 CMM1200 Black&Decker Cordless Lawnmower |
| Date Of Review: March 18, 2007 |
| Reviewed by: someNOthing, Dallas, TX |
I just purchased this mower and mowed my lawn today. First, the positives:
1. This thing is as-advertised. There's no assembly required other than arranging the mulching bag and removing the mulcher - if that's what you want to do.
2. It was incredibly easy to start this thing - insert key and lift lever.
3. No mess, no gas, no oil, no air filter. The only maintenance described in the service manual is blade sharpening (once to twice per year) and battery replacement. (Possible two years?).
4. Charging the unit is as easy as charging a cell phone and it charged up overnight. It had enough juice to mow my 1/3rd acre lot with heavy spring weeds that were also a little wet without running out of battery juice.
5. It was very easy to clean. Just disconnect the key and then you can turn it over to clean the blade and guard without worrying about oil or gas spilling.
6. It's easy to disconnect handle and mulch bag for storage.
Negatives:
1. Although it's not incredibly heavy, it's not as light as my 5HP gas Craftsman mower. Since there's no self-propelling feature, it can get heavy if you had to go up hills - my lawn is relatively flat so no problem there.
2. The unit is basically plastic. It has a cheap feel to it - although I'm sure it would be too heavy if it was metal.
3. There's really nothing protecting the battery underneath the top cover and it's barely held there with a nylon strap.
4. The paper instruction manual is worthless. It has very little information in it and it's hard to read because one section is written and you have to go to another part of the manual for the pictures.
5. The unit came with Styrofoam inserts that surrounded the battery. I had a very strong feeling that these inserts were for shipping only and must be removed before operating the unit. However, there is nothing in the manual that states this either way and I had to figure it out for myself.
6. There are no instructions for how to replace the battery - you are instructed to take it to a service dealer. Perhaps they could have put more effort into the documentation.
7. The mulching bag doesn't seem to hold much grass. I had to empty it three times before I was done mowing.
All and all, I love this mower. I hated having to jack with gas and oil and filters and maintenance of gas mowers. Plus, this thing is relatively quiet compared to my gas mower. I recommend it. |
very easy to use
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| Date Of Review: May 28, 2007 |
| Reviewed by: K. Adams, |
First, I would like to thank those who posted comments previously. They were very helpful in knowing what to expect when my new B&D lawn mower arrived. I had also previously purchased similar cordless rechargeable lawn and garden tools (a small hedge trimmer and blower) which had reassured me that this electric lawn mower would be a good fit. These items were also manufactured by B&D, so I was familiar with their instructions and packaging - which I have come to interpret as 'the simpler the better'.
Let me clarify something - I don't believe that I would be classified as the typical B&D demographic. I am a 44 year old female office worker, with a passion for weekend gardening. I do my own yard work and really appreciate discovering these new tools that make the job easier and faster. I also love the fact that I can retire my old touchy pull-start machines and leaky gas cans.
The purchase experience from Amazon was wonderful. I ordered this lawn mower on a Tuesday and received an email on Wednesday stating that it would be delivered on Friday. Sure enough, a driver appeared on the appointed day, just three days after placing the order, while I was home for lunch. I had the box dropped off directly into my garage without me having to lift an ounce. I opened the end of the box and rolled out my new mower. Fifteen minutes later it was set up and charging, and I was headed back to work.
TIP - bookmark the illustration pages so that after reading the instructions you can quickly flip to the corresponding picture. Also, don't over-think it - it really is unbelievably simple.
I used it the next morning. I still can't get over how quick and easy it is to start this lawn mower! No bending, no cord pulling, no coughing and sputtering engine. My only concern going into this purchase was that my previous gas-guzzling machine was self-propelled, and this new electric was not. On a smaller lot this would not be an issue, however I have a 1/4 acre with some slight, but definately noticable, grade changes. My concerns were laid to rest quickly as this lighter and more maneuverable machine did the job without adding additional strain on the operator.
I live in an area where smog is an issue. When I first learned how much pollution a gas powered mower generates, I was shocked. Now I don't have to feel like I am giving the neighborhood kids asthma so that I can have a nicely groomed lawn.
One final TIP - as you accumulate more recharging products, it is a good idea to label your rechargers with their corresponding equipment, especially the ones that you don't use on a regular basis, such as the hedge trimmer.
Happy gardening!
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Where's the cup holder?
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| Date Of Review: May 26, 2007 |
| Reviewed by: Thomas Ahern, Foster, RI USA |
I'm very pleased so far. Of course, it's been just a couple of cuts to date, of a yard large enough to be at the estimated limit of this mower's charge. But it handled the chore easily. This is a great tool, in my opinion.
Here's what I like. No assembly. Charges up in a few hours. Quiet as a blender, yet plenty of power (you can tell; it feels muscular). Stops instantly (leaping toad in grass). Mulches. Cordless, so you can take it far and wide (our driveway is one-tenth of a mile long through a field; it looks nice to keep the edge trimmed). No gasoline. No fumes. No roar. No pollution (at my end; can't speak for the power plants at the other end).
Plus it gives me some of my daily workout (trying to lose a few pounds this summer): it's not self-propelled, so you push a bit.
My only wish: a place to plunk my drink.
POSTSCRIPT: Months later I can now report that this mower is everything it promised to be the first few times out. It's fun to use. And I abuse it freely, pushing into fields of high grass sometimes to make trails. Still a very satisfied customer.
PPS: Two years later I'm cruising over rocks and roots in the woods behind my house and drove the blade up into the cowling. No problem: cut it away with shears, and I'm ready to mow again. So, yes, durable. Won't quit. |
just read the manual first
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| Date Of Review: May 19, 2007 |
| Reviewed by: orocam, Calgary Alberta |
Some of the reviews almost caused me not to buy this mower. But I just liked the technological concept and I bought it anyway. Glad I did. It works great. I have some comments about the negative comments in some of the other reviews: 1. read & follow the manual & charge the battery over night before using it. Not a big deal. It worked great the first time. 2. I have a quarter acre and had no problem with the battery dying on me. I did set it at the lowest multch position which is about midway on the height scale. The height adjustment mechanism was amazingly simple to use compared to the old way of adjusting each wheel. The multch setting works well. I hated the whole bag routine. No lumps of grass, in fact the cut grass just seemed to disappear. 3. I haven't even seen the battery, no need to. The guy who took the styrofoam out of the battery pack should put it back, it likely holds the battery in place. 4. Nothing flimsy about it. It's plastic and it's well put together. If anything's loose, tighten it. Mine was solid. 5. Right or left handed? If you can use both hands on your steering wheel to drive your car, you can cope with the lever on the right side of the handle. 6. It's not light but neither was my stink-pot mower. I find it just as easy to push around and manoever as my old put-put mower, including on small hills. The manual is quite clear and helpful on how to do slopes.
That's it. I really like it. Buy it, if you can afford it. |
Mower of Mowers
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| Date Of Review: September 26, 2007 |
| Reviewed by: John D. Razan, Detroit, MI United States |
In the summer of 2006, my Toro mower was not doing so well so I started looking for a replacement. I went online and read reviews of various mowers including cordless mowers. I opted to purchase another Toro. A couple of months ago, someone went into my backyard and walked off with my mower so there I was spending another afternoon online shopping for mowers. After researching for hours, I decided to go ahead, throw caution to the wind, and purchase the Black & Decker Cordless 24-Volt Mulching Mower #CMM1200. I wasn't disappointed. My yard is approximately one third the size of the recommended cutting area of one third acre. I estimate my yard to be a typical size (not including a house located on a corner). The mower has plenty of power to complete the job. One reviewer complained about the plastic which I found to be solid on the mower. I'd rather have plastic since the bottom inside of steel decked mowers always loose their paint. Another reviewer complained about the CMM1200 missing sections of the lawn. On first try, I had the same experience. What you have to do is overshoot the end of your row a little, pull pack, then change your direction. Since this is a mulching mower, keep in mind that your grass needs to be free of moisture when you cut. Also, keep the width of your rows the width of the front your mower (do not include the wheels!). I now have a beautifully manicured lawn that could be on the cover of "American Beautiful Lawn". My lawn is relatively flat but has a few inclines and I found it very easy to push. The noise level is quite a bit lower than a gas powered mower which is a big plus. A few people complained about removing the CMM1200 from the box. All you have to do is open the top, cut the backside of the box, remove the cardboard pieces holding the wheels in place, then move it out backwards. It started up right from the box but you need to give it a full charge before use. I wished I had purchased this last year (not sure if it was available then). My mower now stays in the basement until I need it. Best of all, I do not stink after cutting the grass! One possible negative is that I don't believe the CMM1200 to be as powerful as a gas powered mower but to me, the difference is minimal. Hopefully this purchase will help combat the environmental problems we are now facing. If you were on the fence considering purchasing this item, don't wait any longer it great!
Update 10/21/2008 Still working like a champ!!! Sometimes I still get "pop-up" of grass between rows which you can see a couple days after mowing but come to think of it, the same happened when using a gas powered mower. I am very happy I changed over from a gas powered mower to a battery powered mower. The benefits greatly outweigh any negative aspects, at least at this point in the mower's career.
Uodate 10/13/2009 I love this mower. It is still working great. No issue with battery degradation. Blade still sharp!
Update 08/31/2010 Still going strong. I am cutting my house (front and back) and the front lawns of two neighbor's abandoned homes. Sometimes all on the same day! The only problem I had was with the handle covers falling apart by the curve so I just cut the frayed edges off. They're fine now and so is the mower. |
Retired After 9 Years with No Problems
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| Date Of Review: June 1, 2007 |
| Reviewed by: Thomas M. Karl, Westerville, OH USA |
April 2009 Update: We retired our CMM1000 mower this spring because the cost to replace the battery[...] was too high.
- 9 years of mowing
- Started every time on the first try
- No maintenance during that 9 years other than sharpening the blade.
- No problems
We "free-cycled" the old mower locally and replaced it with a Neuton battery electric mower.
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June 2008 Update: Our CMM1000 mower is now 8 years old and will soon need its first new battery. However, we're finding it difficult to open the mower and are still searching the Internet for instructions as well as a replacement battery.
Still 5 stars ... ??? Yes, for now. We'll keep you posted about the replacement battery.
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We purchased this mower 7 years ago with no problems and no regrets. Below are some quick observations based on our experience over these trouble-free years:
ALWAYS starts on the FIRST TRY by turning a switch.
No tune up needed.
No oil change needed.
No gasoline to buy, store, and spill.
Still using the original battery.
Works fine in spring after wintering in a freezing garage.
Yes, it's heavier than a gas mower of comparable size, but we bought it because several retired neighbors use the same model. We would not want to push this up or down a hill, but it is easily managed on a level lot.
We mow our small yard and our neighbor's small yard on one charge with plenty of batter power remaining.
The plastic housing shows little signs of wear, and the height adjustment works fine to this day.
In summary, we have had no problems, would purchase another one, and continue to recommend it to everyone. |
Great mower, no problems.
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| Date Of Review: July 5, 2007 |
| Reviewed by: Eric William, Michigan |
First, let me tell you how to get the mower out of the box. (I guess one person is silly and tried to lift it.) The mower has four wheels. I just opened the top of the box, then tipped the box SLOWLY so the mower slid out on its own wheels.
Ok, that said. My lawn has bumps and dips. The 1200 gave my lawn a better mow than my Gas mower. A real joy. I did not have ANY of hte problems that others had. ... except one.
The height adjustment sucks. I could not get it to the maximum height. Otherwise, great mow! |
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Clean and convenient, the Cordless Electric Mulching Lawn Mower from Black & Decker runs on a dependable 24-volt battery and can mow a 1/3-acre home lot on a single charge. It allows you to eliminate tricky pull starts and tangled extension cords from your lawn care regimen and, as a zero-emissions tool, it's not just easier to use than traditional gas mowers, it's an environmentally friendly choice. 
A removable safety key prevents accidental startups. | 
The height of all four wheels adjusts with the pull of one lever. | 
The folding handle makes for easy storage. | 
Depending on conditions, this mower can handle up to 12,000 sq.ft. on a single charge. View larger. | 
Versatile configurations let you choose where grass clippings end up. | Easy to Use and Easy on the Environment
This cordless electric mower is designed to simplify lawn care. Just insert the key, pull the lever, and go. No pull cords or time-consuming maintenance and tune-ups required. No gas and oil to buy, mix, store, or spill. No need to worry about the length of an extension cord. No dirty fumes polluting your yard. Versatile and Dependable Cordless Cutting Power
With this electric mower, a 1200-watt output permanent magnet electric motor delivers quick, effective performance. A single battery charge provides plenty of run time to mow a typical home site of 1/3 acre, which translates to a grass area of 10,000 to 12,000 square feet. The mower's deck offers a cutting width of 19 inches. This durable polymer deck is easy to clean, won't ever rust, and is backed by a lifetime warranty. The mower also offers you the choice of using the mulching plate to lay cuttings back on your lawn as free, chemical-free fertilizer, or of using a rear bag with a large 1.5-bu capacity to collect clippings. You can select a mowing height from 1.5 to 3.5 inches to account for a variety conditions. One-touch height adjustment lets you adjust all four wheels with the pull of a single lever. And when it's time to put the mower away, the handle folds to create a more compact footprint, allowing for storage in tight spaces. Energy Star Approval and Support for Battery Recycling
The Black & Decker 24-volt battery-powered mower is the first in its class to offer a charger that qualifies for the Energy Star approval mark. This charger meets the strict energy-efficiency guidelines set by the US Environmental Protection Agency and the US Department of Energy. A battery will charge to 70-percent in just three or four hours, or to 100-percent overnight. In addition to benefiting the environment, this efficiency helps you save money on utilities. Black & Decker also supports the activities of the Rechargeable Battery Recycling Corporation (RBCB), a not-for-profit company established for the purpose of collecting and recycling rechargeable batteries within the U.S. and Canada so that they don't end up in landfills. Companies involved in this recycling effort pay for the cost of collection and recycling so that the environmental benefits come at no cost to you, the consumer. This electric mower weighs just 76 pounds, and it is backed by a full two-year warranty. What's in the Box
Mower, rear bag, mulching plate, and safety key.
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