Green Daily

I'll note some of the same things as I did on this item over at WalletPop...

I like the idea - but, like you, Kelly, it's still just too expensive for me. Plus, without no established track record, we can guess that batteries will last several years and be readily available when needed. But maybe not. This wouldn't be the first product orphaned as technology moves on.

Note that replacement batteries look to be a Neuton-specific item (i.e., not industry standard battery that can be found anywhere), and are about $90 each.

Meanwhile, my gas mower isn't as clean as I'd like - but spark plugs, air filters and engine oil are really cheap, available everywhere, and easy to do yourself. My two pieces of lawn equipment (mower and tractor) were both acquired used - and have proven themselves to be cheap and reliable to run.

Sadly, this same logic helps explain why I can't yet find an EV I can afford...

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And you don't use a reel mower why?

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Yes I do use one.
Scotts Classic

Make sure you keep your speed up and the blades sharp and you will be very happy!

Here is a fantastic reference.
http://www.reelmowerguide.com/

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I went down the reel mower path when I had my townhouse.

I ended up mowing both neighbor's yards in addition to my own at one point (renters that didn't care). Reel mowers don't deal well with high weeds, holes, uneven ground and rocks. I was going to need something that could do more than what a reel mower could do, and didn't have space to two mowers. Thankfully, I stumbled across a pair of corded electric mowers in a dumpster, and was able to create one working example from the parts.

One particular annoyance: It's almost impossible to replace a reel mower blade (the internal reel section) if a rock takes a good-size chip out of it. If you can find the parts (good luck finding replacement blade assemblies wherever you buy the mower), it will cost about what a new reel mower does. All of the sudden, those cute little reel mower sharpeners are pointless: They can't deal with big dings that are inevitable in real life mowing. Meanwhile, a rotary mower blade can be sharpened just about forever - and can be replaced in a couple of minutes for just a few bucks.

Another 'reel' life situation: Try letting a typical teenager use your reel mower in any less-than-perfect lawn. Reel mower blades simply don't tolerate abuse.

So here's my underlying question: How come nobody makes a push-style, self-powered mower with a rotary blade?

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Kelly -

I appreciate the green statement that push reel-type mowers make - but I've also learned where they work well. Golf courses typically use tractor-drawn reel mowers because of the nice cut they leave. But my lawn doesn't look like a golf course (and let's not go down the path of the environmental cost of perfect fairways).

If I had a small lawn with lots of imperfections, I'd get another corded electric rotary blade lawnmower like I had at my townhouse. You can probably find one used, and they're cheap to keep running. They'll chop up vines and tall weeds pretty well. A grinder will take care of rock chips - or just get a new blade, which will be cheap and readily available. Yeah, the cord is a hassle. Get over it.

Meanwhile, someone like Neuton will finally develop a market breakthrough that makes cordless mowers cheap and widely available. Note that Black and Decker has been making a cordless electric mower for some years - but they're priced similarly to Neuton, and you'll rarely see one in a store. Google "CMM1200" for more info.

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Kelly,
I agree. If you can't clear your lawn of debris then a reel mower is not a solution that will work for you.
Good luck,
Tim

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I have owned and used a Neuton CE 5.2 for over 2 years now and I love it. I do have a small city lot and sometimes the juice begins to run out as I finish my yard (45-60 minutes) but otherwise it is perfect for my needs. I also tried a reel mower but the back yard is not flat enough and contains far too many stones, vines and other flotsam to be useful. I purchased the Neuton mower out of season (Winter) with a very nice discount that included free shipping and a 6 months same as cash deal with a Dr Power Credit Account. I must say customer service is wonderful as well. The one time the electric motor stopped working I called Customer Service and they agreed to send me a new one at no cost (and free shipping) right away. The well designed unit made it incredibly easy to install myself and I wasn't asked to take the unit to an "authorized service center" so there was no out of pocket expense for this replacement. I would love to get the new larger cut Neuton CE 6.2 but unfortunately the 5.2 still meets all of my needs. Considering that I haven't paid for fuel, oil, air filters or maintenance (besides the electricity used to recharge the battery) I would say the current price of $379 is just about right. Like most other renewable technologies there is a higher up front cost but the maintenance and use costs are so much lower that the ROI is usually only a few years. The extra added benefits of a lightweight, quiet (really quiet), easy to start mower that emits no exhaust outweigh the thin 14" cutting path. If you have a really large yard please look elsewhere. But for small city lots, I cannot recommend this mower highly enough.

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