Thread: Electric Mower
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Old 14-04-2008, 03:11 PM posted to rec.gardens
Sheldon[_1_] Sheldon[_1_] is offline
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First recorded activity by GardenBanter: Sep 2006
Posts: 713
Default Electric Mower

On Apr 13, 11:45�pm, Pennyaline wrote:
I've finally gone and done it. Reserving my riding mower for the larger
expanse of my back yard, I'm replacing my old gas-powered
semi-effectively self-propelled walk behind mower with a spanking new
electric model for the smaller front yard.

How nice it will be to mow without that gas engine racket!


Electric mowers typically operate at higher decibels than petrol
models, also at higher pitch so much more annoying and ear damaging...
be sure to wear quality ear protection... shooter's muffs are hot but
they work. If your petrol mower is excessively loud ask yourself when
you last replaced the muffler, few people ever spend the $3,99 for a
new muffler each season.

And the cord will be much more of a hassle in smaller more crowded
areas... you'd be better off using the electric for your larger area
and get a small light weight gas push mower for your front yard, and
don't even think about self propelled for a small area, serves no real
purpose over short distances and just adds a lot of extra weight and
maintenance.

Many years ago I bought a Black & Decker electric mower (cost like $50
back then), used it once and relegated it to the shed, eventually gave
it away... mowing with a wire is a lot different from hedge trimming
with a wire... with mowing you move along a lot faster than with hedge
trimming, the wire is one big PIA. They do make rechargeable battery
operated electric mowers but I never looked into those. Electric
mowers are also a lot more dangerous, be absolutely certain to disable
it from the power source before even looking underneath. Maybe now
they have better safety features but my B & D had an ordinary toggle
switch, very easy to brush against and turn the unit on, for safety it
had to be unplugged manually every time it was turned off... and make
sure the switch was off before plugging in. I really see no advantage
to an electric mower... won't save on fuel either, electric ain't
free. The *only* advantage I can think of is not having to store
gasolene, but you will be using that rider so...