Riding Lawn Mower Review – Is the New Husqvarna Rider R155 AWD the Right Lawn Mower For You?
What factors are important to you when choosing a riding lawn mower? The best lawn mower for your lawn depends on a number of factors including the size of the lawn and the number of obstacles, such as fountains, benches, flower beds etc. If you have a large lawn with many obstacles and uneven grass, then a highly maneuverable riding mower will probably be the most suitable. A riding lawn mower that can cope with slopes, wet grass, and obstacles and also finely dices the cuttings to provide excellent lawn fertilizer is the new Husqvarna Rider R155 AWD and it may be just what you are looking for. The Husqvarna Rider R155 AWD is one of the best lawn mowers for large uneven lawns. It is a well built mower that is designed to be extremely maneuverable, so it is ideal if your lawn has many obstacles like flower beds or trees. The new AWD (all wheel drive) is automatic and loss of traction will force it to engage on all four wheels. The Husqvarna Rider can easily cope with a lawn that is is sloped or when mowing in wet conditions. The maneuverability is further enhanced by the unique articulated steering system which allows the rear pair of wheels to swing in underneath the machine. The result is superior maneuverability with a 4 inch turning radius at full lock. The mower has 3 cutting blades and a front mounted cutting deck. Cutting heights can be set from 1-1/2 to 3-1/2 inches. The front mounted cutting deck gives excellent accessibility into corners and under benches and bushes. The use of 3 blades makes for very efficient cutting and mulching and the removable BioChip, when installed, causes the clippings to be chopped into mulch under the cutting deck before falling onto the lawn and quickly turning into fertiliser. The Husqvarna Rider R155 AWD comes with a pressure lubricated Kohler OHV-engine and wheel weights with ball bearings ensure maximum grip while ensuring minimum stress on the transmission. The blades are engaged automatically when the cutting deck is lowered and all controls are easy to reach from the driver’s seat. The seat itself is reasonably comfortable although some engine vibrations can be felt. the lack of a flat flat floor over the deck may make it harder to mount for less nimble gardeners. Although the Husqvarna Rider R155 AWD is expensive (more than $US9000 for the basic model) it should provide years of excellent service. Slightly cheaper, without the AWD, is the Husqvarna Rider R155G2. A good choice of riding lawn mower that will have your lawn looking professionally finished in minimum time. Advantages * Very maneuverable * Easy to operate * Well designed and built for long life * Excellent mulching ability Disadvantages * Expensive * Awkward to mount * Engine vibrations can be annoying if mowing for long periods Conclusion The Husqvarna Rider R155 AWD is a well built, very maneuverable mower that will make mowing a large, uneven lawn that has obstacles and slopes very easy. The mulching ability is a nice addition but the expensive price tag will put this mower out of the reach of many gardeners. It’s sturdy construction and long life will make it a good mower to look out for in the future as a secondhand bargain.
Cordless Electric Lawn Mower Review
Introduction
This is a review of the Black and Decker (B&D) CMM1000 5 HP cordless electric lawn mower with a 19-inch cutting path. The mower has a mulching feature and came with a rear-mounted grass catcher. The author has used this model for years and offers the following observations and advice to those considering the purchase of a cordless electric lawn mower.
Convenience
This cordless lawn mower is extremely convenient. There is no need to purchase any gasoline or oil for the life of the mower. Because gasoline prices are currently so high, this is an extremely cost-effective mower. The B&D CMM1000 mower initially costs more than its gasoline-powered counterpart. However, the elimination of gas and oil purchases, oil changes, air filter changes, and all the maintenance normally associated with small gasoline engines offsets the initial price.
Almost no maintenance is required, except for an occasional blade sharpening and removal of accumulated grass from beneath the cutting deck and discharge chute.
Electric lawn mowers are much quieter than their gasoline-powered counterparts. The noise level drops even more during the cutting session as the battery gradually uses its charge.
Say good-bye to back-breaking pull starting. Electric lawn mowers start via a simple switch or lever.
Finally, the one-hand external cutting height adjustment lever requires no tools and only minimal hand strength. The height adjustment has a simple gauge showing the best height for mulching.
Safety
The mower comes with a safety key that must be inserted before the cordless electric lawn mower will start. This key cannot be inserted until the recharging cord is detached from the back of the electric lawn mower. The mower is started by pulling the safety release lever up to the padded handle, and operating the convenient start lever. The safety release must be held to the handle during mower operation. If the operator releases his or her grip for any reason, the cordless electric lawn mower promptly stops.
The cordless electric lawn mower must never be operated in wet grass because it is an electrical appliance. If there are several days of rain in a row, the owner must wait until the yard has dried sufficiently before using the electric mower. This drying often takes at least another full day after the end of the rain.
Battery Life and Charging
The B&D CMM1000 cordless electric lawn mower houses a sealed 24-volt battery inside the entirely plastic casing. No extension cord is required to operate this mower.
Anyone who has carried a car or boat battery might assume that this unit would be difficult to push because of the large battery. On the contrary, the battery is well-balanced between the two back wheels and the mower is easy to maneuver.
The battery trickle-charges via the external power supply and uses standard 110 Volt household outlets. The recharging plug can be difficult to plug into the mower in dim light or for those with limited manual dexterity. A red/green LED on the mower indicates that the mower is charging (red) or fully charged (green).
The instructions for this cordless electric lawn mower indicate that the battery reaches about 70% of its full charge in 4 hours of charging. Experience has shown that it is better to allow the mower to fully charge overnight before using it again.
Engine Horsepower
The B&D CMM1000 cordless electric lawn mower has a 5 HP battery. This is 5 HP gas equivalent at peak torque. A gasoline lawn mower will operate at full horsepower until the last drop of gasoline is used. The electric lawn mower will operate at or near full horsepower for most of the cutting time, and then gradually loses horsepower until a recharge is required.
This mower is rated for a yard of approximately 1/3 acre. Experience has shown that the mower is much better suited for 0.25 acre or less, if the owner desires to cut the entire yard in a single session. Otherwise, the mower must recharge overnight, and the remainder of the lawn must be cut another day.
Battery Operating Time
This cordless electric lawn mower can operate for 40-45 minutes on a full charge at ideal grass conditions. Ideal grass conditions include dry grass only requiring 1-2 inches to be cut. High grass, damp grass, dried grass clumps from previous mowings, and thick grass will all decrease the cutting time, because these conditions require more power and drain the battery faster. Cutting the grass very low, a dull blade, and using the mulching feature will also decrease the cutting time.
Those wishing to purchase this cordless electric lawn mower should invest in the inexpensive external grass discharge chute. This chute is not included with the mower. The mulching feature cuts the grass clippings repeatedly, and drains the battery faster. With the external discharge chute, cut grass exits the mower quickly.
Disadvantages
As stated previously, this cordless electric lawn mower operates at the rated horsepower for most, but not all, of the cutting session. Factors such as thicker or higher grass can decrease the amount of cutting time available. The unit cannot be used while the grass is wet. The rating that the cordless lawn mower can cut 1/3 acre on a single charge is optimistic. This mower does best cutting 0.20-0.25 acres on a single charge.
Recommendations
The B&D CMM1000 5 HP 19-inch cordless electric lawn mower (or comparable model) is ideal for homeowners with yards of about 0.25 acres or less, who dislike dealing with gas and oil, and prefer a quieter lawn cutting experience. The mower is easy to operate and recharge, although a few owners might have difficulty plugging the recharging cord into the mower. Note that the model reviewed was purchased several years ago, and this issue may have been resolved.
If you have a small lot, are tired of keeping flammable gasoline in the garage, and hate pull-starting a lawn mower (or are unable to), a cordless electric lawn mower is the perfect lawn mower for you.
Copyright 2006 by Doug Smith, who invites you to browse his free website about saving gas with easy to use electric lawn mower models and options at http://lawnmowers.hobbyboutique.com