
Regards,
MillCreek
Snohomish County, WA  USA


Quote from: Angel Eyes on August 09, 2018, 01:56:15 AM
You are one lousy risk manager.

MechAg94

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Re: I bought an electric riding mower
« Reply #6 on: April 21, 2021, 04:53:19 PM »
I bought a cheeseburger from Dairy Queen.
I managed to buy a couple boxes of 9mm from Academy.   =)
“It is much more important to kill bad bills than to pass good ones.”  ― Calvin Coolidge

230RN

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Re: I bought an electric riding mower
« Reply #7 on: April 21, 2021, 05:18:16 PM »
You can always let the lawn evolve to "natural prairie."

If challenged by HOA or the County or your bitchin' neighbors you can claim your individual efforts to not generate pollutants either on-site or at the power plant will save the planet, and where's their sense of responsibility to the planet?

By the time they're done scratching their heads over that one, you'll be all healed.

Besides, natural prairies have their own beauty.



Terry, Field Representative of the Excuse Finding Federation- Emergency Mission (EFF-EM), 230RN

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« Last Edit: April 21, 2021, 05:45:20 PM by 230RN »

griz

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Re: I bought an electric riding mower
« Reply #8 on: April 21, 2021, 05:57:58 PM »
(EFF-EM)  Good, subtle yet to the point.
Sent from a stone age computer via an ordinary keyboard.

Jim147

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Re: I bought an electric riding mower
« Reply #9 on: April 21, 2021, 08:01:08 PM »
Let us know how it works. I think that mower would look at my yard and poop those batteries out the back.
Sometimes we carry more weight then we owe.
And sometimes goes on and on and on.

BAH-WEEP-GRAAAGHNAH WHEEP NI-NI BONG

MechAg94

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Re: I bought an electric riding mower
« Reply #10 on: April 21, 2021, 11:49:07 PM »


Terry, Field Representative of the Excuse Finding Federation- Emergency Mission (EFF-EM), 230RN

Isn't "Emergency Mission" a bit redundant? 
“It is much more important to kill bad bills than to pass good ones.”  ― Calvin Coolidge

K Frame

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Re: I bought an electric riding mower
« Reply #11 on: April 22, 2021, 08:39:12 AM »
Doesn't Millcreek live in the Seattle area?

I think that's less prairie and more rain forest...
Carbon Monoxide, sucking the life out of idiots, 'tards, and fools since man tamed fire.

230RN

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Re: I bought an electric riding mower
« Reply #12 on: April 22, 2021, 05:33:14 PM »
Isn't "Emergency Mission" a bit redundant? 

No, it's dundant.  I only said it once.  But it has been pointed out to me that "EM" could stand for
'em, as in "them" and it could be read as EFF-"them," presumably meaning the HOA, the County, and the bitchin' neighbors.  Of course, that was not my intent. :innocence: :eye roll: :smirk:

"Natural prairie" was meant as a metaphor for all that is beauteous in the natural world, including "natural rain forest," as in MillCreek's area.

Terry, 230RN
« Last Edit: April 22, 2021, 05:54:12 PM by 230RN »

cordex

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Re: I bought an electric riding mower
« Reply #13 on: August 03, 2022, 03:36:47 PM »
MillCreek,

I saw a couple of Aging Wheels videos on one of the Ryobi electric mowers.  He really liked it until a year into it the lead-acid battery pack started to weaken.  I think he was assuming the battery pack was LiFePO4 instead.

How is yours running?

Brad Johnson

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Re: I bought an electric riding mower
« Reply #14 on: August 03, 2022, 03:42:12 PM »
I was bummed that it was not available with lithium batteries, but the reviews seem to speak favorably of the lead-acid batteries. I should be able to mow the grass about three times for each charge, although it is recommended that you keep the charger plugged in at all times when the mower is parked. 

Keep them charged. Lead-acid batteries don't react well to deep discharges even though some manufacturers try to claim differently.

Brad
It's all about the pancakes, people.
"And he thought cops wouldn't chase... a STOLEN DONUT TRUCK???? That would be like Willie Nelson ignoring a pickup full of weed."
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Lennyjoe

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Re: I bought an electric riding mower
« Reply #15 on: August 03, 2022, 03:42:59 PM »
Neighbor purchased a zero turn green energy electric mower.  Quiet, functional but lacks the sound needed for macho grass cutting.  I asked him if he’ll be adding green energy alternatives to charge his mower as well and he looked at me a bit funny…

Bogie

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Re: I bought an electric riding mower
« Reply #16 on: August 03, 2022, 04:07:13 PM »
Does it have a cup holder?
 
And... What size battery does it take? Please tell me that it is 12 volt, or maybe even 24...
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Bogie

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Re: I bought an electric riding mower
« Reply #17 on: August 03, 2022, 04:17:32 PM »
Okay - 48 volt? That would be doable with a battery rack, and you could likely get a bit more than 50ah out of it... Looks like a direct replacement is about $300ish, and weighs in at 70 pounds...
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MillCreek

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Re: I bought an electric riding mower
« Reply #18 on: August 03, 2022, 04:23:42 PM »
I follow the Ryobi groups on Facebook, and I have seen reports of premature battery failure.  Many of these reports seem linked to the first generation charger. I have had mine for a year now and it shipped with the second generation charger.  It is plugged into the charger 24/7/365 except for when I am actually mowing.  I have no battery failures and the lead-acid batteries are still holding a full charge according to the meter.  I mow 15,000 square feet of thick wet Seattle grass in 60 minutes and the meter goes down a single bar.

HART, the WalMart offshoot of Ryobi, has an identical 30" mower to mine but with lithium batteries for $ 6000.  Ryobi has a couple of large zero turn mowers with lithium batteries now.  I hope that when my lead-acid batteries fail, there is an easy and quick swap for lithium batteries.  Some people on the FB groups have done a swap, and their electrical engineering skills far surpass mine.
_____________
Regards,
MillCreek
Snohomish County, WA  USA


Quote from: Angel Eyes on August 09, 2018, 01:56:15 AM
You are one lousy risk manager.

AZRedhawk44

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Re: I bought an electric riding mower
« Reply #19 on: August 03, 2022, 04:27:55 PM »
After spending quite a bit of time researching Zero motorcycles prior to buying my new bike and opting to abstain from e-motos at this point, I'm rather astounded that a Ryobi powered by lead-acid batteries is capable of mowing 45,000 square feet of grass in one go.
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Bogie

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Re: I bought an electric riding mower
« Reply #20 on: August 03, 2022, 04:31:05 PM »
You will need a new charger... But that wouldn't be that big a deal, considering battery cost.
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Brad Johnson

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Re: I bought an electric riding mower
« Reply #21 on: August 03, 2022, 04:34:30 PM »
It may be Ryobi branded, but it's made by Homelite. Parts breakout.

https://ryobipower.ordertree.com/catalog/partslist/view/group_id/468331/?assembly=FIGURE%2BA&assembly_id=75085


Hope you don't need to replace batteries any time soon. Four of 'em at $160 a pop.

https://www.homedepot.com/p/12-Volt-50-Ah-Sealed-Lead-Acid-Battery-for-Ryobi-30-in-Riding-Mower-6-EVF-50/319073969

http://www.leoch.com/pdf/motive-power/electric-vehicle/ev-series/6-EV-50.pdf

FYI... the HomeLite part number on the battery was HM-997233001. Everything I can find says it's been superseded by the Leoch part number above.

Brad
It's all about the pancakes, people.
"And he thought cops wouldn't chase... a STOLEN DONUT TRUCK???? That would be like Willie Nelson ignoring a pickup full of weed."
-HankB

Brad Johnson

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Re: I bought an electric riding mower
« Reply #22 on: August 03, 2022, 04:35:34 PM »
You will need a new charger... But that wouldn't be that big a deal, considering battery cost.


For what the thing costs, it damn well better come with one.

Brad
It's all about the pancakes, people.
"And he thought cops wouldn't chase... a STOLEN DONUT TRUCK???? That would be like Willie Nelson ignoring a pickup full of weed."
-HankB

AZRedhawk44

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Re: I bought an electric riding mower
« Reply #23 on: August 03, 2022, 04:38:31 PM »
For what the thing costs, it damn well better come with one.

Brad

I think Bogie is referring to swapping out the SLA batteries for lithium or lithium iron.  Those have different voltages used for charging the battery at different states.  Using the wrong charger for a type of battery is a good way to start a fire. 
"But whether the Constitution really be one thing, or another, this much is certain - that it has either authorized such a government as we have had, or has been powerless to prevent it. In either case, it is unfit to exist."
--Lysander Spooner

I reject your authoritah!

MillCreek

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Re: I bought an electric riding mower
« Reply #24 on: August 03, 2022, 04:43:24 PM »
For what the thing costs, it damn well better come with one.

Brad


The FB groups say it is an EZ-GO 48 volt golf cart charger for the lead-acid batteries.
_____________
Regards,
MillCreek
Snohomish County, WA  USA


Quote from: Angel Eyes on August 09, 2018, 01:56:15 AM
You are one lousy risk manager.