Greenworks 25142 16″ 10 Amp Corded Electric Lawn Mower Review
Many homeowners with small yards live in suburban or even metropolitan areas where there are a fair number of neighbors close by. Of course, the last thing you want is to be “That Guy” who is running a loud gas-powered lawn mower, belching blue-tinged smoke, while the neighbor’s kid is trying to sleep.
If this sounds like your situation, then chances are you are in the market for an electric lawnmower. Once you stick your nose into this niche, you will find them divided up into two groups: Corded and battery powered.
The advantage of a battery powered lawnmower is that you are not stuck so close to the building. Unfortunately, even the best Lithium Ion batteries have a limited amount of charge they can hold, and their lives can be cut short by time as well as accidentally overcharging. Let’s not forget that replacement batteries can also be fairly expensive.
With a corded lawnmower like the Greenworks 25142, you do have a cord connected to the house or the nearest power source, which will limit your range. In the case of the Greenworks 25142, we’re talking about 150 feet. Yet you don’t have to worry about charging or the cost of replacing batteries.
The Greenworks 25142 comes with a cord lock in the handle which prevents you from accidentally yanking it out while you are mowing. The 10 Amp electric motor inside drives the blades, and has enough power to also handle an optional mulching adaptor, which comes with the initial purchase.
The 16-inch wide cutting deck has five position height settings. This allows you to trim your grass anywhere from 5/8th of an inch to 2 5/8th of an inch. The entire unit rolls along on a pair of 7-inch diameter rear wheels and two six-inch diameter front wheels.
When you aren’t using it the handle folds down to minimize its overall footprint. The cord can then be spooled and simply kept with it.
Key Features
- The 16-inch wide cutting deck
- 150-foot maximum cord length
- 5 position height settings
- 10 Amp electric motor
- Mulching option included in the initial purchase
- Cord lock built into the handle
Performance
From an engineering standpoint, the 1-inch difference in diameter between the front and rear wheels lends very little mechanical advantage. If you needed to mow a half acre lawn, this would be a minor complaint. When you consider the maximum 150-foot cord length of the Greenworks 25142 you will likely hardly even notice it.
The Greenworks 25142 is also very light, weighing in at just over 37 pounds. This helps it remain nimble and easy to move. Depending on how your garage or shed is set up, you could even fold it up and hang it on the wall when not in use.
Of course, there is the inevitable downside that comes with a corded electric lawnmower. You will have to be mindful of the cord, and you will have a range limited to 150 feet. Now, if your lawn is relatively wide open, this won’t be a problem. The cord lock on the handle will even prevent accidentally unplugging it. All you really have to do is keep an eye out for the cord to make sure you don’t accidentally run it over!
If you have more advanced landscaping, with tall flowers, shepherd’s hooks, and the occasional tree, then chances are good the Greenworks 25142 cord will cause a few moments of frustration. Setting up pegs or shepherds hooks at the edges of flower beds and other landscaping features might help you prevent damage caused by dragging the cord at a distance.
Ease of Use
The lightweight Greenworks 25142 is very nimble and easy to maneuver. The cord lock in the handle helps reduce accidental unplugging. The mulching insert is very easy to installs, and it’s easy to adjust the height settings with a single lever. The push button electric start works every single time.
Just be mindful of the cord and how it might travel as you move with it.
Cut Quality & Options
The 16-inch cutting path lets you take care of a small to modest sized backyard very quickly. It also comes with five-position height settings spanning from as low as 5/8th of an inch to 2 5/8th of an inch.
The Greenworks 25142 even comes with a mulching attachment included in the initial purchase. However, the 10 Amp motor can be a little down on power if you are cutting and mulching tall grass. So, it’s best to mow frequently, if you want to mulch your grass clippings. Otherwise, it has a tendency to leave small patches of uncut grass behind.
Maintenance
Greenworks understands that the last thing you want to do is sharpen lawnmower blades on a bench grinder. So, they made replacement blades for the 25142 very affordable. Since it’s corded there are no batteries to worry about charging and replacing. When you are done using it, simply fold down the handle, spool up the power cord and store it away.
Safety Features
The Greenworks 25142’s electric motor suspends motion when it is not engaged by the hand controls. The cord lock on the handle also reduces your chances of accidentally pulling the power cord out while you mow. Just be mindful of where the cord is so you don’t cut it or get it tangled.
Special Features
The mulching insert is a nice way to dispose of grass clippings without having to bag them or rake them away.
The cord lock might seem simple at first. Yet a lot of other corded electric mowers don’t have this feature.
Cost Effectiveness
The mulching insert in and of itself is a money saver. In a lot of urban and suburban settings, it costs money to bag up and dispose of your grass clippings. Yet if you leave them from say a side-discharging mower, they will eventually clog up your turf with dried, useless thatch.
