|  |
| Customer Reviews: | | Average Customer Review: ( 421 customer reviews )
Write an online review and share your thoughts with other customers.
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
520 of 528 found the following review helpful:
 CMM1200 Black&Decker Cordless Lawnmower Mar 18, 2007
By someNOthing
"enlighten me"
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.
165 of 167 found the following review helpful:
Long Term Owner - positive review Jan 02, 2008
By MarkWK
"MarkWK"
Like most of you, whenever I go to buy an appliance or tool on the internet I read the customer reviews to try to get a feel for the product's long term performance before I invest in it. Unfortunately, many of the reviews have been submitted by short term owners who are still jazzed over their purchase and haven't used it long enough to offer a comprehensive assessment of the product. That's why I decided to review this mower now after I've used it for a few seasons.
I've had my cordless mower since May of 2004. It is actually the CMM1000, the model previous to the CMM1200. I understand, based on the number of negative reviews, that the quality of design and manufacturing of this product could be considered suspect. Temper that with the reality that most satisfied customers remain mum while most dissatisfied customers howl to the heavens. I've owned several other Black and Decker products with mixed results. My drill? Awesome. My weed wacker? The first one was junk. The second one - a cordless model - worked out. My power washer? I've gone through two of them and I wouldn't wish one upon my worst enemy.
But even after a few years of service, I still love my mower.
At the end of the first season, something broke in the electronic guts under the cover that the switch was attached to. At first it wouldn't shut off until I removed the key, then after a while it wouldn't start. Since getting that fixed, I've had no problems.
It seems to operate just as long now as it did new. If there has been any falloff in performance, it hasn't been significant enough for me to complain about. Power is very good for the task of mowing and mulching but you have to keep in mind that it won't have the shear output oomph of a gas mower. If you keep the tasks tailored to the capabilities of battery power, you should be more than happy with the CMM1200. The mower is quieter than a gas powered model, but not as quiet as you might think. My neighbors love it, but standing right next to it you still have to raise your voice to be heard. It is also heavier than you expect and pushing it around gives a good workout. That can be considered a positive. But, though I'm over forty, I'm a reletively large and fit guy. Flinging it around the yard isn't a problem for me.
I have a medium sized lawn including ten trees and one steep side-hill section about ten feet wide and 150 feet long. The whole job is a little big for the mower to handle in one session, especially during those growth spurts in June. Usually, I do the front yard one day and the sides and smaller back yard the next. It mulches the grass really well so I don't have to bag or rake.
In the fall, I pulverize the leaves in place and this has contributed to my lawn improving each spring. Trust me, it is just as much work as raking but with the added benefit of fertilizing the lawn.
During the fall of 2007, the trees in our region held on to their leaves until the last minute. In early December, it all came down at once. The mower was a bit overwhelmed and it couldn't keep up as quickly as I would have liked. So I bought the MM875, which is the corded version of the same mower, to use as a supplement for next year. It uses the same blades as the CMM1200 and operates similarly.
So when the grass is too thick or the leaves too numerous for the battery mower to handle entirely, I'll switch to the MM875 to finish up. This is not to say the CMM1200 isn't good enough. The mower is more than capable, downright impressive, as long as you don't expect perfection when you push beyond the envelope.
Am I happy I bought this product? If the switch hadn't malfunctioned that first year I'd be giving this mower five stars. I'd buy it again, even if the thing died tomorrow!
57 of 57 found the following review helpful:
very easy to use May 28, 2007
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!
239 of 263 found the following review helpful:
 A Technician's Analysis and Opinion Nov 27, 2007
By Strphen E. Kramer
A Technician's Analysis and Opinion - CMM1200
Summer is over and our mower purring. Cuts grass fine and mulches leaves great.
Now . . . Except for the price difference, I feel my choice would be the CMM1000-5 (the 1-4 models had recalls). If you can find the parts diagrams on the web you will see that the 1000 and 1200 are similar except for the arrangement of the wiring for control and battery charging.
The 1000 has a remaining power gauge and an adequate size "safety key". The 1200 has an external box with the battery charging circuitry. Concerning the run time issue: the cause is not the battery, which produces 17 Amps for one hour, but the motor, which uses 15 Amps at idle, according to my ammeter. These figures suggest that you have one hour mowing time, but with a veritable powerhouse, so move out. Our older Toro cordless has a similar battery but a 6 Amp motor, and it runs about 3 hours.
After unpacking, I proceeded to disassemble and examine. Good design on the mowing body. I don't see a problem with the height adjuster - give the body a whump to make sure the links are engaged. Minor: 8 screws (Torx, by the way) hold the top shells on; 1 was missing, 1 was oversize. After summer, I wanted to get all debris out, so I take off the two shells.
Clamshell Problems: the switch circuitry, which was in the mower body of the 1000's, is at the top of the handle on the 1200 in a "clamshell" assembly. I feel this is lacking in design, durability, and manufacture, and will be grief for both owners and B&D who will have to fix it.
First is the "safety key", which is vital for disconnecting the power to the motor when you need to clean underneath and to store the mower. The key is more appropriate for a small suitcase. It is a small plastic tab with a "T" shape made of plated copper and bends with little effort. If it is twisted more than 15°, it may not connect the circuit and the mower won't run. B&D has even inserted a separate small instruction sheet on the key's use, and I will elaborate further:
The key inserts with the tab at a 9 o'clock position. Push in straight and firmly with a (4 pound) force, turn 90° to upright 12 o'clock and then release. To remove, again push in with a firm (4 pound) force, turn back to the 9 o'clock position and then remove. Do not turn the key without pushing in, or it will twist the "T" and also injure its plastic retaining slot inside.
Also, I add that the "T" makes contact between two thin plated copper strips, which I don't feel are robust for long-term use and amount of current. Finally, when I folded the handle for storage, it neatly clipped the hanging cord, dropping the key into the grass! B&D graciously sent a replacement (under warranty).
The red main "switch-lever" starts and stops the mower. After some weeks it seemed not to work. Got out the screwdriver. The internal switching box has three double pairs of contacts; one had pitted. Scraped clean and applied lubricant to all - which should have been done at manufacture.
I think it would help if the "clamshell assembly" were a separate (modular) unit, which could be easily replaced. As it is, the wiring harness is variously connected in the mower housing and would take some confidence and labor to replace.
I have tried to relate the above to B&D, but only got on a standard "survey" list.
56 of 58 found the following review helpful:
Where's the cup holder? May 26, 2007
By Thomas Ahern
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.
See all 421 customer reviews on Amazon.com
|
| | |
