Black & Decker 19-Inch 24-Volt Cordless Electric Mulching Lawn Mower #CMM1200 Reviews

• CMM1200 Black&Decker Cordless Lawnmower

  
  By A715YN3DIMI24 on 2007-03-18
  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.
  
  

• Beware design and manufacturing defects

  
  By A3OGAXYWHNA7ZX on 2007-04-19
  I started this review as just a comment to the lone review of this item that was present at the time. I had purchased this item partly based on that review (and on reviews of the older, similar CMM1000 model - many of which can be found at epinions as well as here at Amazon). However the comment developed into a more detailed description of the problems I faced with the unit, and so I thought it better to make this a standalone review instead. It's my first review so please forgive any verbosity here ... I prefer accuracy, detail and lack of ambiguity over brevity ...
  
  I originally commented to ask if anyone else has also experienced any problems with the height adjustment on this unit? Since it has recently been a top seller in Amazon Home Improvement here I would think many models have been recently shipped.
  
  Mine was unusable, out of the box, and looking at the design and construction of the height adjustment mechanism it does appear very fragile. It seems only held together by a single tiny washer-like item (which was loose in the box on my unit). Further the link and bar that the washer seem to have came off were inaccessible behind the now firmly stuck rear wheel. This appears to be a very poor design - and I doubt this aspect alone would survive normal use for very long.
  
  Additionally the unit box is not well designed for removal to unpack the unit initially. Unlike say a large/heavy TV set, which often unpacks by removal of the upper/side parts of the box, leaving the item free standing on the base of the box, this box needs the buyer to lift the mower out of the box, as a single unit, and it's extremely difficult given the very heavy weight of the item. This is also an aspect to consider when handling any return ... which Amazon will now be processing for me ...
  
  Since I first started this comment/review, I've now checked out the older CMM1000 model, and it's manual also depicts an identical height adjustment system.
  
  Therefore I'll avoid any more of these Black & Decker cordless mowers, but I may check out another brand of cordless mower instead. I would hate to have to revert to a gas-powered mower though.
  
  Update May 8th, 2007 ...
  
  I did eventually find another type of cordless electric mower, the Neuton, which unfortunately Amazon does not sell (at this time ...). You may want to do a web search for it, as I doubt Amazon will let me place a URL for the manufacturer's website here. It's made by Country Home Products, a division of DR Power. I have found the Neuton mower to be a much better design than this Black & Decker CMM1200, although not directly equivalent in terms of cutting width in particular. I recommend checking it out.
  
  

• Long Term Owner - positive review

  
  By A15N490ZZ9W6US on 2008-01-02
  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!
  
  

• A Technician's Analysis and Opinion

  
  By A1BTRD20ZN65OK on 2007-11-27
  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.
  
  
  

• Great product, horrific customer service

  
  By AW7OM4LEVTRER on 2007-06-09
  Like many here, I bought the CMM1200 to do my part in the greening of the US. And for the first 3 weeks, I loved it. It worked great, mowed my whole lawn (approx 5000 sq ft), and was relatively quiet.
  
  But then the charger died, and the nightmare began. B&D may have customer service rivaling that of Dell. It has a two-year warranty, and since from my description it seemed that the charger had for some reason shorted (after 3 weeks! - of course it is made in China, like all the rest of the junk in the US), they said they would send one out right away. It would take 7-10 business days (no idea why it should take that long), but at least I'd be back up and running before the end of May.
  
  After two weeks I called to see what the status was, since the charger still hadn't arrived. The rep was so stunned that she laughed at first, apologized, then said it was on backorder until July (gotta love Chinese efficiency!). By then my lawn would have been the Serengeti, so I asked for a manager. After protesting that I had just blown $400 on this piece of junk, he finally said he could forward this to "corporate" to see what they could do. What a confidence builder. And my grass continued to grow...
  
  I decided the only way this would be fixed is if I made a pain of myself. I called each day for three days until they finally gave me the number of the corporate office. I called there (they close at 4:30 pm - nice banker's hours, eh? - which would be bad enough, but they don't have any service centers open after 5 pm or on weekends), and fortunately one of their decent employees gave me names and numbers to call after being appalled at my story (he's also a shareholder). After leaving messages, I finally found a live person, who was equally appalled. She connected me to the exec assist of the corporate secretary - I didn't reach her, but left a message.
  
  Finally reaching this level at B&D, someone finally found a replacement charger and sent it to me. It arrived just in time for rain, and since it takes a good 12 hours to charge the mower, I've been stuck mowing small patches of my 16+ inch grass.
  
  I've never been so completely frustrated with the incompetence of an organization. B&D shareholders should be worried, because while I'd recommend the product, I can't recommend buying it because B&D may actually be worse than Dell when it comes to customer service. I'm stuck with the mower, and I just hope these chintzy chargers hold out because I never want to have to endure B&D customer service hell again. I think it will be the last B&D product I ever buy. Wish it weren't so.
  
  
• Where's the cup holder?
  By ARGAZRZ2JV4V2 on 2007-05-26
  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.
  
  
• very easy to use
  By ATIJJ1NVRNSTI on 2007-05-28
  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!
  
  
  
  
• This is like mowing your yard with an ANVIL!
  By A12P9MVV9ER287 on 2008-04-11
  I was optimistic having read the reviews here on Amazon and I liked the idea of not having to mess with a smelly gas mower or pay for gas at the prices the oil companies are bending us over for. so, I ordered and it arrived quickly as everything does from Amazon (I am also an Amazon Prime customer). I let it charge overnight and in the morning I went out to mow the yard.. It was very easy to start, just pull the lever and it is started. It was very easy to adjust the height, I adjusted it to its highest setting since this was the first mow of the spring.. Most of the lawn is still dormant here in Texas and it is St. Augustine grass so in the areas where it was growing it was dense and thick. The cutting power of the mower is acceptable it was able to cut through even the dense areas of grass, it did bog down the mower but I would expect even a gas mower to bog down in the high dense parts that I went through. Everything sounds good so far the problem is that this thing weighs way too much to not be self propelled. I have only a slight incline at it was taking all my strength to push this up the slope. I am a 6'3" 225 pound man who is more than capable of pushing any mower (this is what I thought before I met the Black & Decker 24 volt Anvil). The mower weights 80+ pounds and the weight of it causes it to sink into the turf which causes resistance, too much resistance. maybe it was just my yard but I am sure there are others out there that have think plush turf for yard rather than just grass poking up out of hard dirt. I know my lawn in Nebraska was like that felt more like hard dirt under your feet rather than a plush cushion of grass. so if your yard is hard then you may be okay but if it is soft, plush and gives when you walk on it you are going to need something else. pushing this mower on the sidewalk is no problem so if you want to mow your sidewalk then this is the mower for you. As for me I just submitted my return request and got a return authorization from Amazon and UPS will be picking it up on my doorstep tomorrow. Just to praise Amazon some more I would like to add that their return process is awesome I have never had a problem return a product that didn't work out for me.
  
  
• poor cousin to the CMM1000
  By A21OUURLKU5DTU on 2007-05-01
  My old CMM1000 finally died last week after 6 excellent years, no new batteries or anything needed. I ordered this model, and it arrived today (kudos to Amazon, btw, REALLY fast S&H!!!). Still charging for the first run, but very disappointing let-down, for three reasons: (1) on-off handle on this is a cheap plastic lever VERY loosely attached to the handle, if it lasts a single season without snapping off, I'll be astonished (CMM1000 had a solid metal bar attached to both sides of the handle); (2) there is no charge indicator on the mower, as on the CMM1000, which was both color-coded and with a moving indicator to let you know how much of a charge remains -- only indicator on this model (CMM1200) is on the charger itself, with nothing to tell the user how much of a charge remains while mowing; and (3) safety is VERY bad, CMM1000 had a plug which was inserted into the mower itself, this has a cheap turn-key [plugging into -- where else? the handle assembly where the cheap on-off lever is attached]. B&D generally make great products, but DO NOT buy this one, pay the extra money and get the CMM1000 -- and Amazon, you should pull this from your inventory, and carry the CMM1000, pricer but LOTS better, and safer as well.
  
  
• just read the manual first
  By A1DZ28HZR0R1I2 on 2007-05-19
  Some of the reviews almost caused me not to buy this mower. But I just liked the technological concept and I bought it anyway. Glad I did. It works great. I have some comments about the negative comments in some of the other reviews: 1. read & follow the manual & charge the battery over night before using it. Not a big deal. It worked great the first time. 2. I have a quarter acre and had no problem with the battery dying on me. I did set it at the lowest multch position which is about midway on the height scale. The height adjustment mechanism was amazingly simple to use compared to the old way of adjusting each wheel. The multch setting works well. I hated the whole bag routine. No lumps of grass, in fact the cut grass just seemed to disappear. 3. I haven't even seen the battery, no need to. The guy who took the styrofoam out of the battery pack should put it back, it likely holds the battery in place. 4. Nothing flimsy about it. It's plastic and it's well put together. If anything's loose, tighten it. Mine was solid. 5. Right or left handed? If you can use both hands on your steering wheel to drive your car, you can cope with the lever on the right side of the handle. 6. It's not light but neither was my stink-pot mower. I find it just as easy to push around and manoever as my old put-put mower, including on small hills. The manual is quite clear and helpful on how to do slopes.
  
  That's it. I really like it. Buy it, if you can afford it.
  
  
• know where your service center is before buying
  By A3KM9UA6MAVURN on 2007-10-16
  I've had this mower a year and I would buy it again. It's so convenient not to have to mess with gas and oil. It starts easily. It cuts everything from grass to light brush -- it does bog down a bit in really thick, wet grass. Mowing when the grass is dry is best. I have an acre yard and it takes me 2-3 charges to mow the whole thing. However by the time the mower has run out of charge I'm ready for a break.
  
  However, I did have a problem on first using the mower. Something went wrong with the starter the second or third time I went to use it, and it wouldn't start. This is apparently a common problem. I ended up having to take it in for a repair. I was very unhappy as this is a big heavy mower, inconvenient to ship and the service center was over an hour away. Therefore, DONT buy this mower without first checking out where the service center is relative to you.
  
  Aside from that, I'm very happy with the mower, and glad i purchased it. No more running for gas or checking oil. No more pulling on a cord to get a mower to start. The mower is relatively quiet, compared to gas mowers, and it works well. If the grass is very heavy and/or wet, it can stop the mower and you might have to clear the blade and restart it. When I started in the spring though, my yard was a bit overgrown, and it did very well in cutting it back down to the ground, provided I didn't overload it, particularly with understanding that if the grass is wet, it is harder to cut. I'd buy it again. The only thing I wonder about is why they didn't make this with a removable, separately rechargable battery - that way, you could buy more than one, and alwyas have one charged. But that's a minor thing. Between this and a reel mower, I haven't needed to break out my John Deere lawn tractor this year.
  
  
• Works well - two caveats
  By A3ODSO1VTU4CR1 on 2007-08-23
  Have used it four times now and like it a lot. I have slightly less than 1/4 acre and use the mulching capability (no bag). I had used gas mowers for years.
  
  On the plus side:
  
  - Does a good job cutting grass. Has no trouble getting through my yard before the battery quits.
  
  - My ears aren't ringing after each use. I wouldn't call it "quiet" but it's definitely less noisy than a gas mower.
  
  - Feels good to let the power utility generate the energy needed to mow the lawn, since they can do it 100x more efficiently than a small gas engine on site.
  
  Caveats:
  
  - it has about the same amount of torque as a gas engine on LOW. If you are accustomed to letting the grass get tall sometimes and just boosting the throttle to get through it, you will be in for a change. Only way to get through extra tall or thick sections is to slow down. [Might be less of an issue if you bag clippings.]
  
  - it's a little heavier than a gas engine of similar width. I don't mind since I can use the workout, but if you have stamina or upper-body-strength issues, either stick to gas or buy this one and pay the neighbor kid to use it. ;-)
  
  Best practice is to plug it in the day before you want to use it; the rest of the time unplug the cable from the wall. Since the cable has a transformer it's using watts anytime it's plugged in.
  
  
• Mower of Mowers
  By A38SONZS8LLJD9 on 2007-09-26
  In the summer of 2006, my Toro mower was not doing so well so I started looking for a replacement. I went online and read reviews of various mowers including cordless mowers. I opted to purchase another Toro. A couple of months ago, someone went into my backyard and walked off with my mower so there I was spending another afternoon online shopping for mowers. After researching for hours, I decided to go ahead, throw caution to the wind, and purchase the Black & Decker Cordless 24-Volt Mulching Mower #CMM1200. I wasn't disappointed. My yard is approximately one third the size of the recommended cutting area of one third acre. I estimate my yard to be a typical size (not including a house located on a corner). The mower has plenty of power to complete the job. One reviewer complained about the plastic which I found to be solid on the mower. I'd rather have plastic since the bottom inside of steel decked mowers always loose their paint. Another reviewer complained about the CMM1200 missing sections of the lawn. On first try, I had the same experience. What you have to do is overshoot the end of your row a little, pull pack, then change your direction. Since this is a mulching mower, keep in mind that your grass needs to be free of moisture when you cut. Also, keep the width of your rows the width of the front your mower (do not include the wheels!). I now have a beautifully manicured lawn that could be on the cover of "American Beautiful Lawn". My lawn is relatively flat but has a few inclines and I found it very easy to push. The noise level is quite a bit lower than a gas powered mower which is a big plus. A few people complained about removing the CMM1200 from the box. All you have to do is open the top, cut the backside of the box, remove the cardboard pieces holding the wheels in place, then move it out backwards. It started up right from the box but you need to give it a full charge before use. I wished I had purchased this last year (not sure if it was available then). My mower now stays in the basement until I need it. Best of all, I do not stink after cutting the grass! One possible negative is that I don't believe the CMM1200 to be as powerful as a gas powered mower but to me, the difference is minimal. Hopefully this purchase will help combat the environmental problems we are now facing. If you were on the fence considering purchasing this item, don't wait any longer it great!
  
  Update 10/21/2008 Still working like a champ!!! Sometimes I still get "pop-up" of grass between rows which you can see a couple days after mowing but come to think of it, the same happened when using a gas powered mower. I am very happy I changed over from a gas powered mower to a battery powered mower. The benefits greatly outweigh any negative aspects, at least at this point in the mower's career.
  
  
• 7 Years Old and Still Mowing
  By A10GB1QMKTTSH1 on 2007-06-01
  June 2008 Update: Our CMM1000 mower is now 8 years old and will soon need its first new battery. However, we're finding it difficult to open the mower and are still searching the Internet for instructions as well as a replacement battery.
  
  Still 5 stars ... ??? Yes, for now. We'll keep you posted about the replacement battery.
  
  ########################
  
  We purchased this mower 7 years ago with no problems and no regrets. Below are some quick observations based on our experience over these trouble-free years:
  
  ALWAYS starts on the FIRST TRY by turning a switch.
  No tune up needed.
  No oil change needed.
  No gasoline to buy, store, and spill.
  Still using the original battery.
  Works fine in spring after wintering in a freezing garage.
  
  
  Yes, it's heavier than a gas mower of comparable size, but we bought it because several retired neighbors use the same model. We would not want to push this up or down a hill, but it is easily managed on a level lot.
  
  We mow our small yard and our neighbor's small yard on one charge with plenty of batter power remaining.
  
  The plastic housing shows little signs of wear, and the height adjustment works fine to this day.
  
  In summary, we have had no problems, would purchase another one, and continue to recommend it to everyone.
  
  
• Save your money...look elsewhere
  By A14QF5DLFBPCF8 on 2007-06-12
  Definitely not worth the price when you can have twice as much mower for half as much money. Here's why:
  
  1) does not handle rough terrain at all. and i dont mean big hills and bumps. ANY bump or change in elevation (i.e. 6 inches) will give you fits trying to push this thing through
  
  2) poorly designed and made - starter broke twice in the first 2 months i had it. Cut height adjustment broke in month 1. does not mulch properly or finely enough
  
  3) impossible to navigate the B&D customer service line. took me 10 minutes of maneuvering to get a live rep. Guess my engineering degree and 10+ years of business experience dont help when it comes to that MENSA designed phone system
  
  It does have some pros in that it is quiet and does hold its charge fairly well. But, all in all, electric mowers are just not ready for the mainstream yet. Get a decent gas powered, self propelled mower for less $$ and wait a few years for the electrics to come around
  4)
  
  
• difficult to push and maneuver
  By A1ZHFHGZBTKDJJ on 2007-05-07
  I bought this mower back in the fall and yes, it does all the good things it is described to do, no gas or oil, pull the lever with one finger and it starts, easy to charge and the height adjustment is effortless. The fatal flaw is that it is so heavy that by the time you are finished pushing and pulling the thing around you are whipped. I used to practically be able to run behind my little gas mower but this thing feels like the wheels are not oiled or something. It is very difficult to push and maneuver around trees. It doesn't turn well because it is so long, and lifting the back up to turn will wear you out. I wish I had known this before hand and waited until they came out with a self propelled version.
  
  
• Defective
  By A1I2X6HU9X2H1O on 2007-06-08
  We recently ordered the new B&D CMM1200, in effort to jump on the green movement. Sadly, despite all of the excitement, the mower never started. After numerous charges, and numerous inspections (and much frustration), it was determined by the experts that the mower would never start, and it was a faulty piece of equipment. So, we lugged it back to UPS and proceeded to Sears and bought a trusty, gas guzzling mower, which works beautifully.
  
  
• Worst lawn mower ever
  By A1FUBXEPS1V6XN on 2007-07-10
  Three weeks after receiving this product the "reliable" mower stopped working. There are perhaps four moving parts in it, and one of them snapped. Despite living in a city over almost 300,000 it was not possible to have it fixed anywhere so the mower had to be shipped across the state to a service center. The center took three weeks to fix the problem (a broken switch) and another week to find a box to ship it back! Upon opening the box I predictably found they had not shipped all the handle assembly back with the mower.
  
  So now, my $400 mower sits in the garage, my lawn continues to lengthen into a hay field and I cannot use it since they have not shipped the remaining parts to me. Black and Decker has not bothered to respond on this issue yet, and this has been the single worst yard/power tool purchase I have ever made. Save yourself the trouble and just buy a gas powered mower.
  
  
• Like What I See
  By A2VFIZ5K2KUVD1 on 2007-07-18
  I just purchased this mower and mowed my lawn today. The CMM1200 is as-advertised. There is no assembly required when it arrived from Amazon.com. The directions were great with pictures - no problem. Just like a car, put the key in and lift the lever. By the way, looked in Lowes for this thing and noted that the lever was on a less ergodynamic handle. It might be that Amazon.com has the newer model???? The best things are there is no gas, no oil, no air filter. Only need to sharpen the blade which you have to do with any mower. Charging it was so easy. Another great thing is the adjustment. Must be on a spring. You pull a lever and the whole thing comes up or down so easy. Nothing to lift to adjust the wheels. Great stuff.
  
  By the way, remember this is a push mower. It weights about 90 pounds so get ready for a little bit of a workout. Not bad but it is not a self properlled so keep that in mind. Still like it though. The color looks cool. Orange and black. It is plastic but that is why it is light. Do not think it is a concern since everything that should be metal is.
  
  Love how I can start and go on a dime. Love the mower. Can't stand gas and oil and filters and maintenance of gas mowers. I recommend it.
  
  
  
• Good Luck Finding a Replacement Battery
  By A2RDIHS5Z498OR on 2008-03-31
  I have had this mower for 6 years or so and use it sparingly. It is really quiet and I got it because my neighbor had it and liked it. Unfortunately, neither of us has been able to find a replacement battery. You can not even find one on the Black and Decker website. I have the CM-1000 version. I can still use it but the battery is reaching the end of its life. When purchasing consider that you have to buy a whole new mower to replace the batter. Also, it is a lead acid battery which is not really all that environmentally friendly when disposing.
  
  
• Quiet and Clean -- But Doesn't Perform Well
  By A3N2DTE1KITZT5 on 2007-04-30
  When I was in the market for a new lawnmower, I really liked the idea of an electric lawnmower that would be much quieter and cleaner than a gasoline one. But I didn't want to pull around an extension cord -- so the CMM1200 looked like the perfect solution. I had some doubts about the performance of it, but read some reviews here and at Consumer Reports and the overall response was positive, so I purchased it from a local hardware store.
  
  I used it the very next day and was unfortunately disappointed. The grass wasn't that long, but just at my normal walking pace, it couldn't keep up. In fact it bogged down to the point where I had to pull it back and release the switch to get it to start cutting again (perhaps an internal safety cutoff). I decided to raise the mower a bit and continue, but it bogged down again -- I raised it again and walked even slower and was able to get the grass cut. I operated it in "mulching" mode, but it really was just throwing clumps of grass back on the lawn, not the fine clippings that I had expected.
  
  This lawnmower is very quiet and I really like the fact that I didn't smell like exhaust when I was done cutting, but I didn't like the performance at all. I'm not, on a regular basis, willing to make multiple passes to cut the lawn and I don't want to leave it as high as I had to set the mower for it to mow properly. Since it didn't work for me, I've returned the mower and purchased a standard gasoline one.
  
  I really wanted this cordless mower to have the performance of a gasoline one without the volume and exhaust. If you keep your lawn longer and don't mulch, then this mower may work fine for you.
  
  
• CMM1200 Black&Decker Cordless Lawnmower
  By A1IHXRLNZIB86M on 2007-06-05
  I bought one of these mowers back in 2003. I bought it again today from Amazon, not because of any problems with the older mower but just to have a backup on hand while the previous mower is having some maintenance work done on it. It has been a great mower. I have a quater acre lot, with some slopes and it has never failed to cut the entire lot on one charge. Easy to charge and start it has never failed me. After four years its not as quiet as it had been which is why I am getting it serviced along with a blade replacement. You just need to use the height adjustment when your grass gets too high or wet to avoid stalling or draining the battery life quickly. I thought about the Neutron cordless mower but it only has a battery life of 1 hour per charge and it takes me at least that with the Black and Decker with plenty of juice left over. The mulcher is excellent as I often do not see the clippings laying on the ground after cutting. It was easy removing the mulcher to use the bag attachment and vice versa. Just be sure to put the mulcher back in its slot firmly. Like most others I wish B&D would somehow find a way to make this mower self propelled.
  
  
• Great mower, no problems.
  By A1RR8ZVMBHQFIJ on 2007-07-05
  First, let me tell you how to get the mower out of the box. (I guess one person is silly and tried to lift it.) The mower has four wheels. I just opened the top of the box, then tipped the box SLOWLY so the mower slid out on its own wheels.
  
  Ok, that said. My lawn has bumps and dips. The 1200 gave my lawn a better mow than my Gas mower. A real joy. I did not have ANY of hte problems that others had. ... except one.
  
  The height adjustment sucks. I could not get it to the maximum height. Otherwise, great mow!
  
  
• Heavy not powerful
  By A3KW1WRPZAP2NV on 2007-08-06
  Pros:
  1)no maintenance
  2)if it bogs down, it will start up again automatically (it doesn't stall)
  3)easy height adjustment
  
  Cons:
  1)heavy. It weights 30 lbs more than most corded or gas mowers, but yet isnt self propelled. It is LABORIOUS turning this thing
  2)uneven cut. It likes to miss grass on the edge of its cutting path
  3)it bogs down on grass any gas mower would blow through.
  4)barely cuts 1/4 of an acre if there is much thick grass.
  5)expensive! Reasonable self-propelled gas mowers are this price!!!
  This all boils down to a mower that doesn't actually do what it supposed to do very well and that its make cutting grass easier. My old self propelled honda was easy to use.
  I will probably return this for a corded electric with lots of amps.
  
  
• An Excellent Cordless Mulching Mower!!
  By A375TCF65F0M3X on 2007-12-07
  This is by far the best lawn mower I have used. I purchased the mower in May 2007, so I have had all summer and autumn to mow and share my experiences with it.
  
  It is very, very easy to use. When you first receive the mower, plug it into the battery charger and let it power up overnight. The mower will be charged the next day. When you are ready to mow the lawn, disconnect from the battery charger, turn the safety key to on, and lift the lever. That's it! This mower starts immediately!! No gas or oil to worry about, and it's great for the environment.
  
  In my experience the mower lasts about 75-90 minutes on one battery charge. It depends on the length of the grass - the longer the grass, the more energy the battery uses which shortens the mowing time.
  
  I tend to cut the front and back yard lawns on different days (because I like the outdoors), so this gives me plenty of time to do a thorough job. It also seems that the battery becomes stronger (meaning - it mows for a longer period of time) the more the mower is used.
  
  It is a powerful machine that does a beautiful job in cutting my lawn. I am very pleased with my Black and Decker Cordless Mulching Mower! And, my neighbors are envious!!
  
  If you have less than ½ acre to cut, then I highly recommend this cordless lawn mower.
  
  
  
• An excellent alternative to gas and oil!
  By A2KX7QR2XL69JL on 2007-08-23
  I have been fighting with gas push mowers for the past ten years and had grown so tired of the maintenance on them that I did all of my mowing with my riding mower. Any places that I couldn't get with the riding mower either got replaced by flower beds or just did not get mowed.
  
  I purchased the CMM1200, opened the box and was amazed that there was nearly zero assembly required, with the only work required being to unfold the handle, tighten a couple of hand-tightened nuts and snap together the catch bag.
  
  The earlier review concerning the battery being held in with only a nylon strap is unfounded, because the styrofoam (which the other reviewer chose to remove for unknown reasons) is there to hold the battery in place.
  
  My biggest reason for purchasing this mower was to stop dealing with gas and oil, but my secondary reason was environmental consciousness. With the second reason in mind, I was very pleased to find that the only piece of packaging which could not be recycled was the plastic bag which the charger was packaged in, inside of a small cardboard box. If B&D could eliminate the use of the plastic bag, they would have an environmentally conscious product packaged in 100% recyclable packing material.
  
  I love the cut quality, the ease of use, the quiet running, the ultra-easy height adjustment and the overall comfort of use.
  
  Great job B&D!
  
  
• mixed bag
  By A23DPBOJU57XRM on 2007-05-02
  Good: quiet, no emissions, easy start, long-lasting battery, easy height adjustment, nice job mulching.
  
  Not-so-good: needs two passes. it just doesn't produce enough torque to get an even cut on the first pass. if you don't care about some inconsistently mowed patches, then this isn't an issue. if you're anal and you like your yard to look like Augusta National for at least 5 minutes after mowing, you'll be disappointed.
  
  
  
• Six seasons strong
  By A2IAJ0L8CVEFUX on 2007-06-28
  I've been using this mower for the past 6 years, and it is a wonder. The only maintenance that's been required was to replace the batteries after 4 years. Other than that (which is to be expected with rechargeables), for the money & the fact that it is electric, it's been a great machine. Surprisingly powerful--it seems to cut with the same ease as a gas powered one the same size. If you have a small lawn, this is all you need. Even if you have a larger lawn, I would recommend this as a fast "cut-in" mower--just as powerful as gas, but much quicker to just grab & go.
  
  
• CMM1200 is a good step toward clean easy mowing
  By A1FGAL737JXYP0 on 2007-11-05
  This replaced a 15 yr old gas mower. It does require a little relearning on mowing to get a good cut, but after the 3rd mow it was looking good. I have a fairly large yard with some inclines, bumps, and slopes.
  I loved it for these reasons:
  1. No oil changes or having to keep oil around to top it off.
  2. No annual tune ups - Change oil, filter, spark plug.
  3. No oil disposal fees.
  4. No more gas can, and running out of gas just before I'm done and the can is empty.
  5. I don't smell like fuel and oil after mowing.
  6. Deck adjustment is very simple. I was the only one that could adjust each wheel on our old mower. This is so easy a 5 year old could do it.
  7. Instant on/off/on is great. No priming and pulling my arm off to get it started, and my old gas wasn't that easy to start if I had to stop it for a sec to pick up something.
  8. It is much more quiet, but you will probably still want to stop it to talk to someone.
  9. Some people mentioned weight, but this mower doesn't feel any heavier than my old gas mower.
  10. Clean-up is simple, and I would recommend getting into a good habit of cleaning it after every 1 or 2 mows. Brush it off with a hand brush, I used a small putty knife under the deck for some dried grass, and most of it wipes fairly clean with a rag. Takes about 5 min. The bottom of the deck is plastic so keeping it clean will make it fast and easy. The plastic is smooth which makes it easy to wipe clean so don't scratch it up with a tool if you can help it. I'm going to get a good cleaner for plastic surfaces, and keep it out on the shelf. With a good cleaner and some rags no tools should be necessary to just wipe it down.
  
  I say it's a good step in the right direction because it could use some improvement.
  1. Batteries need to last just a little longer before the RPMs of the blade start to drop. By the third mow, had to start high and lower deck each time cause grass was a little overgrown, I finally just barely finished the whole yard on one charge. This required me to really slow to a crawl at the end but better than having to come back out for just 3 or 4 strips of grass. The yard is a little bigger than the spec for the mower.
  2. Not sure what could be done about this, but my yard has a lot of very fine blade grass. Even my gas mower would not cut it well without slowing down other wise the grass is just pushed down. This wasn't too much of an issue once I got the grass cut to the height I wanted.
  3. If you need to stretch the battery to get the whole yard you really need to cut it at least 1/week maybe twice if you have times of the year where the grass grows really fast. I use to put off mowing and if the grass got a little high I just cranked up the RPMs of the gas mower and plowed through it. Good idea is to mow it every week even if you're not cutting that much off. Just keep the yard clean and this mower will work fine.
  4. I would love to have an option to speed up the blade at the cost of battery time. This would allow me to run a little faster and break the yard into a two day job for the sake of time if necessary.
  5. The plastic piece that blocks the rear catcher door when you're not using the catcher doesn't fit tight enough. Grass will get up behind it, and you have to take it out and clean it. Pretty simple once I figured it out, but it would be nice if it fit tighter and flush under the deck.
  
  Overall I would never go back to a gas mower, and I really hope more companies start working on making cordless electric mowers better and better. when the battery gets low don't let the slow sound fool you, that blade it still turning fast enough to cut just fine, you just have to slow down quite a bit. So if you have just a little more to go just slow down, and you'll be able to finish it with a clean cut.
  
  
• At last a lawnmower that starts easily every time
  By A151ZOJJ4L09VQ on 2007-11-29
  My husband is 69 with a heart condition. I used to cringe everytime I wanted to mow the lawn as I would have to have him come out in the hot Florida sun and spend 15 to 30 minutes starting the mower. No more. this lawn mower starts every time by just pulling up the bar. It has the power of our old gas mower with none of the problems. Well worth the money!
  
  

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