In alt.home.repair, on Mon, 12 Apr 2021 13:54:25 -0400, Dan Espen
wrote:

Dean Hoffman writes:

On Monday, April 12, 2021 at 10:06:15 AM UTC-5, TimR wrote:
While mowing the yard yesterday the lawnmower made a clanging noise and quit.

Not a good sign. Are you sure it wasn't a ringing, whistling, or
thumping? For example, thumping would mean you ran over a rabbit.

Pulling the starter cord seems too easy now and I hear it spin longer than it should. And no, it doesn't start.

But if it did start, just think how fast it would run.

Should I give up on IC engines and buy an electric? I've certainly had my struggles with gas engines the past couple of years.

Consumer Reports battery push mowers.
Ryobi RY401200 Rated 79. Has only a 40 minute run time. $480.
DR Power Equipment CE75021XEN0. Rated 77. 80 minute run time. $600
Hart HLPM011 Rated 70. 70 minute run time. $248.

All the research I did pointed to the Ego. I'm on 7/8ths of an acre
and can do the front and back without a recharge. The battery
recharges in an hour or so. Just enough time for lunch or a beer.

A push model would be okay, the electric mowers are very light.

I can see getting a battery model. I have no experience with them
(though I have used a battery-powered flashlight) so I can't just the
problems.

But I would also recommend an AC powered electric lawnmower, with these
considerations. I use a 100 or more likelyl a 150' cord and that has not
been a problem, and it reaches far corners. If your yard is bigger than
that, the cord may be heavy, especialy if it's thick enough that the
voltage does nto go down. The big problem is bushes and trees. You
can only go so far and then you have to back up. And in the center
where with a gas mower I'd just go around in forever smaller circles,
here I have to stop once per circle to throw the cord where I won't mow
over it. I think I did cut my cord once or twice in early years though
that was with the hedge trimmer.

OTOH, corded is cheaper and less bother. You never run out of
electricity, always full power, no expensive battery to replace, mower
is a little lighter without a battery.

Once you're used to the idea that you can't go and go without retracing,
cords are fine. Of course I only have 1/20th of an acre!