Black & Decker SPCM1936 information from Consumer Reports

Black & Decker SPCM1936

Price range:

$449.99 - $459.99

Summary: The Black & Decker SPCM1936 is an electric-powered, self-propelled mower. It has a 19-inch deck and electric start. An optional chute is required to side-discharge. The warranty covers 2 years.

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Type: Electric-battery self-propelled

About - Black & Decker SPCM1936
This Black & Decker mower's rating consists of: Mulching: Reflects a combination of evenness, which is how close the mowers came to even, carpet-like mowing, and how completely the mower distributed the clippings over the lawn's surface. Bagging: Denotes a combination of evenness, which is how close the mowers came to even, carpet-like mowing, and how many clippings the bag held before it filled or the chute clogged. Side discharging: A combination of evenness, which is how close the mowers came to even, carpet-like mowing, and how evenly clippings were dispersed from the side-discharge chute. Handling: Includes ease of operating the drive controls (for self-propelled models), pushing and pulling, making U-turns, and maneuvering in tight spots. Ease of use: Includes ease of starting the engine, operating the blade-stopping controls, shifting speeds (for self-propelled), and adjusting the cutting height. Bag convenience and ease of changing modes are separate judgments that contribute to the overall score.

About - Black & Decker SPCM1936

This Black & Decker mower's rating consists of:

Mulching: Reflects a combination of evenness, which is how close the mowers came to even, carpet-like mowing, and how completely the mower distributed the clippings over the lawn's surface.

Bagging: Denotes a combination of evenness, which is how close the mowers came to even, carpet-like mowing, and how many clippings the bag held before it filled or the chute clogged.

Side discharging: A combination of evenness, which is how close the mowers came to even, carpet-like mowing, and how evenly clippings were dispersed from the side-discharge chute.

Handling: Includes ease of operating the drive controls (for self-propelled models), pushing and pulling, making U-turns, and maneuvering in tight spots.

Ease of use: Includes ease of starting the engine, operating the blade-stopping controls, shifting speeds (for self-propelled), and adjusting the cutting height. Bag convenience and ease of changing modes are separate judgments that contribute to the overall score.

About This Brand
Black & Decker is the leading manufacturer and marketer of corded electric and electric rechargeable mowers. Black & Decker mowers are available in only sub-20-inch cutting widths and in mulching and rear-bag configurations. Black & Decker mowers are widely available online and through Home Depot, Lowe's, and Wal-Mart.
Read our Brand Reliability

About This Brand

Black & Decker is the leading manufacturer and marketer of corded electric and electric rechargeable mowers. Black & Decker mowers are available in only sub-20-inch cutting widths and in mulching and rear-bag configurations. Black & Decker mowers are widely available online and through Home Depot, Lowe's, and Wal-Mart.

Read our Brand Reliability

Features & Specs - Black & Decker SPCM1936
Forward speeds Some self-propelled mowers have one speed, usually about 2 1/2 mph; others have several; still others have a continuous range, typically from 1 to 3 mph. Two or more speeds let you adjust to the terrain and grass. Forward speeds	Variable
Drive wheels Front-wheel drive allows you to make U-turns by pushing down on the handlebar and swinging the mower around without disengaging the drive. The penalty is less traction than rear-wheel drive mowers. Drive wheels	Rear
Deck size (in.) Most models have a deck size, or cutting swath, of 20 to 22 inches. There is no significant advantage from one size to another. A larger deck can cut more grass in a single pass, but in this size range the difference is negligible. Deck size (in.)	19
Electric start Starts a gasoline-powered engine with the turn of a key by the operator. An electric start is powered by an on-board battery that requires periodic charging. Electric start	Yes
Blade brake clutch Allows the gasoline engine to continue to run when the operator leaves the area behind the handlebar to empty the grass-clipping collection bag or to move an object in the path of the mower. It saves wear on the engine by reducing stopping/ restarting cycles. Blade brake clutch	NA
Engine size For gas-powered mowers, engine size in cubic centimeters (cc) provides a rough indication of the engine's power; electric models are rated in volts (for cordless) or amperes (corded). A larger number for either a gas or electric model, however, does not necessarily result in better cutting performance. Engine size	36 volts
Engine manufacturer Stated manufacturer of a gasoline engine. For some mowers the engine manufacturer is not documented and is listed as "unknown.". Engine manufacturer	NA
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User Reviews - Black & Decker SPCM1936

Consumer Reports User Reviews

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Mac

from

Nampa, ID

(11 of 11 customers found this review helpful)

4.0

Better than I thought it would be

1/28/2012

Pros

BD reliability

Easy Controls

Green

Maneuverable

Powerful

Cons

Bag fills quickly

Best Uses

Lots of landscaping

Small yard

Comment:

I bought this mower just to do my front yard where there is a lot of landscaping to cut around, plus in back yard where my larger gas mower has trouble maneuvering. I can easily do all this on one charge. It's so quiet that I can go out early in the morning to get a headstart on doing my lawn without bothering any of the neighbors. After a break for brunch, I can then go out and do the back-and-forth plod with the larger gas mower. The B&D is perfect for a small lawn or heavily landscape area.

How long have you owned it:

Three-to-six months

Bottom Line

Yes, I would recommend this to a friend.

Mark

from

Bloomingdale Il.

(8 of 8 customers found this review helpful)

4.0

Best Cordless I Tried

9/17/2011

Pros

Cons

Best Uses

Comment:

This is my third cordless lawnmower this year and it is the best. First I had the Ryobi 48 volt, which was very powerful but only one self propelled speed and harder to maneuver. The B&D is variable speed and seems better built and easier to maneuver. I also had the Recharge Ultralite, which is too light duty, only 15 deck, (B&D is 19, Ryobi is 20) and it is not a good mulcher. The only thing that I do not like is the battery is heavy, about as heavy as the lawnmower itself, it is a 36 volt sealed lead acid battery and the Ryobi is a 48 volt sealed lead acid as well. The recharge is a 36 volt lithium ion which is very light, but not nearly as powerful. The B&D just seems better designed then the rest and more enjoyable to use also.

How long have you owned it:

One-to-three months

Bottom Line

Yes, I would recommend this to a friend.

Les in Florida

from

Sarasota, Florida

(60 of 60 customers found this review helpful)

5.0

Much better than I expected!

5/10/2011

Pros

Easy to use

Excellent bag

Good run time

No Gas

Quiet

Stores folded up

Cons

Can be difficult to turn

Charge takes 12 hrs

Heavy

Best Uses

Smaller lawns

Comment:

I was very skeptical about buying a battery mower. This B&D mower has been great. I have a fairly small yard (in SW Florida) with St. Augustine grass, which grows very fast in the summer. This mower has no problem with taller grass if I'm a day or two late mowing the lawn. <br /><br />I always check the battery indicator after I finish mowing, and it always has 2 of 3 LEDs lit, so I think it could go a lot longer than I need it to. <br /><br />It is so much quieter and more convenient than a gas mower that it would be worth the costs to me even it I had to buy a second battery to extend the mowing time.

How long have you owned it:

One-to-three months

Bottom Line

Yes, I would recommend this to a friend.

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