You look for an electric lawn mower that is easy to carry? Maybe the Sun Joe MJ401E is for you. This small mower is only 29 pounds. It is much lighter than big gas mowers. I use it for six months on my small yard. I know what is good and what is not so good.
This Electric Lawn Mower Sun Joe has a 12 Amp motor. It cuts a 14-inch path and makes no dirty air. It has a grass bag that you can take off. The bag holds 10 gallons. You can change cutting height to three levels, from 1.18 to 2.52 inches. Putting it together was very easy. It took me 2 or 3 minutes. So it is good if you don’t like hard setups. The sharp steel blade and strong wheels are good for small places. But the cutting part is small, so you have to walk more in a big yard.
Is this cheap electric mower good for your small lawn? Here is my full story of the Sun Joe mower after using it for six months.
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- [POWERFUL]: 13-amp motor cuts a 14-inch wide path
- [ADJUSTABLE DECK]: Tailor cutting height with 3-position height control
- [STEEL BLADES]: Durable 14-Inch steel blade cuts with precision
Sun Joe MJ401E: What It Has and How It Looks
The Sun Joe MJ401E has good parts in a small machine. It is not like heavy gas mowers. This electric mower is powerful and easy to hold. I used it for six months and wrote down what I found.
Motor: 12 Amp Electric Power
This electric lawn mower Sun Joe uses a strong 12 Amp motor. It gives good power for cutting. I liked how easy it is to start. Just push a button. No pulling a cord, no extra steps, and no bad smoke. It runs at 3500 rpm speed, which is fine for most grass in a yard. In my tests, the motor did good work in my small yard. But it was not so strong for very tall or wet grass.
Cutting Deck: 14-Inch Wide
The MJ401E has a strong steel blade. It cuts a 14-inch path every time. This size is good for a small yard. It is big enough to save time but small enough for tight spots. The blade is made to cut even tough grass clean. When I tested, the mower cut very neat when grass was not too high.
Weight and Body: Plastic and 29 lbs
The MJ401E is very light. It weighs only 29 pounds. The body is made of ABS plastic. This plastic does not rust and is strong enough for normal use. The wheels are for all ground and have good grip. The handle folds down easily, making it simple to store in a small garage or shed. Even though it is plastic, it seems okay after I use it for six months.
Grass Bag: Holds 10.6 Gallons
The mower has a 10.6-gallon bag for grass. It has a hard top. It collects grass as you mow. You can take the bag off easy to throw clippings away. When I test it, the bag was big enough for my small yard. I did not have to empty it many times. The hard-top is nice. It stops dust and grass from flying in your face. This was useful on windy days.
So, the Sun Joe MJ401E has parts that show it is a good electric lawn mower for small yards.
How to Set Up and Use in Small Yards
Putting the Sun Joe MJ401E together is very simple. Gas mowers can be hard to build, but this one is not. When I opened the box of my electric lawn mower Sun Joe, most parts were already together. This made it fast to get ready.
Setup Time: Under 5 Minutes
I did not believe it would be so fast. But it really took me less than 5 minutes to set up. The Sun Joe comes almost built. You just fix the blades, put the handle up, and make it tight. You don’t need special tools. Everything you need is in the box. The handle can fold, which makes it fast to set up and easy to store.
Moving in Small Places
After setup, I saw how light this electric lawn mower Sun Joe is. It is only 29 pounds, so it is easy to push around things. The wheels are good for tight spots, like corners or near flowers. I actually started to enjoy mowing because it felt less like work. When I tested, it was easy to cut close to my fence and trees.
The handle is 42 inches high. It is a good height, so I don’t have to bend. But one thing I learned: on bumpy ground, you have to lift the handle a little when you push. This keeps the front wheels on the ground.
Tips for the Cord on 12 Amp Mower
You need to think about the cord. This mower uses 12 amps, so I think you need a 12-gauge extension cord. This stops the motor from getting too hot. The sun joe mj401e has a hook to hold the cord. This is very good. It stops the plug from coming out.
To make cord easy:
- Start mowing near the plug, and go away from it.
- Put the cord on your shoulder. Keep it behind you.
- When you turn, move the cord with a simple loop motion.
With these tips, the cord is not a big problem.
Cutting Height and How It Works
I used the Sun Joe MJ401E for many months. I see how it cuts on different grass. The steel blade cuts clean, but it has some problems when grass is hard.
How It Cuts Short and Long Grass
The blade cuts a 14-inch path. It makes short grass look very smooth. The Electric Lawn Mower Sun Joe works great on grass that is not too long. But for tall grass, it is harder. If your grass is over 3 inches, you have to mow different. You must walk slow and only cut with half of the blade. If not, the motor can struggle.
Some people say the Sun Joe MJ401E “cuts tall grass with no problem,” but for me it was not always true. It can cut tall grass, but it works less good when grass is higher, especially on the low height setting.
3-Level Height Control
The Sun Joe has a simple 3-level height system. You can set cutting height from 1.18 inches to 2.52 inches.
The levels are:
- Low: 1.18 inches (30 mm)
- Medium: 1.93 inches (49 mm)
- High: 2.52 inches (64 mm)
To change height, you must turn the mower on its side. Then you must move each of the four wheels to the same level. Because this is work, I set the height one time and did not change it much. I think use the high level for bumpy ground or long weeds.
Clearing Twigs and Weeds
One good thing about the small Sun Joe lawn mower is how it cuts small twigs and branches. It makes them into tiny pieces. The motor is strong enough to clear normal yard mess. It does not get stuck. It also cut my old, long weeds with no problem.
To get the best cut, I learned it is good to mow in straight lines.
Is It a Good Price? Thinking About Long-Term Use
The Sun Joe MJ401E costs about $208. It is a cheap choice for an electric mower. After I use it for six months, I can say if this electric lawn mower Sun Joe is a good value.
How It Lasted After Six Months
I wasn’t expecting much from a plastic body, but it surprised me here. The plastic is stronger than I thought. Most parts are still good. But the wheels feel a little weak. One time, I hit a tree by mistake. The plastic frame bent a little and touched the blade. It made a small scratch inside the cutting area. This is something to know.
For a small yard, this is okay. The mower can handle normal use with no big problems. The motor still runs good and starts fast every time.
My 6-Month Timeline
- Month 1: Light use. Very easy setup. The mower gives clean cuts on my short grass. No problems.
- Month 2: Still using weekly. I notice the grass bag is a good size. I only have to empty it once for my whole yard. The mower is still very easy to push.
- Month 3: First time I cut thicker, wet grass. The motor worked harder. I learned I must go slow.
- Month 4: Weather was very dry. The mower raised quite a bit of dust during use. I cleaned the motor vents for the first time with a brush. It was easy.
- Month 5: I feel a slight looseness in the handle. I tightened the bolts and it was fine. The motor still runs good.
- Month 6: I hit a small tree by accident. There is now a small scratch on the plastic body, but it still works perfectly fine. The blade is still sharp enough.
Maintenance and Quality
The Sun Joe lawn mower is easy to care for. It is not a gas mower. You don’t need to change oil or air filters. The company says “no gas, oil or tune-ups,” and this was true in my test.
You must sharpen the blade sometimes. But the box has a tool to make it easy. For the price, the mower is made well, but it is not a luxury tool. The plastic body means it will not rust if you leave it in the rain.
Comparing with Gas and Other Electric Mowers
The Sun Joe MJ401E saves money. Gas mowers need you to buy fuel and pay for parts. This electric mower is also quiet and better for the air.
Compared to other electric mowers, the Sun Joe is one of the cheapest. Other models cost more and have more things, like self-propel or bigger cutting decks. But if your yard is small, you may not need these things.
The mower has a two-year warranty. It is good coverage. Some other mowers have four-year warranty, but they cost more.
Final Words
I used the Sun Joe MJ401E for six months. It showed me it is a good mower for people with small lawns. The best things are it is light, easy to build, and moves easy in small spots. The 12 Amp motor is good for normal lawns, but it finds thick grass a little hard.
For about $208, this mower is best for yards under a quarter-acre. It is a good choice for long time because no oil, gas, or tune-ups. The two-year warranty is also fair for the price.
But, you must know what you don’t get. The height setting has only three levels. It is not like expensive mowers. It has a cord, so you must plan your mowing path. The plastic body worked good for me, but it did get a small damage when I hit a tree.
So, the final question is, if I lost this mower tomorrow, would I buy it again? Yes, for my small yard, I would. It is not perfect, but for the price, it does a great job and is very easy to use. It’s a good mix of price and function. My opinion? It is great for a small city yard with little storage, and if you don’t need a perfect lawn.