Any recommendations for a cordless lawn mower?

[Cheese]

Well, purchasing Stihl lawn care equipment is just too much like purchasing Festool equipment. 
[big grin]...seriously... [big grin]
The initial sticker shock raises eyebrows but once the tool is fired up and put to use, any initial apprehension is quickly put to rest. The drinking of the orange koolaid started with Stihl gas powered tools and seamlessly translates to their cordless lawn care options.

Prior to my purchase of the Stihl RMA 510V, I've always owned a gas powered lawnmower. I never had an issue with any of them but then again I stayed with the better known brands like Toro & Lawnboy.

The Stihl RMA 510V is a 21" self-propelled mower with continuously variable speed from .6 mph to 2.8 mph. You can collect the grass clippings or mulch them back into the yard, both options are available. The rear wheels are 10" diameter while the front wheels are 8" diameter with ball bearings to increase battery life. Using an AP 500 S battery, the mower will cut 3842 sq ft of lawn on a single charge.

This is the 2nd season I've used it and I'd never go back to a gas powered mower. The self-propelled feature is better/stronger than any of the gas mowers I've ever owned. With the gas mowers there was always some slippage to the drive wheels so that you were always helping the mower along, not with this one, engage the self-propulsion and you'd better be ready because the wheels just dig in and go. It's already taken my wife for a ride so she refuses to cut the lawn now.  [sad]

Another nice feature is that if the battery is low, the blade will NOT engage but there is still more than enough energy left to allow you to self-propel the lawnmower to where ever the battery charger is hanging out.

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[Kev]

I've gotta laugh .. I have 6 Stihl chainsaws, 2 hedgers, 4 line trimmers, 2 blowers much is cordless. Yeh .. orange cool aide.

Regardless of its applicability to our needs, I've been tempted to get a battery Stihl mower just to give my wife a plaything to help her feel more engaged in the garden. It'll probably happen.

 

[PaulMarcel]

Wow, lots of great information across a lot of brands on this thread. Greatly appreciate it! I'll look into them further on the weekend when I can go see some of them in person.

As for my yard, it is basically flat. I do tend to leave it longer than most since it is so hot here in Arizona that leaving it long to hang on to dew moisture helps a lot. The problem is when it gets to monsoon season like we are in now. We don't get the huge storms like before, but this week, we had overnight light rain so the yard just grew like crazy. That's when I discovered the gas mower wasn't working again. Likely a simple fix, but this happens often so thought to ask about cordless options.

With gas, it takes me 30-40 minutes to mow. I don't mulch though that may be a good idea early/late in the season.

One concern I have it when they mention active cooling and temperature sensors to make sure the motor doesn't run too hot. Here, the ambient for most of summer would put the motor at 105-110ºF (39-43ºC) before even starting. Granted the batteries would be coming out of the shop where they'd peak at 87º (31º) so maybe it isn't a concern.

 

[Jeff Zanin]

I have been using the M18 since the start of last season, quite pleased with it coming from a Honda gas.  I am always mulching, never bagging, and there is an accessory "high lift" blade that does a better job of mulching.  I was already established in the M18 battery ecosystem so that was a factor, but the mower seems to be generally good quality and in some way (e.g. height adjustment) superior to the Honda.  I have four HD 12.0 batteries, it uses them in pairs and two pair is enough to finish a pretty big, mostly flat suburban yard, operating in "turbo" mode (for better mulching) the whole time.

 

[live4ever]

For those that may be considering the M18, absolutely absurd price on the 2 battery kit ($699).  Factory Authorized Outlet aka Maxtool on Ebay.  Have bought a ton of Milwaukee from them over the years.  This will not last long once the deal sites post it…
https://www.ebay.com/itm/203817987874

Wish I was ready but I don’t have a lawn (going to establish this spring hopefully) and am short on storage space…

 

[Boski]

Ego for sure

 

[SoonerFan]

I have a Ryobi 42 inch zero turn mower riding mower. It has one battery for each of the two blades and one to propel the mower.  It’s quiet and needs no maintenance other than sharpening the blade.  We live on just over an acre.  I can easier cut my entire lawn in a single charge.  It was almost exactly the same price as gas mowers from big box stores of the same size when I got it 4+ year ago.  I will never again purchase a new gas riding lawn mower as long as we live here. 

 

[Nillobves]

Cordless mowers definitely changed the game for me. At first, I was worried about run-time too, but with a couple of spare batteries, it’s been easy to keep going without stopping. Plus, they’re way quieter and less hassle than gas mowers. Had some advice from LookDeVis Services, gardening experts in London, about battery care and choosing the right power.

 

[Hipplewm]

I swapped my wifes Honda gasser for a Dewalt self propelled last year. We ONLY use it for trim around one side of the barn and the chicken coop and implement storage area. We have acres, so the bulk of the grass is bush hog (I do that part) and she has a BadBoy zero turn.

She didn't like it for about 20 seconds, then she figured out the infinitely variable walk speed and to go a bit slower if the gras is a bit "thick"
We were already heavily into the Dewalt battery, so I have tons of flexvolt laying around and now she even like it better than her honda gasser as the stupid gas cans now are frustrating as hell.
If she runs out of battery (mower, string trimmer, blower etc - that is her question to take a break and get some water.
She no longer has to lug gas cans to the gas station etc
There is no way to even cut our front yard with the Honda gasser or the DeWalt - neither is made for several acres.
Sorage of the electric mowers is essentially fold them up vertical, so they are much easier to store than gas mowers.

 

[rst]

As I’m heavily invested into Milwaukee and probably have close to twenty M18 batteries including a 12a, I bought the mower when they dropped the price last year. I had been waiting to get it less batteries. I since then started buying the Forge batteries, a 12, two 8s and two 6s. I think if I were not invested in Milwaukee, I would probably buy Ego. My Milwaukee stuff works great for me as all my yard stuff is now 18v, small chainsaw, hedge trimmer, extension chainsaw, blower, grass trimmer, extension pruner. The only Stihl I kept is my blower for snow and heavy leaf blowing

 

[Neil Lickfold]

We bought a Stihl 6 years ago now, with 2 batteries. Since subdivided the section, so now either battery will mow the lawn now. Used to have to mow 800m2 outside lawn plus 650m2 actual lawn. Both batteries do that fine. I have 2 blades and keep them sharp. Bought a spare blade at time of purchase. Never has given any trouble what so ever. Yeah it had an upfront cost, but work very well and is fairly quiet to use.

 

[Cheese]

We bought a Stihl 6 years ago now, with 2 batteries. Since subdivided the section, so now either battery will mow the lawn now. Used to have to mow 800m2 outside lawn plus 650m2 actual lawn. Both batteries do that fine. I have 2 blades and keep them sharp. Bought a spare blade at time of purchase. Never has given any trouble what so ever. Yeah it had an upfront cost, but work very well and is fairly quiet to use.

Thanks for the slap alongside my head... Neil.

I have no idea why I didn't think about that earlier. I have a Stihl Kombi line head trimmer with an extra spool of line already wound on it and I also have a Stihl Kombi straight lawn edger with 2 extra blades. Everything needed to quickly swap used items out for new items, and yet only a single blade for the mower which does the most work. I will now purchase an extra blade for the lawnmower.

 

[Mike Goetzke]

7 or 8 years ago my Honda was on it's last leg as well as most of my other powered lawn tools. I went full out EGO. I have a 1/4 acre lot and could mow it twice before needing to charge the 7.5AHr 56V battery. I take good care of my batteries and they still take a full charge. Like mentioned above, I also have a spare blade that I would swap out 3-4 times a season. Flap disks are your friend to sharpen them.

 

[Neil Lickfold]

Thanks for the slap alongside my head... Neil.

I have no idea why I didn't think about that earlier. I have a Stihl Kombi line head trimmer with an extra spool of line already wound on it and I also have a Stihl Kombi straight lawn edger with 2 extra blades. Everything needed to quickly swap used items out for new items, and yet only a single blade for the mower which does the most work. I will now purchase an extra blade for the lawnmower.

A dull blade on the electric mower, means that when it is sharpened, it will use between 1/2 to 1/3 the energy for the same lawn area. A lot more significant than I would have guessed.