Cordless Electric Lawn Mowers Do Work!

[rgathright]

Originally Posted by dcb

On the topic of mowers, I picked up an old sunbeam corded unit to replace the fancy reel one I broke. It's got a bagger too, but we don't normally bag (better to leave it on the lawn). I hope to have fun with the cord management challenge.

I used a Sunbeam Corded mower in the 90's. Keep an eye on the safety lever because it breaks easily. I rebuilt mine. Cord management is easy if you always walk away from the cord as you mow. I also lay the cord on the side of the plug source when I turn. This will keep the cord from sitting in your path.

[lunarhighway]

anyone thought about makeing a mower where you can plug in a cordless drill?
think i saw this on youtube somewhere where some manifacturer at a fair demonstrated the power of their drills by pluging it in to a small moped, and have some guy drive it aroud the fair. if you already have a sufficient powerfull drill, youd have a complete compact package from motor to battery and charger, wich may even have additional speed controles etc.

just an idea

[jamesqf]

But how long is the small battery pack in your drill going to run the mower?

[rgathright]

Another problem is the motor in your electric drill was not designed to spin a 3lb+ metal blade for as long as 45 minutes. You would need stronger ball bearings and upgrade the contacts in the motor to handle the torque and current.

Other than that, yes it would work.

[extragoode]

Originally Posted by rgathright

Another problem is the motor in your electric drill was not designed to spin a 3lb+ metal blade for as long as 45 minutes. You would need stronger ball bearings and upgrade the contacts in the motor to handle the torque and current.

Other than that, yes it would work.

Sounds like a plan. I've got two drills (with craftman lifetime warranty) and 5 batterys. And I've got a dead mower that I picked up off the curb that I was planning on converting into electric anyway. I was planning on grabbing an old motor of some sort and wiring two of the drill batteries in series or parrallel, which ever worked better since I've got two one hour chargers also. However, if I can do it all with what I've already got, that's great news.

[rgathright]

extragoode: Watch this Youtube link,

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RVXVHBdE5pk&NR=1

Obviously using a cordless drill will worked in this case, but the mower will not win a beauty contest.

I think you should spend your time making this:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ilulmKNTtM8&NR=1

Riding lawn mowers consume a lot of gasoline per acre.

[dcb]

I think that top one has a cord, but yah it is fugly, on many levels

The tractor looks useful, comments say it has a 2 hour runtime!

[extragoode]

Originally Posted by rgathright

extragoode: Watch this Youtube link,

Obviously using a cordless drill will worked in this case, but the mower will not win a beauty contest.

I think you should spend your time making this:

Riding lawn mowers consume a lot of gasoline per acre.

I don't need or want a riding mower for what is currently a .25 acre yard. I used a reel mower for the first year, but had the same problems that everyone here mentioned earlier. Plus, I think I can do better than that first video.

[breckrider]

I've got a black and decker corded electric mower. How hard would it be to make it battery powered?

[Clev]

1.5kW inverter and a couple of batteries would let you convert it without turning a screw. Not the prettiest or most efficient way, I'll admit.