Black and Decker 19-Inch 5 HP Cordless Rear Bag Mower #CMM1000 at Garden Tool Store

Black and Decker 19-Inch 5 HP Cordless Rear Bag Mower #CMM1000 from Electric Mowers

Black and Decker 19-Inch 5 HP Cordless Rear Bag Mower #CMM1000 by Black & Decker

Features

19-inch cordless rear bag mower; mulch, side-discharge, and rear-bag options

5-horsepower rechargeable motor; one-touch adjustment offers 1-1/4 to to-3-1/2-inch clearance 7 positions

Cutting deck made of super-tough polymer

Includes mower, battery, charger, rear-bag assembly, safety key

36 by 22.5 by 17.6 inches; 76 pounds; lifetime guarantee on mower deck; 2-year guarantee on mower

Amazon.com Buying Guide
Five Tips for Buying a Mower
Choosing a lawn mower is a matter of sifting through a bewildering array of types, power ratings, and fuel sources. Lets break it down a little to make the process easier.

What types of walk-behind mowers are there?
There are four basic choices: push reel, electric, cordless, and gas. All have strengths and weaknesses.

Push reel mowers are powered by you. Theyre quiet, they dont need cords or recharging, and they dont pollute. But on large lawns, you might not want the workout you get when using a push reel mower. They also tend to be less effective on grass taller than two inches.
Electric mowers need to be plugged into an outlet to power them, which means youre constrained by the location of power outlets, the length of your power cord, and any obstacles that may snag the cord. If you have a small yard but dont want the forced exercise of using a push reel mower, an electric mower may be for you.
Cordless mowers are powered by a rechargeable battery. You dont have to deal with the hassles of keeping a cord plugged in, but battery life becomes a constraint. Depending on the battery capacity, the size of your yard, and the height of your grass, you may not be able to complete your mowing job on one charge.
Gas mowers offer the most power, which is best if youll be mowing tall, dense grass or if your yard is larger than 2,000 square feet. But you will have to keep gas and oil on hand as well as keep the engine serviced.

What do all the power measurements mean?
All that matters to you is whether the lawn mowers blade will spin fast enough to cut your grass. Unfortunately, mowers are rated in far more technical terms.

For gas mowers, there are three power measurements you may see:

horsepower (hp) refers to the amount of power the engine can produce;
torque is the amount of horsepower that is transferred to the blade;
cc (cubic centimeters) is another to measure an engines power based on the displacement volume of its cylinders.

There also are two types of engines: two-stroke (also referred to as two-cycle) and four-stroke (or four-cycle). Conventional wisdom is that two-stroke engines offer more power but also more pollution.
For electric and cordless mowers, power often is measured in volts, amps, or watts. To satisfy your inner techie, heres how to calculate the horsepower:
5. Multiply the volts by the amps to get the wattage.
6. Divide the wattage by 746 to get the horsepower.

More horsepower doesnt always mean more cutting power. Thats why, starting in 2007, most lawnmower manufacturers began rating walk-behind lawn mowers in torque power or ccs--not horsepower. If torque isnt available for a gas mower, higher cc figures usually mean higher torque (and more fuel used per stroke, incidentally).

However, you dont want to buy a mower based on the power measurement alone. Make sure it has the features, warranty, and quality of reviews youre seeking.

What features should I look for?

Cutting Deck
This refers to the blade housing. The wider the cutting deck, the fewer passes it will take to mow a given area. However, consider how many obstacles there are in your yard. The wider the deck, the tougher it may be to fit the mower into tight spaces.
Mulching and Bagging
Want to collect your clippings? Choose a mower with a rear- or side-bag option. Want to leave clippings on the lawn as fertilizer? Get a mower that mulches. A "3-in-1" mower will mulch, bag, or side-discharge.
Wheels
Larger wheels mean easier handling, especially over rough terrain. If you can, go with at least 7-inch-diameter wheels in the rear--larger if your yard is hilly or uneven. Some higher-end mowers have front wheels on casters, which gives you an extremely tight turning radius.
Height Adjustment
Most mowers allow you to adjust the distance between the blade and the ground. Think about how much range you really need.
Safety
Many newer rotary machines are available with a lever or bar that must be depressed to keep the mower running (some models include a handy blade-brake that lets you release the lever without killing the engine).
Also, look for models with a rubber flap at the back to block objects thrown from the blades. You should always wear safety goggles when mowing and follow all the manufacturers safety instructions regardless of the mower youre using.
Batteries
If youre buying a cordless mower, think about how long it will run on a single charge. Most batteries take several hours to recharge, so you want to make sure its going to get the job done before it runs out of juice. As a rule of thumb, a typical 24-volt mower will run up to one-and-a-half hours and cut up to a third of an acre; a 36-volt mower will go for three hours and cut up to a half an acre.
Cord holder
A cord holder is useful for keeping the cord of your electric mower out of the way when you make turns.
Starters
Gas mowers are available either with recoil (pull-cord) or electric starters. Newer recoil motors start much quicker than those you remember from summers past. However, go with electric if you can afford it: your mower will start with the push of a button or the turn of a key.
Self-propelled or push?
A self-propelled mower moves forward without you having to push it. All you have to do is steer. If you have a relatively flat lawn, save a few bucks by skipping this feature. However, if your landscape has a slope or an irregular contour, a self-propelled model may be the best choice. Rear-wheel drive tends to offer better traction.
Variable Speed
If you want a self-propelled mower, look for models with variable speed. This feature allows you to make adjustments within a continuous range so you can find the exact speed thats comfortable for you.

What servicing and maintenance is necessary?
Always buy a mower that comes with a manufacturers warranty and follow the manufacturers routine maintenance instructions for

Cleaning the mower after usage;
Keeping the blade sharp;
Keeping the engine tuned up (gas mowers); and
Keeping the battery charged (cordless mowers).

While Amazon.com does not accept returns on gas-powered mowers, the manufacturers Website or product manual will list the nearest service center.

What does CARB-compliant mean?
CARB is an acronym for California Air Resource Board, whose stringent air-quality standards have been adopted by many states. If your state requires compliance for gas mowers, confirm that your model is CARB-certified before you buy. While CARB-compliant mowers run cleaner than noncompliant models, they still emit pollutants. If you want to go green, an electric or push reel mower is the way to go.

Product Review
While mowing the lawn may never be considered a recreational activity, this rear bag mower from Black & Decker makes the chore as close to fun as it will ever get. With its 24-volt battery, which delivers 5-horsepower gas equivalent at peak torque, this cordless electric mower represents the top of Black & Decker's line of lawn mowing products. During our field tests, this orange powerhouse stood out above other mowers for ease of use and performance. Its versatile operation allowed us to mulch, bag, or expel the debris from its 19-inch cutting path. Switching between the three methods was as easy as removing the catch bag and the mulch plug--easily performed tasks when the mower is not running.

The most obvious difference between the new generation of electric mowers and the heavier gas-powered mowers of yore is the start-up. The ease with which this mower starts is almost stupefying. Simply pull and hold the thin handle lever, then pull the ignition lever, and presto!--the engine is running. To minimize safety risks to young children, a removable safety key must be inserted prior to starting the mower.

Once started, this mower runs like a dream and is much quieter than older gas-powered models. In addition to the lack of noise, vibrations were also dampened by the cushioned handgrips, a feature that makes mowing a much more comfortable experience. Another innovation is the method by which the mower is raised and lowered. Where once it was necessary to adjust each wheel individually, the height of the mowing platform is now controlled by a single squeeze of a single lever, which allows for seven positions from 1-1/2 to 3-1/2 inches. While this mower is much lighter than a gas mower, we did find that this Black & Decker cordless model, weighing in at 76 pounds, is heavier than its corded relatives.

The only disadvantage this machine seems to have is in the power department. While there were no serious problems during our field test, it was necessary to slow down or go back over thicker sections of grass in order to make a completely clean cut. This cordless model also requires a substantial charging time when first out of the box: the manufacturer suggests at least a 16-hour period initially in order to get peak performance and maximum run time. According to Black & Decker, the battery will be 70% energized with four hours of charging. When fully juiced, this mower can be expected to cut between 1/2 and 1/3 of an acre per charge. Though the charge is one aspect that needs to be considered when deciding whether to purchase a corded or a rechargeable mower, we found the added maneuverability of the cordless over the corded model far outweighs the inconvenience of charge times.

When you've finished mowing, the handles fold back, making it easier to store this mower in a tight garage or shed. It comes with a 30-day no-risk satisfaction guarantee and a manufacturer's full two-year warranty.

Reader Reviews
I've owned this product for going on 8 years now. It's been by far the best mower I've ever owned. It's a breeze to start and use, and not worry about keeping oil and gas around. (The environmental advantages are nothing to sneeze at--small cycle engines account for a massively disproportionate level of air pollution.) Having previously owned a gas mower that was at times hard to start a a real pain to adjust heights at all 4 wheels, I couldn't believe how easy this one is. One-finger start, one-hand hgt. adjust. AT ALL 4 WHEELS TOGETER (not one wheel at a time). A couple of minor cautions: if you frequently mow your grass wet or damp, or let it go for weeks, this one might not be for you. It WILL handle those conditions as well as the equiv.-powered gas mower, but will have to be recharged more frequently. Suffice to say: Mowing grass wet and going weeks between mows IS BAD FOR YOUR GRASS, so it's not a good idea regardless of the mower type. As for the 24-hr recharge one reviewer complained about (it's actually just 16 hrs), it WILL regain 60% of full charge in 4 hrs., so for all but the most impatient, the recharge cycle shouldn't be a problem. I've found this mower to be quite capable of holding up well to normal use--in fact, holding up better than most gas/push mowers. Too bad, most people won't consider these at all! (I notice the Canadian govt. is offering rebates for people purchasing this mower or a "people-powered" reel mower--great idea! I bet George Bush will pick up on this any day now!) Comments (2) | Permalink | (Report this)

Black and Decker 19-Inch 5 HP Cordless Rear Bag Mower #CMM1000
List Price: $743.95
Available from Amazon
Price: $497.43
Updated on 6-27-2008.

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