OutdoorKing Repair Forum Forums Welcome to Outdoorking Forum HELP Area Site Problems/Suggestions and Updates A Section for Eelectric Garden Equipment

I generally go out to the recycle centre twice a week and I have been noticing a growing number of battery powered stuff amongst all the rovers and victas. I was just given a Kobalt 80v trimmer and by sheer luck got it going again. I was going to come here to ask for help and It got me wondering if we need a section here for these things. Mind you, I am still very skeptical that they are at the stage where they have enough grunt to do a normal yard let alone an overgrown one but there's no denying they are becoming popular. I know most of the guys here are dedicated internal combustion buffs and probably can't stand this trend either.
Are they even worth trying to repair?
If they are, do we need a new section for them?
Are they just throw-away things or can we get new knowledge and skills repairing them?
I would like to hear your thoughts.

G'day Sparker
I feel you have made a valid observation there and have asked important questions.

It appears that domestic battery rotary machines are throw-away jobs.
This does not necessarily mean they cannot be repaired; but,
commercially, it is uneconomical to do so.

It may be that ODK may have a role here.
We will need to rely on demand and the thoughts of members.

This may seem odd - as the Forum Historian - but I do not wish to
see ODK become a 'history' forum.

I hope most of its vibrancy comes from advice on new equipment,
not the old stuff that I happen to like.

All very thought provoking.
------------------------------------------
Jack

Hi All,

I very much support what Jack has mentioned above and I personally feel that the people that will buy this type of equipment will have already been converted to being part of the throw away society to which we are sadly gravitating to.

I strongly feel that such a section will be somewhat of disappointment to most as firstly parts will either not be available or secondly if they are they'll be priced out of this world, thus rendering the item to exactly where it originally came from, the recycling tip.

Cheers,
BB.

Just as an offside to this and the mention of the recycling tip, I saw on some show this evening that in Japan only 1% of its waste goes in to landfill. Downside is they have to split their waste into 40 different containers

Guess we'll have to keep our eyes open for when the quality and cost of these things makes them viable for repair. Then there might be a need for a forum section.

Hi Sparker,

You are absolutely spot on with that, so don't hold your breath on that point !

Cheers,
BB.

G'day all,
Sadly, I have to concur with CyberJack and BonnarBloke on the throwaway aspect of most, if not all, of the current electric OPE items.

It's a very similar situation to cordless power tools; where only the trade quality units are worth even thinking about repairing.

FWIW, my brother recently worked for an independent power tool repair company in Melbourne for a couple of years, and the list of brands they offer full support for is rather telling. Desoutter, Festool, Chicago Pneumatic, Hitachi, Makita, Metabo, Milwaukee, Panasonic.