To avoid grass clippings from building up underneath the mower deck, we recommend that you spray the underside with MO-DECK lubricant. The MO-DECK spray will help keep grass clippings and debris from sticking to the bottom of the mower deck.
High cost of crucial replacement parts
If you’re already using a gas-powered riding mower, you’re likely accustomed to replacing blades, belts and mandrel pulleys. While the blades cost the same for electric riders and you don’t have to worry about belts, the electric riding mowers don’t have mandrel pulleys. Battery-powered riding mowers use individual electric motors to drive the blades. A replacement blade motor can easily cost more than $500. If you ruin a motor by hitting a rock or stump, you may be looking at a high repair bill.
Replacement batteries and chargers in electric mowers can also cost you lots of dough.
Keep the high cost of replacement parts in mind when deciding whether an electric mower is right for you in 2023.
Longevity of the battery
Electric mowers haven’t been around for that long so it’s too early to tell how long the batteries will typically last. Depending on how much you use the mower, it may only last an average of 4 to 5 years (maybe less). We don’t know yet.
Most battery-operated riders are covered by a 3-year warranty but the battery warranty in electric mowers varies. Even if it’s covered by a warranty, some manufacturers make you pay for shipping to get warranty service.
Check the warranty before buying a battery-operated mower to see what you’re facing. It’s likely a good idea to get an extended warranty when buying an electric rider. (Of course, this will add to the already high cost of the machine.)
Limited cutting width
Because electric riding mowers use separate motors for each cutting blade, they typically only have 2 blades. This limits cutting width for most electric riders to about 42-inches. If you’re replacing a 3-blade riding mower with a 60-inch cutting deck, it will be difficult to find a residential electric rider with a wider deck than 42-inches in 2023. If you do, the price tag of a 3-blade electric mower shoot way up so be prepared to spend a lot more money.