BLUE RIDGE BR8761U 40V 2.0Ah 14” Cordless Electric Battery Lawn Mower Review
The Blue Ridge BR8761U is a lightweight battery-powered electric lawn mower that runs on a 40 Volt system. It comes with a 2 Ah battery and charger included in the purchase. The battery can also be used in other lawn care tools in their line including a stringer and a leaf blower.
It only rings in at a lightweight 24-pounds, which makes it extremely nimble for mowing a small yard. The 13-inch cutting deck has six different height settings ranging from 1 to 3-inches. There is also a “Cutting To Edge” function which lets you get very close to trees and other landscaping features.
It can be set up as a mulcher or a bagger. The 30-liter hard-sided bagger is made from plastic and includes a handle for easy lifting and dumping. The handles also fold down for convenient compact storage.
Key Features
- 40-Volt 2Ah Rechargeable Battery
- 13-Inch Cutting Deck
- 6-Height Adjustment Settings
- From 1 to 3-inches
- Cutting-To-Edge Function
- Mulch Or Bag
- Hard-Sided 30-Liter Bagger With Handle
- Only Weighs 24-Pounds
- Backed By A 2-Year Warranty
- Battery And Charger Included
Performance
The Blue Ridge BR8761U is not self-propelled, but it’s so light and nimble that you shouldn’t have any problem moving it around a small lawn. The 40 Volt 2 Ah battery has a somewhat limited range, but you should still be able to cut a third of an acre on a single charge.
Ease of Use
The fact that it only weighs a hair over 24-pounds makes this mower incredibly nimble and easy to move. The robust handle on the hard-sided plastic bagger is also something you will appreciate. A lot of baggers give you little more than an awkward metal bar that digs into your hand or makes it clumsy to dump out.
The wheels are a little on the small side and don’t have a great deal of traction texture. This might be an issue when cutting on uneven turf or if you have very thick bladed grass that has gotten away from you.
Cut Quality & Options
This battery-powered electric lawnmower with its 13-inch cutting path is designed to mow a small lawn. The “Cutting-To-Edge” feature lets you get very close to trees and landscaping features. Depending on the characteristics of your yard you might even be able to get away without using a string trimmer.
The bagger holds up to 30-liters which is impressive for such a small, lightweight lawnmower. The plastic material also helps to block some of the dust that can be an issue in overly dry conditions. It can also be set up as a mulcher to essentially mince grass clippings into tiny pieces that easily decompose back down into the underlying soil.
The Blue Ridge BR8761U’s cutting deck has 6 adjustable height settings. This lets you alter it from as low as 1-inch for times of the year when the grass is growing vigorously or as high as three inches for when the weather is a little bit dry.
If you’ve been away on vacation and the lawn has grown overly long, you might want to consider cutting it once at a higher setting close to three inches. Then cut it again the next day on a lower setting of around 1.5 to 2-inches. This might help to keep the blades from getting bogged down in the tall grass.
Maintenance
Battery-powered electric lawnmowers are inherently easy to maintain. They don’t need the typical oil changes and spark plug replacements that most gas-powered lawnmowers need from year to year.
The Blue Ridge BR8761U is relatively small and lightweight. If the blades become progressively dull, or they’re damaged by an errant stick, you might be able to sharpen them yourself with a mill file. Though it might just be easier to replace the blades altogether.
When it comes to the charge, the 2 Ah 40 Volt battery has a somewhat short lifespan. If you need to mow more than a third of an acre or so, you might want to break it up into two sessions. You can mow in the morning when the temperature is cool. Then charge the battery during the day for a short evening session.
Safety Features
The Blue Ridge BR8761U has dual hand controls that operate the blades and disengage the cutting action quickly when they are released.
Special Features
The fact that you can set it up for mulching or bagging with a hard side plastic bagger is a nice touch. The handle on the back of the bagger also makes it easy to remove and dump.
The “Cutting To Edge” feature also helps give your lawn a nice manicured look, even if you don’t have the time to pull out the string trimmer.
The Blue Ridge BR8761U’s folding handles might not seem like they are all that special on paper, but they are a great space saver. Especially when you consider that the mower only weighs a little over 24-pounds, which means you could potentially store it on a shelf.
Cost Effectiveness
Of course, as a battery-powered electric the Blue Ridge BR8761U lawnmower is more cost-effective than a gas-powered unit of the same size. The Cutting-To-Edge feature might even spare you having to spend money on a trimmer.
The fact that you can repurpose the 40 Amp rechargeable batteries for a few other tools in the Blue Ridge line is a nice touch that increases the overall value for people who are brand-loyal.
The Blue Ridge BR8761U is backed by a two-year warranty, which gives you some insurance against manufacturer defects. There are also some online retailers who offer very affordable two and three-year protection plans. Just remember to register it shortly after the initial purchase.
