Review: Is the Ryobi Battery-Powered Walk-Behind Mower Worth Your Time. Ryobi push mower battery

Ryobi 40V Battery 21″ Lawn Mower Review

Ryobi battery lawn mower review is sponsored by Ryobi Tools. I have been provided with product. All ideas and opinions are my own. This post contains some affiliate links for your convenience. Click here to read my full disclosure policy.

It is finally starting to look like spring around here in Utah. Sometimes we get teased with warm weather, and then a snow storm will hit the next day. Ha ha mother nature keeps us hopping.

As Spring brings in the good weather, it brings lots of yard work with it!

I don’t know about you, but when I do yard work, I just want my equipment to work so I can get it done. I hate messing around with pull strings, carburetors, mixed gas and regular gas. When I was a kid, I would wait until Dad came back for lunch to start the weed eater…I could never start that thing on my own. Oh and the tiller, well that was always a challenge.

As battery powered lawn equipment has evolved, I’ve always been drawn to it. No messing around with engines, just plug in the battery and get to work!

Ryobi 40V battery powered 21″ self propelled Lawn Mower

This lawn mower is awesome. It runs better than all of our previous gas mowers, plus it is so much quieter.

What comes in the package –

• Ryobi 21″ Lawn Mower
• 7.5 Ah 40 volt battery
• 40 volt battery charger
• Clippings Bag
• Mulch Plug

How the Ryobi 21″ Lawn Mower Works

This mower is so easy to use, but first things first…charge the battery.

Once the battery is charged, just open the lid and slide the battery into place. There is also an on-board storage spot for a second battery.

To start the mower, pull back the black bar.

Then push the center green button on the handle. That’s it, now the engine is purring and the clippings bag fills up with air.

You can choose to push the mower, but if you would like assistance (and why wouldn’t you), there are green handles to engage self propelled mode. The self propelled speed is adjusted with a slider in the center of the push handle.

Min is a nice leisurely walking speed, and well Max is for someone with much longer legs than I have ;-).

And just like that the lawn mower and I are ready to get to work!

Additional Adjustments

The blade height is super convenient to adjust, pull the trigger and lift or lower the handle on the left side of the mower.

The height of the lawn mower arm/pushing handle can be adjusted for the operators height. The lower setting is perfect for me, I’m 5’5″ish.

Storage

One of my most favorite features about this lawn mower is the fact that it can be stored UP RIGHT!

We are always tight on garage space, and the fact that this Ryobi lawn mower can be stored so compactly is amazing!

Testing the Mower

• As I mentioned before, the Ryobi brushless 40V lawn mower has plenty of power. There was no bogging down of the engine, it really seems to run as well as a gas mower.
• Battery life – my yard is just under 0.4 acre acre and having the mower blade height on the second lowest setting. I can get over half of my yard done with the 7.5 Ah battery. Having 2 batteries would be perfect for me. If I set the blade higher, I could get a longer run time.

Overall Thoughts

• I wouldn’t hesitate for a minute to recommend this lawn mower to a friend.
• It has all the power needed to cut thick grass.
• The mower has many thoughtful features, easy blade/mower height adjustment, easy start, easy self propel adjustment, ergonomic adjustment of the handle, etc.
• It is quieter than a gas powered mower.
• The clippings bag is a generous size and is easily removed and replaced.
• This mowers icing on the cake is the compact storage, man I love that feature!

Have more landscaping projects, check out other Ryobi Outdoor Tools here.

Related

Attention: Any do-it-yourself project involves risk of some sort. Your tools, materials, and skills will vary, as will the conditions at your work site. Hertoolbelt LLC will not assume any responsibility or liability for damages or losses sustained or incurred in the course of your project or in the use of the item you create. Always follow the manufacturer’s operating instructions in the use of tools, check and follow your local building codes, and observe all commonly accepted safety precautions.

Review: Is the Ryobi Battery-Powered Walk-Behind Mower Worth Your Time?

I’ll always love the sound of neighborhood lawn mowers in the distance on a sunny Sunday afternoon. But as much as the smell and sound of gasoline-powered lawn mowers infuse my senses with nostalgia, the truth is that I recognize there are reasons to move from old-school gas guzzlers to more modern options: They’re loud, require regular maintenance and they’re not all that great for the environment. But we can’t let the grass grow too high, either. Luckily, we now have battery-powered mowers that actually get the job done.

That’s why I couldn’t pass up the opportunity to review the Ryobi 40V 18-inch Walk Behind Mower. I’ve recently become a fan of battery-powered lawn equipment, and I wanted to get my hands on this little mower to see what it could do.

Ryobi 40V Walk-Behind Lawn Mower

539.99

About the Ryobi 40V 18-inch Walk Behind Mower

What’s in the Box:

Specifications:

• Deck size: 18 inches
• Power: 40V battery
• Cutting heights: 7 positions, 1.5 to 4 inches
• Run time: Unspecified
• Acreage: Unspecified (up to 1/4 acre in my experience)

Ryobi 40-Volt Cordless Push Mower

539.99

• Extremely lightweight
• Very easy to operate
• Very quiet
• Relatively affordable
• Plenty of power for its size
• Easy height adjustment

Assembling the Ryobi 40V Mower

There aren’t a lot of parts to put together with the Ryobi 40V Walk-Behind Mower. The mower blade was already attached to the spindle on arrival. The push bar was folded up and detached from the mower, but the control panel was already attached. One bolt and a plastic knob-enclosed nut on each side of the bars are all it took to attach the handle.

The battery was dead out of the box. The charger is fairly basic, and it took about an hour to recharge the battery from dead. Once it was charged, popping the battery into the mower was simple and the spring-loaded plastic cover easily dropped back in place.

Switching between mulching and mowing modes is also fairly straightforward. The spring-loaded flap on the side of the machine lifts open and the discharge chute is then installed. As the spring-loaded flap lowers onto the chute, it locks the chute in place.

All in all, it took only a few minutes to take the mower out of the box and get it ready, though the batteries did need charging.

Mowing With the Ryobi 40V 18-Inch Walk-Behind Mower

Mowing with the Ryobi 40V 18-inch Walk-Behind Mower is pretty fun. It’s quiet and lightweight so it’s easy to push and manipulate. It does have relatively low-quality wheels so it is a bit wobbly, but overall it tracks straight and cuts well. Its light weight is really the shining star of this model, as it makes mowing hills, around objects and over longer distances a breeze.

One of the best parts about using a cordless mower is how easy they are to start. Starting the Ryobi requires holding the power button and squeezing one of the handles. Once it starts, it will run until the handle is released. And should this mower reach some thick grass that causes it to stall, restarting is a breeze.

Adjusting the cutting height is also simple. There’s one lever by the right rear wheel with a linkage to the front wheels to lift or lower everything together. I found that adjusting it to the fourth setting was sufficient for my lawn.

I was able to cut my quarter-acre on one charge, but it didn’t leave much life for the next time I tried to cut. Folks with larger yards will probably want to invest in an additional battery or two.

There is one thing to note: The first time I cut with the Ryobi battery-operated mower, it felt like it took much longer than usual. The reason for this is the Ryobi only has an 18-inch cutting capacity and requires many more passes to cut the same amount of yard as my 22-inch mower. It might not sound like a big difference, but the Ryobi required many, many more passes.

The Verdict: Should You Buy the Ryobi Walk-Behind Mower?

Anyone with a very small yard who’d prefer to own something that starts easily and doesn’t require any maintenance other than keeping the battery charged will love the Ryobi 40V Walk-Behind Lawn Mower. It doesn’t have nearly as much power as a traditional gas-powered mower, but it’s lightweight and very quiet, making it enjoyable to use.

Keep in mind that this is not a mower for a medium or large-sized property. The battery is too small and the cutting path isn’t wide enough. Otherwise, it’s an excellent machine for handling smaller yards.

The RYOBI 20-inch 40-Volt Brushless Lawn Mower is lightweight and maneuverable, and it is better for the environment than a gas lawn mower that releases harmful emissions.

Top Ten Reviews Verdict

The RYOBI cordless lawn mower is a versatile machine that can handle tall grass and its batteries can be used to power other RYOBI lawn equipment.

Pros

• Its rechargeable lithium-ion battery can be used to power your other compatible RYOBI cordless lawn equipment
• The battery lasts up to 40 minutes

Cons

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The RYOBI 20-inch 40-Volt Brushless Lawn Mower is lightweight and maneuverable, and it is better for the environment than a gas lawn mower that releases harmful emissions. Besides mowing, you most likely need to edge your grass, trim bushes and cut tree branches.

For other models we’ve reviewed, check out our full round up of all the best electric lawn mowers, or if you don’t want an electric model, head to the best gas lawn mowers.

In addition to being compatible with other RYOBI machines, this mower’s lithium-ion battery lasts up to 40 minutes on a full charge. If your lawn is well-maintained, this gives you plenty of time to mow your yard before you need to recharge the battery. The mower can house up to two batteries. This allows you to mow for an extended period, especially handy if you have a larger lawn. You may find the batteries drain more quickly when you mow long or thick grass. Fortunately, RYOBI’s batteries recharge faster than others – you can charge a battery to full capacity in 90 minutes.

RYOBI 40-Volt Brushless RY40180: What you need to know

The RYOBI 40-Volt mower is best for lawns that are half an acre in size or less. The mower has a 20-inch cutting path and seven cutting-height positions, ranging from 1.5 to 3.75 inches. You can easily adjust the height with a lever located on the left side of the mower deck.

When you finish mowing, the handle folds down, which makes the mower easy to store. This is extremely helpful if you have limited space in your garage or shed.

RYOBI 40-Volt Brushless RY40180: Features performance

Unlike gas-powered mowers, the RYOBI 40-Volt starts instantly with the press of a button and runs quietly without disturbing your neighbors or emitting noxious fumes. It isn’t self-propelled though, so you need to put some work into moving it around.

This is a good electric lawn mower if your goal is to be environmentally friendly. It comes with a mulching option that grinds down grass clippings so you can reuse them for gardening instead of throwing them away. It also frees you from the yearly maintenance and fuel and oil that traditional mowers require.

This mower weighs just 55 pounds with the battery installed. Because it’s lightweight, it’s somewhat easier on your back and knees. Still, it may be difficult for some to maneuver on hills or steep grades because it isn’t self-propelled. This RYOBI also does not have a side discharge. It comes with a rear bag that collects grass clippings as you mow.

Buying Guides

Why Does My Ryobi Lawn Mower Keep Shutting Off? (Solved)

Ryobi makes some fantastic mowers, and I have reviewed some of them here.

But I have seen one question come up fairly regularly from those who own them.

Why does my Ryobi lawn mower keep shutting off?

It does seem to be a common problem.

Thankfully it is one that can be resolved.

So we take a closer look at the possible reasons for it here.

Why Does My Ryobi Lawn Mower Keep Shutting Off?

The common recurrence of Ryobi mowers suddenly shutting off is usually down to a poor design of the handle affecting a safety switch that stops the mower from working. Often tightening up the bolts connecting the handles to the mower can fix the issue. If your mower is within warranty contact Ryobi who should be able to work with you to resolve the problem.

REASON #1: It is a Problem With the Handle

If you are having issues with your Ryobi mower randomly shutting off without warning, the number one place you want to look to resolve the issue is the handle of your mower.

It seems to be the source of most problems.

If your grass is too long and thick, and you go too long between mows the blade might get stuck on the accumulating grass clippings and stall.

The mower will automatically sense it is being overworked and intentionally stall the mower to prevent the motor from being blown.

Make sure you don’t leave your grass too long between cuts.

Final Thoughts

We’ve covered it in detail here, and on the infographic above, but if you are having problems with your Ryobi mower stalling the most likely cause of it is the handle and the safety switch.

They work in conjunction with each other and have been purposefully designed to ensure you can’t accidentally start your mower without the handle being properly engaged.

Unfortunately, the design ruins what are otherwise very good mowers!

If your mower is still within its warranty get in touch with Ryobi who should sort the problem out for you.

Or simply bear this in mind when you make future purchases, as it is a very frustrating problem to experience.

There are some great lawn mowers on the market these days, so you shouldn’t have to put up with a recurring issue like this.