6 reasons NOT TO BUY AN AUTOMOWER 2 year REVIEW
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- čas přidán 18. 05. 2024
- Here are 6 reasons not to buy an automower (robomower). For those of you have already decided that you would never get one of these, this may just cement your decision. For those of you who are considering getting a RoboMower these are things that are outside of the ordinary that go beyond initial cost and set up.
Two full seasons in and I am very happy with my purchase. There are some inconveniences that some people may find to be too much to handle. So here I want to give you an honest look at what I have been dealing with, and the overall result that you can expect to get.
There are so many new entries into the Robomowing market and I have no doubt that they are here to stay. Brands like TORO, Husqvarna, Mammotion, DeWalt and soon Ryobi. What do you think of this movement? Is this something that you can get behind? Do you feel that they have a long way to go? let me know your thoughts.
Contact: answers@lawncology.com
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Running the edges can't possibly take the same time as doing the whole thing? What model do you have?
In the app, turn off 'spiral cutting' and it will quit doing the circles, add some distance to the 'drive past wire' setting and your collar situation will decrease or resolve. I have two 450X mowers that have logged over 10,000 miles in my yard with no major issues. Probably the best thing ever invented by man!!! The only issue I found was that the boundary wire provided in the installation kit was not up to the task, by the end of the second season I was chasing random breaks in the wire because the elements had broken it down and it basically dissolved. Start with a good 'dog fence' boundary wire and you won't have to deal with the issue.
I actually turned on spiral cutting this year because it was tracking too much in the same direction across the hill. I wanted to just show how that looked. I’ve got my coverage on the wire as far past it as I can right now, it’s better than last year, but I’m still outside the edge. If your experience with the wire is common, I’ll put better wire in and move it closer to the edge
My dogs are the cause for all of my wire breaks. Now I have to worry about it breaking down on its own, too?
@@Lawncology How do you stop your mower from leaving bits of grass on top?! is it to do with the blade height?
For a garden that size, a 315x is way too small. Rule of thumb for any robomower: the advertised surface in the specs should be double (or more) of the size of your garden. This avoids the mower having to go and charge before it did cover the complete garden taking it very long to mow.
Fir the spiral cutting: that is something you can switch off, and for the borders, you can let it cross the cable a bit further to get also the borders cut. The noise you mention: it is normal. And way more silent than a mower with a fuel engine. For the struggling: this is quite a slope. This is one of their smaller versions of mowers.
For the issues for getting stuck: husqvarna has a 4WD model too. I assume that one never gets stuck due to the 4 big wheels. I personally have a 450x and it does my garden (which is bigger than what I saw in the video) in just a couple of hours. So it is not mowing 24/7 due to the dual battery system in it. The engine is also much more powerful than the one in the 315x, so no issues on steeper slopes. Is it possible that the model you are using is just a bit underdimensioned for what you want it to do?
As always love your videos. Have you considered power rotary scissors for the fringe to give a nice clean cut. ? Can’t live without mine on Bermuda.
Yes… I’m going to do it for sure next year. I need that setup badly. New multitool needed… not sure which yet
Mount a pooper scooper with articulated arm and a bucket now we have something.
Lol
Thanks for always giving us the real scoop. I really would like to have one of these things but I just can't find one that meets my needs. My St. Augustine is every bit of 4-5 inches tall and there just are not any mowers, that I have found, that will handle that. I'm in TX and with the unrelenting heat and lack of rain I can't cut it much lower and expect it to live.
There are a couple options on the way for 2024. I’m not sure where they will fall as far as price, but I believe 5” is maximum height
That is great to hear! Hope to hear more on those in the future.@@Lawncology
I know nothing about these but i have a walkway it would have to go over is it capable of going over it and what model do you have or do you know of better ones that may have come out since getting yours?Thankyou!
Good things to consider , thanks for taking the time to review the concept - cheers JP
Thanks for the vid.
PGR the edges?
I did that last year.
To be honest, you having one was a (albeit small) contributing factor to me getting one. If JP has one it can't be all that bad. I love my 350HX. Do not have to do every other day cutting. Lawn looks amazing. Everyone stops to tell me how cool it is. I am very happy with the purchase and the look it gives.
It’s pretty damn slick
I’ve been eager to jump in at a lower price point and try out the 115h. Think it’s worth it or would you recommend moving up to the 400 series?
I like my 315x
Thank you for the video - One question - When it need to recharge, does it pickup where it left off, and how offten the company sends an update for it?
I’m not sure about the updates and no it doesn’t automatically go back to it last stop position. It will just bounce around until the whole has been cut and never stops moving
Hey, being an Automower dealer and having experience with over 100 of these in NC, I have to say you have the entry model one. If you were to get a different one that runs without the underground cables you can program it it to cut in lines and have access to the 5 blade disk.
This year I started offering my own fertilizing and soil treatment program exclusively utilizing your products I do have to say that the combo of Automower+ your products is killer!! I have the experience to recommend the correct model and modifications to optimize your end results!! You have to get a different model John, you’ll spend a bit more but just like your products it’s worth the big bucks ahah
Lol. Yeah, I don’t really have much to complain about. It does the job but this year has been…. Different. I may upgrade in the future, but for now, it does the trick
Where is your company located?
Where’s your company? I’m in NC.
What city in NC are you located?
I am curious to see what Toro does with their auto-mower. I kind of want to get one for my back yard since the shape of the yard makes it kind of a pain to mow. I would love to see a robot reel mower.
They’ve had one but it doesn’t seem like they’re happy with it
This technology still seems a little crude and early adopterish, what till the big boys put in some R&D, I'm excited to see the future of autonomous mowing.
A reel auto mower with programmable stripe patterns. 😎
Thanks heaps
I'm considering buying one for our garden that will be laid next month. In the plan the lawn will also go half around the house. Next to the house and in front it narrows to more paths of grass. I was wondering if you think most robomowers would be able to tackle this more complex layout (and find their way back) or if I need to look out for "smart" mowers with GPS? Any suggestions?
You can run the wire pretty much anywhere, my suggestion is to keep it within 6” of the edge, be sure to have 12-18” spacing if it’s a narrow area. I have mine mowing around my trampoline which has a spot where it stops inside a 3’ wide turf area, turns around and then comes back from the other side. The whole area gets mowed but it’s about as skinny as you’d want it to be
Thanks for the review! I have a 1 acer yard, mostly random weeds. If I cut it all short, will a robot lawn mower be able to mow the whole yard? Or is it too big? Thanks!
You'll just have to run it once every 2-3 days depending on the kind of mower. Some (the cheaper ones, I think) don't mow very short so grass is back to being big quickly. But if you live in a safe neighborhood you can just run it all night every few days. I don't regret having mine even though it doesn't cut very short. I have 1/3rs a cer.
@@luisr4027 Thank you! My neighborhood is mediumly safe. 1 Neighbor enjoys to steel things. But they got caught, and been gone for a while.
I also mow every day, but with a Fiskars reel mower. I keep my grass (KBG/PR mix) around 1.75" and in order to stick to the 1/3 rule, I have to mow every day.
I didn't believe it when I was told that mowing frequently will thicken up a lawn and help with weed control. But now that I've seen it, I believe it.
How much does this cost to purchase it and how may obtain it?
I'm assuming they don't get along well with lawn debris; like small pebbles kicked in and tree droppings of fruits, leaf, or lots of stick/branches....all of which I have most of the season, then there are the dog/kid toys and poo
- but it could be cool if they made a robo sweeper/vac/mulcher/collector just for that, just to clean the yard
It treats poo like a roomba and smears it everywhere
@@Lawncology well then I'm out for certain. 😖
Hilarious. Loved watching. Aussie gal. Never knew these existed! Awesome product. Ahh, to never mow again lol but have a beautiful lawn. Cheers.
Dude, you’re great to watch man, great personality.😂 I don’t ever say that about another dude, but I have to admit man, you’re funny dude. I personally am gonna try to be more like that. That’s funny.
Thank you!
Does it do well claiming the hill?
No problem at all
They do great climbing a hill. The MAJOR problem is when they have to back up a hill to turn around. They tear the lawn up.
I have a husqvarna 450x and the newest worx model. Both have the same problem.
I have tried all terrain tires, rivets, and screws. Nothing works.
I also have the garage for both.
So now they sit in my garage in their garage.
I cut with a rider and bag it all.
If I had a flat yard, I would use them. They are a time saver and do a decent job.
I replaced the blades every 3 months.
I do prefer the Worx model over the husqvarna. It cuts way higher, which I prefer, and has a rain sensor. When it rains, it goes home. AND it's about $3k less expensive. The husqvarna app was always a hit or miss.
After about 3 years of running the husqvarna, both drive motors had to be replaced.
Bottom line, if I had a flat lawn, I would probably get a Worx. I would never purchase another husqvarna automower. IMO, they are way over priced.
I do have a husqvarna 48" rider that is 7 years old. I change the oil, filters, and plugs once a season. I've replaced the belt once. Coming up on needed a new set of tires for next year. This thing is a beast and runs and works great.
I should note that I have 5 micro climates in my yard in 1.1 acres. I have centipede, bermuda, and zozia grass in different areas. Both automowers do well cutting all of them.
I have a 2 1/2 acre lot and have been using two of the 450xh models for going on 6 years now. The PRO's are pretty obvious. The CON's will depend on your lawn contour, obstacles, weather and usage. My best advice to anyone interested in purchasing one is to find a reputable dealer who will come out to your home and assess your situation. This probably isn't something you want to purchase online and setup yourself. The dealer should be able to set you up with the best model for your lawn, and give you insights as to what the CONs will be prior to purchase. The dealer I used set everything up with no hassle. Though I've had my share of problems with the automowers, I would never go back to using a standard walk-behind or riding lawnmower.
I am waiting for one that will do St. Augustine grass. Alyn is looking at a couple that might do the job.
I also wouldn't use an auto mower to lower your height of cut. Shouldn't you use a reel mower to get you down initially, and then let the automower maintain that height?
Nah. Normally it’s no big deal. I’ll have a video out early in the week showing the density changes in different areas
Room and board. I’ve got another mouth to feed 😂. Do like the consistent mowing. Edging takes just as much time as my mowing does.
Yes it does
So you are saying it won't work on 4" St.Augustine that's grown to 5-1/2"?
Yeah. No
Have you had to replace the battery yet? I'd think running everyday for two years, it lost a lot of capacity. Also storage in the winter. You should be charging it every month.
I have not. It mows for 30-45 minutes and charges for a couple hours and then repeats.
these kinds of batteries last longer if they are not fully charged. charging it once a month is going to keep it at maximum charge which will degrade it faster than if you kept it around 65 to 75%.
I think that cutting with sharp blades is key. Time to change those out JP.
All switched out. I’m dullingp them faster this year than last.
@@Lawncologycheaper metal won't last long..
@@thimitri1 they are just basically a little thicker than utility blades
We owned a Husqvarna 450X and we had an acre of land. It worked well. Our lawn always looked great and the inconveniences were minimal.
I've had my Husqvarna Solar Hybrid for over 11 years now.. It has no apps or anything. And it has been moving like a champ! The biggest problems I've had is when the cabel around the lawn break somewhere, that is a pain in the ass. If you can't find the problem you will have to put down a whole new cabel... That part sucks!
I would certainly consider 1 if they could handle my lawn
Large lawns are hard to justify
Another down side is if you live where it’s wet. Not usually a problem where I live, but the last month it’s been wet and both my mowers have dug trenches in my lawn, which only get worse if you don’t address them.
Yo JP, how much has the automower contributed to the overly thick Turf that you have? Or is it because you're really smart at Lawn Care? Because if the automower helps contribute to the lawn becoming amazing then why don't you just use it as a tool to make your lawn amazing and then you could store it until a friend or relative needs to borrow it to make their long baller🎉😅
I believe it contributes for sure and there’s more. I’ll show you this week
@@Lawncology perfect. I'm buying a Luba next year so I can focus on other yard stuff and will reel cut only part of the lawn.
@@steffen707- that’s awesome
I'm beginning my 6th season with my Husqvarna Automower. It works perfectly once set up and dialed in, which is pretty easy. High-tech stuff isn't for everybody - my grandma thinks it's silly - "just hire someone to mow your lawn," she says or "don't be so lazy & cut it yourself!" But I'd rather spend time golfing or boating than worrying about mowing and getting all tired, sweaty. & smelly. She said the same thing about my mom's first dishwasher. Grandpa hated automatic transmissions and air conditioning. Ah, well - to each his own.
I have 2 Husqvarna 315x mower, is good devise.😁
Does the job wonderfully
Just need to get an EPOS Automower.
Our ride-on was at end of life... i hate taking time away from something else to spend the better part of s day mowing, and ome of these was better than what a comparable ride-on would be.
Easy decision
i got one reason why you should buy an automower: it mows my grass every day, i'm on a half acre and i have this same mower, it works great. been running it for like 3 or 4 years now. the only thing that has worn out at this point is the battery, which was easy to replace and i'm about ready for a new battery again.
ps: i'm not gonna watch this video just so i can see you tell me 6 reasons why i shouldn't buy something that's awesome...
I've heard good things about the Mammotion Luba Robot Lawn Mower. I say with these kinds of mowers, it would depend on both the brand and the model (the Luba 5000 looks like it's the ***t!).
Do you need a wire for it?
Most need wires, only the really high end ones are GPS guided.
Bowling green my lawn isn't. Not convinced this would work.
At least your trampoline didn't get shredded to pieces like Jimmy Lewis's did.
True.
Sounds like it’s user area not the lawn mower. Obviously you didn’t do your research and got a mower that doesn’t suit your lawn
No it’s perfect. Watch the whole video
You didn't watch the video.
Reason #7, when you already have spent over $5k in lawn mowers 😂
Yeah… how many does one person need?
1. Hudson star
2. Husqvarna awd
3. Husqvarna 315x
4. Great states reel
5. Scott’s classic reel
@@Lawncology Lawn Boy, Fiskars, Great States, Earthise and Allert with attachments 🤦
@@Striperman so you have room for
One more
@@Lawncology yes I do 👍
I enjoy tje mow to much it's my zen....I refuse to let a robot take my glory!!!!! Lol
It’s funny, this year I’ve been cutting my lawn with my rotary at least once a week… just to throw down some stripes
@@Lawncology its oddly relaxing to me .....besides stripes for me ate the cherry on top to dominating the neighborhood lol
@@Lawncology oh I been meaning to ask u ....sorry for all the messages ....I use all ur products I love them I have about a half gallon of RGS and though I keep it in my basement wich doesnt get to hot or cold it for some reason has turned to a syrup consistancy...is it still good? Or should I just buy new bottle ...thank u as always
@@johnjrkean7008 cut it with water and shake it up. It will be fine.
@@Lawncology thank u ...as always ur the man!
Sorry mate had one for 5 years now and would not go back to manual mower.
Rather DIY something like this.
You seem a bit OCD about a lawn out in the desert !
What? You don't have the $300 rotary scissors? Milwaukee is going to be coming out with their own. Maybe they'll be cheaper, and yes, i realize whom I'm talking about 😆
I might look into those. Was thinking I’d go gas
Gas, ftw. I bought one of those rotary scissors from Jay Aye Pan and fit them to a 28 cc Stihl Kombi power head. It works like a champ. Actually, the Stihl was where I went after I first tried it with an Ego Power power head.
I live on a farm, and not having to cut grass saves me hours per week. You bought the entry model and want to generalize the entire industry, like buying a Prius and saying cars don't go fast.
I love my robo mower. You should watch the video.
I've had my Husqvarna 430x for 5 years now.
Only negatives on my end:
- Maximum lawn height is too short.
- Buried line becomes an issue if you don't have a fence and your neighbors have their lawn aerated.
7:45 mark... is it really "mowing every single day of the week"? seems like a lot. not sure i want that little guy running around my yard all the time, and i'm sure my dog wouldn't like it either
Yeah it really does run every day but it’s like 45 minutes, charge for 3 hours, run 45. Goes to sleep at 10:00pm and wakes at 8am
I have a automower 405x. Mine is an urban lawn. Front yard is about 40 sqm with moderate slopes of 20% incline. It digs in constantly and stalls. It digs into the soil about 30 times a day. So I need to constantly rescue it. I would say husqvarna is pretty junk and time for house robot mowers to solve this problem. I am keen to try the ecovacs goat. Looks promising.
I heard you earn ESG points for uploading electric and robot mower videos during Pride Month
😂😂
Looks like you have a crappy model. I have a 450X and it has been fantastic. And you had it for two years and never saw it do a spiral? Do you ever go outside? The spiral is used to clean up high spots in the yard.
But hey, looks like you need to grab that snapper 18" pusher and get to work. A few of those mowings and those little razor blades might not be so bad.
I hope you watched the whole video. I love it.
These machines from hell kill hedgehogs without compassion. The poor animals roll up in defense and the machine chops them in pieces.
Im going to try one. I can get one free picking up free gas mowers people are going to toss and parting them out. If it's too wimpy you can always build one. Get A.I. or someone else to program the brain.