Kobalt 80V Battery Self Propelled Lawn Mower Review | Pros/Cons 1 Year Later
HTML-код
- Опубликовано: 27 авг 2024
- Today we review the Kobalt 80V 21" Self Propelled Lawn Mower with 6.0ah battery from Lowes. Can this battery lawnmower handle more than .25 acres of land like Kobalt claims? What are the pros and cons that I have found over the last 1 year period? Overall, I believe this is a great addition to your Kobalt 80V lineup if you currently use other 80V products or what to take a shot at owning a battery lawnmower for a smaller residential yard.
Support the channel below!
Amazon Affiliate: www.amazon.com...
eBay Affiliate: ebay.us/4B76kq
Patreon: / justinkellyyt
#Kobalt80V #lawnmower #Lowes
We have had the 80v Kobalt mower for about four years. It still works great, We have a quarter acre lot that can be mowed three times on one battery charge.
I bought the 80v about 3 yrs ago and it takes care of my small 3100 sq ft yard very well. The only problem I've hard with it is both rear wheel bearings, of which I'm replacing next weekend. And yes, I agree with the blade sharpening comment. I usually have to sharpen it 2 to 4 times a season. But other than that, this mower has been a real joy for me. It was very much well worth the purchase.
5 star video man! Good to see a very thorough review from a regular guy vs someone that makes money doing reviews. Rhe review is very detailed and you referenced kobalt’s own specs as a starting point instead of just stating an open ended opinion. thats how a review should be done.
I appreciate the great feedback! My goal for these Kobalt reviews is to give real world feedback on my usage so these comments help me verify that my points came across how I intended. These products are not perfect but with a little understanding of how they work now, I can still recommend them so far.
The wheels locking up seems to be a pretty common issue among self propelled mowers in general. I have this mower, what I do is once I stop using the self propelled feature, give the mower a tiny push forward and the wheels unlock. Not sure if this is some sort of safety feature, but I’ve used multiple self propelled mowers and the little push forward after releasing self propel seems to work on all of them.
Interesting. I have never encountered this issue with front drive mowers in the past so maybe it has to do more with rear drive? I have gotten used to it but sometimes they still catch and its just annoying.
@@JustinKellyYes my 48 volt kobalt does the same thing and yea just a little push forward unlocks the wheels. Not annoying once you figure that out and get used to it.
Thank you! You were so helpful. You are good at this. Didn't talk to fast or slow. You stayed on the topic. I got the information I was looking for.
Thanks Ellen!
lol! The lockup you mention at 8:00 absolute deal killer for me. I have a huge number of obstacles when I mow, requiring constant reversing of a push mower. This would drive me nuts.
Glad I could help. They also offer a push only option for this mower if you would like it.
Finally a review that the reviewer has a well groomed lawn lolol. What's with those other reviewers? They need a controlled burn not a lawn mower Lolol. Very informative. I just bought the tool only version for $399 because I had the batteries from an older model which I gave my son. Your spot on with your comments. First-time using it the rear wheel locked when I tried to pull it back. Learned to turn off self propelled a few steps before I needed to in order to avoid the issue. Also, so far haven't seen the discrepancy with the handle LED light and battery. I'm sure that will come. This is my second 80v Kobalt mower, the previous was not self propelled and decided at 70 needed a self propelled lolo. Great job on your video and keep up with that beautiful lawn.
Haha thanks for the kind comments! Yes, I have learned to release the drive button the same way. It works most of the time but on certain areas of the yard you really have to plan. I don't mind mowing but it does get old when it needs done every week (or less). :)
I bought the 40 volt version. The pros and cons you mentioned are on it also. The instructions for starting the blade are vague. Even the people in the store didn't know how to start it. As a result I took the first one back thinking it was defective. They provided an exchange which I tested before leaving. Same problem. Then a young man came out and fiddled with it untill he found out you have to hold the start button then pull the safety bar back. Vala! But, soon thereafter the self propel quit. The 3rd one is fine so far.
Electric motors have a surge in power when started. Therefore the least you start and stop the blade the longer you can cut grass on a charge. It may not be wise, but I Velcro the blade bar and only stop the blade if it will be sitting 3 or 4 minutes or more. Over all I am happy. You have a beautiful lawn BTW.
Have the same mower, one thing that keeps happening is debris gets in the rear wheel gear housing and then makes the rear wheels hard to turn forward and backwards. I take the rear wheel housing apart and clean them and it is good for about another 5 cuts and have to do it again. You did a very accurate review. Not so sure I would buy Kobalt again though.
Interesting. I have never had that issue with this one. Outside of what was mentioned, it's been a solid mower. I wish you could control the blade speed manually.
We got the Non-Self Propelled Model with the Black Wheels and 5ah Battery.
Love it! No More Transmission problems
Great to hear!
I was thinking that! It’s so light you can push it and not have any problems. Except on hills and if the bagger is full.
Great Review! Thank you very Much
Thanks for the info. Certainly helped and I could not stop watching your handsome, smiling face! 😎
I'm on my 3rd season using this exact mower and I love it. That battery indicator issue you're having is weird. Mine doesn't do that. But also my battery looks much different from yours. Its also a 6ah 80v.
They seemed to update the battery design in 2019 or so from what I can tell. The older versions have a more squared off button while the newer ones are round. I am glad yours is holding up well so far! I just sharpened the blade again and it works much better with a freshly sharpened blade.
I'm on my 3rd season with the mower and until recently I've been very pleased with it. It sounds like a box fan when its running so it doesnt bother the neighbors no matter the time of day I mow. HOWEVER when I went out to mow my yard yesterday it was very loud and vibrated very badly. I was runny just fine when I put it away after the last use. It also appears to be running at high speed. This mower is very expensive so I may be going back to a gas mower.
Did you check to make sure the blade isn't loose?
Thank you for this video very informative. I got the 80v model bc of the 2 batteries. Would love to see a video on how to store for small spaces! Looking forward to using this soon!
Thank you!
I think someone else has mentioned it, but the wheels locking was something i had to get used to. For me, the wheels lock and prevent reversing every single time i let off the forward motion button, but if i manually push the mower forward even a few inches it unlocks every single time. I've developed a habit of letting off the power wheels a half step or so before i reach an obstacle or turn. It took a while to develop that muscle memory but now i don't even notice it and i never have issues with the locking wheels.
It still catches me out once or twice every time I mow. It's by far the worst thing about this model.
Good luck getting parts if you need them. IE - the blade mounting bracket.
I got mine for $85.....yes you read that right... $85. Someone purchased it as an online order and returned it "open boxed"... Box was damaged, but everything was still like new inside.
Great score! The battery alone is worth way more than that.
Great job on the review I am looking at it and also looking at the Ego Select Cut XP.
Thanks! Many hours went into this video as I tried to cover all aspects fairly quickly.
Very informative. Thanks
Thank you for making this thorough video. It helped me decide I don't want this mower. The 11yr old Craftsman I'm looking to replace was $329 and every aspect of it is better functioning than this Kobalt. I'm definitely not looking to spend more money and get a worse mower. I'm only considering electric because they are so much quieter and not as heavy. This Kobalt model just has too many caveats for me compared to what I'm already accustomed to.
Thanks for the comment! You won't regret going electric as long as you don't have heavy brush to mulch all the time. Nothing better than taking the battery off the charger and going to work!
don't forget cost of gas and pull to start. Hard on an old man like me. I'd rather charge a batt than go buy gas so I'm going to give it a try. Might be my last lol
@@ralphmarlow6627 That's understandable. An electric mower might be a good option for you if you're diligent about mowing your lawn regularly to keep it short. My gas push mower has a key-start ignition. No pulling to start is required. It goes through about 4 gallons/$15 of gas from Spring to Fall. That includes gas used in my weedeater and leaf blower.
Helpful video! I'm in between the Kobalt 80V 5amp battery Brushless, 21in self propelled or the Ego similar model 56V. The Kobalt replacement battery is muuuuch cheaper but I'm wondering which is still better.
Remember Greenworks is the same as Kobalt and they are often cheaper than Kobalt branded tools directly from Greenworks website during sales. Their batteries are the same too so if you do end up buying a Kobalt kit, you can always buy a Greenworks 5ah battery and simply swap the internals over to the Kobalt plastic case (if you feel comfortable). Assuming they still offer the same 80v batteries when you need one in 3+ years time. Oh and I believe Greenworks has 4 year warranties which is one year better than Kobalt but double check that.
Would love to upgrade.
In market for new mower but cant decide between this or the makita. Seen good reviews for both mowers
One thing to know is, although there is a 5 year replacement or refund warranty on this machine, once the 5 years is up you may not be able to get parts or repairs done. I have a Kobalt 80 volt mower with a bad control board that is not available. This is a $25 part that runs the whole machine. The rest of the mower is in perfect condition. Because of this Lowes and Kobalt have made this a throw away mower. So if part of the reason you bought this mower is to be more environmentally friendly then consider most of it may be land fill material at any time. My gas mowers have lasted up to 20 years and cost less. Not happy.
I'm needing parts too. But kobakt offers no parts. So basically needing a $20 part means you have to junk a $300 mower. Not happy at all.
@@mikepersing The plastic fan broke on the bottom of my 80v Kobalt mower. I like the mower but, as you said no parts available so I'm looking for a new mower myself.
Locking wheels was enough for me to say no to this one. Thank u
I ve had mine one and half years and love it except it runs for a minute then quits. Reset the battery and will run for 3 seconds and quit. Ive ruled out the safety switch became the drive wheels won't drive. Anyone have any ideas?
13:15 Justin shows exactly what happens when the speed control is placed on 5.
That actually was higher than I normally keep it but its not far off of what you feel like! 😆
This is a great review. My mother inlaw is looking for a battery powered push mower. Your review steered me away from this one. Is there one out there that is recommended from anyone
I have the same one it shuts down when the battery loses 1 bar. Any idea of how to fix it?
buying one at Lowes Apr 2023 Price was $550 discount price Reg price $170 more. Two batt 6 and 2 amp. Since on sale no veteran discount at my store. Bought because I bought a 80v trimmer which I really like. None available in store so free shipping to home So I wait.
Thanks for the update!
Great review, I have a question on the Self Propel button, you stated that the wheels lock up when engaging in Self Propelled mode. and you cannot pull in reverse. But would it be easy to hit the button again and then back up and hit the button again to go forward?
Yes it's very easy to work around this design. If you simply release the button prior to wanting to pull the mower back (aka one or two steps before stopping) you can easily pull the mower backwards. If you're stopped and wheels are already locked, you can't just hit the button quickly again. You must move the mower forward slightly without the button pressed. Hopefully this helps!
@@JustinKelly Thank you for the quick and informative advice, you helped me make my decision a lot easier.
how many inches tall is setting 7 on the mower? I need a electric to cut 5 inch tall st Augustine grass. I want a 5 inch cut height.
For the rear locking on this mower after releasing the self propelled how long does the locking last? Also we’re you able to fill the bagger up to full? Some electric mowers only allow the bagger to fill up to half. Great review!
Thanks for the questions Marc. The lock lasts until the mower is pushed forward slightly. What I have found is easiest is to release the propulsion button just a few feet before you plan on turning more than 90 degrees or pulling it backwards. This eliminates the locking issue all together but if you manage to find it happening then you need to push it forward just enough to move the wheel forward to get the wheels to unlock. As for bagging, I have used the bagging a few times and it fills the bag up without issues. Like with gas mowers if you overfill it then it will stop picking clippings up but I never overfill so usually it ends up being about 90% full or so when I stop to empty. Like I mention in the video, I think its a very good mower you just need to keep the blade sharp and plan around keeping the battery full if you mower as much acreage as I do or the mower is running on high the entire time.
Don't run over any obstacles, rocks, tree roots, it will rip the blade out of its plastic mount.
Awesome review! How is it with bag collection?
Bagging works great! No issues and it does a fairly good job bagging leaves as well.
I've been using the push version for 4 years. Loved it until this year because i can't find replacement blades and the 40v is a different design. How dumb. Anyone know where to find new blades?
How long does the battery take to charge? Can an 80v 2 ah Kobalt battery be used with this mower? Thanks.
@justinkelly do you recommend the new 80v is about $699 now. Thanks
My Kobalt 80 volt will not self propel. How can I fix y
** 80v battery is stuck inside mower** looking for suggestions to solve issue!!
Damn, all their mowers have gone up $100 in the last year.
I think your mulch compartment get jammed with grass because you're not using the side discharge chute attachment 😳
You can't mulch and side discharge at the same time. The point of mulching is to keep it inside the deck and blades to shred it finer.
@justin kelly...Did you find that on the newest model, those extra-long length batteries come out, after mowing, completely covered in dust n filthy ?
Kinda shitty design-flaw
Tough to think these batteries would make it a year !!!
Anyone else having this problem ?
This one seals well enough to keep them clean. They'll only get a very light layer of dust on them when it's dry outside. Nothing very dirty at all.
I have this same mower. This is my 3 or 4th year using this Kobalt 80v self-propelled model. I upgraded from the 40v version. Now the mower will not kick in when I press self-propel. Do you have any troubleshooting procedures? I haven’t found any so far. Thanks!
Sorry I don't have any ideas off the top of my head. I have had it stop working once or twice but a battery pull sorts it out every time.
Thanks for your reply Justin. BTW I contacted Kobalt Customer Support and because the mower was w/in the 5-yr warranty they had me return it to the store for a replacement! Can’t beat that :)
Lowes doesn't seem to offer Kobalt products anymore. Are other batteries compatible with Kobalt
Kobalt is Lowe's own brand. The 80v lineup is exclusively available online. Kobalt, Greenworks, and other Menard's brands are all made by the same manufacturer. The battery internals are swappable but not the cases so you would have to take the batteries apart and swap the insides. You can also modify the battery cases with a dremel if you want.
Lowes unfortunately doesn't carry the 80v lineup anymore. I use the chainsaw in my lawn care biz and it's very good for what it does. However there are 80v outdoor power items on FB marketplace all the time for dirt cheap
I got one today for $120 on clearance! How does it do on wet grass? How long does charge take?
Wow! The quick charger charges in around an hour from a low state of charge. The mower doesn't do well in wet grass but that does force it to run on the higher power which does help some. Overall it seems to do it's best in thick, dry grass because it forces the mower into high speed for a cleaner cut. The blade can be sharp but the normal speed is just a hair slow for best cut.
Not well generally speaking. It tends to clog up the mower.
Congrats on that deal!
I got a ryobi but im thinking switching to another brand and see how they handle my lawn. First 2 ryobi mowers i got werent too well cause of how quickly batteries drained and thicc grass were too much for it. The current one is way better and love it but even though i have it im still looking around for other electric mowers.
Can you use it without the mulch plug?
You can but I would recommend using it unless you are bagging of course.
@@JustinKelly curious why if it gets clogged? Thinking of buying a used one for a couple hundred
i need a key yellow for m8 we lost ours where can i buy one
eBay would likely have them
How does it perform in tall wet grass?
It does ok but not great. How tall are you talking about? It will definitely run the blade on high which does help quite a bit.
I have the same mower too. It cuts but not clean. It also struggles.
can the 80v work on the 40v mower?
No
sounds like I'm stuck having to pay the higher price for the 80V mower and snow blower
You look like a cuter Elijah Wood