Path: news.eternal-september.org!eternal-september.org!feeder3.eternal-september.org!fu-berlin.de!uni-berlin.de!individual.net!not-for-mail From: Jeff Liebermann Newsgroups: rec.bicycles.tech Subject: Re: rec tech mower Date: Tue, 15 Apr 2025 10:42:52 -0700 Lines: 84 Message-ID: References: <6ubjvj9j6ipv60svn0sup8ks45ha9nluj1@4ax.com> Mime-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit X-Trace: individual.net 8Bocnjm3ThBTH1zJDYUIVgtXEbq0Q1Ukh81Z33Y6c2a/BYopo8 Cancel-Lock: sha1:mRFMQCScJYiq9SloHLigUGeJe7Q= sha256:FSw7EyFvQNB+tW5KmuITZJaxpbqQDRajK4OGhbIBX10= User-Agent: ForteAgent/8.00.32.1272 On Mon, 14 Apr 2025 22:48:59 -0400, Frank Krygowski wrote: >On 4/14/2025 1:58 PM, Jeff Liebermann wrote: >> >> For a while, there were attempts to meet California CARB requirements >> for lawn equipment: >> >> The 2 cycle engines were too dirty to pass the requirements. 4 cycle >> would pass, but needed computer controlled ignition and possibly fuel >> injection. They've been largely replaced by battery powered lawn care >> equipment. >For many years, my mower has been an old 4 stroke Lawn Boy that I >inherited. It's self propelled, but the walk-behind speed is not fast >enough enough for me, and I hate the noise. > >I've generally solved the problem by hiring teenagers to cut my lawn. >But the last available one, who's done it the past few years has >graduated college. I'm afraid I'm going to have to do the mowing myself. > >I'd love to have an electric mower, largely because they are so quiet >and can be stored very compactly in my overcrowded garage. But our lot >is about 0.6 acres, with tons of creative landcaping (by my wife) that >is beautiful, but requires detailed mowing. For a few years I was half >owner of a riding mower but I sold it. It was very inappropriate due to >the large number of obstacles. It took almost as long as a walk behind >mower. > >Again, I'd love an electric mower, but I'm not aware of one with >sufficient run time to do this lawn. Also, I've read some complaints >that the (rather expensive) batteries last only a few years (like 3 >years in some cases) before needing replacement. > >Advice is welcome, especially from those who actually have first hand >knowledge. Sorry, but I can't provide any authoritative advice on battery powered lawn mowers. I've never worked on one and don't have a lawn on my property that requires one. The area where I live is mountainous. There are very few almost flat areas suitable for growing a lawn. We are still officially in a drought and there are water use regulations that are intended to discourage having a lawn. Most of the existing lawns were converted to "water wise landscapes" which means a rock or AstroTurf garden. The Peoples Republic of California bribes lawn owners into converting to rock gardens: "Lawn-to-garden program overview" Battery powered lawn mowers usually required two LiIon batteries at $150 or more each. For example: (Scroll down for battery prices). Besides the high prices, I don't like LiIon for high power tools. They should be using LiFePO4 chemistry batteries, but those are currently scarce. I'm not sure, but I don't think the local hardware stores stock any electric lawnmowers. If you don't like the engine noise from gasoline powered lawn mowing, I suggest hearing protection: Or, my might switch to a utility powered mower and a long 100ft extension cord (#10 or #12 AWG). I'm told that the problem is to avoid running over the extension cord with the mower. I have a collection of heavy duty extension cords that I used for distributing generator power during power during regularly unscheduled power outages that I would probably use if I had a lawn instead of a hillside. Trivia: I couldn't resist buying an almost new Craftsman lawn vacuum cleaner and small branch chipper: Like a mower, it won't work on a hillside, but I have some ideas for converting it into a larger chipper. -- Jeff Liebermann jeffl@cruzio.com PO Box 272 http://www.LearnByDestroying.com Ben Lomond CA 95005-0272 Skype: JeffLiebermann AE6KS 831-336-2558