Cordless Battery-Powered Lawnmower ... Makes My Life Easier!
Written: Jun 23 '04 (Updated Jul 02 '07)
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Product Rating:
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Pros: no oil, gas or tune-ups – no fumes, mows well, mulches and grass catcher
Cons: replacement battery is expensive and not available everywhere; recall -- read review
The Bottom Line: This is a detailed review with lots of facts about this lawnmower ... including the recall and how Black & Decker responded.
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| dlstewart's Full Review: Black &Amp; Decker Cordless Mulch Mower Cmm1000 |
We have owned three Black & Decker battery-powered lawn mowers. The first lawnmower came from the electric company via a special promotion they offered (i.e. It was free in exchange for our broken gas mower.). We really liked that lawnmower, but it only lasted 2 1/2 years before the battery died. Then we decided we wanted a mulching mower and discovered the Black & Decker Model CMM1000 lawnmower that mulched – also battery powered. Our third battery lawnmower is the same as the second model! We must really like this machine to have purchased another one. Let me tell you why.
Why a New Mower?
During the five years we used our fist Black & Decker CMM1000 lawnmower, we put it to work – and that lawnmower delivered. Recently the battery died. I called Sears, who sells this model mower online, and spoke with a customer service person. I had thought to purchase a replacement battery but was told that with shipping and handling the battery would cost around $140. I nearly dropped the phone in shock! I stammered that I would have to think about it and hung up.
So what to do? I could spend $140 on a replacement battery for a 5-year-old lawnmower. The manual that came with the mower stated that if the battery is not at fault, then the problem could be the motor or circuit breaker. However, the mower had seen a lot of use. How long would the other parts last once I purchased a new battery? Decisions ... Decisions ...
Home Depot sold new Black & Decker mowers (Model # CMM1000) for $449.00. I phoned my local store, and sure enough they had them in stock. Buying a new mower would mean I wouldn’t have to worry that other parts might start to malfunction due to age. After more waffling (I’m good at that!), I decided to go for the new mower. In the long run, I knew it would make me happier.
Lawnmower Features
* 19" Cutting Width
* Rechargeable 24-volt cordless mower
* 5.0 hp motor
* 3-in-1 Deck
* Mulching mower or rear bag (side chute is an optional purchase)
* Bag capacity 1.6 bushel
* 7-position height adjustment
* Rust-proof polymer deck
* Folding handle to save storage space
* Safety key must be inserted to start mower (safety feature)
* Comes with battery charger
The literature states this mower is ideal for 1/3 acre lots. The mower charges up to 70% power in four hours and is 100% if charged overnight. Since this is a battery-operated mower (no gas or oil), no tune-ups are required. The battery is a 24-volt sealed lead acid system, meaning there is no liquid in the battery so it will not leak.
Buying the Mower
So I phoned my brother and explained my dilemma – new battery versus new mower. He reinforced my decision to buy the new mower and even offered to drive me to the store to pick it up in his van so that I didn’t have to worry about squeezing the carton into my car trunk. In case you are wondering, the carton measures 36" long x 23" wide x 17 3/4" high.
Assembling the Mower & Charging
This Black & Decker battery-powered lawnmower comes assembled, just lift the handle upright and tighten the screws to anchor it in the upright position. No tools are needed since there are plastic knobs that easily turn to tighten the screws. The handle also has a height adjustment.
The only piece that needed assembly was the grass catcher. This caused a few bruised fingers to attach the edges of the grass catcher to the supporting frame. The clips that hold the catcher to the frame are a very tight fit. The good news is that once the grass catcher is assembled, it is always ready to use.
Adjust the mower to one of seven heights – 1 1/2" to 3 1/2". There is a pointer at the front of the mower to indicate the current blade setting. Another great feature, all the wheels adjust at the same time.
This lawnmower comes with an orange plastic safety key. If the key is not inserted into the top of the mower, the machine will not start. The key does not resemble a traditional car or house key ... it has a rectangular top and is large enough to see so that it doesn’t become lost. There is a hole in the center of the key so that it can be hung out of reach of children. The mower cannot be operated without this key, so it’s vital not to lose it.
Since this is a battery-powered lawnmower, it needed charging. Make sure the safety key is removed from the top of the mower. The battery is already installed, so plug the charger into the lawnmower, and then plug the charger into a wall outlet. It is recommended to always leave the mower on constant charge, which I do when not using it.
Using the Mower
When the mower is charged, it’s time to mow! Unplug the charger from the wall outlet, then unplug the connection to the lawnmower. Next, insert the orange plastic safety key into the top of the mower. There is a lever to push to start the machine.
Another safety feature is the bail handle. This narrow handle has to be pulled upward toward the main handle bar so that both the handle bar and the bail handle are held in position. When the bail handle is released, it springs back to its original position and the mower stops. The mower blade stops rotating in 3 seconds.
The main handle bar is covered with a cushy comfort grip to ease hand stress. It’s much nicer than holding a solid metal bar.
I usually use the mulching feature of this mower. When mulching, the grass is finely chopped and returned to the lawn where the grass cuttings are invisible. To make the mulching feature operational, there is an insert that fits into the discharge hole at the back of the mower. Should you wish to use the rear grass catching bag, remove the mulching insert and attach the grass catcher.
It is easy to keep track of how much power remains in the battery. A gauge is on the back of the mower with an indicator that clearly shows how much power remains. The manufacturer advises not to run the battery completely out of power. So when the needle slides from a warning yellow into a stop-what-you-are-doing red, I pay attention and recharge the machine.
The Mowing Experience
Let me take a moment to describe the yard. The property is a 1/2 acre with a fringe of trees, a bit of hill and lots of garden beds to mow around. Walking at a moderately brisk pace, I can mow the lawn without running out of battery power. At a slow walk, I can only do two-thirds of the lawn before the battery indicator slides from yellow to a warning red.
I love this lawnmower. It sounds as if I am pushing a vacuum cleaner across the lawn. The neighbors can’t believe how quiet this lawnmower is. Unless they see me in the yard, they don’t even realize that I’m mowing. With a lawnmower this quiet, I don’t feel guilty mowing the lawn at 9:00 in the morning when neighbors might still be sleeping.
This is not a self-propelled lawnmower. Both my 70-plus year-old father and myself have no problem pushing this mower around the yard. Where the grass is sparse (I think most lawns have a few of those difficult-to-grow areas!), sometimes the wheels of the mower dig into the dirt more than I would like. However, where the grass is thick and healthy, the mower turns without digging into the ground.
Mowing the hill takes a bit more effort. This is a heavy lawnmower. It hugs the ground and does not tip. Because of the slanting surface, it takes more muscle to keep the mower on track. We don’t have a lot of hill to mow (thank goodness!), so this is not a problem. It gives us more exercise without paying gym fees.
The 19" cutting width works fine for us. Actually, with all the garden beds, this mower is a perfect width for maneuvering between plantings. The mower cuts the grass well, too. Sometimes the blade doesn’t sever thicker weeds that find their way into the lawn (and always grow much faster than grass). But those odd “misses” are easily taken care of with a pair of garden shears.
During the autumn, when New England leaves are a rainbow of color on the lawn, the mower also works well at mulching the leaves. We try to keep up with the leaves falling, though. Too many leaves on the ground, and the mower does not perform as well. If the leaves are too thick on the lawn, it takes several passes of the mower to mulch them all.
Storing & Care of the Mower
We keep the mower in the garage during all seasons. We follow the instructions, which recommend keeping the mower plugged in for charging at all times when not in use ... even during the winter.
The manufacturer states that fertilizers and other garden chemicals can corrode metal. Therefore, it is suggested that in areas where fertilizers or chemicals have been used that all exposed parts of the lawnmower be wiped with a damp cloth. The manufacturer is adamant in saying: “Caution: Do not pour or spray water on the mower in an attempt to clean it.” Also, storing the mower near fertilizers and chemicals can cause rapid corrosion.
No lubrication of any kind is needed for this Black & Decker mower. You don’t even have to oil the wheels as they have plastic bearing surfaces that don’t need lubrication.
In case you are wondering about durability, the body of the 5-year-old mower still looks great. There are no cracks or dents in the polymer body. And this lawnmower has run into a few stones, branches and other mowing obstacles. The controls still work well, too. My brother sharpened the blade once several summers ago, and it needs sharpening again. The instruction manual shows how to sharpen the blade.
Purchasing
As you already know, I purchased my new Black & Decker mower from Home Depot for $449.00. I could have ordered it from Home Depot online, but then I would have had to pay a shipping charge of $43.00. So I opted to pick the mower up at the store to save money.
Amazon.com offers this mower for $429.99 with free shipping ... an enticing deal! However, if the lawnmower decided not to work, I didn’t want to be responsible for shipping it back to Amazon. Their website lists the shipping weight as 98 3/4 pounds.
Yet another option is to purchase the mower from Sears.com. This lawnmower is only available from Sears via their online store. However, it is costly at $509.99 with shipping charges of $39.00.
Replacement parts are available for purchase such as the battery and lawnmower blade. I have seen the replacement blade for sale on Amazon.com for $18.99.
The only place I could locate the lawnmower battery was through Sears and their Parts Department. Sears told me I could not pick the battery up at their store and had to have it shipped to my house. It’s interesting to note that the manual does not show how to change the lawnmower battery. With shipping & handling added, the battery cost is around $140.00.
Update -- September 13, 2005
This lawnmower is still working like a champ. During the spring, I mowed the lawn every 2 weeks. We've had a dry summer, so I've mowed the lawn about every 3 weeks during July and August. The battery is always fully-charged when I'm ready to use the mower. I can still mow the entire lawn on one charge. My brother kindly sharpened the mowing blade for me. It was easy for him to remove and replace the blade.
Update -- September 26, 2006
The mower is still going strong. The battery still holds the same charge. The body shows no wear, looking new. We are very happy with its performance.
Update -- June 8, 2007
A friend told me about a recall on this lawnmower. I didn't know about it, and checked the Black & Decker website for the details. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission received complaints of overheating in some of the eletrical components. As a safety precaution, Black & Decker recalled all Type 1 through Type 4 CMM1000 cordless electric lawnmowers.
I phoned Black & Decker. The customer service agent was incredibly kind and helpful. At first he suggested I bring the mower to a service center that was a long way from my home. I asked if there was another solution. The agent then offered to send me a box and a prepaid shipping label ... I could drop the box off at a local UPS facility, or I could pay a charge and have UPS pick the box up at my home. I happen to live close to a UPS facility and decided on that option.
The box arrived. We assembled the box (took two of us to figure out the instructions) and wrangled the mower into it. I taped the box well and took it to UPS. I thought the mower would be repaired and returned to me. Imagine my delight when about three weeks later UPS dropped off (without ringing the doorbell or notifying us) a factory carton containing a brand new lawnmower. Not just a new lawnmower, but a higher model cordless mower. Excellent customer service from Black & Decker!
You can read my review of the Black & Decker Cordless Mower (Model # CMM1200) by clicking on this link.
If you wish to read about the Black & Decker recall, here is a link to the notice on their website: http://www.blackanddecker.com/customercenter/recalls/Recall-CMM1000.aspx
Summary
I am happy that I chose to buy a new Black & Decker Model CMM1000 lawnmower. This mower meets all my needs and is easy to care for. I love the fact that I don't have to mess with gasoline and oil. It’s quiet, and does a great job cutting the lawn. The mulching feature is fantastic and saves me from disposing of grass cuttings. I had not realized how much ooomph the older model of this mower had lost until I started using the new mower. It cuts the grass well, handles great, and seems eager to mow that grass!
I hope you have found this review useful.
Enjoy your day,
Dawn
http://dlstewart.com
Additional Information
The older model of this mower has a green and black body. The new mower has a bright orange and black body. At least with that bright color I won’t lose it!
This lawnmower has a 2-year warranty.
Please read my other reviews:
Rubbermaid Big Max Storage Shed
Rubbermaid Tool Tower
Gardener's Supply Deluxe Pyramid Composter
Rodent Screen for Composter
Earthbox Planter
Upside-Down Tomato Garden Planter
Step 2 Grass Hopper Wheeled Garden Stool / Cart
Fiskars Power-Lever Bypass Lopper
Craftsman 3-Drawer Portable Toolbox
Cook’s Garden (online store)
Johnny’s Selected Seeds (online store)
Park Seed (online store)
Dutch Gardens (online store)
Burpee Seeds (online store)
Copyright 2004 Dawn L. Stewart
Recommended:
Yes
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