Need a new mower.

[...Whitepower...]

Originally Posted by FRISKY

Dixie Chopper------/

I'm mowing 10k sq/ft... I don't own a commercial landscape business..

[...Whitepower...]

21hp 540cc Briggs
42" deck
Bagger
16" turn radius
Mow's in reverse
cupholder
24 months 0%
2 year warranty
$1500 Delivered (free delivery)

[sting75ray]

This will be my next mower

Raven 46-in Hybrid Riding Lawn Mower.mp4 - YouTube

[RED-85-Z51]

I had a chance to check out one of those, trust me...you dont want no part of that shit. Think of it like..the gen 1 prius. Interesting to look at, new technology, you dont want to be a test mule until its 3-4 gens down the road.

Essentially it runs what looks like a Honda GX engine, hooked to a generator unit, the generator unit runs to some switches and stuff, to send power to the various electric motors.

Each blade has its own motor...so if you hit anything, the motor takes the immediate impact and id venture those motors are probably $350 EACH.

They brag about "pulling power" vs a simple cub cadet mower. Well hell, thats bullshit. On a typical mower, the engine is up front, the tranny is in the rear...on the MPH, the engine, axel, and gen unit, are all out back..its dramtically rear biased. SO its not shocking when a 12.5hp mower with 80% rear bias, can outpower a 20hp mower with 50/50 bias...as soon as the tires spin, its over.

Those electric motors make a tremendous amount of heat, and electrics HAte HEAT...so when grass and chaff gets all packed around them, they will fail.

[VatorMan]

With electric you have 100% torque immediately- but I agree about the heat issue. Valid point Red. I was looking at something similar and will take time to see how well the mower sheds grass.

[RED-85-Z51]

Originally Posted by VatorMan

With electric you have 100% torque immediately- but I agree about the heat issue. Valid point Red. I was looking at something similar and will take time to see how well the mower sheds grass.

You have 100% torque immediately, but you are not free of power robbing transmission loss, from amperage drop in cables, lugs, heat production...and the engine must run at full throttle to produce the proper frequency to run things...that can be hard on parts, and its loud, and makes alot of heat.

Ive got an 8hp mower with an old 3 speed transaxel, and a simple spring/pulley clutch...and a simple 1/2" belt..and I could pull that thing down the road at 1/2 throttle..using less gas.

The most troubling thing though, again...the direct drive blades. As many busted spindles, and bent blades as I replace annually...its obvious that people hit alot of shit. These direct drive units have to have a blade, mounted to the motor, and even if they used a shear key, which would be a pain in the ass, side load/leverage would still be applied to the motor and its casing, so damage would be immediate.

wheel horse had an electric mower back in the 70's called the Elec-trac, it had like 8 batteries on board...and it mowed great, but the deck was a 3 blade direct drive, and spindle damage was a problem...

[...Whitepower...]

Got back from SC early, hooked up the bagger and went to work.

2.5-3 hours of yardwork will be down to an hour and fifteen minutes once i get my routine down.

Happy i picked it up.

[RED-85-Z51]

If yours has greaseable front wheel bushings, and steering spindles...grease them, Ive had 2-3 of these mowers in this season with worn out spindles from running dry, and the plastic bushings wear out..and the wheel rides on the spindle.