Hart 80 volt 30 inch deck riding mower

[ultrarunner]

Every stupid battery powered electric piece of lawn or yard work equipment i have purchased has never lasted more than 2 to 3 seasons. Than batteries are shot and either cant be located, or have been improved and dont fit. Never again. My stihl string trimmer is 20 years old still works. Replaced carb with chinese ebay one years ago. Thats all. My stihl farm boss chainsaw is 30 years old, and i only replaced bar and of course chains. Still working after 30 years. Wifes mantis is over 20 years still working. My huskvarna lawn tractor is every part of 20 years old, still going strong but has had 3 deck replacements (rocky ground).

Its gas or nothing for me.

I don’t want to jinx myself but all my Stihl AP batteries are still working with 6 years approaching this December…

I bought the first AP as a Christmas present to myself and once you have a battery and charger it’s not that bad to add more should the need arise.

Battery longevity and availability were top considerations.

Work bought by backup battery as I was bringing in my blower each fall for the Hospital entrance leaves because the gas units way too loud…

With managements blessings work bought my second battery…

 

[Richard001]

OK an update on my Hart mower. A few days ago, I mulched up a yard full of leaves. Then moved the mower to my garage where I have the charger, plugged it into the mower and WHAT ? The charger is flashing red.

I unplugged the charger from the mower, plugged it back in again, same result. Unplugged the charger again from the mower, then unplugged the charger from the wall outlet, waited a minute, plugged the charger back in, then plugged the charger into the mower.

Still getting flashing red on the charger. So i took the cover off of the battery compartment and pushed the test button on the batteries, there are two of them. Got a flashing E1 and something that looked like a thermometer on the display.

Checked the user manual, nothing about flashing red on the charger and no information about the battery display. After re-reading the user manual, I saw a short one line note that said that the batteries should be charged when the ambient temp is between 50 and 100 degrees F. Well I checked the thermometer on the garage wall was at 45 Degrees. So I figured that was the problem.

I waited two days and when the air temp was at 52, I plugged the charger in and sure enough, it started charging.

This was kind of a little surprise for me. So what that means is that even if the leaves are dry but the air temp is 40, forget about it.

P.S. I finally did get the rubber handle for the deck lift. So I'm happy about that.

Richard

 

[2manyrocks]

How are you supposed to maintain the batteries over the winter when temps stay below 45?

 

[Richard001]

How are you supposed to maintain the batteries over the winter when temps stay below 45?

Well they are the LI-ION type batteries, so they will hold their charge over time with very little self discharge.

But you question does bring up a conflict as here is a note from the user manual:

From the user manual:
NOTE: Charge the batteries at least once a month during storage.

As far as I know, the batteries can only be charged while in the mower. So I don't know how I can comply with this suggestion. I do plan on removing the batteries from the mower, which will be stored in a unheated shed, and store the batteries in my house basement over the winter.

 

[Richard001]

Winter has gone bye, mostly. A few days ago, I put the batteries back into the mower. I had raked some leaves from the flower garden area in my front yard and also some from along the house.

On April 12, I got the mower out and was mulching the leaves up. Was almost done when suddenly the whole machine jumped and there was a horrible noise. I quickly shut off the blades and turned off the switch.

Got off of the mower and look on the ground behind it. There was this rock:

Now I tell you this rock is NOT a rolling stone. Some one planted this in my yard with hope that it would damage my mower. Well it did. Mangled both blades and may have bent one of the motor shafts. I straightened out the blades as good as I could and ground off the big dings in the blade.

It could be that whom ever did this doesn't like my political leanings as I have a big Trump flag in my front yard.

I did also find a smaller rock in another part of my yard.

 

[dodge man]

You sure it’s not just a rock that worked its way up? I don’t live in a rocky soil area and get one every now and then.

 

[Rustyiron]

I hope you don't have a Tesla automobile.

 

[Gem99ultra]

Winter has gone bye, mostly. A few days ago, I put the batteries back into the mower. I had raked some leaves from the flower garden area in my front yard and also some from along the house.

On April 12, I got the mower out and was mulching the leaves up. Was almost done when suddenly the whole machine jumped and there was a horrible noise. I quickly shut off the blades and turned off the switch.

Got off of the mower and look on the ground behind it. There was this rock:
View attachment 3262259
View attachment 3262260
Now I tell you this rock is NOT a rolling stone. Some one planted this in my yard with hope that it would damage my mower. Well it did. Mangled both blades and may have bent one of the motor shafts. I straightened out the blades as good as I could and ground off the big dings in the blade.

It could be that whom ever did this doesn't like my political leanings as I have a big Trump flag in my front yard.

I did also find a smaller rock in another part of my yard.

Somebody with a stone-cold heart put that stone in your yard! I'm sorry that it ended up being and expensive ordeal, and I hope you eventurally learn who the culpirt is. You can then re-purpose that stone for one more good use.

 

[ultrarunner]

I wish it were not so but the reality is too often conform or suffer…

 

[2manyrocks]

Does not speak well of the person who did this.