Black & Decker LM175 18-Inch 6-1/2 amp Electric Mower
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This is my first electric lawnmower, and so far, I absolutely love it. It is smaller, quieter, lighter, cleaner, and more efficient than your typical gas mower, and there is no risk of throwing out your back trying to start it. It is one of my best buys at Amazon.
The mower was shipped in the original box, with the housing nicely supported by cardboard inserts to protect, and minimize vibration. Remarkably, a single strip of clear tape held the cover down. The mower is relatively easy to assemble, and does not require any hand tools. The instruction manual is pretty thorough, except for a couple of parts related to assembly, where a little better description, and larger diagrams would help. Although it is stated in the manual that `no lubrication is necessary’, lubricating the bolts on the handle before assembly, and even finished metal parts like the handle, will help deter corrosion. The springs in the power handle and grass guard, would also benefit from spray lubricant.
Once assembled, the mower is ready for immediate use. Favoring the right-handed majority, the power switch is on the right side. The motor starts up smoothly, and is relatively quiet, even when running at full power. The whooshing sound generated, probably isn’t much louder than a large electric weedwacker. Since the motor is near the ground, and enclosed by a green plastic cover, the sound doesn’t carry too much. Motor speed can be controlled using the throttle lever, though the mower is designed to be run at full throttle most of the time.
The blade height is set using a lever located at the left rear wheel, and is adjustable in approximately half inch increments, from about one inch, to three and a half inches. The motor on this mower is probably not strong enough to cut a heavy lawn with grass higher than say three inches down to the one inch level, without stalling. Running a motor with the rotor locked, is not a good thing, so avoid trying to force your way through tough spots. Cutting narrower strips of lawn is one option. Or you may need to start with the blade at a higher level, and then drop it down to one inch on the second pass. If there are just a few high spots, the old technique of raising the front of the mower, and cutting them down, and then going over the area again, might do the trick. It sounds like a lot of work, but consider that an electric mower is much lighter and easier to maneuver.
Grass will collect at the discharge area. The spring-loaded plastic deflector has some deep depressions that get clogged with grass. If you don’t clean the area out it could promote corrosion of the spring. There is a gap between the green plastic outer cover and the metal framing that also gets filled with grass. Perhaps a hard rubber seal in this gap, would be a good idea. In general, the design of this area could be improved.
There is a plastic strip at the back of the mower to help block debris that might blow backwards. It is quite soft and flexible, and because it is quite close to the ground, it gets bent around and scraped up. Possibly if it were made of harder plastic, and raised up a bit, it may last longer. The wheels look quite sturdy and durable, and according to the manual, the wheels require no lubrication.
Besides the normal safety concerns when using any lawn mower, users of a cord and plug electric mower, need to develop an awareness of, and a system for handling, the power cord. Avoiding any possibility of overrunning the cord should be a primary concern. What is recommended is if possible, mowing outwards from the source of power. That way, you can try and minimize the chances of crossing over the cord while mowing. Running the cord over my right shoulder, keeps it from trailing directly on the ground, and helps me keep track of where the cord is. The mower has provisions for attaching the cord, and when connected properly, there is almost no chance that the cord will become detached.
If you have a very large lawn, or one with heavy thick grass, this mower may not have enough power, and you may need to look at one of Black and Decker’s other electrics with more powerful motors. This machine has no problems handling my 2000 square feet of lawn, and I am very pleased with my purchase. Easily five stars for this baby.