My 3510 Upgrade (includes photos)

[someguy]

I just got my 3500 back from being upgraded today.  I wanted to post some pictures and provide some info:


Here is the mowing height pre-upgrade at 2.6 inches without the blade guard (way too short of a cut!):



Here is the mowing height after the upgrade at approx 3.25 inches without the blade guard:


Here is a photo of the back of the mower:
(the rock in the background is my cover for my charging base)


Here is a photo from the front:
the upgraded plastic cover has a rubber bumper on the front of it.



When I sent my mower in for upgrade, they asked that I send the charging base for upgrading also.  I didn’t send it because I didn’t have the larger box for it.  I had Vishal send me the parts.  It was easy to do elevate the charging base for the higher / taller mower.  I didn’t switch out the wire, because my current wire is buried underground and goes through the wall and into my garage where the power supply, so switching it out would be a big job. 

If anyone has any questions / comments, please let me know.  I’m not going to mow tonight because it rained here today.  Maybe tomorrow night.

someguy

[pellep]

How's things going with the upgrade?  Do you feel the changes are worth the cost? 

Are there any noticeable features or improvements related to the "motherboard upgrade"?

Thanks
 

[someguy]

I'm very happy with the upgrade.  At the end of last summer, I was about ready to throw out the mower.  It wasn't doing a very good job... mostly getting stuck and not making it home to the charging base.

Since the upgrade, it has been much better.  I could guess that this is a new chip and better programming to get away from the perimeter wire when it makes a mistake, or less "blackout"s which seem to cause a spin of the mower and knock it out of bounds.

I'm very happy with the upgrade and I'm hoping the mower will make it through this summer without needing any more motors replaced, because this summer, they're on me (my warranty is out).

someguy

[schultcj]

They told me when I upgraded that the warranty got extended 2 more years (I did mine directly with KA). I never asked the details, but there was no disclaimer that it was only on the upgraded parts.

I agree the upgrade is great,  the only thing is that it seems to run up on trees more now since the height is a little higher.  The robot has been on its back a few times since the upgrade, but only 2 out of bounds and that was due to a wet area.  Overall a good upgrade, seems smarter and the increased cutting height is great.

[evblazer]

I worry about the upgrade on only parts change especially if the wheels truely are bigger would that cause issues on the wheel motors?


It looks like that cross is almost 1" of the wheel so if the bot sunk any would that eat the height change or are the old wheels the same so in comparison it is still almost 3/4" change?


I too have been very ready to toss my bot and hate to keep chasing upgrades to get something working. I turned off my bott last week and have the issue of the grass not growing possibly due to being cut too short so just want to make sure this really changes the height upwards. The grass grows very well in the non bott sections :'(

[evblazer]

And to answer my own question..
The 3510 does cut higher. I found the setting I was using on my push mower was actually cutting the very tips of the grass the lawnbott had already cut. With the recent foot or two of rain and much higher cutting the lawn looks consistent throughout in the lawnbott and nonlawnbott area.