Going gasless

[mwemaxxowner]

I've been replacing my small gas engine stuff with Ryobi 40v items as I go. Brushless blower, brush cutter, pole saw, cultivator, and chain saw. I always opt for brushless where available and so far I'm quite pleased with everything I've gotten.

 

[RalphVa]

Is the "crosscut" mower self propelled ?

Yes. There's another 21 inch, not crosscut, that is, and there's a 20 inch self propelled. Home Depot had gobs of them when we were there buying our crosscut.

 

[oosik]

Not entirely possible at my age and with the amount of baked beans I consume.

 

[RalphVa]

Used the Ryobi 40v 21 inch to trim around stuff in the blueberry patch hill. Wife trimmed while I did simple, straight, big space with the bush hog.

Used 3/4 of the 6 aH battery. Should have put the 2nd battery in the 2nd slot because it only mowed a little bit more in a spot up the hill a bit where it is tight to do it neatly with the bush hog. Learning. PLENTY of power. Just have to figure out how much "gas", e.g. batteries to put in and their size; got 4 aH and 2 aH ones for the grass whip that I can use in the mower.

 

[two_bit_score]

Everything I have read about the mowers on other threads and reviews had complaints of running out of power in .5 to 1 acre of mowing. I would really want to make sure you could cover 4 acres with any battery powered device if that is your current lawn area.

Two batteries should keep him covered.

 

[RalphVa]

Don't think 2 batteries will do in the Ryobi 40v 21 inch. Think 2 will do near an acre but not 4. Gotta wonder why anyone mows 4 acres. Just mow paths through and bush hog once/yr. That's what I do to some offshoots to our lawn.

 

[mwemaxxowner]

I wouldn't wanna push 4 acres anyway . My dad has 3 acres and made me push mow it as punishment a few times. No fun!

I have the 4 amp 40v batteries and they give me good run time in the tools I use them for (mostly the cultivator, chain saw, and blower). I would think I would want the 6 amp batteries for the mower but I also kind of doubt 2 would do all of it. You'll get less voltage drop under load with the larger batteries, so I always try to have the highest AH rated packs I can for tough jobs.

 

[MoKelly]

Don't think 2 batteries will do in the Ryobi 40v 21 inch. Think 2 will do near an acre but not 4. Gotta wonder why anyone mows 4 acres. Just mow paths through and bush hog once/yr. That's what I do to some offshoots to our lawn.

I mow around 5 acres. Takes a little over an hour with the ZTR.

My wife likes wide open views - as long as it looks neat.

MoKelly

 

[two_bit_score]

Well, sir, that looks neat!

 

[RalphVa]

I mow around 5 acres. Takes a little over an hour with the ZTR.

View attachment 697985

My wife likes wide open views - as long as it looks neat.

MoKelly

I'd let big patches of all that grow up to make wildflowers. Just mow paths through it. Then chop down once/yr. Have 2 or 3 off shoots to our "lawn" that we do this on. Lawns are to drive on or play on. Unless you need a ball field, there is no reason to mow great big acres of it regularly.

 

[RalphVa]

Have used the Ryobi 21 inch crosscut now several places. It's virtually the same as the very excellent Honda gas mower but easier to maneuver because it's so light weight. Battery longevity seems to have gotten better the 2nd time around. Reasonably sure it'll do the whole ~ 1/2 to 3/4 acre lawn with the 2 six aH batteries. Got 2 other batteries to use as "gas" from the grass whip.

The button and 2 levers leave a lot to be desired. A toggle switch would be better. Even better would be a 2 position switch: 1 to turn it on to allow movement, and 2 to turn the blade on. The max speed slide is a bit too loose.

Even nicer would be a reverse button, which would be easy to implement with no belts, gear box, etc. Yeah, put a horrid beeper on it for in reverse if the guvmit insists.

Also have the Ryobi 40v grass whip. Very powerful, MUCH more so than the Kobalt 40v it replaced. Only downside is weight with 2 aH battery. Bought a 2 aH battery, MUCH better. That's all the Kobalt had. One downside is it throws stuff all over one's lower legs. The shield needs to be lower down or to have drapes like my bush hog. Thinking about making my own cloth drapes to put on the back of the shield.

Battery seems a big "sticky" to get out.

 

[Citydude]

I mow around 5 acres. Takes a little over an hour with the ZTR.

View attachment 697985

My wife likes wide open views - as long as it looks neat.

MoKelly

So where are the flags? I'd have a par 5,4 and 3 in there somewhere.

 

[MoKelly]

So where are the flags? I'd have a par 5,4 and 3 in there somewhere.

Ha!!! You are a smart man.

I actually have a few flags - but had to remove for the picture as my wife is not fond of me taking divots - even though, like a good golfer, I always replace my divots.

We also shoot skeet out over the farm land. I have a hand launcher we use and it works great.

MoKelly

 

[RalphVa]

The Ryobi ZT480e arrived about lunchtime today. Had to uncrate it and to put the seat and handles onto it. Gonna take some getting used to, like I've read with others using ZTs for the 1st time. Those handles are quite sensitive.

Got it plugged in now. Says 100% but not to use it until it charges overnight. I went around the front yard once running the deck.

 

[two_bit_score]

The Ryobi ZT480e arrived about lunchtime today. Had to uncrate it and to put the seat and handles onto it. Gonna take some getting used to, like I've read with others using ZTs for the 1st time. Those handles are quite sensitive.

Got it plugged in now. Says 100% but not to use it until it charges overnight. I went around the front yard once running the deck.

Congratulations! Looking forward to reading about how you like it.

 

[RalphVa]

Congratulations! Looking forward to reading about how you like it.

I've done a separate review on it. Had some problems going down complex hills where the slope is in 2 directions. Haven't used the brake yet. Was trying to control it with the motor sticks (motor on each wheel). Gotta avoid reversing direction or causing the wheels to spin at all. It goes uphill like a billy goat. So, it is not the tires after all.

 

[RalphVa]

Am gasless now. The Honda HRR216VLA was taken away this morning for $200, 8 years old. Gave them the 2 gas containers, too. One still had a little in it. I'd emptied the 2 gallon one into the Tacoma's thirsty mouth.