Whatever you feel like thread.

[CloverKnollFarms]

Keep us updated. How it works after a few months is not that important unless it is a disaster.

How it works after 10, 20 plus years matters. I bought my last mower a couple of years ago. It is a Bad Boy and should last 20-25 years...the rest of my life. Even the "disposable" mowers sold at the big box stores will last more than 10 years. But I only cut 2 acres.

If I had been smart, I would have bought a $2000 rider, but I hate cutting grass so decided on a ZT. Nearly bought one of the entry level $3500 ZT models but decided to get my last mower and spent another $2000.

True.

Long term reviews of equipment are of great value. I love all my tools when they are new . My Hustler is finishing year 6 with 240 hours on her, and not a hiccup. I'm expecting nothing major for another 750 hours... 24 years of service at this rate. . 1000 hours isn't a lot for a commercial mower.

 

[ArlyA]

We'll be away for a long weekend so I took some mowing photos for you guys.

 

[WinterDeere]

If my family catches me staring at photos of someone else's freshly mowed lawn, it will confirm for them that I am as boring as they already suspected.

 

[Grumpycat]

My biggest question will be in a few years to see how the batteries are holding up, and what it takes to replace the batteries.

I have a 7 year old EGo battery which seems to be going strong.

 

[Grumpycat]

The OEM batteries are suppose to be quite good and the reason they as so expensive. My battery nerd freind said he took a one apart to see what parts they had used and told me this. Nonetheless, as long as replacements, or OEM ones are being built, I'll be happy to get 5+ years use with them.

Many on YouTube and elsewhere have been taking EGo batteries apart. There are many thousands of them out there so there have to be a few which have failed and somehow didn't meet the warranty conditions. Didn't register? Commercial use? Or "what the heck I want to cut it open."

IIRC EGo is using 18650 cells, which are plentiful, with lots of high quality options to rebuild the battery pack.

Got time to kill, go get lost at 18650 Battery Store - Trusted Supplier of Lithium Ion Batteries

 

[CloverKnollFarms]

I once raved about my Greenworks Pro tools...

After 5 years, not so much. The batteries are deteriorating, and are expensive as hell.

 

[Grumpycat]

I once raved about my Greenworks Pro tools...

After 5 years, not so much. The batteries are deteriorating, and are expensive as hell.View attachment 954248

Greenworks is OEM for many brands including Bad Boy. I haven't been as impressed with Greenworks as EGo. EGo tools just work.

 

[CloverKnollFarms]

Greenworks is OEM for many brands including Bad Boy. I haven't been as impressed with Greenworks as EGo. EGo tools just work.

Mine did.... For 5 years.

 

[DynamicD]

OP it would be interesting to know approx how much you used to spend on gas and maintenance on your previous mower.
Naturally it will fluctiuate over the years as gas prices always jump around. But take the number times 5 years and see if that will buy a set of batteries at current prices.
Ive seen ego batteries 10 years old and still running well. (I just say 5 years as that's the warranty period on the 10 and 12ah batteries)

 

[ArlyA]

OP it would be interesting to know approx how much you used to spend on gas and maintenance on your previous mower.
Naturally it will fluctiuate over the years as gas prices always jump around. But take the number times 5 years and see if that will buy a set of batteries at current prices.
Ive seen ego batteries 10 years old and still running well. (I just say 5 years as that's the warranty period on the 10 and 12ah batteries)

Gosh, I have no idea what fuel and maintenance ran me. Do know that the engine was losing oil and parts hard to find.

 

[WinterDeere]

I can take a stab at it. I use about 1 gallon per acre, at a rate of about 2 acres an hour. I average about 70 hours of mowing per year, so 140 gallons per year. US average gas price is $3.35 today, so let's call that $470 at today's pricing.

I've gone thru 3 electric PTO clutches in 12 years, average price $500, so add $1500 for that. I also bought new mower blades, but that's not unique to ICE vs. EV, so ignore that. One full change of belts in that time, at least ignoring those that were self-inflicted stupidity, so another $200 there. I inherited it with a failed weld on the muffler mount, and too far gone to repair with my own weld, so another $300 there. And yearly oil change + oil filter + fuel filter + head gaskets every 4th year (valve adjust) probably ads up to something like $40'ish per year.

Grand total = $675/year, on average. This is for a 2007 (or is it 2009?) Deere 757 ZTrak commercial 60" zero-turn mower.

My hours and fuel are actually a bit above these numbers, closer to 90-100 hours per year, but that's because I use the same machine for Walnut harvesting and occasionally pushing a JRCO blower buggy. There's also a little grease used for the dozen Zerks on the machine, but that's too small an expense to bother counting.

 

[DynamicD]

Thanks for those numbers WinterDeere. Naturally everyone will have different cost, especially on repairs. But that gives a good idea on true cost savings.
Right now a 2 pack of the EGO 12ah battery runs $999. (the 42" ego comes with four 10ah, so the 12ah would be an upgrade.)
So.... $2k plus tax for a set of 4 batteries. worse case scenario they die right after the 5 year warranty is up....
Just thinking out loud..... Battery isn't for everyone but I do see some savings here.

 

[MossRoad]

Thanks for those numbers WinterDeere. Naturally everyone will have different cost, especially on repairs. But that gives a good idea on true cost savings.
Right now a 2 pack of the EGO 12ah battery runs $999. (the 42" ego comes with four 10ah, so the 12ah would be an upgrade.)
So.... $2k plus tax for a set of 4 batteries. worse case scenario they die right after the 5 year warranty is up....
Just thinking out loud..... Battery isn't for everyone but I do see some savings here.

No oil changes either.

 

[ArlyA]

No oil changes either.

For our husky mower we just got rid of, a few years ago We replaced all blades, belts and oil for 600. Ego was none of them.

 

[CloverKnollFarms]

I spend about $150/yr on fuel. Blades last me maybe a decade?
$20/yr for oil and filter change. Issue for me is having a mower that can mow 2.5 acres in one go on battery. And what does that mower cost?
Ok I see the EGO 52" states it will mow 4 acres on a single charge. Mower cost is $7k. That's impressive. I still don't want to trade my heavy duty 72" commercial Hustler for one though

 

[ArlyA]

I spend about $150/yr on fuel. Blades last me maybe a decade?
$20/yr for oil and filter change. Issue for me is having a mower that can mow 2.5 acres in one go on battery. And what does that mower cost?
Ok I see the EGO 52" states it will mow 4 acres on a single charge. Mower cost is $7k. That's impressive. I still don't want to trade my heavy duty 72" commercial Hustler for one though

2.5 acres is a bit.

 

[CloverKnollFarms]

2.5 acres is a bit.

Luckily the other 6 are planted to honey crop or mowed once per month with the trail mower

 

[EddieWalker]

Blades last me maybe a decade?

How big of an area are you mowing? What type of grass do you have?

I'm mowing bahia and bermuda grass, plus a variety of weeds. I'm mowing about two acres a week, but sometimes I don't have the time, and I might skip some areas.

I start off the year with last years blades because I'm mostly mowing weeds when Spring hits. Then I put a new set on in May that will last till July, then I'll finish off the year with those blades and use them for weeds in the Spring.

I buy two sets of blades every year.

3 blades, 61 inch cut, on a 26 HP Scag Wildcat zero turn.

The middle of the picture shows how much metal is worn away on an old blade by sitting on top of a brand new blade after a couple months of mowing.

 

[Eagle1]

How big of an area are you mowing? What type of grass do you have?

I'm mowing bahia and bermuda grass, plus a variety of weeds. I'm mowing about two acres a week, but sometimes I don't have the time, and I might skip some areas.

I start off the year with last years blades because I'm mostly mowing weeds when Spring hits. Then I put a new set on in May that will last till July, then I'll finish off the year with those blades and use them for weeds in the Spring.

I buy two sets of blades every year.

3 blades, 61 inch cut, on a 26 HP Scag Wildcat zero turn.

The middle of the picture shows how much metal is worn away on an old blade by sitting on top of a brand new blade after a couple months of mowing.

View attachment 975258

You are harder on blades than me and I wear the crap out of them. We don't have sand/dust but lots of creek gravel and rock. I do cut high 3.5 to 4" to avoid things but was cutting ~10ac per week with 2 or 3 mowers. Down to about 3 most weeks and another 3 for redneck hay (dried clippings for the rabbits and chickens)

 

[Grumpycat]

My favorite mower dealer keeps about 100 blades in stock for all the common sizes. Doesn't formally offer a sharpening service, just replaces the blades as the cost is not much more, labor the same.