Black & Decker LM175

Bottom Line

The electric Black & Decker LM175 is lightweight and durable. It's best for small yards with few obstacles to snag the extension cord. The LM175 is able to side-discharge clippings very well and can bag with an optional grass catcher. Black & Decker includes a two-year warranty on the motor and a lifetime warranty on the polymer deck, but the brand does not have a great track record for reliability.

Performance

For basic lawns. With a 6.5-amp motor, the LM175 is best for small yards (less than 10,000 square feet) and can power up small slopes. Owners say cut quality for turf is excellent. When mowing unruly grass or thick weeds, however, performance tends to suffer.

The LM175 can bag clippings or discharge grass out the side, but doesn't have a setting to mulch grass. Reviews say it operates best in side-discharge mode (with no reports of clumping), but bagging doesn't work quite as well.

Overall, most owners are thrilled with the LM175's mowing abilities. It has a 95-percent recommendation rate from almost 300 owners at Walmart.com and fares similarly on Amazon.com.

Ease Of Use

No muscle needed. With its push-button start and 35-pound body, owners say the LM175 is a good option for users that feel gas mowers are too cumbersome and inconvenient. Most owners compare it to using a vacuum and have few problems adjusting to using a cord. "Having to stop, move the cord and replug it can be annoying, but still beats gas cans and weak or dead batteries," (from a cordless mower) says one user at Amazon.com.

The 18-inch-wide deck is narrower than the gas mowers in our report, but many users say it's a plus to maneuver through tight spaces in their yard. Because this electric mower uses a cord instead of a battery, users don't have to watch the clock to keep an eye on battery run time while mowing. The LM175 can mow up to a quarter of an acre or as far as a 100-foot extension cord can reach. The LM175 uses one lever to adjust the cutting height from 1 to 3.5 inches. The straightforward assembly out of the box takes only a few minutes for most users and doesn't require any tools.

Most owners say the LM175 is durable enough for light-duty mowing, and a few Amazon users find it lasts for several years, but according to J.D. Power and Associates, customer satisfaction for Black & Decker is less than average. The LM175 has a two-year mower warranty and lifetime coverage on the polymer deck.

Safety

Quick shut-off. When operating the LM175, users hold down a safety switch on the handle. If the switch is released, a spring snaps it back into place and turns off the motor and the blade. This safety system shuts down the lawn mower in case you fall or let go.

As with any corded mower, users must be mindful of the extension cord. To prevent running over the cord, Black & Decker recommends that users keep the bulk of the cord next to the electrical outlet and use a back-and-forth pattern to avoid doubling back and running over the cord.

Noise

Electric quiet. It's "almost whisper quiet," describes an owner at Walmart.com. Most of the reviews at this site and Amazon.com agree the LM175 is much quieter than gas mowers.

According to Black & Decker, the LM175 is louder than some corded lawn mowers, measuring 78 to 85 decibels. Safety experts recommend using hearing protection when using a lawn mower that is 85 decibels or louder.