Mowing Made Easy -- Cordless Mulching Rear Bag Mower
Written: Jul 01 '07 (Updated Sep 05 '09)
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Pros: virtually maintenance free, mulches or uses a grass catcher, mows well
Cons: handle is an odd configuration, eventually will need a replacement battery
The Bottom Line: I have been using Black & Decker cordless mowers for years. This mower doesn't disappoint.
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| dlstewart's Full Review: Black & Decker 19" Cordless Mulching Rear Bag Mowe... |
My previous cordless mower was a Black & Decker (Model # CMM1000). I loved that mower. Imagine my dismay when I realized there was a recall on the lawnmower. Black & Decker was great, though. They sent me a heavy-duty box to send the mower in for repair. I was astonished to receive back a new Black & Decker Cordless Mulching Mower (Model # CMM1200)!
Lawnmower Features
* 19" (483mm) Cutting Width
* Rechargeable 24-volt battery
* Tough polymer deck
* Mulching mower or rear bag grass catcher
* One-touch wheel height adjustment 1 3/4" to 3 1/2"
* Handle height adjustment – 3 positions
* Safety key must be inserted to start mower (safety feature)
* Comes fully assembled
* Handle folds down for compact storage
* Comes with battery charger
This lawnmower is recommended for up to 1/3 acre lots. The rechargeable battery charges 60% - 70% in four hours. It achieves a 100% charge in 16 hours. No gas, oil or 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 ... and the battery charger is Energy Star compliant.
Mower Preparation & Charging
This mower was virtually ready to use right out of the box. All I had to do was pull the handle upright and tighten the plastic knobs that hold it in place. The handle has a three-position height adjustment. The wheel height can also be easily adjusted. All four wheel adjust with the touch of one button. The instruction book says the wheel adjustment can change from 1 3/4" to 3 1/2"; however, the Black & Decker website says this mower has a wheel adjustment beginning at 1 1/2".
A grass catcher comes with the mower. I am using this mower as a mulching mower. The mulching insert came already in place, so I didn’t have to install it.
Two small orange safety keys come with the mower. The key inserts into a slot near the handle. At first it feels as though the key won’t fit. It feels as though the key is spring loaded. You have to insert the key, maintaining pressure so that it doesn’t spring out of the slot, and then turn the key to lock it into position. This is a great safety feature to prevent little ones from accidentally engaging the mower. It’s also good that this mower comes with two keys since the mower cannot be turned on without the key in place.
Charging the mower is easy. The rectangular charging box has a cable on one side that plugs into the mower, and a cable on the other side that plugs into a wall outlet. It is important to always plug the cable into the mower before plugging the other cable into the outlet. The cables are long so that the mower doesn’t have to be right in front of the outlet for charging. The battery charger has a light the glows red when the battery is charging. The red light changes to a green light when the battery is fully charged. Unplug the charger to begin mowing.
It's Time to Mow!
The one thing I miss on this lawnmower is that there is no charge indicator on the mower. The CMM1000 model did have a gauge that showed when the mower power was ebbing – the needle went from green [fully charged] to yellow and then to red [low charge]. This newer model CMM1200 mower only has a charge indicator on the battery charger.
It is simple to start the mower. Just insert the orange safety key into the mower and turn it. On the right side of the handle is an orange safety lever. Pull this lever up against the handle, and the mower starts. If this orange lever is released, the mower automatically turns off.
The handle on this lawnmower is shaped differently than the old mower. Instead of the handle being a straight horizontal bar, the mower handle resembles an upside-down V shape. The handle is covered with a textured rubber for a comfort grip. I preferred the straight handle on the old mower. The V-shaped handle stresses my hands, causing some discomfort. Someone who used my mower said that sometimes the orange lever held against the handle would pinch their skin. I don’t have that problem. I keep trying to remember to wear gloves to see if my hands feel more comfortable, but by the time I remember to wear gloves, I’m already mowing the lawn and don’t want to stop. Besides, I’ve never worn gloves when mowing the lawn. And don’t gloves defeat the purpose of a comfort grip handle?
This mower is a bit louder than my previous model. The old mower sounded like a vacuum cleaner. While this newer model is louder than a vacuum cleaner, it is definitely not as loud as a gas powered mower.
Mowing My Yard
My yard is a 1/2-acre lot that has a fringe of trees. The yard also has a side hill, and there are a few too many divots that can trip the unwary. There are lots of flower beds to negotiate as well as a large vegetable garden.
When I mow the lawn, I walk at a brisk speed. I can mow the entire lawn on one battery charge. If I stroll behind the lawnmower at a much reduced speed, I can mow about two-thirds of the lawn before losing battery power. I wish this mower had a gauge to indicate when the lawnmower battery was running low. I can’t believe the manufacturer left this feature off this mower model.
I like the 19" cutting width of this mower. However, this lawnmower is not self-propelled. The mower is much lighter than the previous model. (I noticed that immediately when pulling the mower out of the carton it arrived in.) However, it does require human power to push it across the lawn. It is easy to maneuver on flat lawn and the hill. Where I notice myself tugging at the mower is when I have to mow in tight quarters, such as around the blueberry bushes and under low-growing trees.
Storage & Care of the Mower
This mower is kept in the garage when not in use. The instruction book gives detailed information on how to store and maintain the mower. I keep the mower plugged in between uses so that it is always charged. During the winter, the mower is kept plugged into the wall outlet as recommended. Though the instructions do state the mower does not have to be plugged in during the off-season if the mower is being stored for less than six months and if the mower is fully charged before storing with the average temperature of the storage area below 50-degrees F.
Replacement parts / accessories include:
* Mulch Insert (# 242354-01)
* Side Discharge Chute (# 242867-00)
* Replacement Grassbag (# 242501-05)
* Replacement Blade (# MB-850)
Purchasing
This lawnmower retails for $474.99. Amazon.com sells it for $399.99.
You can read a review of my previous Black and Decker Mower (Model # CMM1000) by clicking on this link.
Update -- December 3, 2007
This mower did a good job handling a yardful of fallen leaves. As the leaves gradually filled the yard, I was able to mulch them into the lawn. Eventaully the leaves fell faster than the mower could keep up with (ahem...okay it was my lack of time). So I attached the bag to the back of the mower and "vacuumed" up the leaves. The mower did not do a perfect leaf-cleanup job, but it wasn't bad.
Update -- September 5, 2009
Thought you would like to know that this lawnmower is still running like a champ. I've been using it all summer. The mower starts the first time and runs until I run out of energy. :)
Summary
While the Black & Decker Model CMM1200 Lawnmower is not perfect, it does a great job at mowing the lawn. I much prefer using a cordless mulching mower to a gas mower. Not only is the CMM1200 a quiet mower, but it is virtually maintenance free, which is a terrific convenience.
I hope you have found this review useful.
Enjoy your day,
Dawn
http://dlstewart.com
Please read my other reviews:
Rubbermaid Big Max Storage Shed
Droll Yankee Flipper Bird Feeder -- squirrel proof
Deluxe Pyramid Composter
Rodent Screen for Composters
The Garden Claw
Craftsman Long-Handled Weeder
Craftsman Long-Handled Round Point Shovel
Craftsman D-Handle Flat-Edge Garden Spade
Upside-down Tomato Garden
Earthbox Planter
Suncast Easy-Reach Hose Reel Cart
Dramm Fog-It Hose Nozzle
Gilmour Advanced Variable Oscillating Sprinkler
Copyright 2007 Dawn L. Stewart
Recommended:
Yes
Amount Paid (US$): gift
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