My autonomous lawn mower thread/blog

beanian · 14-03-2023 10:24AM

Well, after 5 solid seasons by McCulloch R600 seems to need a battery replacement. I'm getting a "battery problem" error when it is turned on. Tried reseating the battery to no avail/

The R600 is a rebadged Husqvarna 105 so a 105 battery would work also. Can anyone recommend where I could get one of these? Not a lot comes up in the search results....

Dozz · 14-03-2023 11:51AM

@beanian

McCulloch ROB R600 products - BatteryUpgrade

spose · 15-03-2023 01:29AM

Aliexpress usually pretty cheap for replacement batteries. Just need to wait a few weeks for delivery

Hurco2020 · 15-03-2023 09:38AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120331006#Comment_120331006

Hi Murfler,

Would be interesred in buying if still available.Can you PM me please

murfler · 16-03-2023 08:02AM

Sent

listermint · 16-03-2023 08:10AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120306448#Comment_120306448

Put then under a ridge tile . If they're kept out of the rain they'll last forever. The quality is fine it's just the weather they don't play well with. Make sure it's off the ground too or we'll drained under like pebbles.

listermint · 16-03-2023 08:14AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120312022#Comment_120312022

There's no merit to ordered cutting. Unless you want stripes which I'm not sur any mower can seriously do.

If you've the timing done well mines on three days you won't miss a blade of grass and it looks perfectly uniform.

Il be fairly Frank with people unless you've the most complex piece of lawn in Ireland then buy the dumbest system with the best battery forget all the bells and whistles. It's sole reason is to mulch your grass and do it regularly for a beautifully finished lawn. Bells and whistles don't do that any better. There's argument to be made for hilly lawns and important avoidance areas with bells and whistles. But a well fitted cable and a dumb mower will cost less out last and have zero real servicing.

KCross · 16-03-2023 08:51AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120364725#Comment_120364725

My transformer is mounted on a wall inside the house so it’s not that.

Ive a feeling it’s power surges kill it so maybe it’s my local grid is the issue and I’m just unlucky.

Interestingly though, when I spoke to the dealer to buy the last one he said he didn’t have one but had a “load of them on order”… his words. So, I don’t think I’m alone.

denismc · 16-03-2023 03:48PM

I see my local dealer has the new Husqvarna Nera series on display, these are brand new launching this spring.

They don't require any boundary wire for navigation but come with hefty price tags, no reviews anywhere yet!

poker--addict · 16-03-2023 09:12PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120366523#Comment_120366523

Seen them, navimow looks to do the same

job but less heft price tag.

listermint makes some fair points regarding going for a dumb one with a wire.

murfler · 16-03-2023 09:53PM

Unless you have a dumb dog that keeps digging up wire and chewing it.....

AidenL · 16-03-2023 10:46PM

So got a Husqvarna 435x a week ago, mid week it started going really slow, half speed.

Dealer came to check it out today and has taken it away.

Not sure what’s wrong with it, but disappointing that such an expensive mower had developed a fault already.

denismc · 17-03-2023 10:18AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120367602#Comment_120367602

The 420 costs 2700 euro and covers upto 2200 m2, The new Nera 320 costs 2900 euro and covers the same area.

Now add in your installation kit then there is very little difference in the price.

In the 5 years I have had my automower I have had multiple wire breaks that can be a PITA to find.

If was buying again I would be looking very closely at the Nera.

In terms of performance there aren't any reviews yet but Husqvarna have been selling automowers for 10 years plus,I would expect these to be pretty reliable.

farmerval · 18-03-2023 11:03AM

Folks, I have a couple of queries. My lawn is 600m2 all in one block, most to the front which grows quickly, some to the side and then the rear. I hopped into a Husqvarna dealer and he said that size mower 2,700.00 euros plus 400 to supply and install cable. Only dealer I have spoken to yet.

The back approx one third of the lawn grows really slow, usually I mow it once to twice in the front. If I split the lawn in two how and got two small robots, how would that go? Benefit that I am thinking is that if one gave trouble could I just chuck the other into that space? Am I Daft. Also outside of Ambroglio?? and Husqvarna is there any dealer support for other makes?

denismc · 18-03-2023 11:22AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120372119#Comment_120372119

That quote seems a little high, have a look online at the various models and their coverage and see which is best for you, don't just take the salesmans pitch , I have 600m2 and my Husqvarna 315 handles it easily, it is designed to handle upto 1500m2

Most automowers allow you to prioritize certain areas of the lawn over others so you could program your mower to start in one area more often .

I'm not sure you need 2 mowers though, just twice as many things to go wrong.

I have the Husqy and it has been pretty reliable for the last 5 year, any parts are readily available and easy to change if you need to.

Thud · 18-03-2023 08:41PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120372119#Comment_120372119

Robotmowers generally shouldn't need dealer support, that's a bit of a carry over from petrol mowers/ride ons. laying the cable is handy enough too a few hours work and will give you the skills to fix it rather than have to call a dealer again.

you wouldn't get dealer support for a roomba.

Once you're comfortable with that it will broaden the range of manufacturers you can look at

Mr Q · 18-03-2023 10:30PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120372119#Comment_120372119

I went with two mowers but I purchased used so the cost wasn't bad. A Husqvarna 105 and an older 220AC.

But my driveway is in in the middle of the two gardens so it made sense for me. I wouldn't go this route otherwise.

3.1k for a 600sqm garden seems extremely expensive.

lostdesign · 19-03-2023 10:15AM

Does the Landroid come with a continental 2 pin plug that needs to be changed when bought from Amazon.de??

Heavins have the WR155e (L2000) for €1529

Amazon.de is €1345 plus forward shipping.

Just considering the difference, local may be better!

Thanks

lostdesign · 19-03-2023 10:17AM

Would anyone recommend any dumb machines??

2000sqm here and new to robotic mowers.

Considering a Worx Landroid.

micks_address · 19-03-2023 12:30PM

Had my yardforce 400i running a couple of weeks ago and all fine. Tried sending out today as the grass is finally dry and I'm getting no signal on the app and the mower isn't running. The cable is mostly buried and I can't see any obvious breaks but is it likely to be a cable break somewhere?

micks_address · 19-03-2023 02:42PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120375387#Comment_120375387

Lifted half the cable and it seems fine.. rather than pull it all up ordered a cable tracker from Amazon.. re did the connections at the back of the charging base as well. Hopefully the mower isn't feiced as only a year old. And was bought from robot centre which is out of business... Will yardforce honor warranties?

Chocolate · 19-03-2023 08:28PM

Anyone any recommendations for small estate gardens?

Our grass area is, 40m2, a small fraction of most of the areas mentioned on this thread. I didn't read all pages. I started from page 115. That took me long enough but I don't think I saw one post mentioning a similar area.

However, our 15 year old electric push mower died last week and I need a replacement so I'm wondering if it's time to go robotic.

The mowers I've seen online dealing with small areas are Flymo, Gardena and Landroid.

Has anyone any advice?