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Definitely NOT a woodworking project. I have an electric riding lawn mower and the underside of the deck can't be cleaned with a hose and water, so I scrape it out after mowing with an old spatula. Problem is you can't reach everything with it. Pic below is what I usually do after mowing. I was in the local Little Ceaser's Pizza shop and they have this really long pizza flail that is just the right length to reach the innereds of the deck. Being the proverbial cheapskate, I decided to copy it and do it with whatever STUFF I could find in the shop. We all have STUFF right? I have it all assembled, but there still needs to be some shaping and bolt cutting done to make it usable, plus some cure time for the glue I used. I'll post pics when it's done. It's weird, but I get a great deal of satisfaction making something useful from what should have normally been trash.
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Jim Frye
The Nut in the Cellar.
”Sawdust Is Man Glitter” -
Finished product. I'm not going to paint it just yet, even though there is a partial rattle can in the garage. The radius on the business end matches the curve of the deck underside as it's a pressed steel deck, not a fabbed one. Usage will gunk it up pretty good. Again, everything is odds and ends, no purchased items in this one.
Last edited by Jim Frye; 03-06-2023, 08:02 PM.Jim Frye
The Nut in the Cellar.
”Sawdust Is Man Glitter” -
I have never had an electric, or any ride on mower for that matter. You would think the electronics would be sealed sufficiently to resist weather as it is an outdoor tool...Please like and subscribe to my YouTube channel. Please check out and subscribe to my Workshop Blog.Comment
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What would ever make you think that industry would produce a lawnmower that would last as long as the payments? All of their electronics meet standards, someone’s standards, but nothing that would help the end consumer!Originally posted by dbhost View PostComment
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Well, the various electronic modules are sealed and up under the covers, but the deck motors are not sealed against water under pressure. If you notice in the first picture, there is a scrub brush and a bucket of water sitting next to the ramp. I can scrub the deck with soap and water and even turn the deck over for the season end cleanout and release coating. After 55 months of ownership, I've found the lack of being able to hose the deck out is made up for by the fact the mower is fifteen times cheaper to run than a comparable ICE mower. SWMBO insisted I get a rider as my knees had gotten to the point I could barely mow the lawn with a self propelled walk behind even wearing knee stabilizers.Originally posted by dbhost View Post
Jim Frye
The Nut in the Cellar.
”Sawdust Is Man Glitter”Comment
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This one at least outlasted the 3 yr. warranty, and in another year of mowing, it will have saved enough in gas to pay for new batteries and it hasn't required any maintenance other than cleaning. I do put freshly sharpened blades on it when I put it up for the winter.Originally posted by capncarl View Post
Jim Frye
The Nut in the Cellar.
”Sawdust Is Man Glitter”Comment
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Under “normal” conditions any lawnmower will last until the deck wears out. Normal conditions do not constitute washing and waxing, or mowing in the rain. Most people don’t change the blade until it wears out and stops cutting. They store the mower in the little shed in the back yard and change the oil every couple of years. I can’t imagine these owners of electric mowers actually checking and topping the batteries. Most people don’t avoid stumps, corners of the driveway and curbs, sticks and limbs, thus the deck wears out first.Comment
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The batteries in this one are Sealed Led Acid/Absorbent Glass Mat and the only maintenance is to keep them plugged into the smart charger when not in use. It's basically a golf cart with brushless motors. The battery manufacturer states they should be good for 1,500-1,700 charge cycles and would cost $720 to replace right now. So far it has saved over $517 in gas compared to my neighbor's ICE mowers.Jim Frye
The Nut in the Cellar.
”Sawdust Is Man Glitter”Comment
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For what it's worth. I have a lawn service, my wife insisted and I just never stopped it, AND I have a mower, weed eater, edger etc... Kind of seems stupid. I need to either cancel my service, or service my equipment and sell it...Please like and subscribe to my YouTube channel. Please check out and subscribe to my Workshop Blog.Comment
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It's probably strange, but I enjoy yard work. At least I can still do it. The electric rider actually became a secondary hobby monitoring performance and cost. Sick isn't it?Originally posted by dbhost View Post
Jim Frye
The Nut in the Cellar.
”Sawdust Is Man Glitter”Comment
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I started having the service done due to my wifes insistance. She was terrified of having me working outdoors in the Texas heat...
Honestly I don't mind doing the lawn as it is excersize I need pretty badly, but I like the guy that does my service too... I might trade off, drop the lawn guy, and pick up a housekeeper because, with just me it is more than I can keep up with...Last edited by dbhost; 03-09-2023, 01:51 PM. -
The Ryobi battery Zero turn my neighbor has uses, per the owner, golf cart style batteries. I’ve never looked at the to see if they are conventional lead acid or lithium golf cart batteries. I don’t give it many years of service because he mowed his 2 acre back year planted pine Forrest cones and limbs. It’s got to be terrible on his deck.
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