Whatever you feel like thread.

[Tinhack]

The kid will learn to keep his mouth shut after he hits a few bumps and the grass is flying.

 

[jjeff]

Great I'm glad someone has one looking at these for a few years. One thing I observed was how far the tail hangs off the back axle, worried my lawn mowing lovin wife would severely damage something on the mower while maneuvering around trees (despite the extra protection I see some have) another thing I observed when I was kind of looking was battery storage recommendations on some models for fall lay up, they recommended not leaving them out in freezing winter weather. So ultimately I decided to stick with my mzt 52 and a few old JD riders. Still I'm curious, I'll follow, and keep my thoughts to myself after this post.

 

[CliffordK]

My 13yo assistant mowed our yard and said the battery use was only 45%. Since we are away I can't say how tall the grass was but I'd guess it wasn't very tall. He might have been overly enthusiastic about mowing .

How much are you charging the kid to play around on your new toy?

 

[ArlyA]

How much are you charging the kid to play around on your new toy?

Oh gee, should be more. But I do love those kids . Seems I get more out of it than they do.

 

[WinterDeere]

I grew up working on hot rods, and always had a fast car or two, until we consolidated for the most recent move to this house. My first few years in this house, that stupid zero turn was my primary way of feeling some G's, until life stabilized again and I was able to buy another fast car.

 

[Lastkidpicked]

@ArlyA One advantage the electric mowers have for inexperienced operators is the safety systems. They are effective and almost invisible.

For example, on our gas powered riding mower I get the call all the time, "I got off to move a toy and when I got back on, it wouldn't start." So I have to remind them to shut off the blades, push the brake, or whatever they failed to do.

With the electric, the seat senses you got off and shuts everything down including the blades. When you get back on, the seat senses you are there and allows you to pick right back up.

I believe you will find the electric zero turn to be a nice addition for you.

And I'm sure you've already done it, but please compliment the parents of that kid. They are obviously doing a good job.

 

[Lastkidpicked]

My first few years in this house, that stupid zero turn was my primary way of feeling some G's, until life stabilized again and I was able to buy another fast car.

Some of the guys go as far as painting flames on their lawn equipment. I think I get it now.

 

[ArlyA]

@ArlyA One advantage the electric mowers have for inexperienced operators is the safety systems. They are effective and almost invisible.

For example, on our gas powered riding mower I get the call all the time, "I got off to move a toy and when I got back on, it wouldn't start." So I have to remind them to shut off the blades, push the brake, or whatever they failed to do.

With the electric, the seat senses you got off and shuts everything down including the blades. When you get back on, the seat senses you are there and allows you to pick right back up.

I believe you will find the electric zero turn to be a nice addition for you.

And I'm sure you've already done it, but please compliment the parents of that kid. They are obviously doing a good job.

What a nice comment.

 

[Lastkidpicked]

What a nice comment.

Thank you for the kind words, and I could say the same for your entire thread. It's one that you feel good just reading it.

In fact, there is something about the people on these boards. The feeling of wanting to share and be helpful. Just a great group of people here.

 

[ArlyA]

Chatted with the parents of my young mower operator last night who are quite happy he was being kept busy. In fact with "all this experience" he was was now mowing two more lawns in the area. I can't tell how tall the grass is when its been mowed but he's not used the original 4 battery's any lower than 45% remaining. His folks are going to switch him to diagonal mowing. That will throw a wrench into his psyche!

 

[CliffordK]

Chatted with the parents of my young mower operator last night who are quite happy he was being kept busy. In fact with "all this experience" he was was now mowing two more lawns in the area. I can't tell how tall the grass is when its been mowed but he's not used the original 4 battery's any lower than 45% remaining. His folks are going to switch him to diagonal mowing. That will throw a wrench into his psyche!

So is the kid using your mower to mow the entire neighborhood?

45% then recharge is a good plan.

I'm not sure about diagonal mowing. However, on one of the lawns I mow, I try to estimate the center to start. I then mow about 2/3 the way across. Then start mowing circles around from there, always blowing my grass clippings towards the middle.

No stones or grass clippings being flung towards the road, parked cars, or neighbor houses.

 

[LittleBittyBigJohn]

Diagonal is fine. It's good to mow in a different pattern as often as possible so you don't compact and rut by driving in the same tracks every time.

 

[ArlyA]

We are not asking "why mow diagonally" . That was an update on how the mowing was going at home.

 

[ArlyA]

Got home last night. My young mower operator says "the lowest batteries charge was 31% on Monday when I mowed." So its good I got 2 more 9amp hour battery's to add on. We'll only be home for 4 days so I'll need to mow before we head back northern MN again. I might need to have him over and show me how to operate in.

 

[sklunk]

So just curious - which Ego did you buy for him?

The first photo shows the one with the "yoke" controls, but the other photos show the traditional "bar" controls. I was looking at the yoke style for my older parents who have absolutely zero experience with a ZTR (see what I did there ).

 

[ArlyA]

So just curious - which Ego did you buy for him?

The first photo shows the one with the "yoke" controls, but the other photos show the traditional "bar" controls. I was looking at the yoke style for my older parents who have absolutely zero experience with a ZTR (see what I did there ).

We have the traditional 2 stick controls. The young fellow is the neighbor boy mowing for us. I'd suggest the yoke steering system for them.

 

[tacticalturnip]

Kids going to grow up, go to college, and when he rents or buys his first home with a lawn... he is going to be back for that mower.

 

[Torvy]

Diagonal is fine. It's good to mow in a different pattern as often as possible so you don't compact and rut by driving in the same tracks every time.

That's how dad taught me. Rotation from one 'mowing session' to the other. Horizontal, Vertical, Diagonal, repeat.

I added in spiral on my own lawn. Now I don't have a 'lawn' and the flail does fine regardless of pattern.

Nice thread Arly. Hope all is well in No. MN. It's been a while since I've been up that far. Was in SF for dad's funeral in April.

 

[ArlyA]

I mowed with the Ego for a few minutes today and found steerage fairly difficult, more than skid steers are.. So I need more practice! The neighbor kid at work on it, who was better than me.. We reduced its tries PSI a bit today.

 

[ArlyA]

We are home again and finally got to mow with it for the 1st time. Took some getting use to it, so I put it in causal operational mode and in no time, picked it up. Sorry, no photos. Sure is quiet and the mutts just laid there as I mowed near by..