I got my RoboMower in June of 2005 and other than one breakdown it has performed perfectly for me.
I have 12,000 Sq Ft of very level lawn (newly landscaped and graded yard) with no obstructions.The RoboMower comes out every night at 5:00PM, mows for a few hours, and comes back without issue.It's the hit of the neighborhood.
Laying the perimeter wire was a pain.At first I just laid it out and used the stakes to keep it down.I figured there was a 50/50 chance I'd be returning the unit (low expectations!) and I didn't want to spend the time burying the wire.After a couple of weeks I decided the unit was a keeper and I buried the wire - which took all day.
Suggestion: keep the box in case you need to ship the unit back.If you have the box they'll pay for shipping.It's a pretty bulky shipment, so it'll be hard to find a box that can safely ship it back.
Bottom line: My yard looks like a golf course every day.The quality of the mow is excellent.
Even if the unit broke every three years, I'd keep buying them.Having a mowing service would cost me $1,200/year ($60/week, 5 months a year) and the lawn would start to look shaggy a few days after mowing.With the RoboMower it looks perfect every day.A riding lawnmower would have cost me more, would cost more to maintain, and would still require me to mow my lawn myself every week.For me, it's a no-brainer.
Also, keep in mind that a lot of reviews are for older models.I have the 1000 version that automatically docks itself.
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Friendly Robotics RL1000 RoboMower 21 Inch Automatic Cordless Electric Lawn Mower and Docking StationProduct Description: Imagine relaxing on your porch with your family instead of mowing the lawn. With the innovative Friendly Robotics Robomow RL1000 with Base Station, you can turn your dreams into an eco-friendly, wallet-friendly reality. This top-of-the-line fully automatic lawnmower cuts grass all by itself, so you can get a vacation from mowing--forever! Just schedule a weekly program for a beautifully manicured lawn.
Robomow RL1000
with Base Station
At a Glance:
Automatic lawnmower mows entirely by itself
Can be programmed to operate on a preselected day and time
Enters lawn from as many as 4 preselected points
Fully weatherproof for all-season outdoor installation
Grasscycles for a healthier, greener lawn that requires less water
2-year warranty on unit; 1-year warranty on battery
Robomow does all the work so you don't have to.
Docking station and on-board
charging for true automation.Automatic Lawnmower Does All the Work for YouDesigned for lawns measuring from 12,900 to 17,200 square feet, the Robomow RL1000 is an automatic lawnmower that cuts grass all by itself. The RL1000 mows on its own within a boundary that you outline with a thin wire (included).
Once you handle the initial wire setup, all you have to do is schedule a weekly program, and sit back, relax, and mow! The Robomow RL1000 will depart from its Base Station on your chosen days and times, and it will enter your lawn from as many as four preselected points.
When it's done mowing, the Robomow RL1000 will return to the Base Station for charging until the next scheduled operation. With this mower, you can be your lawn will be maintained, even when you're busy or away from home.
User-Friendly Features for a Beautiful LawnThe Robomow RL1000 is packed with great features, including an exclusive drop-and-go 24-volt battery that lets the mower operate for four hours on a single charge. It also offers on-board charging, an LCD operating panel, a theft-deterrent system, and a docking station for true automation.
To keep your lawn looking beautiful, the RL1000 features knobby wheels that tackle high grass and sloping or bumpy ground, touch-sensitive bumpers, and triple chamber mulching. Easy to set, its 21-inch deck delivers a 1.75- to 3.25-inch height of cut with the high-cut blades and 1.0- to 2.5-inch cut with the low-cut blades. Additionally, the Robomow RL1000 has an edge mode and manual-trim mode for creating a manicured look.
Weatherproof Plastic-and-Steel ConstructionBoasting heavy-duty plastic-and-steel construction, this fully weatherproof, all-season unit is UV protected and comes equipped with a rain sensor that will prevent the Robomow RL1000 from coming out of its docking station and mowing during a rain shower. And if it starts raining when the unit is mowing, the RL1000 will immediately return to the docking station.
Eco-Friendly, Wallet-Friendly ChoiceUnlike conventional lawn mowers that pollute as much as 40 late-model cars in just one hour of use, Robomow RL1000 offers a way to keep your lawn looking great without sacrificing the environment.
The Robomow RL1000 doesn't simply cut your grass--it repurposes the clippings through a patented process called grasscycling. The mower cuts grass into fine clippings and disperses the cuttings over the ground. These clippings quickly decompose and release valuable nutrients and water into the soil, resulting in a better-looking lawn. Grasscycling also leads to a deeper, healthier root system that increases your lawn's resistance to disease, drought, and insects, and it reduces the amount of water your lawn needs by as much as 85%.
And because the eco-friendly Robomow RL1000 doesn't require gas, oil, tune-ups, or spark plugs, it will save you money.
Dimensions and Warranty InformationThe RL1000 measures 26.0 x 12.5 x 35.0 inches (WxHxD), weighs 50 pounds (without battery), and comes with a two-year warranty on the unit and a one-year warranty on the battery.
What's in the BoxRobomow RBL1000; perimeter wire and pegs; sealed batteries and charge pack; 2007 Generation software; docking system and station; and instruction manual.
Buy cheap Friendly Robotics RL1000 RoboMower 21 Inch Automatic Cordless Electric Lawn Mower and Docking Station now
Excellent product, fast delivery of item.I would recommend them to anyone.
The lawnbott comes with a two year warranty, but after that it gets very expensive. I've had mine for three years. While under warranty it was great, my blade motor died and they express mailed me a new one, my left wheel motor died and they sent me a new one, my blade motor died and they sent me a new one, then my right wheel motor died and they sent me a new one, this cycle then repeated itself, but I didn't mind since it was still under warranty and replacing the motor is real easy (twist off the two connectors on top, slide off the red shell, unscrew four phillips head screws, six allen head screws and then you unplug the old one...put it back together takes about ten minutes). What they don't tell you is the motors are only rated for about 2,000 hours and that you can expect to get half about that. the kicker is how much they charge for the motors, they used to be about $250 each, now they are almost double that. don't let them kid you that the newer motors they are now making are much better, they last just about as long as the old ones. Unless they can get the motors to last longer or can get the price of the motors down to about $150 I would recommend looking at a different robotic lawnmower. Their parts don't last and are way way over priced. Until they can get their act together this is more of a novelty item than a serious replacement for any current lawnmower.
I'm a single mother of a seven year old with ADHD. My friendly robotics lawnmower that I bought last year was a godsend. Generally the battery lasts long enough on one charge to mow either my front or back yard. With a backup power source, I will be able to do my whole yard in one morning while my son sleeps or runs around the yard with my attention on my kid, not the lawnmower. This is the best form of multitasking that has ever happened.
The product image and price suggest a three blade set, but no!This item is a single blade for a three blade price.
I own two acres and the Ariens Zoom 42" zero turn mower is perfect for me.It has a peppy 16.5 Briggs engine with a spin on oil filter.Prior to my purchase of the Ariens and with much weed eating, it took me almost 5 hours to do my lawn.With the Ariens, it takes 2 hours including minimal weed eating.Because of its very adept handling, I had little to do once I finished the main mowing.It took about an hour to get used to the steering set up and the lack of brakes.The mower is comfortable with springs under the seat.A push pedal is used to raise and lower the mower deck making it very simple to adjust the cut.The 42" cut is great to get around trees and bushes while it's large enough to cover a considerable area.The only gripe I have is something that is probably my fault.I inadvertently hit a small poplar tree trunk with the rubber/plastic/composite grass shield and split it in half.I've never had this happen before with any mower.I spliced it back together with rivets and pieces of sheet metal, and it's holding up.I bought the Ariens because it was made in America, because of its reasonable price, and because of Consumer Reports and other reviews I have read.
I bought this in Sept 2008. Where I live the grass growing season is winding down in Sept. It spent winter unheated pluged in. I took it out in May and have cut the grass twice this year. It cuts the edge and them random motion around the yard. So far it has been flawless. I am looking forward to tall grass to see how the raandom motion looks. I plan to run it 2 or 3 times a week to stay on top of it. I also got the wireless remote control and a replacement blade. They recomend a new blade every 200 hours. I have 52 hours on it to date. The LCD readout gives you more data then you will want to know
I ordered this machine through Amazon and it was delivered promptly.I was very excited to have this machine, hopped on it and drove down my drive....until it stopped.And then it started up again and I drove a little further....until it stopped.And then it started up again and I was able to mow a couple of strips in my lawn....until it stopped.And this time it didn't start up again, I'm in the farthest part of my yard and the wheels are locked up.I, a 56 year old woman, had to drag this 250# mower across the yard with its locked wheels to get it back into the garage.Monday I call the toll free number only to find out that it's a bad relay and that the manufacturer KNEW there was a problem with the machine but sold them anyway! They willingly admitted the problem was theirs and will be sending a repair man to exchange it someday in the future.Meanwhile, I could have HIRED someone to mow my lawn many times over for $2000 and I'm going to have to use my stinkin' push mower after all. They should put a freeze on selling this thing until they are certain it is FIXED!!