Electric mower review: Makita

[Bryce]

Hi all - it seems that finally electric mowers have come of age. Have been waiting quite a while, but the reviews of the new Makita 36V 460mm series suggested it might be time to give up the Aldi stop-gap petrol mower and take the plunge. (My old Victa karked it 3 years ago and battery electric mowers were all dinky-toys then so stooped to buying an Aldi product. Cheap sh!t mower, but it did the job. Am getting sick of fixing it though).

Am happy to report the Makita (model DLM461PG2) works brilliantly - did all my (large and overgrown) back lawn, plus front lawn, plus 3 nature strips in the street, and started on another lawn before the 2 x 6Ah batteries finally went flat. (About 1.5hrs worth). Probably around 600 - 700m2 all up. Would probably have done the lot if the back yard had not been so overgrown!

Cheers
Bryce

[brendon_m]

I've been running one of the dinky toy ozito 240V electric mowers for the last few years. I picked it up off curbside "bring out your dead" and it's been the best mower I ever had. Nice and quiet and I never had trouble starting it .

Unfortunately it finally died a few weeks ago (the bearing that supports the blades seized and melted the plastic frame). Now I'm in the market for a battery one though I'll probably go ryobi as that's what I have batteries for and I see bunnings have now released a brushless dual 18V one.

[HuffnPuff]

I’ve been using a dinky 36v Ryobi for a few years too. 5ah does whole yard, about 250m2 of lawn. It does require 2 cuts if the grass is 3/4 the way up the wheels.
Unfortunately the big battery is toast and the 2.6ah I have aren’t enough for the lot. I don’t need and upgrade, but I think I need an upgrade. Brushless seem to be the go.

[sleeperpservice]

Had a 36V Ryobi for 6years after being sick of old pull starts doing my head in and its been brilliant. The 2.6Ah pack still does our lawn twice over but does struggle a bit on longer grass and I have to line up half the mower.

Had too fire up the whipper snipper at the in-laws the other day after a long time, shredded skin of my fingers and reminded me of the trouble free bliss. Had to park the Ioniq in the servo to fill up the jerry can which felt weird.

[Bryce]

Can relate to that weird feeling filling up a jerry can pulled out from the back of an electric car at the servo!

Two more petrol tools to go before that happens for me though: a 35 yo brushcutter and a 2 yo chainsaw. (Given the current chainsaw replaced a 35 yo chainsaw, the latter might need to replaced before it wears out if petrol goes the way of the dinosaur ... )

Cheers
Bryce

[memecode]

I see bunnings have now released a brushless dual 18V one.

I can't find that one on their site. Got a link?

[brendon_m]

You're right its not there.
I only saw it while walking through and thought "I want one" but I couldn't afford it so I've been saving my dollaridoos.

Ryobi website has them (for more than I saw it) but it says limited stock.
https://www.ryobi.com.au/products/detai ... lm1840blx6

Discontinued for some reason perhaps?

[mikedufty]

I've had the 36V Ryobi for over 7 years now. I've been running it on 48v Hobbyking LiPo from my e-bike so it may be spinning faster than it should. It's been really good. Blade looks overdue for replacement now (shouldn't keep trying to mow the rocks) but it still works fine.

[jonescg]

If you can find a corded lawn mower or chainsaw you can probably run it on a high enough DC voltage since they all use universal motors. A north American one would be ideal as that's only 110 V AC (so 24s LiPo would work).

[memecode]

Ryobi website has them (for more than I saw it) but it says limited stock.
https://www.ryobi.com.au/products/detai ... lm1840blx6

That says 18V tho?

Been burnt before buying under powered tools for the job...

[brendon_m]

Yeah it's 18V but can take 2 batteries to share the current load. Reviews seems to be generally positive.
36V would be better but I have 18V batteries.
The old single battery 18V Ryobi mower range is apparently rubbish which is why I haven't got one but they used to do a twin battery along time ago that was meant to be good.