Cheapskate Tips: Best Cheap Battery Mower for Small Lawns

Here’s my recently defunct Neuton battery mower. It was a few generations back in technology and probably 9-10 years old.

It was subsidized by the city of Roseville so it was not too expensive. Not too effective either. Low powered and narrow, I had to mow more frequently than I’d like lest it clog and stall.

Rather heavy mower for electric and the battery could not be used by any other tool and required its own special charger.

I rather like the racy high-tech V20 styling. Early models like the one in the video lacked the clear plastic dust cover over the twin batteries. I think it looks cool, like a fighter plane bubble canopy. The Neuton looked like a plastic trash can with wheels and a handle.

Because it was so weak sometimes I’d need to go back and forth and cut swaths even narrower than the blade. But my rental unit lawns are small and the Neuton somehow managed.

Until last week. I hit a maple root I’d probably hit before, but this time adios Neuton. No function. Oh, well. It died finishing the last cut and lasted longer than I thought it would. That mower don’t owe me a thing, is what my grandmother would say.

Earlier version than mine lacked the plastic battery cover, like the reviewer’s machine.

So web search time for a cheap durable standard battery replacement mower. The Ego brand was widely loved but expensive. The Ryobi mowers were liked but sold only at fascist owned Home Depot. I liked the prices and specs for the Kobolt, the Worx and the Craftsman.

Here’s the Worx.

But in searching the web I found a YouTube review, by Tyler of thelawnreview.com, of the Craftsman V20 mower and it was rather convincing. And reduced in price at Lowes from $329.99 to $299.99 USD until May.

I called Lowes and they had several in stock. It was crazy crowded on 420 day with bad traffic. But putting it together back home consists mostly of removing it from the box and attaching the handle.

The reviewer was shocked at the nearly 3-hour charging time. The twin batteries and chargers are interchangeable standard for other tools in the Craftsman line.

All the mowers you consider should have this feature. The Neuton used its own big lump of a battery and it’s own wall-wart charger. Backward.

Blinking green equals charging: steady green means charged. Long charge time is not a problem with my miniscule lawns.

The deck plate is plastic on the Craftsman V20 like on the Neuton but more streamlined to catch less wet grass, clog and stall.

Smooth undersurface was easy to clean.
Tyler found the new blade on the V20 was not very sharp. Mine would not exactly cut a finger either but I did not try sharpening it as he suggests. Because of balance issues and because I’m really bad at it. It did OK today, dullish or not.

The Craftsman’s blade is 19.25 inch long. Compared to the meager 13.25 inch blade of the old, weak Neuton. The V20 brushless motor gives at least twice the power of the older tech ones and last longer too.

Thirteen inch Neuton blade meant many many passes at 10-12 inches per pass allowing for overlap. We don’t want ‘holidays’ left on the lawn, as my old Navy dad would say.

In fact some of my grass was wet and thick and the worst patches seemed to put the V20 motor in blade overdrive, powering ahead where the antique 1st gen Neuton would have stalled.

Luke, I am your father.

I was impressed with the speed of cutting, the light weight of around 35 pounds and the brushless motor power.

This mower is set up very tall compared to the Neuton and is not adjustable. Not much of a problem for me because I’m about 5′ 10″ tall and because of the light weight. Shorter users might struggle.
Included accessories were this grass catcher bag and deflecter which I’ll probably never use since mulching is easier and free fertilizer.

Less great was the long battery charging time; and the run time not coming close to the Craftsman claimed 50 minutes. On the Lawn Review video Tyler got less than 30 minutes on his lawn.

Standard safety key, safety hand bail, and push-to-start button on right side.

That said, none of the mower’s drawbacks concern me. I don’t care how long the batteries take to recharge after mowing if it can cut my entire lawn area, front, back and near the garage. They will have about a week to recharge until I mow again.

Easy height adjustments from 1 to 5 on right side front and back.
Lawn Review noted the cheesy look of the plastic wheels and predicted they would not last more than a few seasons. Well, maybe so, maybe not. They look just like the old Neuton wheels which have lasted many seasons.
A better cut in half the time with half the effort.
Yellowboy approves. Under the maple tree it’s too shaded for much lawn, if the many roots allowed it. Very hard going even on #5, the tallest setting.

The way the YouTube reviewer powered through his bigger lawn convinced me it could cut my lawns with no sweat. In fact it cut it all my lawns with power to spare. I sweated but it didn’t.

Attaching the handle was the only assembly required.

On first charging it did take two-three hours before the flashing green lights turned solid green. But after cutting my lawn it took more like an hour and a half to full charge.

Farewell poor Neuton, so many hours we spent together.

Very easy to push such a light mower that cuts a wide swath with relative ease, especially when you’re used to older battery mower technology. So far I’m liking it.

Thanks to Tyler, of https://thelawnreview.com/.

Unless noted, all text and images by todgermanica.com.

2 thoughts on “Cheapskate Tips: Best Cheap Battery Mower for Small Lawns”

  1. Interesting review. You didn’t even mention the environmental advantage of battery over gas. My car is doing great since the radiator was replaced. I have to get out soon and put steer manure in my raised beds. I pick up the Whitney Farms organic soil tomorrow. I had to talk my local Ace manager into ordering a pallet even though they advertised it in their flyer. I told her it would sell because a lot of us home gardeners don’t care for Miracle Grow which is what they had in stock.

    >

    Reply

    • No need to preach to the choir, anyone stumbling on to my review would already be searching for an electric one.
      Back when we bought the Neuton years back the convenience of just plugging it in, over driving a gas can to fill it up was a major reason. And avoiding the stink of petrol in the car. Never spending any money on it after initial purchase was a big draw too.
      Me and neighbor Ted just made a dump run so the Neuton is now landfill. All that debris is gone now from the back yard too, except the old man’s blue sofa, for the next dump run. He was a Miracle-Gro fan, I threw out quarts of the old stuff. You lucked out on the car. You can always rent one for Oregon or other road trips, I know you get a COLA in May. Thanks for the comment.

      Reply

Leave a comment