GUIDE to my favorite RECHARGEABLE MOWER, the BLACK AND DECKER CMM625

I got free a Black and Decker side-discharge CMM625 rechargeable mower.  It came with AC adapter (output 17v DC, 1.7 AMP, 'obsolete' on servicemaster.net).  It wouldn't start.  Check the battery; make sure the safety switch is installed; make sure the blade is able to turn (do this when there is NO way the blade could accidentally start!).  I fixed mine up and can say that I am able to mow my 6000 foot yard in relative quiet and with no vapors or cords!
7/2009: EDIT: 2 years later the battery is still going on mine; during the winter keep the unit plugged in, or every couple of months charge it up; don't let the battery freeze in uncharged state!

4/2010 EDIT 3:  I have added two solar panels (10W total) which are plugged directly in to the place where the AC/DC adapter goes.  Result: all winter the mower sits fully charged and it takes about 1 week of New England sunshine for me to be able to mow my lawn.  I haven't had to pay for electricity since last fall.   This mower is 12v so if you are planning to make a 24v mower into solar power, you'll need to add solar panels in series (like you add 1.5v AA batteries together to get 3v) before you connect them to the mower.  I highly recommend going solar with this mower!

There seem to be a bunch of brands but B&D seems the most common.  People seem to think the CMM1200 and CMM1000 are the best but they are heavier than my little greeny, which is still as heavy as a computer monitor.

The beauty of electric mowers is they are pretty easy to diagnose - just a motor and cord or a motor and battery.   the battery is usually either 12v or 2 put together to make 24 volts.  I've heard panasonic makes a replacement for these (about 26Ah and weighs 20 pounds and costs $60-90).   In the case of mine, it didn't come with the safety/kill switch an orange thing which you can purchase from servicemaster.net for b&d mowers.   That was all that was wrong with it.  It took me an hour and some disassembly to figure this out.  I initially made mine out of a whittled wooden clothes pin and found that it worked.  (warning doing so is I'm sure dangerous, but I wanted to see if it worked!)  Then I ordered it, a mulching 'insert' (only $6 each - the insert doesn't mention the world mulch or they would charge you $20!), and replacement carbon brushes from b&d.  I love my mower now.  True I never had a gass mower before, but now I will never get one.  I will replace the battery when it dies every 5 years or so-keeping it inside my house or above-freezing garage in the winter.

I corresponded with a nice seller on ebay whose picture I have attached because it is highly useful in pointing out what this mower is and what you need.  Note I was about to buy the $30-50 BA-075 grass catcher but I do NOT believe it will fit the CMM625 series after seeing this picture.  If you're looking for such a bag, good luck - you may  have to fashion your own.  I bought the $6 mulch insert and will never look back!

Next plans:  connect a 12v solar panel (direct, or through a 'charge-controller') to my little CM625 to keep the battery topped up instead of relying on the AC adapter.  Good luck ecofriendly and cheapster suburbanite mowers out there!

7/2009 EDIT: NOTE when you're charging a red LED light glows under the safety shut off switch. When it's ready to be used, there should be a green glowing LED

Sorry for the small picture. Ebay did that to it, I swear!