That was one of the best reviews of this mower that I have seen. As an owner of this mower for two years, you nailed all the positives and negatives that I have encountered. From the dullish blade to the leaky mulching plug, the negatives are way less than the positives. I absolutely love everything about this mower and is one of the best purchases I have made. It has unbelievable power and performance without the minuses of gas and fuel. Though I’m not a big EV fan, when it comes to some of these lawn and garden tools, batteries have more advantages, with the possible exception of run time and cost of battery replacement which is the reason I don’t like EV’s. Since I am already in the Milwaukee platform, the batteries are less of a need, but still is a concern for when one dies. In theory, when one of those batteries dies, you could quite literally be paying for the price of a new gas push mower!..I have a $4000 zero turn here that sits because I love this push mower and its results so much!..Thanks for the great review!..Paul
I was on the fence to go into a battery lawnmower, I’m in the mid 40’s and my13yr push 140cc Troy-built was giving me issues, which could probably resolve if I repaired. After watching tons and tons of a of videos old and recent of ego, Ryobi, and Milwaukee, decided to buy this one. I just picked up today and used for the first time. I live in FL which St. Augustine grass is very thick, I very picky and maintain my lawn at the time, but this time I had way overgrown grass, like 3-4 week, and that in FL during the summer is a pain to cut. Approximately 6k-7k square feet. Man let me tell you, where my old mover kept bugging down in a situation like this, this beast didn’t skipped a bit. It never stopped, bugged down, nothing. I always mulch, so I did with this one. Settings: height 3”, self propelled speed 3, always turbo mode, and mulching. Did all my lawn and still had 2 bars left of battery. I’m far impressed with this beast. Observation: that I have seen on this video and others the machine mulching plug leaking, I didn’t experience this. Never had leaks and the machine performed like a champ. Grass clippings are supper fine and again was mulching and cutting and very high and overgrown grass, the backyard most of all was cutting way more than 6”, with no need to overpass. From initial experience, on this machine I’m blown away, note I haven’t tried anything else electric, I just wanted something that could perform. This is a best of a lawnmower.
@@KenseisGarage thanks for sharing your experience and for watching the video! Its important for folks to see comments like this. Keep us updated as you continue to use it.
@@TheLawngineer Thanks, for sure, will. Wanted to add, I made the mistake to cut my lawn around 1pm FL time, where is it hot as heck. Never saw any overheating on the machine, batteries or any issues because of that. I was also thinking about the Ego LM2206SP, since it has good power and it's aluminum deck, but Jesus, that high pitch from the self prop, you can even hear that all the time more than the blades itself, very uncomfortable. I looked at LM2156SP or 2135, to light, tested them at store, seems to light in the front, and the all plastic doesn't bring confidence IMO. On the M18, you almost don't hear the self prop at all. Going backwards, wheels don't get stock, and you don't hear the self prop motor, it moves freely if you don't use self prop. The machine is heavy, like a gas one. For the deck, as long as you clean the deck every time, just with a towel and use a blower, it should last a very, very long time. Best of all, the storage, take out batteries, put it upright position and that's it. No more dealing with gas, fumes, gas smell or leaks in the garage, oil, etc. For me, this was more about convenience and get to cut fast and do it faster without struggles. It's not cheap, that's true, and maybe for someone that cuts their lawn and maintains it every week or so, I'll say this could be overkill, but if you skip a couple of weeks, be certain this best is something else and for someone on the M18 platform already, this will be a no-brainer just because of the batteries. My neighbors both have Toro and Honda, and their machine bug down and struggle while cutting grass the way I did today. I still need to test when is darker, to test while adding lights, and see how much battery will last with that. Finally, before someone else comments, I'm not a fanboy, this is actually my second Milwaukee tool. I have a very old first gen M12 1/2 stubby, and a Kobalt XTR Impact Driver, that's as much as power tools I have. My trimmer, blower, chainsaw are still gas, still using 13yr Ryobi expand it system. I have plans to change those to battery soon, and probably will go with M18, for convenience. Thanks for the reply
Brilliant mower but two things that I noticed, one is the weight- it's really heavy if you need to lift it by hand! Second, it pulls a fraction to the left on mine so it's impossible to keep a straight strip, not a huge thing but it's a little annoying. Loads power and overall great machine, definitely recommend it...
I want to get this mower for Torque . But the downside is you have to use two batteries at the same time. And might have to buy two more just in case you run out of battery life. But like you said they are expensive
Thanks for the review. I used a greenworks 80v mower a couple of times for my business. Just not enough torque yet for high grass. Ended up back with honda gas. Never have looked back until the technology comes further.
I think the worry with the electric tools is the overall power and if they’ll have enough charge to get the job done. I like that they are much quieter and won’t bother the neighborhood as much as the gas tools.
This has enough power. Run time will always be an issue. Milwaukee has an insanely large tool platform. So if you are already in their battery environment/platform, you probably already have quite a few batteries to swap out to get the job done. I probably should have said this in the video, but with tool brands nowadays, it seems like it’s best to find a brand you like, then stick with them to stay on their platform (that’s what they want). That’s the most economical choice. The investment is in the batteries, not the tools in my opinion. Universal batteries would be nice though.
That’s a good question. If the bag is completely stuffed, you need to give it a good shake to get it all out. It can really Jam Pack the bag. If you are more frequently emptying the bag and it’s looser (not packed in) it’s easier to empty. There is also a fabric handle at the end of the bag to hold on to, so you can use two hands to shake things out.
I am here because I want to buy this one after a huge disappointment with the Craftsman mower. I have been using Milwaukee all my life but a friend recommended the other brand and it was the worst decision I ever made.
@@joannothing it’s a good mower. I bought the mulching blade and sharpened it. It’s a lot of money for the mower, but so far it’s the best battery mower I’ve used. If you are already in the tool platform and have the 12.0 batteries, see if you can get the bare tool to save a few bucks.
Curious of the other 2 brands you are comparing to. Am debating between this on and the Toro super recycler 21568. Quite a bit cheaper, both seem to have good QoC in reviews. Milwaukee ecosystem is broader but reality is, probably only going to end up with blower, trimmer, and edger.
@@ValkyrieIA can’t go wrong with ECHO for the price. I have all their battery stuff too. I have a Toro mower as well, one of their first gen battery models… did not perform as well as I would have expected.
I have a smaller yard with a lot of planter boxes and trees to go around. Can the self-propelled feature be disengaged for things like that, I hear different opinions on that.
@@txvet7738 It's not a button. It's a lever on the handle near the bail bar. When you want to use self propelled, you depress the lever with your thumbs and hold them while you mow. When you don't want to use self propel, don't press the levers.
I bought this mower and really like it, but this year (2nd summer) I am having trouble with it cutting out on me, even when batteries are fully charged. I don’t know if it is airflow or perhaps a wiring issue, but I can’t seem to get to the bottom of it. I wish there was a troubleshooting guide in the operator’s manual. Anyone else experiencing that? Fix ideas?
@@nancybennett3446 is the deck clean and clear of buildup? If so and you still have issues, I’d just have them send a replacement if it’s still under warranty.
@@TheLawngineer Yes I clean the deck regularly. However, this year has been very wet so the grass (and weeds) are very lush and often damp. The buildup is immediate and it occurs to me that the blade is probably not up to the task and so I need more torque than the mower has? I’m going to try sharpening the blade and hoping for a couple of sunny days to dry things out.
I just bought this mower and absolutely love it so far. A friend of a friend bought this mower last year and had it die completely on him after multiple damp grass cuts, ended up getting a replacement
The ratings and reviews for the 12Ah High Output batteries (as well as the 8Ah variant) are absolutely terrible, including on the Milwaukee Tools website itself.
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The best review I have seen regarding this mower. Very well put together, you did a great job covering everything. Thanks for the review!
@@waltbixby thank you!
That was one of the best reviews of this mower that I have seen. As an owner of this mower for two years, you nailed all the positives and negatives that I have encountered. From the dullish blade to the leaky mulching plug, the negatives are way less than the positives. I absolutely love everything about this mower and is one of the best purchases I have made. It has unbelievable power and performance without the minuses of gas and fuel. Though I’m not a big EV fan, when it comes to some of these lawn and garden tools, batteries have more advantages, with the possible exception of run time and cost of battery replacement which is the reason I don’t like EV’s. Since I am already in the Milwaukee platform, the batteries are less of a need, but still is a concern for when one dies. In theory, when one of those batteries dies, you could quite literally be paying for the price of a new gas push mower!..I have a $4000 zero turn here that sits because I love this push mower and its results so much!..Thanks for the great review!..Paul
Thanks for watching and sharing your thoughts! Great comment!
Thanks for narrating your entire thought process
The money saved in maintenance helps with battery prices
I was on the fence to go into a battery lawnmower, I’m in the mid 40’s and my13yr push 140cc Troy-built was giving me issues, which could probably resolve if I repaired. After watching tons and tons of a of videos old and recent of ego, Ryobi, and Milwaukee, decided to buy this one. I just picked up today and used for the first time. I live in FL which St. Augustine grass is very thick, I very picky and maintain my lawn at the time, but this time I had way overgrown grass, like 3-4 week, and that in FL during the summer is a pain to cut. Approximately 6k-7k square feet. Man let me tell you, where my old mover kept bugging down in a situation like this, this beast didn’t skipped a bit. It never stopped, bugged down, nothing. I always mulch, so I did with this one. Settings: height 3”, self propelled speed 3, always turbo mode, and mulching. Did all my lawn and still had 2 bars left of battery. I’m far impressed with this beast.
Observation: that I have seen on this video and others the machine mulching plug leaking, I didn’t experience this. Never had leaks and the machine performed like a champ. Grass clippings are supper fine and again was mulching and cutting and very high and overgrown grass, the backyard most of all was cutting way more than 6”, with no need to overpass.
From initial experience, on this machine I’m blown away, note I haven’t tried anything else electric, I just wanted something that could perform. This is a best of a lawnmower.
@@KenseisGarage thanks for sharing your experience and for watching the video! Its important for folks to see comments like this. Keep us updated as you continue to use it.
@@TheLawngineer Thanks, for sure, will. Wanted to add, I made the mistake to cut my lawn around 1pm FL time, where is it hot as heck. Never saw any overheating on the machine, batteries or any issues because of that.
I was also thinking about the Ego LM2206SP, since it has good power and it's aluminum deck, but Jesus, that high pitch from the self prop, you can even hear that all the time more than the blades itself, very uncomfortable. I looked at LM2156SP or 2135, to light, tested them at store, seems to light in the front, and the all plastic doesn't bring confidence IMO. On the M18, you almost don't hear the self prop at all. Going backwards, wheels don't get stock, and you don't hear the self prop motor, it moves freely if you don't use self prop. The machine is heavy, like a gas one. For the deck, as long as you clean the deck every time, just with a towel and use a blower, it should last a very, very long time.
Best of all, the storage, take out batteries, put it upright position and that's it. No more dealing with gas, fumes, gas smell or leaks in the garage, oil, etc. For me, this was more about convenience and get to cut fast and do it faster without struggles.
It's not cheap, that's true, and maybe for someone that cuts their lawn and maintains it every week or so, I'll say this could be overkill, but if you skip a couple of weeks, be certain this best is something else and for someone on the M18 platform already, this will be a no-brainer just because of the batteries. My neighbors both have Toro and Honda, and their machine bug down and struggle while cutting grass the way I did today.
I still need to test when is darker, to test while adding lights, and see how much battery will last with that.
Finally, before someone else comments, I'm not a fanboy, this is actually my second Milwaukee tool. I have a very old first gen M12 1/2 stubby, and a Kobalt XTR Impact Driver, that's as much as power tools I have.
My trimmer, blower, chainsaw are still gas, still using 13yr Ryobi expand it system. I have plans to change those to battery soon, and probably will go with M18, for convenience.
Thanks for the reply
Thank you! : )
Pretty good review from a guy from that place up north where the best parts are underwater! 😄 Go Bucks!
The top plastic cover drags on the bag causing ti rip the bag from the top
Brilliant mower but two things that I noticed, one is the weight- it's really heavy if you need to lift it by hand!
Second, it pulls a fraction to the left on mine so it's impossible to keep a straight strip, not a huge thing but it's a little annoying.
Loads power and overall great machine, definitely recommend it...
I want to get this mower for
Torque . But the downside is you have to use two batteries at the same time. And might have to buy two more just in case you run out of battery life. But like you said they are expensive
Thanks for the review. I used a greenworks 80v mower a couple of times for my business. Just not enough torque yet for high grass. Ended up back with honda gas. Never have looked back until the technology comes further.
Lawn looks good.
Thanks man! Just applied Velocity PM about a week ago… so we’ll see if that changes things. The irrigation system also helps keep things green.
I think the worry with the electric tools is the overall power and if they’ll have enough charge to get the job done. I like that they are much quieter and won’t bother the neighborhood as much as the gas tools.
This has enough power. Run time will always be an issue. Milwaukee has an insanely large tool platform. So if you are already in their battery environment/platform, you probably already have quite a few batteries to swap out to get the job done. I probably should have said this in the video, but with tool brands nowadays, it seems like it’s best to find a brand you like, then stick with them to stay on their platform (that’s what they want). That’s the most economical choice. The investment is in the batteries, not the tools in my opinion. Universal batteries would be nice though.
Does the back flap close all the way on the mower you got. If not what is stopping it from closing all way.
Seems like it is
This may seem like a petty question, but how easy is it to empty the bag? The last 2 mowers I've had took A LOT of shaking to get the grass out.
That’s a good question. If the bag is completely stuffed, you need to give it a good shake to get it all out. It can really Jam Pack the bag. If you are more frequently emptying the bag and it’s looser (not packed in) it’s easier to empty. There is also a fabric handle at the end of the bag to hold on to, so you can use two hands to shake things out.
Do 2 M18 REDLITHIUM FORGE HD12.0 Battery Pack fit or does it have to be the M18 REDLITHIUM HIGH OUTPUT HD12.0 Battery Pack?
@@bladeddavid1144 I’d assume Milwaukee would make sure they fit. I’ll need to get some and test it out.
I am here because I want to buy this one after a huge disappointment with the Craftsman mower. I have been using Milwaukee all my life but a friend recommended the other brand and it was the worst decision I ever made.
@@joannothing it’s a good mower. I bought the mulching blade and sharpened it. It’s a lot of money for the mower, but so far it’s the best battery mower I’ve used. If you are already in the tool platform and have the 12.0 batteries, see if you can get the bare tool to save a few bucks.
Curious of the other 2 brands you are comparing to. Am debating between this on and the Toro super recycler 21568. Quite a bit cheaper, both seem to have good QoC in reviews. Milwaukee ecosystem is broader but reality is, probably only going to end up with blower, trimmer, and edger.
@@ValkyrieIA can’t go wrong with ECHO for the price. I have all their battery stuff too. I have a Toro mower as well, one of their first gen battery models… did not perform as well as I would have expected.
I have a smaller yard with a lot of planter boxes and trees to go around. Can the self-propelled feature be disengaged for things like that, I hear different opinions on that.
You can mow without using the self propelled feature. No problem at all. Easy on/off.
@@TheLawngineer so it has an on/off button or something?
@@txvet7738 It's not a button. It's a lever on the handle near the bail bar. When you want to use self propelled, you depress the lever with your thumbs and hold them while you mow. When you don't want to use self propel, don't press the levers.
Yes, just engage the blade and push. Don’t touch the throttle. Conversely. You can use self propel with out the blade on
I bought this mower and really like it, but this year (2nd summer) I am having trouble with it cutting out on me, even when batteries are fully charged. I don’t know if it is airflow or perhaps a wiring issue, but I can’t seem to get to the bottom of it. I wish there was a troubleshooting guide in the operator’s manual. Anyone else experiencing that? Fix ideas?
@@nancybennett3446 is the deck clean and clear of buildup? If so and you still have issues, I’d just have them send a replacement if it’s still under warranty.
@@TheLawngineer Yes I clean the deck regularly. However, this year has been very wet so the grass (and weeds) are very lush and often damp. The buildup is immediate and it occurs to me that the blade is probably not up to the task and so I need more torque than the mower has? I’m going to try sharpening the blade and hoping for a couple of sunny days to dry things out.
@@nancybennett3446 try the sharp blade and mow when the grass is dry. See if that helps.
I just bought this mower and absolutely love it so far. A friend of a friend bought this mower last year and had it die completely on him after multiple damp grass cuts, ended up getting a replacement
How did you stripe?
@@jorgesalinas9429 I hooked up a stripe kit from Lawn Stryper.
The ratings and reviews for the 12Ah High Output batteries (as well as the 8Ah variant) are absolutely terrible, including on the Milwaukee Tools website itself.
The 56v competitor is ego