Lawnmower upgrade (Greenworks Pro 60V Brushless 21" Lawn Mower "review")
So our Black and Decker 37V was running out of juice and the back flap broke again so decided rather than service a second time (not a cheap endeavor) we would get a new lawnmower. Watched a review of best 2020 cordless electric which showed 10 head to head (you might be able to find it based on that alone). Decided to go withn the Greenworks 21".
I had 1/3 of the back and ~1/3 of the front to mow with fall leaves, here's a "review" (I'd say initial thoughts).
* The box is heavy. It warns of 2 people handling. However, there's very little in the box besides the lawnmower which makes me wonder if it should be 2 people pushing when mowing ;p (always open with a joke?)
* The push handle doesn't come connected (so the box can not be bigger). I had problems connecting it because on the left side there was a wire (presumably power) which I felt was blocking a screw. My SO didn't seem to have any issues tho so maybe I gave up too easy.
* Included manuals for the lawnmower, charger and battery. The lawnmower and battery manuals were really a waste of space (at least initially).
* The battery came charged at 1 (between 0 and 4).
* The charger is loud (fans)...however, it charged the battery really quickly. So maybe that's why.
* The manual warns of overheating your battery which may be sort of annoying because with a fast charge it's something you need to monitor(ish). Something I'll be watching over time.
* The videos I watched, the lawnmower disclaimed self propelled and had a self propel feature on the handle. Ours did NOT come this way (was neither self propelled not did it have that feature in the handle). I suspect this might have been my fault and there are a couple different models (I know there were at least 2 videos we saw with different tops for example). Ironically having self propelled was a big concern for me because our lawn isn't that big and has a lot of turning, so this was actually a blessing. However, for anyone who cares about this be careful you get the right thing. Or don't buy online so you can see what you're getting.
* Per the internet, Greenworks accepts returns but you pay for shipping which apparently is over $100.
* Was surprised the mower came with an extra blade. I might have thrown that away if not paying attention.
Ok, the actual usage :D
* The lawnmower comes on height 1. I meant to set to 2 and forgot. 1 reminds me slightly of the Black and Decker 2 however.
* I did remember mid and set it to 2. The leaves were not as eaten at this height. Disappointed I set it back to 1.
* However, on doing this, I got some resistance from the mower when pushing over more bushy (or leafy:P) spots. I ended up doing the back on 2 despite the fact the leaves weren't as gobbled.
* The bag seemed to fill much faster. I think it might be slightly smaller. However, it didn't have the "when the bag gets full, the mulch starts shooting out the bottom" that the Black and Decker did. I suspect this might be because either the bag is more flexible or the mulching is better. Maybe because of this, it wasn't possible to "kick" the bag and see if it felt full. It basically always felt full...maybe because it was :P
* Maybe related but the waste cans also filled much faster. Now wondering if it doesn't shred the leaves as well. This is the one thing that I feel the review said was fine/good but I didn't experience. Maybe because they did grass and not leaves.
* The lawnmower isn't that much bigger but it definitely "edges" worse than the Black and Decker. It felt clunkier to push around.
* While mowing (just the back) I felt like there was a weird smell...like sweet smoke. It only was when I was running the mower otherwise I might have thought it was someone smoking or cooking. Could be coincidence still since I didn't smell it in the front.
* Battery was at charge 3 (of 4) when I moved to the front.
* In the front, there was more grass and less leaves. The bag didn't fill as fast. However, I felt resistance despite being on a "2" setting. I raised to 3 and had no issues. Later switched back to 2 and even 1 and no problems. Basically it seems you have to take multiple passes if you want consistent height or really stay on it or have a higher height lawn. FYI, there are 6 heights and I never tried above 3. I have no idea why people would want higher than 3 (or even higher than 1...), maybe they like being outside :P
* In the back, I had issues with the lawnmower "picking up" sticks. Basically it ran over them leaving them behind. Weirdly in the front this didn't happen. Maybe the angle or something, I don't know. There were also some bigger sticks in the front which I ran over (oops) and it chopped them up great. Probably why my blades get unsharp :P
* I did some slight uphill and downhill in the front, despite warning not to (Black and Decker has the same warning). No issues.
* Battery finished at charge 2 (of 4).
I found out while storing it that the key was tied to the lawnmower so needed a scissor to remove it and bring it inside for safe keeping.
All in all seemed ok, however, I wouldn't say it feels a huge improvement over the Black and Decker especially considering the newness and higher voltage. Maybe more voltage means more power which means more battery drain? The Black and Decker seemed to have more finesse even tho it was only slightly smaller and to hold more leaves in its bag. For 1/3 of overall lawn coverage (vs front or back with the Black and Decker new or short grass, when we first got it, it could handle front or back even with longer grass) I was surprised the battery was down to 2 of 4. However, it could have been 2.99999 of 4 for all I know. However there's a slot for a second battery which seems wise (to get and for them to make you buy:P). I also recognize that leaves are probably not only not meant for a lawnmower but also probably more difficult to "handle" than grass. Undoubtedly they'd prefer you buy one of their leafblowers or leaf vaccumes. But that's what I use it for. Will be interesting in the spring. I also am not sure if I like or don't like the resistence when pushing when at a higher area than is easy for your height. The Black and Decker would just try and/or choke. This gives you a sensory warning something is up. You can bull through or not. However, it's disconcerting...you just want to mow, you eyeball the lawn and it seems regular and suddenly *boom* hard to push. We'll see how I feel about this months/years into use.
If I had to choose between buying this and what I got when we moved here (and not knowing how long the Greenworks will last, which is really what I want to know when buying something not if it's good out of the box), I'd say I would get the Black and Decker again. However, I have no regrets (yet) buying what I did based around the review where the Black and Decker scored much lower in 2020. I was delighted not to get the self propelled (hoping I didn't pay more for something less).
Also worth noting that Greenworks doesn't have its own repair place, at least not around us (they direct you to general machine repair places). Black and Decker does. Which I thought the Black and Decker place was kind of far not realizing that that's not a thing that's common.
All I can think of for now, may edit later.
Happy Holidays!
I had 1/3 of the back and ~1/3 of the front to mow with fall leaves, here's a "review" (I'd say initial thoughts).
* The box is heavy. It warns of 2 people handling. However, there's very little in the box besides the lawnmower which makes me wonder if it should be 2 people pushing when mowing ;p (always open with a joke?)
* The push handle doesn't come connected (so the box can not be bigger). I had problems connecting it because on the left side there was a wire (presumably power) which I felt was blocking a screw. My SO didn't seem to have any issues tho so maybe I gave up too easy.
* Included manuals for the lawnmower, charger and battery. The lawnmower and battery manuals were really a waste of space (at least initially).
* The battery came charged at 1 (between 0 and 4).
* The charger is loud (fans)...however, it charged the battery really quickly. So maybe that's why.
* The manual warns of overheating your battery which may be sort of annoying because with a fast charge it's something you need to monitor(ish). Something I'll be watching over time.
* The videos I watched, the lawnmower disclaimed self propelled and had a self propel feature on the handle. Ours did NOT come this way (was neither self propelled not did it have that feature in the handle). I suspect this might have been my fault and there are a couple different models (I know there were at least 2 videos we saw with different tops for example). Ironically having self propelled was a big concern for me because our lawn isn't that big and has a lot of turning, so this was actually a blessing. However, for anyone who cares about this be careful you get the right thing. Or don't buy online so you can see what you're getting.
* Per the internet, Greenworks accepts returns but you pay for shipping which apparently is over $100.
* Was surprised the mower came with an extra blade. I might have thrown that away if not paying attention.
Ok, the actual usage :D
* The lawnmower comes on height 1. I meant to set to 2 and forgot. 1 reminds me slightly of the Black and Decker 2 however.
* I did remember mid and set it to 2. The leaves were not as eaten at this height. Disappointed I set it back to 1.
* However, on doing this, I got some resistance from the mower when pushing over more bushy (or leafy:P) spots. I ended up doing the back on 2 despite the fact the leaves weren't as gobbled.
* The bag seemed to fill much faster. I think it might be slightly smaller. However, it didn't have the "when the bag gets full, the mulch starts shooting out the bottom" that the Black and Decker did. I suspect this might be because either the bag is more flexible or the mulching is better. Maybe because of this, it wasn't possible to "kick" the bag and see if it felt full. It basically always felt full...maybe because it was :P
* Maybe related but the waste cans also filled much faster. Now wondering if it doesn't shred the leaves as well. This is the one thing that I feel the review said was fine/good but I didn't experience. Maybe because they did grass and not leaves.
* The lawnmower isn't that much bigger but it definitely "edges" worse than the Black and Decker. It felt clunkier to push around.
* While mowing (just the back) I felt like there was a weird smell...like sweet smoke. It only was when I was running the mower otherwise I might have thought it was someone smoking or cooking. Could be coincidence still since I didn't smell it in the front.
* Battery was at charge 3 (of 4) when I moved to the front.
* In the front, there was more grass and less leaves. The bag didn't fill as fast. However, I felt resistance despite being on a "2" setting. I raised to 3 and had no issues. Later switched back to 2 and even 1 and no problems. Basically it seems you have to take multiple passes if you want consistent height or really stay on it or have a higher height lawn. FYI, there are 6 heights and I never tried above 3. I have no idea why people would want higher than 3 (or even higher than 1...), maybe they like being outside :P
* In the back, I had issues with the lawnmower "picking up" sticks. Basically it ran over them leaving them behind. Weirdly in the front this didn't happen. Maybe the angle or something, I don't know. There were also some bigger sticks in the front which I ran over (oops) and it chopped them up great. Probably why my blades get unsharp :P
* I did some slight uphill and downhill in the front, despite warning not to (Black and Decker has the same warning). No issues.
* Battery finished at charge 2 (of 4).
I found out while storing it that the key was tied to the lawnmower so needed a scissor to remove it and bring it inside for safe keeping.
All in all seemed ok, however, I wouldn't say it feels a huge improvement over the Black and Decker especially considering the newness and higher voltage. Maybe more voltage means more power which means more battery drain? The Black and Decker seemed to have more finesse even tho it was only slightly smaller and to hold more leaves in its bag. For 1/3 of overall lawn coverage (vs front or back with the Black and Decker new or short grass, when we first got it, it could handle front or back even with longer grass) I was surprised the battery was down to 2 of 4. However, it could have been 2.99999 of 4 for all I know. However there's a slot for a second battery which seems wise (to get and for them to make you buy:P). I also recognize that leaves are probably not only not meant for a lawnmower but also probably more difficult to "handle" than grass. Undoubtedly they'd prefer you buy one of their leafblowers or leaf vaccumes. But that's what I use it for. Will be interesting in the spring. I also am not sure if I like or don't like the resistence when pushing when at a higher area than is easy for your height. The Black and Decker would just try and/or choke. This gives you a sensory warning something is up. You can bull through or not. However, it's disconcerting...you just want to mow, you eyeball the lawn and it seems regular and suddenly *boom* hard to push. We'll see how I feel about this months/years into use.
If I had to choose between buying this and what I got when we moved here (and not knowing how long the Greenworks will last, which is really what I want to know when buying something not if it's good out of the box), I'd say I would get the Black and Decker again. However, I have no regrets (yet) buying what I did based around the review where the Black and Decker scored much lower in 2020. I was delighted not to get the self propelled (hoping I didn't pay more for something less).
Also worth noting that Greenworks doesn't have its own repair place, at least not around us (they direct you to general machine repair places). Black and Decker does. Which I thought the Black and Decker place was kind of far not realizing that that's not a thing that's common.
All I can think of for now, may edit later.
Happy Holidays!