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Buying a unexampled horseback riding lawn mower has always come with a certain amount of preparation . Before settling on a specific model , you first need to navigate the various types : rear engine , lawn tractor , or zero turn . Then , there ’s forecast out the appropriate size of it and whether accelerator pedal or electric power wooing your pauperism . To further complicate the shopping cognitive operation , both the capacity and pricing of battery - power equitation lawn mower have better dramatically .
We ’ve reached the point where legacy gas lawn lawn mower brands likeCraftsmanare increasingly influence by the successes of barrage fire - powered lawn mower companies likeEgo Power+,Greenworks , andRyobi . But can the old - timer shimmy gears and double the success that the newcomers have know ? I recently tested the newCraftsman 56V 42 - inch galvanizing riding lawn mowerto find out .
Photo: Debbie Wolfe for Bob Vila
Using an galvanising riding lawn mower is a great way to foreshorten noise and exhaust system emissions . In that paying attention , the Craftsman 56V 42 - column inch modeling produces less of both . And thanks to several central excogitation and performance details , it come up above the rival in terms of manoeuvrability , hustler comfort , overall versatility , and the acreage it can mow per charge .
While this mower is not quite pure , it could be your best option if you are looking for a battery - power riding lawn mower that works at least as well as its natural gas equivalent weight . onwards , find out the gamy and low points I live while testing this Craftsman battery equitation lawn mower .
Craftsman 56V 42-Inch Battery Riding Mower: At a Glance
Rating:8.9/10
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PROS
Photo: Debbie Wolfe for Bob Vila
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Get the Craftsman 56V battery horseback riding mower at :
What is the Craftsman battery riding lawn mower?
In keeping with the trend toward battery - power lawn equipment , Craftsman present a new origin of American - made 56V electric riding lawn lawn mower for the 2023 time of year . The new card includes acompact 30 - in electric riding lawn mower , a42 - inch electric lawn tractor , and a42 - inch galvanic zero - good turn mower , assembled in Ohio and Tennessee .
I essay the lawn tractor . Three brushless motors — one for the drive wheels and two for the blades — are powered by a built - in 56V 60Ah rechargeable lithium - ion electric battery . In my trial run , it charge in 4.5 hours and delivered approximately 1.75 time of day of runtime per charge . The 42 - inch mow deck features two cosmopolitan blades able of side discharge , mulching , or bulge ( mulch kit and packer sold individually ) .
With a maximum forward hurrying of 6 mph , this automobile is open of mowing about 3.5 acres of gage per armorial bearing . It also boast the patented TurnTight 5 - inch spoke steering system of rules . Other standout feature of speech admit brilliant LED headlights , soft - tinge guidance wheel , insurance premium cut - and - tailor-make high - back tooshie , unhorse battery - life indicator , and onboard rapid charging system .
Photo: Debbie Wolfe for Bob Vila
How do you get started with the Craftsman electric riding mower?
Although the barrage fire go far partially charged , I wanted to get down the test with a full care . The battery is not removable for distant charging , so I had to park the mower fairly close to a mogul mercantile establishment . The rapid charger plugs into the wall outlet on one end and into the lawn mower on the other for a 10 - foundation ambit .
Because of the fixed battery , users need to be cognisant that lithium - ion batteries are sensitive to heat and inhuman . Storage temperatures above 90 degrees Fahrenheit degrade the lifespan of these battery , and operating temperatures below freeze reduce the workings capacity until the temperature warms . Aclimate - control service department is the good placeto keep this mower during temperature extremes .
I tested the mower on two adjoining properties :
Photo: Debbie Wolfe for Bob Vila
On a single charge , I was able-bodied to mow both of the property twice — about 3 acres of green goddess totality — before the battery was depleted . It took about 4.5 minute to reload .
Is the Craftsman electric riding lawn mower easy to use?
To anyone accustomed to a gas - powered horseback riding mower , the first matter that will stand out is the quiet drive motor . When the blade were not engage , this mower drove almost silently . Even when the blades were track down , thisbattery - powered riding lawn moweroperated much more quietly than a gas - power equitation mower . Craftsman states that its tests showed it to be 80 percent quieter than one of its own flatulence models , which seems about ripe to me .
The electronic command were clear and leisurely to use . A safety Francis Scott Key unlock the system when the operator is seated . Insert the key with the bracken pedal downcast . Then squeeze and hold the head start button to set out . The system beeps twice to sign that it is alive , and the CRT screen light up to exhibit the battery charge grade . At this point there is zero auditory sensation , but the lawn mower is quick to drive or mow .
mesh themowerfelt very intimate — nearly identical to the gas - powered hydrostatic equitation lawn tractors I ’ve used . The brake pedal was on the left , with an emergency pasture brake curl lever tumbler on the cabinet below the steering rack , and the forward-moving and reverse treadle were on the right . The pedal are pressure - raw press and go : The harder you press , the quicker you go . The lawn mower is equip with a cruise control system to maintain a primed gait with less hustler fatigue . There were no geared wheel to operate and no high / low power range to superintend . Two buttons below the display screen control the lead headlamp and the power take - off ( to mesh the lawn mower blades ) .
Photo: Debbie Wolfe for Bob Vila
Is the Craftsman electric riding lawn mower comfortable to operate?
TheCraftsman 56V electric ride lawn mowerseat was super comfy — a tier above the molded foam and vinyl bum on the 10 - year - old lawn tractor I still use at home . It was well cushioned with a soft cloth cover and good ventilation system . Visibility was really good all around thanks to the down gradient of the toughie . The seat mountain was almost too live , though . rid across jolting ground give up some serious spring . It would have been courteous if a electric shock absorber was paired with the dual coil springs .
Craftsman ’s TurnTight guidance system was a skillful added feature that stood out in comparison to other lawn tractor . The patented design allows the front wheels to make sharp turns without find into the lawn mower pack of cards or frame . But that ’s not all . I ’ve used plenty of lawn tractor with regular steering systems that do not grip the land when the steering wheel is in full turn , causing the front end to drift sloppily around the corner . I really apprise that the Craftsman system really gripped those tight turns instead of sliding across the flat coat .
How well does the Craftsman 56V electric riding lawn mower cut grass?
The stamped sword mower pack of cards of theCraftsman 56V electric riding lawn mowerwas well adjustable with a hand lever tumbler on the right side of the hustler ’s seat . Although 12 positions appeared on the lock chamber - in pinnacle selector switch , the lever tumbler would n’t hit the highest or lowest perspective on the motorcar I tested . This was probably something that could be adjusted in the deck of cards - mounting organisation , but I did n’t need either of those place for the trial run . As it was , I mowed on 2.5 for a nice tight finish on Bermuda forage and raised it to 10 for the field of tall fescue .
The lawn mower performed best when cutting less than 2 inch of foliage off the grass , regardless of the starting height . It ’s not a very deep deck at about 4 inches , so it does n’t get a draw of sucking to overstretch tall grass blades just . When I tried to remove more than 2 inches of the existing height , whether cutting 6 - inch grass down to 4 inch or 3.5 - in grass down to 1.5 inches , the finish became progressively ragged , requiring a second “ cleanup ” pass .
The 3,200 - rpm brand speed is about average for lawn tractor . In my appraisal , this lawn mower is a keen option forroutine lawn maintenanceand episodic cleanup but in spades not for leaden - responsibility field of view clipping .
Is the Craftsman 56V 42-inch battery-powered riding lawn mower worth the money?
After examine theCraftsman 56V electrical riding lawn mowerin my yard , I compare the riding mower to similar battery - power lawn tractors byRyobi , Troy - Bilt , andCub Cadet . Since I have n’t had the chance to test the challenger , my comparison is based solely on the manufacturer specification .
All of these bombardment - power riding lawn mowers are priced within $ 200 of each other , so the terms should be consider fair as long as the specs are exchangeable . In the casing of Troy - Bilt and Cub Cadet , the spec are essentially identical to the Craftsman lawn mower . Furthermore , all three aremanufactured by MTDfor their respective brand . The Ryobi electric riding lawn lawn mower , the most expensive of the group , offers slightly less mowing big businessman and shorter runtime than the others .
With all of this in idea , I consider the Craftsman model to be a fair note value . It will set you back about $ 1,500 more than a comparable accelerator pedal - power riding lawn lawn mower , but much of that toll difference will be return over its working life by extinguish gasoline , oil change , and other facial expression of gas engine care .
Is the Craftsman battery-powered riding lawn mower right for you?
The Craftsman battery - power riding lawn mower is a great selection for maintaining 1 to 4 acres of lawn . The drive is quiet and comfortable , it ’s prosperous to control , and it produce plenty of mop major power . It can eventow a cartor spreader . But it may not be thebest riding mowerfor every shopper .
Those who need a laborious - responsibility riding mower to prune down high-pitched grass and weeds in an overgrown field of operation will find that this one lacks the bass lawn mower deck and brawny airflow call for for an efficient cut . Also , the build up - in Li - ion barrage fire presents some limitation outside its optimum temperature range . This is not a lawn mower you ’ll desire to bank on for C removal , and the bombardment ’s longevity may be compromised by the retentive - term effects of uttermost high temperature .
Even with those caveats , theCraftsman 56V electric riding lawn moweris a really safe lawn mower . For regular mowing without the noise , exhaust , and other bother associated with gas railway locomotive upkeep , most users wo n’t be let down .
Where to Buy the Craftsman 56V Brushless Battery Riding Mower
Meet the Tester
Mark Wolfe is a writer and product tester with an extensive background in the nursery and landscape gardening manufacture . For more than 20 days he mowed , butt , plant , pruned , crop , irrigated , and renovated beautiful landscape . Now he tests and write reviews about the belated outdoor tycoon equipment , hand tools , lawn care product , and other outside living goods .
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