Robot mowers

[Frimley111R]

dave_Sw1 said:

I just got my Luba 2 also, its pretty good but likes to get dangerously close to the flower beds which are about 3 inches lower than the lawn, its not fallen in yet but I watch it going round and it really pushes its luck, quite like watching it go about its business on its own though, will see how it progresses

They are oddly addictive and calming to watch, aren't they?

[dhutch]

Frimley111R said:

dave_Sw1 said:

I just got my Luba 2 also, its pretty good but likes to get dangerously close to the flower beds which are about 3 inches lower than the lawn, its not fallen in yet but I watch it going round and it really pushes its luck, quite like watching it go about its business on its own though, will see how it progresses

They are oddly addictive and calming to watch, aren't they?

Very! Even our toddler enjoys.

[AndyC_123]

I have a Mowbot, one of the cheaper options but it's been decent enough for 2.5 years.

I've got a flashing light on the base that suggests there is a boundry wire fault, but can't see anything obvious.

I cut an excess bit (12 inches) of leftover cable and plugged that in but still have the error. Does this suggest there is something wrong with the base or would such a short piece cause an error anyway?

There's definitely a circuit being formed - see some minor sparks when the boundry wire is connected to the base.

Any thoughts? Cheers

[NickXX]

NickXX said:

Just ordered the M500+. Will report back after I've got it up and running!

Been mucking about with this for a week now. Lawn is looking very good today after 2 days of tweaking and sending it out.

Had a whole week or so of on and off rain which has been very frustrating. The Worx got stuck a couple of time down (rabbit?) holes that I didn’t know we had and on huge branches which blew down from a tree. Other than this it’s powered along and there are only a couple of turfs left on a ~450sqm lawn to go.

Day 1 was a learning experience as I had 2 wire cuts, so walked the perimeter a couple of times pulling the wire through tightly and being a bit more liberal with the pegs (bought another set).

Is there any reason not to go for the shortest setting (30mm) rather than longer?

[Semmelweiss]

At this time of the year leave it at 60mm, the lawn needs a longer leaf to photosynthesis whilst it's early in the growing season. I never go below 50mm, since my lawn is mostly fescue, and it's not flat smooth nor ornamental grass. If your lawn isn't perfectly flat, then by leaving a longer sward, it will look less uneven and more attractive.

Ornamental lawns are a whole different story. Daniel Hibbert lawns, for example.

[Deep Thought]

We've a Flymo 1200R for the rear lawn, but have been wary of getting one for the front as it needs left sitting out all the time.

Our house is on a main road and i'd have a fear someone would stop and lift it.

So i've ordered one of these. Doesnt require a boundary wire, you just have the battery charged, carry it out using the carry handle on it, then set it on your lawn. Repeat 2-3 times a week.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B0B6G4K1M5/ref...

[Frimley111R]

Semmelweiss said:

At this time of the year leave it at 60mm, the lawn needs a longer leaf to photosynthesis whilst it's early in the growing season. I never go below 50mm, since my lawn is mostly fescue, and it's not flat smooth nor ornamental grass. If your lawn isn't perfectly flat, then by leaving a longer sward, it will look less uneven and more attractive.

Ornamental lawns are a whole different story. Daniel Hibbert lawns, for example.

This is the biggest improvement I ever made to a lawn. My robomower is set to max height. The lawn looks much greener, it's amazingly soft and looks much smoother. It also retains more water. Such a simple thing to do after years of cutting it short.

Edited by Frimley111R on Friday 12th April 13:42

[V-spec]

Frimley111R said:

dave_Sw1 said:

I just got my Luba 2 also, its pretty good but likes to get dangerously close to the flower beds which are about 3 inches lower than the lawn, its not fallen in yet but I watch it going round and it really pushes its luck, quite like watching it go about its business on its own though, will see how it progresses

They are oddly addictive and calming to watch, aren't they?

I have a new addiction: watching the live feed from the camera

[Zoon]

Deep Thought said:

We've a Flymo 1200R for the rear lawn, but have been wary of getting one for the front as it needs left sitting out all the time.

Our house is on a main road and i'd have a fear someone would stop and lift it.

So i've ordered one of these. Doesnt require a boundary wire, you just have the battery charged, carry it out using the carry handle on it, then set it on your lawn. Repeat 2-3 times a week.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B0B6G4K1M5/ref...

They are good, the camera is sensitive to things like magnolia petals and if there are a pile of them will not traverse.
If your grass is clear though they are great and do stick to the lawn only. For they money they are a decent machine with good flexibility.

[Deep Thought]

Zoon said:

Deep Thought said:

We've a Flymo 1200R for the rear lawn, but have been wary of getting one for the front as it needs left sitting out all the time.

Our house is on a main road and i'd have a fear someone would stop and lift it.

So i've ordered one of these. Doesnt require a boundary wire, you just have the battery charged, carry it out using the carry handle on it, then set it on your lawn. Repeat 2-3 times a week.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B0B6G4K1M5/ref...

They are good, the camera is sensitive to things like magnolia petals and if there are a pile of them will not traverse.
If your grass is clear though they are great and do stick to the lawn only. For they money they are a decent machine with good flexibility.

Cheers

Looking forward to trying it out.

I read in the sales docs it has OGR Software - "Optical Grass Recognition".

Which basically must be -

Is it green and skinny? Yes? Cut it. No? Turn around.

[Zoon]

Deep Thought said:

Cheers

Looking forward to trying it out.

I read in the sales docs it has OGR Software - "Optical Grass Recognition".

Which basically must be -

Is it green and skinny? Yes? Cut it. No? Turn around.

That's basically it, but it works far better than I expected.

[ChipHead]

Hello!

I have a Flymo 350 Easilife from the £319 ebay dal and it's amazing..

I find myself just watching it... Great for mental health!

Regarding blades..

Can anyone link me to a decent alternative to original from ebay please?

I've noticed a difference between ones that basically work on one edge, and another that are symmetrical which will cut both ends depending on the screw rotation (If that makes sense).

In my head the original ones only work for about 60% of the blade, but the other ones that are symmetrical will automatically rotate and use both ends?

Are they compatible.. Any recommended sellers please?

[dhutch]

ChipHead said:

Regarding blades..

Can anyone link me to a decent alternative to original from ebay please?

As I understand it the deck changes rotation direction sporadically as well as toe unjam itself, hence the blades are double edged to allow that as well as to last twice as long.

Without thinking too much about it, I bought a 30pack for a tenner and they appear find to me without much to compare them with. The link is now dead but I bought the below:

SmartMaster Universal Robotic Mower Replacement Blades 30 Pcs, Lawn Mower Blades Titanium Blades with 30 Screws Lawn Robot Titanium Knife Blades 35 * 18mm Anti Rust for Husqvarna Yardforce Gardena £9.99

[ChipHead]

Thanks for the reply.

I mean between these two types. The standard type like the original that will basically use the 2 corners, and I understand it spins both ways and wears accordingly.

But it's the other two gravity will make them one way and act like the others, but they will also flip and use the other edge (Bottom or top). So basically all four corners will get used ?

I tried to post the images of the two, but not allowed for 14 days.

ebay numbers below.

386854839577
355616631932

[dhutch]

ChipHead said:

ebay numbers below.
386854839577
355616631932

Right ok. I cant comment on that, I went with the conventional ones wit a hole, rather than the rectangular ones with a slot.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/386854839577
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/355616631932

[ChipHead]

dhutch said:

Right ok. I cant comment on that, I went with the conventional ones wit a hole, rather than the rectangular ones with a slot.

Do you see what I mean tho. Looking at the pictures, the slot blade looks more efficient?

[dhutch]

ChipHead said:

dhutch said:

Right ok. I cant comment on that, I went with the conventional ones wit a hole, rather than the rectangular ones with a slot.

Do you see what I mean tho. Looking at the pictures, the slot blade looks more efficient?

I can see that the slotted ones could theoretically have longer life as they can work both ways, but in practice I expect they would stick one way not the other.

The blades are not fixed rigid, they pivot on the screw, which is in fact a very small shoulder bolt.

[ChipHead]

dhutch said:

I can see that the slotted ones could theoretically have longer life as they can work both ways, but in practice I expect they would stick one way not the other.

The blades are not fixed rigid, they pivot on the screw, which is in fact a very small shoulder bolt.

Do you think they would stick tho? Gravity would put them one way, and after a settle or spin stop, they may go the other?

[justin220]

Deep Thought said:

We've a Flymo 1200R for the rear lawn, but have been wary of getting one for the front as it needs left sitting out all the time.

Our house is on a main road and i'd have a fear someone would stop and lift it.

So i've ordered one of these. Doesnt require a boundary wire, you just have the battery charged, carry it out using the carry handle on it, then set it on your lawn. Repeat 2-3 times a week.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B0B6G4K1M5/ref...

Could you not just run an additional boundary wire round your front lawn, and hand carry the Flymo round every few days? Thats what I do.

[dhutch]

justin220 said:

Could you not just run an additional boundary wire round your front lawn, and hand carry the Flymo round every few days? Thats what I do.

With a length of wire back to the base station at the rear presumably.