1 YEAR REVIEW Ryobi 21-inch 40V HP Brush-less Crosscut Lawnmower

I've been mowing with the 21" Ryobi crosscut now for a little over 1 year and thought I would give you my thoughts. Should you buy it? Hopefully this video will help you decide!

[@seaneunson3661]

No more gas. No more spark plugs. No more smell. Fairly lightweight (compared to my old Gas) 2 batteries (I’ve only ever used one) I’ve had it for one year. High marks from me. Definitely recommend 👍

[@Rubin4749]

Great breakdown, really appreciate this. I can find a decent amount of reviews but it's usually ones where they only just owned the Ryobi a few weeks. So to get one after a year's use really gives some peace of mind.

[@1NATURELOVERJ]

Great 15 month review. It was great to hear the mower in action. You answered all my concerns. Amazing battery life. Thank you!

[@UsernameBarbF]

I am an older woman and have discovered another "con"--if you have arthritis or weakness in your hands/fingers, it will be almost impossible to remove the spent battery out of the mower--that is, it is very, very difficult and often painful to try to squeeze the button hard enough to release it while trying to also lift it out. My solution is pretty simple--I took a wide cotton ribbon and wrapped it around the battery, tying it in a bow at the top--be sure to leave a finger-thick space between the battery and the knot in the ribbon (in other words, don't make the ribbon snug to the battery). The solid loop of the ribbon goes at the bottom of the battery, the bow is sitting at the top of the battery. I hook my finger under the bow then press down on the button and lift the ribbon when I hear/feel the release. Before I used the ribbon, I'd use my fingers to release the button, but when I moved my fingers/hands to grasp the battery to lift it out, it would slip right back down and lock back into place. I hope this helps!

[@rileymoore4017]

I'm not sure that's a con with the machine more like a con with having arthritis

[@heatherlygillpatrick9414]

The battery trying to get in and out is very difficult. I don’t have arthritis but I have a heckuva time getting in and out. I will try the Riven thing.

[@UsernameBarbF]

@@heatherlygillpatrick9414 Another thing I recently discovered--only put the active battery in, leaving the available space for a second battery next to it empty. Then, if your fingers are thin enough, you can pinch that darn release button with one hand and slip the skinny fingers of your other hand under the active battery and lift it. Why on earth that button has to be so hard to press/release is beyond me! Good luck to us both! 🙂

[@montanawhite5699]

@@rileymoore4017no it’s difficult to remove the battery. Arthritis or not. I’m lucky enough to be a man with a good grip. My wife struggles to remove the battery.

[@Amfxtrading]

I have arthritis too and gas mowers shake so badly that it hurts my hands. Does this mower shake similarly?

[@richardfitzwell0420]

One of the best things I never thought I would love. Is being able to move it from point A to point B under power… without having the blades going.

[@richardbarber5911]

I've had it for 6 months and didn't even realize you could do this. Learned it from the video. Doh! (I should read the manual sometime).

[@ronb6182]

Yeah that all that works. I had mine not even a year and it quit working the blade motor that is it. I can power drive the mower all over the yard and in the dark the lights work but not the blade. 73

[@ronb6182]

Junk! 73

[@Yielar1]

@@ronb6182 That's what warranties are for eh

[@ronb6182]

@@Yielar1 still junk! Service is junk too! I work for a living the service should be open on the weekends or past 5:00 pm. Enough said!

[@carocr913]

Thanks for the review, very helpful I was not sure which mower to get, thanks to you I will get this on,👍🏼

[@ronswoodshack]

Thanks for the review. You should try to mow with the discharge pointing toward where you’ve already cut and not at the grass that hasn’t been cut yet 5:25. It will definitely keep the mower from bogging down and you’ll have a smoother looking lawn. Great review. Love all my ryobi tools.

[@groundskeeper5292]

Good video. Thanks for the great info. I have lots of Ryobi tools been thinking of adding a push mower to the fleet. Love the folding handle! Simple. Well designed.

[@erichannes6392]

I’ve had mine five years. No issues. Batteries still good!

[@shanwar9844]

Has mine for 5 and and one battery finally died but I love this machine!

[@NegronJL1]

Yup, going on 4 years for me Eric and I love it. Cut St Augustine once a week in fall and winter, twice a week in spring and summer and still going strong.

[@timwilkins2094]

5 yrs!! Thank you for the comment. I will be buying one this weekend!!!

[@j.w.7688]

Solid vid man! Been considering an E-Mower and needed a well done review to watch. Yours was definately a very well thoughout and edited review.👍

[@matthewmackay3354]

Thanks for the update. You mentioned the possibility of a video on Strava segments on the Suunto. I'd appreciate that as I have not been having much luck getting that to work. I have a P9P and some of your previous videos have really helped me get the most out of this great watch. Much appreciated, and greetings from Canada.

[@sanjuanpaloma]

I really appreciate your video. I just bought one yesterday. Thanks!!

[@champagnejames2398]

Your video came in handy! Great review btw THANKS A TON

[@ronl8495]

Awesome video, really informative,I bought one yesterday and can’t wait to try it out. Thanks for the great review! New subscriber!😎

[@ronquinn7628]

Good review. I just bought one & looking forward to using it. No more oil & gas.

[@chefdeb809]

Great review… very efficient. Just ordered after yer review 👊😊✌️

[@kennethcunningham9496]

Hello, I'm glad I found your video review... I'm actively seeking to buy a ry401015 as you have and based upon your review; this unit being is the advantage over gas, because you don't have to acquire and store the fuel. Further, I'm pleased with what you've shown as the cutting performance as well as, the mulching performance and this has finalized my purchase decision... thanks

[@lastat10]

I’ve used mine for two mows so far, and I’m absolutely elated with this purchase. I actually look forward to mowing my lawn now.

[@andyalvarez8098]

Unfortunately it will probably starting giving you issues about a year in.

[@jeffgrant7545]

3 years in with mine, zero issues.

[@Yielar1]

@@andyalvarez8098 5 year warranty on the mower is pretty nice with 3 years on the batteries

[@lorrainehinchliffe5371]

I have this mower, ( older version) at least 4 years old. On my 2 acre lot it does all my trimming and the fenced area behind my house ( 40’x40’) Works great , enough power left to move the battery’s to my string trimmer and do some trimming. No issues removing the battery.

[@name.terrie]

Thanks. Very helpful review! Best wishes.

[@jeanenamoncada1494]

Lightweight is good and what did I use it for it’s a lawnmower kzbin.infoUgkxTPN04aT-Qdjr_KS3ql7ng8wnU3wwsCqk also recommend Yes it is lightweight so hence not as robust as our old one. But if you take care it does the job really well.

[@ianwhitfield1696]

Thank you so much, I had no idea what the mulching accessory did…

[@RedBeardRetroTech]

Thank you so much, I'm really stuck between the Ryobi RY401150 and the EGO LM2114SP

[@andrewmusholt9327]

Being able to take out the red "key" and switch it back and forth is pretty nice. Mine you have to physically swap the batteries

[@RedHaloManiac95]

Just picked one of these up at the flea market for $180 got a suburb yard so it’s perfect. But the guy gave time the bag for the smaller mowers so I just gotta buy the right one. I got a steal deal. Also self propelled really does save your back.

[@pacobombom]

Great review!

[@nursedanig2246]

Thank you for a great review!!! I am not handy and need something lighter and easy!

[@LCculater]

Love this mower ! Got rid of gas and never go back

[@michaelwas8549]

I bought the unit without the self propelled. Super light unit, really dont need the self propel. works great so far after a year, plus its half the cost.

[@captainmorgan5255]

Thanks ; this helps me a lot !

[@SierraGolfNiner]

I know this is "late" but thank you for the commentary about the bag filling. I have a dewalt mower and the bag clumps at the front basically without fail (unless I'm cutting just the tiniest hair off the top of the grass). It drives me nuts.

[@Yielar1]

My Toro gas does the same when filling the bag which isn't great

[@SteveSayWhat]

+ 1 Like & Sub'd Thank you for taking the time to make this video I learned a lot from it. Me myself I have owned this mower myself & this gave me a lot of insight; as I had a few questions and you helped to answer them. About the "stragglers" of grass left sticking up; instead of mowing twice I noticed that when I use the Powered drive only to regain forward motion after a sharp turn, then when the mower is up to speed (still preferably low speed) and then I just push it which I figure would save some power. You answered a big question for me though. I always wondered why it would power up the motor from regular power to like extra power mode for a second... I never really understood that but it makes great sense now. Thanks alot, I would also buy again or suggest to friends. Now I just have questions about cleaning stuck grass lumps from the underside, and as far as the bag... it will begin to be clogged with grass and I noticed if you take it off mower and spray it down with sufficient water pressure it helps the bag vent a lot and thus it takes a lot more grass before becoming full.

[@scottchrisu3490]

I had one and loved it the 15 times I used it and then it just stopped. After Googling this, I found many others had the same problem. It's an electrical problem that requires a professional fix (unless you happen to be electrically inclined I guess). Home Depot gave me a store credit and I went back to a Honda gas. I truly wish the Ryobi had held up better because it's a very nice mower.

[@ajgreen868]

Why didn’t you just look into a different platform?

[@scottchrisu3490]

@@ajgreen868 Not sure what you mean.

[@ajgreen868]

@@scottchrisu3490 instead of returning it and buying a gas mower why didn’t you just pick a different brand of cordless?

[@scottchrisu3490]

@@ajgreen868 I sure considered that. I picked the Ryobi because Consumer Reports gave it a strong review. I guess I lost confidence in the electrics and didn't want to hassle with another early breakdown. The Honda I had previously lasted 34 years w/o a single problem. So I went back to gas. A good friend bought the same Ryobi a month or so ago so I'll see how his holds up.

[@ajgreen868]

@@scottchrisu3490 when it comes to cordless outdoor power equipment consumer reports is the last place I’d go for a review. Look into EGO 56 volt and GREENWORKS 60 volt. I’ve had Greenworks equipment for 3 seasons now with zero issues. I own a snowblower, weed eater, mower and leaf blower. And the mower has a steel deck instead of a plastic one. I’ve been very happy with this equipment.

[@larrylandmeier7191]

Very thorough review. I am sold. Does it come with a puppy.

[@americanrambler4972]

I really like my Ryobi 20 inch 40 volt push mower. It’s pretty light and fairly easy to maneuver. It came with a 6 Ah battery and charger. It’s a good size for my yard and use. After watching your cross cut blade in action, I don’t really see any benefit for it over just the standard mulching blade. I think my lawn mower actually does a better overall job lifting cutting the grass. I am now into my 3rd year using my mower. One thing I have noticed is a sharp blade does make a notable difference in cut quality. I find my grass (including weeds and clover) seems to look better and stay greener with a cut height of close to 3 inches or their abouts. That’s about a mid range setting. I don’t have the side discharge Shute. I don’t think I would ever use it if I did. I like the better looks the mulching mode leaves behind. If the grass was too tall to start with, I just run over it a second time and it cleans it up quite well. But that’s only when it’s really thick and 6 inches or so tall. It will go into the power step up mode when I hit that thick stuff. But most of the time it runs in the normal mode. Another thing that also helps is I often overlap about 1/3 to 1/2 width on the really tall thick stuff because it grooms the previous cut sharper and lifts some of the stragglers better. (Especially the dandelions.)

[@Antiorganizer]

Did you ever run it accidentally over a rock that bend the blade or even broke the blade adapter assembly? I'm concerned how that blade adapter assembly looks to be plastic instead of metal. I can imagine going through those and needing to stock up on those.

[@orboflightning]

Do you need to keep both handles depressed while running? Also is yours the cross-cut? Great simple video. I have a cheaper version and am looking to upgrade. A customer showed me his Milwaukee and it was leaps and bounds better than my Ryobi, for $800. It had a metal deck, moved really well, and he didn’t notice the random blades that didn’t get cut. I want to stick with Ryobi because all my other equipment is the same brand, so videos like this help a lot

[@ben0taylor]

How is the light? Bright enough to mow at night ? Thanks for review

[@skyguy25]

Have had mine for right around a year. Not a big lawn. Batteries are beginning to fail already. The actual mower is losing power as well. Was happy with mine, now I am pretty disappointed and will likely go back to a gas mower.

[@punkmanmatthew]

What I worry about with these is when there are a lot of leaves in the fall and also how well it mulches. Seems like it would struggle with that to me.

[@Cultiwilding]

Can you choose to push the self-propelled version to sometimes save battery power, by any chance?

[@charliebecker2216]

How does it do on a hill. Approximately 22%over the size of ur yard. How does it do with leaves in the fall bagging and mulching ?

[@douglasowenmoore3907]

any chance i could get the part number off the side discharge chute and the mulching plug i was given this mower without these attachments thanks

[@kencunningham3710]

Mine wont start, and I can't find a place in central jersey that will service it

[@billhill839]

I bought this one and really like it. You said one of the cons was an all plastic deck. That is the main reason I bought it. I have a Cub Cadet 100 gas push mower that the deck is rusting out going into its fourth season. 😀

[@chrischanwc]

I use a Ryobi snow blower and trying to get a lawnmower of the same brand, do they share batteries ?

[@XellosMetallium]

Do you have issue mowing the grass on lowest setting? My 20” Ryobi gets clog up even though on mid setting.

[@antoniogonzalez2246]

My only question is: can I use it before 7am? Is it that quiet?

[@machinegangsta]

I had the 21in single blade self propelled for less than a year. I had to buy another 2 batteries to get my lawn mowed, which is under a 1/4 acre. My unit kept overheating the batteries (Florida Heat?). Also struggled with thick patches constantly having to lift the mower and remow that patch. So I just returned it and upgraded to the one in this video 🤞 that this one works better.

[@campkayakadventures]

You will eventually have the same issues

[@Yielar1]

@@campkayakadventures Most people have no issues

[@Antiorganizer]

Many swear by the 20" one. You only lose 1 inch and it's much lighter and much easier to handle.

[@afn-bd2ro]

I wonder why I see so many electric lawn mowers brand new or barely used for sale on Facebook Marketplace. Most for big discounts.

[@suz0000]

I’ve had mine 1 year and 3 months. Worked fine until today and now it’s intermittently making a weird sound and sounds like it’s going to shut off, then comes back. Don’t know what’s going on.

[@N2Stooges]

Maybe I missed it during the video... What is the model number of this Ryobi mower that you are reviewing? Thanks!

[@CAB19687]

Handsome!

[@CAB19687]

Can mow at night!

[@r24g]

What’s the run time on the batteries

[@andyausman2139]

Thx looking for an electronic mower, God bless.

[@phoneybologna4727]

My sister just lent me hers and of course my luck the self propelled stopped working, do you know how I could fix it?

[@captainwetbeard]

Out of curiosity, what is the reason for bagging part of the clippings vs mulching/discharging the clippings in other parts? Like i would be tempted to bag it all or discharge it all, but is there a benefit to one cs the other, or a benefit to combining both ways for different sections?

[@therrienmichael08]

He was showing the difference in each way.

[@NittanyNation22]

It was for the video

[@RedBeardRetroTech]

Ok haha I was wondering the same thing

[@bryanlittle4647]

Issue that keeps me from pulling the trigger- and I understand that there is nothing wrong with plastic: There is a LOT of plastic. Is it durable??

[@Yielar1]

Plastic doesn't rust which is nice and will be around long after we are gone

[@tejanospacecowboy]

So can you operate the mower with one hand?

[@Prestige.Automotive]

Mine just stopped running after about a year. Not sure what happened. Ryobi says they can’t get parts. Hoping HD will give me a store credit or something. I’m pissed and my yard looks a mess!

[@ntgd1861]

How'd that work out with Home Depot? Mine 1.5 yrs old and keeps stalling out seems like going through Ryobi is going to be slow.

[@campkayakadventures]

This lawnmower has been complete garbage after the first year. It continuously stalls out when under load and the cheap plastic piece that hold the 2 blades broke. When I called my nearest authorized repair shop the guy told me he was overwhelmed and it would be a year to look at it. I am a diehard Ryobi fan, I just bought the 2g chemical sprayer and tire Inflator just this week and also recently purchased the 2300 Power Washer and their top end snow blower last year. I got so frustrated with this lawn mower it sits in the back of my shed and I bought the EGO 21xp so now I have one EGO battery sitting beside my 8 40v Ryobi batteries. Another bad design with this that I love on my EGO is the handle is to short if you are tall so you keep kicking the bag or walking bent over to avoid kicking the bag so I refused to bag and always mulched. Also the housing is cheap and if you bump it against anything the blades hit the housing. I believe this has been fixed on the 2023 model though.

[@sarahjohnson6274]

My mower died after 18 months. Batteries were the issue. Waited 3 months for Ryobi to send new batteries. Then the mower still wouldn't start. Took the mower to an authorized Ryobi repair location. Parts needed are on indefinite backorder says repair tech quoting Ryobi. Looks like Ryobi has excellent marketing but lacking in backing up their warranty, with both their in house repair techs and in keeping enough parts on hand to service their equipment. I'm forced now to find other solutions if I actually want to get my lawn mowed this spring.

[@positivelynegative9149]

Eleven-minute video. The review starts at 9:00

[@kylegrimm]

😘😘

[@deemcclanahan]

Looks like the handle is pretty low. is there a way to raise it up? And, it looks like it didn't cut up the grass very well on discharge, or cut the grass really cleanly.

[@KDlGG]

I have an older model and his looks pretty similar in the arms, so if it is the same then yes it raises it about 2-3”

[@deemcclanahan]

@@KDlGG thanks

[@davidminor1254]

I purchased a Ryobi mower from Home Depot a year ago, set everything up according to instructions and tested it out. When the batteries died I wanted to recharge them and I could not get them out. I boxed everything up and returned it to H.D. The Ryobi rep was there and even he couldn't get them out. He got on the phone with his buddies to find out if they had experienced the same issue. Needless to say I got my money back. Ryobi makes inferior products. Buyer Beware!

[@Yielar1]

Seems like an isolated incident if no one has ever heard of it happening eh, lol

[@from9539]

Its a great mower, but def need at least two batteries, especially if you have thick grass. I had to fully charge 3 times in order to finish mowing. This is a 7000 sqare foot lawn btw

[@sacababe]

Today, the blade just stopped working. The self propeller is working but no blade turn. My battery died, I charged it fully, went back out to cut and that's when the blade issue started. Anyone have any ideas? Thanks in advance

[@Pickaxe-wl1pe]

Took my Ryobi 40v to a little repair shop twice for this issue. Wheel would turn and blade motor would cut out. Repair guy said needed to replace transmission and then there was a short for the wire in the handle that would cut power. Complained to Home Depot, Ryobi sent me a new mower. Repair guy said Ryobi mass produces subpar electronics but comes with a 5 year warranty.

[@andrewh7596]

My side discharge chute does not want to stay on

[@REDFOXMOTOVLOG]

U got nice wide yard mate , u dont need jogging. Coz ur yard are way wide, u got alot of walking excersice in ur ryobi mower

[@brianapel8404]

Does it go faster or slower depending on how hard you push the paddle thing with your thumbs?

[@kylegrimm]

No. You control that with the little slider which you can reach with your thumb. However it would be much nicer if it was controlled by the paddle based on how far down you were pushing it.

[@brianapel8404]

@@kylegrimm Interested. What model do you have? Looking at the RY401150, it says it has "SMART TREK Adaptive Variable Speed" ...

[@kerrylittle3900]

So if you put both batteries in at the same time does it only work off one?

[@drdrew3]

40V mowers only need 1 battery to be fully powered. Being able to store a second battery is a big convenience. You just flip a switch instead of walking back to the garage to fetch a second battery.

[@trdrockwarrior_sport4432]

Can you start it with one hand my left arm is paralyzed?and take off the bag and put on the bag with one hand? Please respond I need to know before bi buy this mower thanks 🙏

[@kylegrimm]

Yes you can start it with one hand. Taking the bag off with one hand is possible, however it's a little challenging.

[@philvance3886]

The batteries apparently are junk, I get 15 of run time on slow speed.

[@jtuds]

Have you noticed any drop off in battery life over the course of 18 months or so? Like do they still run for as long as they did when they were new? Also, The Lawn Review just did a test of 5 electric mowers and he ran each of them continuously while walking down the road to see how long they’d last. This Ryobi died after 40 mins…blades spinning burn it cutting anything. Some of the mowers he tested went well over an hour ….is Ryobi battery life really that short?

[@MrZACATECANO100]

Would you recommend for commercial use?

[@kylegrimm]

No. I’ve worked lawn care in the past and this mower just doesn’t have enough power for daily commercial use. Also the durability is lacking. But great for a homeowner doing a smaller yard.

[@MrZACATECANO100]

@@kylegrimm thank you

[@jsplasha]

The lower handle lol

[@rpg7719]

I really don't like it. Not much power, if you are on vacation for two weeks or more, you are in trouble

[@davidbennett9691]

I now have a Radley which I found to be less expensive and a far better machine than the Ryobi.

[@Yielar1]

Radley's are garbage and far inferior to this particular unit

[@MSDOGS1976]

I’ve had a Sun Joe brand(basically same as this) for 8 years. I have only had to change the blade. I have found no cons to owning it. Great product.

[@cvalencia9847]

Forgot to show us starting the mower

[@Yielar1]

Nope, he showed us in the video

[@chris-io9zt]

At time 1:52 shows startup. And again at 6:43.

[@UHaulTV]

Charge time?

[@drdrew3]

2 hours

[@1guysmilely]

I need 3 batteries

[@lawnrebel]

First

[@garytube1000]

Mine broke a year after…don’t trust RYOBI products nor Home Depot products should last more than a year for $680 product…without purchasing..battery charge becomes less and less chargeable and will require more than 2 batteries to do the lawn…for $680 no…I would not buy any Home Depot products..lately all their lawn equipment breaks down in a year….

[@rollingops]

Trade you for my zero turn?

[@dm285]

If I compare this to a mid level cost Honda self propelled, Id take the Honda. Ryobi is well known for lower prices because their batteries are not as long lasting (over years) as other brand names and need to be replaced frequently and the quality of their builds is less than stellar.

[@Yielar1]

Honda quality isn't what it used to be

[@owenprimus9568]

not be able to start after 1 year, not be able to reach customer support center

[@PatrickMcCoyJr]

600 dollars for a mower that leaves grass. I get bothered by that. They should use a better deck made of metal.

[@scott5654]

It’s junk. The body of the lawnmower, flexes, the batteries wouldn’t come out, they got stuck in their slot. And the left rear wheel seized up.

[@BinderDundat]

Work great when they work but it won’t be long before you start having problems. Just pulled mine out for its second season and it stopped cutting the first day. Less than a year old so under warranty but I’ve made 3 attempts to contact Ryobi with no success. Poor quality product and even worse customer service. Grass is still growing so I have no choice but to go and buy a new mower, and it won’t be battery powered. Junk!!!!

[@starlight-dg3sq]

Junk do not buy motor died after two years battery takes 3 hrs to charge

[@JJJ-pj8ts]

DON’T BUY! The plastic blade assembly parts break very easily and are impossible to get because RYOBI’s service SUCKS!!!

[@wheelie642]

So many positive reviews and him not tipping over the unit to show us the blade tells me this is a promo video.

[@mustelina]

Would’ve liked hearing the one year review BEFORE 9 minutes into an 11 minute video. Just sayin’

[@wheelie642]

I’d rather have a broken gas mower than a working electric mower.

[@denyswoodroffe490]

The lawn needs cutting more often. It doesn’t look a very strong unit. It possible needs to run on two batteries, in the longer grass. To me just another peace of Chinese rubbish. Pity not made in Europe or the Philippines.

[@Yielar1]

It runs on one battery at a time

[@adamgodin]

Lost all credibility with the "get the backpack sprayer by Ryobi" 40 seconds in

[@kylegrimm]

Why’s that? Do you prefer manual pumping sprayers?

[@adamjolene7509]

Dude it just screams paid commercial for Ryobi.. I would have thought this was an honest unbiased review until I saw that.

[@kylegrimm]

@@adamjolene7509 lol. I wish ryobi would sponsor me. I’m a real estate channel and made a couple random videos about ryobi that popped off. But I wish!

[@Yielar1]

Really? I didn't get that from his comment about the sprayer. I appreciate the feedback and will look into more reviews on it

[@gordselectronicshobby3853]

As rough as you are on that mower, it won't last very long.

[@Yielar1]

Didn't seem rought to me. That's how most people mow their lawn buds