It looks like the design language is more akin to a racecar where it is long and swept back. Unfortunately with the handle this makes it trickier to maneuver in smaller places and leads to much more trimmer work than regular gas mower. Because the handle has to be extended to pretty much full length for it to start, it prevents it from being nimble in tight corners. In addition, it doesn't go high enough, another hole in the adjuster on either side would do wonders.
The front wheels and deck extend further forward from the shaft compared to more traditional mowers which when cutting towards an object and stopping (say a wall) the blade doesn't get close enough. There looks to be enough room to bring the wheels closer back towards the cutting area and shortening the whole deck. To counteract this however, there needs to be more forward weight balance which is lacks down-force on the front wheels compared to other mowers. I think it would be easiest to just move the battery pack forward a couple inches.
I think both of these points would make it a much more appealing product.
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102 Points
Posted 5 years ago
Jennifer VandeWater, Community Manager
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81,048 Points
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80 Points
Jennifer VandeWater, Community Manager
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81,048 Points

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80 Points
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80 Points
this feedback helped me. I had some trouble understanding handle adjustments. Just got my mower from HD last night..
Thanks!
Stan
SCDC, Champion
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54,608 Points
Jennifer VandeWater, Community Manager
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81,048 Points
Blue Angel, Champion
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179,968 Points
The request is for a handle that has more than one position where the handle can lock into place and the mower can operate. This would effectively shorten the handle as well as lowering it, making it easier to manoever in tight spaces as well as offering a lower position for shorter people.
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192 Points
Blue Angel, Champion
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179,968 Points
As you can see from the above conversation, the request is a popular one and I'm sure they will take it into consideration if/when a new mower design is released.
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80 Points
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192 Points
Google is our friend. I'll keep searching for a way to do the modification on my own. For me, (being 5'9") the non-extended handle length is ergonomically perfect, and would allow me to zip around tight spaces with ease.
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37,182 Points
I think there was possibly a production issue at one point with some of the clips not staying closed, but I haven't heard of any handles bending or breaking.
At 6'5" I think the Ego handle is the most comfortable to hold of any mower (or stroller, utility cart, push toy, etc) that I've ever used. Is the lower angle not low enough or something? My wife is 5'3" and said it was comfortable for her to push. I really don't understand the desire for a shorter handle length.
From a safety perspective, perhaps a future version could require being slid completely in prior to folding to a storage position, disabling power only when fully in rather than enabling power only when fully out.
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192 Points
Pivoting around turns isn't the problem - it's the length of the handle that gets in the way in tight spaces. Sure, i can adjust the angle of the handle lower but that just makes it that makes the overall length even longer and harder to manage in those spaces (for me).
I'm not trying to upset current owners, or dissuade anyone from buying this mower. It really is a good overall package but with a minor design issue (in my opinion) that makes this mower fall a little short of expectations. The EGO mower replaces my "Old Reliable" 1990 Lawn Boy 2-stroke mower. My first impression is that the EGO mower is a little cheaply made for our disposable society but again; I haven't bought a lawn mower in 25 years. All lawnmowers these days probably have a measure of price-point engineering and planned obsolescence built into them.
SCDC, Champion
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54,608 Points
Wow, you said Lawn Boy. I remember when those were the 1 pull, cream of the crop mower. I loved mine! Even they aren't like they use to be. Thanks for reminding me of how old I am.
I do think that in order to meet consumer price points, everything is becoming disposable, and I don't like that. It feel strongly that the EGO equipment that I've invested in, has 5 to 10 years in it. My John Deere riding mower was the only mower to last 10 years for me. My Honda 800.00 gas mower lasted 3 years. I think the climate and environment play into it. Summers here are very hot, very dry. Makes for some dusty/messy mowing. With a gas mower, the intake eats up that dirty air and the dust gets into every joint. So of course it won't last as long without a lot of maintenance.
The EGO still has some kinks in the armor, but over all it has a good shell and motor. If the rest hold up, it will have turned out to be the best move I've made. God I love the quiet!
SCDC, Champion
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54,608 Points
Mr. Kline,
Mine was manufactured in 2013 (on the sticker). I only had to replace the clamps. It's been rock solid.
Though I am all for a better blade!
One odd thing though. I got 53 minutes of run time yesterday. What in the heck? I usually get about 40. I've also been on vacation a week. So the grass was thicker and more tall. It should have run shorter. It was also close to 100 degrees!
I use the quick charger and don't do anything special with my batteries but store in my house which stays at 72 degrees.
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37,182 Points
Perhaps there is a sweet spot for resistance that actually performs better than zero load?
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192 Points
Exactly. Other than LED light bulbs, is there a product you can buy at HD that is designed to last 25 years? Durable Goods aren't very "durable" anymore, and manufacturers are counting on the consumer mindset that we're OK with replacing, or upgrading to the shiny new model every few years. The "solution" to the handle issue is to simply wait until version 2.0 of the mower arrives. Perhaps I'm just old school, but that isn't acceptable to me. Lawn mowers have officially become disposable technology - like iPhones & gaming consoles.
My first thought when I unboxed the mower was "this thing will never last 25 years", which was confirmed by the flimsy handle clamp that failed on the mower's second use. I then realized EGO has a 5-year warranty on the mower, so I have a better understanding of the amount of lifespan engineered into the product. This isn't a slant against this particular manufacturer, only the affirmation that Durable Goods have become an oxymoron.
Ken, Champion
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73,580 Points
SCDC, Champion
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54,608 Points
I really like your thinking and mentality about the "disposable society". Gotta have the new iPhone every year, who knows how many millions of iPhone 4's are in the landfill, when they are perfectly good.
Have you shopped washing machines lately? Not 1 single brand has a reliable set of reviews past 5 years. All of these new top and front loaders are fizzling out at 3 to 5 years. Maytag use to mean something. Now it's a whirlpool. I'm giving LG a try, my bet is it'll flood the house in 4 years. :(.
I think the only thing that's reliable is my 2001 Buick park avenue. What a tank! 15 years and runs quieter, better ride, its a moving couch. Gets better mileage than my new Kia Sportage.
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37,182 Points
I think it's mostly the highly touted "quality" brands that realize they can't maintain market share unless they lower their prices to compete with the cheaper products from their competitors. But that means cutting profit margin or cost, and they have bloated overhead costs to cover. So direct costs like R&D and materials get slashed to avoid making the harder cuts.
In my opinion, any company trying to break into a market or establish a new product is always going to offer better value and quality for your buck. They have more to prove and don't have all the corporate bloat to pay for. Hence why I'd bet on a $500 mower from Ego over one from Honda any day!
Blue Angel, Champion
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179,968 Points
I have a spot in my backyard where a narrow strip of grass borders my deck and I need to make a 45° right turn. The handle length makes that turn impossible without first raising the handle which is impractical.
An extra length setting with the handle half extended would be perfect in my opinion and would also accommodate shorter folk who would prefer a lower handle height.
SCDC, Champion
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54,608 Points
Blue Angel, Champion
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179,968 Points
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192 Points
Way off topic here...but I made a "revelation" two years ago that the last year's model phone was good enough when making the decision to buy nearly everything.
Last year, I dropped my Samsung Note 2 on a client's floor and shattered it. I'd probably still be using it if not for the cost to replace the glass. The choice at the time was $400 for the new Samsung Note 4, or getting the "old" Samsung Note 3 for free (with 2-year subscription renewal). Apple & Samsung are marketing geniuses. They have successfully brainwashed their lemmings to line up in front of stores to buy the new shiny rectangle the minute it gets released. Such a fine line between "need" and "want" these days.
Blue Angel, Champion
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179,968 Points
I have to ask, given the size of the Note, was it the phone or the floor that shattered?!?
Can you tell I have an iPhone? :-)
BTW, must have iP6s, or whatever they call it... must have it... must have it... as I foam at the mouth mindlessly surfing for Apple rumors. Hey, that's what I've been trained to do, just following orders, probably given to me subliminally through contact with my iPhone.
"Maybe it'll come in yellow!"
Mind
Blown
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192 Points
No offense intended. Apple makes great devices. My point is that last year's device isn't necessarily as obsolete as Apple (or Samsung) would like everyone to believe.
Blue Angel, Champion
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179,968 Points
My dad used to rock a Motorola 8000, he was in real-estate in the late 80's - early 90's:

More disposable conspiracy theory; he claimed that phone worked better than the newer digital phones and kept it alive until the service providers no longer supported them! Might have been something to do with the mega power output frying brain cells too, but hey, it was a cool phone!!!
Jennifer VandeWater, Community Manager
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81,048 Points
SCDC, Champion
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54,608 Points
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80 Points
Also of course, the key and dead man lever are still required to start the motor, so still relatively safe
If you are one of the lucky ones who have needed replacement clips then you can modify your old ones only, thus giving you the ability to revert the mower to stock standard should the need arise.
Just saying...
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