the most budget friendly approach I know of is to buy a manual reel mower, a conversion kit (someone did the machining for you), and then source the motor and batteries. I see used manual reel mowers popping up on facebook marketplace all the time in the sub $50 range. Your post’s title mentioned electric, but the text talks about a gas engine. I haven’t seen any kits for converting a manual to a gas engine mower. I image that would take a lot of custom fabrication.

I’ve not done this myself, but have looked into it since i also like to tinker with stuff like this. I’m probably going to buy a gas reel mower when i finally commit to taking the plunge into reel mowing. Still sounds like a really fun project though. I just don’t have the spare time for it.

ALM Mowers (Earthwise, Scott's, Great States) — Shop — reelCNC

www.reelcnc.com

 

Yeah sorry mean converting gas to electric. Seen some folks do it but no kits necessarily. I guess the benefit is it’s self propelled then. Maybe some more weight too.

 

Ah! I mis-read your post. Sorry. It was converting a used gas to electric, yeah i think you’re looking at some custom fab for sure. My suspicion is that, after you factor in a used gas reel mower, the speed controller, the motor, the tools for custom fab, and so fort, it might be more cost-effective just to buy a new California Trimmer Crossover. Assuming you don’t already have stuff like a drill press, tap&die, a welder or a brake for bending brackets.

 

How much grass do you have to cut and what HOC are you aiming for?

A gas mower could be picked up for cheap on the used market. Same with a manual (even cheaper).

I just ordered the big ticket items (motor, controller, etc) off Amazon for a conversion project. Only a couple hundred bucks all-in. I probably won’t crack 1/4 of the price of a new Crossover - as appealing as those may be.

 

How much grass do you have to cut and what HOC are you aiming for?

A gas mower could be picked up for cheap on the used market. Same with a manual (even cheaper).

I just ordered the big ticket items (motor, controller, etc) off Amazon for a conversion project. Only a couple hundred bucks all-in. I probably won’t crack 1/4 of the price of a new Crossover - as appealing as those may be.

Got a pretty small yard, a little bit under 1000 sqft of tahoma 31 bermuda. Could probably manage manual but want to go powered for a better cut. I want to go as low as possible with weekly cuts, so I'm guessing thats 1" or maybe 3/4" with pgr. Would be cool to try and go lower than that now and then for fun, but I don't think I'll be able to sustain it.

Which mower are you going to convert?

 

I just pulled the trigger on a ReelCNC kit for a 16" Earthwise 7 blade. I have 2k of T31 and it takes me 12 minutes to mow it with the least amount of turns. I mow at 0.5" but have washboarding and this should get rid of it.

It's really the only logical solution for electric mowing <$1k right now. In 2 years supply will have increased. I may try and convert a GM1600 or something but likely Cal Trimmer/etc will be more logical.

 

darn it all, i just contacted someone local selling a $25 ALM manual reel mower after reading this. I swore to my wife i wouldn’t take on another build project …. But the need to tinker is so strong 😢

 

Going deeper into unnecessary rabbit holes here. I ended up paying $50 for a Fiskars 18” on Marketplace. I placed an Amazon order for a MY1016 motor, 9T sprocket, speed controller, and battery tonight. Going to order a conveyor roller from Ashland tomorrow. No updates until September at the earliest because some parts won’t be here until end of August and I have to figure out a decent way to weld that Ashland roller to replace the front wheels ... Also I think that motor is going to need an additional gear reduction to operate at its peak. But one step at a time.

 

nice, let us know how it goes when you get to it!