For larger lawns this electric rotary mower provides a terrific cut and finish. The 'Powerdrive' motor gives a powerful cut - even on long grass up to 30cm long. Also, the innovative grass combs allow you to cut cleanly along walls and edges saving you time.
How well does the Bosch Rotak 40 cut your grass? Let others know by writing a review.
| Main Features | |
| Type | Rotary |
Written on: 07/04/2013 by DavidCarr (1 review written)
My Rotak 40 expired in a flash of sparks from the switch array on the handle. It is about three years old and was bought to replace a Flymo I had for 16 years. Until it gave out I was satisfied with it without being particularly impressed. It cut closer to the edges than the Flymo but I still needed to strim so any advantage was negligible. I was far happier with it than the Bosch strimmer though. I felt that it would be better suited to someone left handed it has never felt comfortable to... (read more)
Written on: 16/07/2012
It's a simple story - nice product but burns out after one season. Don't buy this. You'd think Bosch had built the thing to burn out as fast as possible. @benstarkie (read more)
Written on: 02/11/2012
HI suddenly my electric rotak has started spinning the blade in reverse it has served me well for 2 years! can anyone help?
Written on: 21/06/2012 by cymraes5 (1 review written)
as a single mother of teenage daughters money is usually carefully spent so when I was given a choice of gifts from my company for 25 years service, instead of a nice piece of jewellery I went for the practical choice - the bosch rotak lawn mower. Its been used less than 20 times and has now stopped working. The blade does not turn althought the motor is still making a noise! after reading these reviews it looks like i am out of luck and will not be able to fix it. I did spend two hours... (read more)
Written on: 15/06/2012 by KRMFP (2 reviews written)
Our Bosch Rotak 40 Rotary Lawn Mower motor burnt out just one week after the warantee expired so it's just over two years old. Having read the other reviews and now with our own experience, we definitely won't be buying another Bosch product. It was a good mower but with this short "life span" it's very poor value for money. (read more)
Written on: 25/05/2012
The mower is lightweight and easy to use. However, the handle for raising raising and lowering the cutting height is very easily knocked out of position and you can end up scalping your lawn. I was amazed to find the mower no longer works in less than 2 years. It is under warranty and clearly there is an electrical fault or the motor has gone. This is not what one expects from Bosch products. The repair service line is also appalling. When I gave my address in Monmouthshire, I was... (read more)
Written on: 28/05/2012
Same here. Look on EBAY there are mnay for sale as spares with same fault. its a weakness in the design of the drive from the motor to the blade pulley. Its a rubber belt and a plastic puolly wheel (yes I did say plastic). The drive shaft will burn through this pulley or even shatter it if you catch the blade on the edge of the path or a tree root etc. You can get the spare parts but the motor is fixed in and gives no movement to allow the new belt to be fitted.
Written on: 14/06/2012
Our Bosch Rotak 40 Electric Rotary Lawn Mower lasted 2years and one week. The mower no longer works and it seems that the motor has burnt out. I certainly did not expect this from a Bosch product.
Obviously I would never buy another Bosch.
Written on: 04/05/2012
Its the same old story,happy when it was working now the motor has burnt out and is just out of warentee.Thought bosch were a good make but cheaply made,you only get what you pay for.shall not be buying another. (read more)
Written on: 13/10/2011 by greenfingers32
This mower is only 6 months old and the engine has cut out and won't restart. I'm not impressed with the quality of the product - it should last longer than 1 season. The Flymo mower we had previously serviced 2 gardens for 7 years and is still going - will convert back to Flymo, anytime!!! (read more)
Written on: 01/02/2012
Same happened to my brothers,it had the new ergo handle he said he needed to hold buttons in with so much grip his hands went white through lack of blood,might be better on the back but not good on the blood supply to the hands.
Written on: 20/09/2011 by PeterESmith (1 review written)
Cuts fine and to the edge but as many before same problem motor burnt out after 18 months only got small garden. I thought Bosch was a good make and worth the extra money. Suspect motors are made in China like most of the junk on sale today. (read more)
Written on: 06/09/2011 by VVugy
Used only 16 times max in 3 years and a segment has completely come away from the comutator on the motor. This is a manufacturing defect and not what I expect from Bosch. A new motor is way in excess of the mower itself so it is now scrap. Until this happened I could not fault it but am now leaving the brand after many years of trouble free service from many other excellent Bosch products. I can only suspect that the motors are manufactured by an external company and quality has been... (read more)
Written on: 18/07/2011 by necron (1 review written)
Having bought this m/c in 2009 I have found it to be one of the better lawn mowers I have used. I use the m/c as part of my business and therefore it is used 10 or 12 times a week. The handle is a third it's original size and will need replacing soon. The cutting width is excellent and negates the need for a strimmer. Height adjustment is very easy and mowing long grass is not a problem, nor is wet grass! A lot of reviews on this site mentions motor failure and today I had the same problem.... (read more)
Written on: 10/07/2011 by Microfish8 (1 review written)
I have had this machine for nearly 4 years and has worked perfectly. However, there is one major design flaw and that is that the cable is soldered into the switch in such a way as to make it impossible to resolder the wires without breaking the switch. In my case the cable failed at the top where it feeds into the switch box via a rubber protector. This was probably due to the constant twisting and pulling during mowing. What is my solution? Do I need to buy a whole switch housing plus... (read more)
Written on: 15/07/2011
With a nappy pin or thin pointed tool you can remove the original soldered blue/brown wire inside their switch housings by pushing the nappy pin or pointed tool into the holes of the switch wires,once removed you can then on the replacement cable, blue/brown twirl the copper wire ends and push them down into the switch units holes.
Written on: 18/07/2011
Get onto the bosch web site, find your way into the spare parts area, input your m/c details and look at the exploded view of yor m/c. The handle is broken down in various components and prices below. The switch may be a 'push-in-hole' version, sometimes they come out with a bit of tweaking and twisting, most times they don't.
Written on: 23/08/2011
interesting - my one has exactly the same problem which makes me think there is a design flaw in the cable. It shouldn't fail like that just from a bit of twisting, which you have to do to mow any lawn. I was using it there was a flash from that part of the cable and a small fire which burnt through the casing of the cable. My one is also almost exactly the same age as yours.
Written on: 09/02/2012
If the conductor wires have flashed through the cable outer case,then this is a safety hazard
rather than flaw.
Written on: 21/04/2011
I HAVE A BOSCH ROTAK 40 MOWER,ONLY TWO YEARS OLD USED SPORADICALLY,DRY STORED,THE ELECTRIC MOTOR IS SEIZED ,THE MOTOR AND DRIVE BELT COGS ARE IN CONTACT,SO FURTHER CAUSING PROBLEMS,THE PLASTIC CONSTRUCTION OF THE MOTOR AND DRIVE COG ASSEMBLY IS WEAK,ALL SAID DONT BUY ONE,AS AN ENGINEER IM GOING OVER TO A PETROL MOWER.I READ THE REVIEWS CAREFULLY BEFORE BUYING AS IT WAS A NEW MODEL,BUT THE MOWER IS NOT RESILENT,MOTOR PROBLEMS AND FLIMSY CONSTRUCTION ON USAGE. (read more)
Written on: 11/06/2011
I have had exactly the same experience. It has just seized up at the start of a mowing session. The machine is only 18 months old and has been used moderately. I have had a Black and Decker mower for 20 years and latterly a Flymo for 15 years I bought the Bosch name without researching. Very disappointing .
Written on: 15/07/2011
Only 2 years old.Dreadful.
Written on: 15/07/2011
I think Bosch mowers only have 12 months warranty,no where enough warranty as I am reading many,many of the same motor failure?
This sounds as if the company is getting away with a manufacturing fault and and just hope the motor lasts more than 12 months.
Not very fair to the consumer, probably better to buy Qualcast their mowers have 5 years warranty, Sometimes these days buying a top branded name does not mean a quality,as it did 25 years ago.
Written on: 15/07/2011
LOOKING AT A LARGE AMOUNT OF THE SAME MOTOR FAILURE COMPLAINTS ALL OVER THE INTERNET.
BOSCH OBVIOUSLY HAVE A MOTOR FAULT...THEY SHOULD REPLACE ALL THE MOTORS FREE OF CHARGE
THEY MUST BE AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM?
UNTIL THIS COMPANY COMES OUT AND ADDRESSES THIS,THEN SAVE YOUR GOOD MONEY AND KEEP CLEAR OF THESE MODELS.
Written on: 15/04/2011 by mcbride999 (1 review written)
After I considered many type of Lawn mower on the market today.
I have seen many mower compare to there price, And though this Bosch Rotak 40 is best value for money.
It's not expensive at all!
This is why I recommended this one for you all
At this time they have a new improve version of this model.
so they give a new feature called "Ergoflex"
maybe you could read more the review of Bosch Rotak 40 Ergoflex on the website...
(read more)
Written on: 28/07/2011
Bosch Ergroflex= Different design handle...same motor as standard Rotak=same motor failure.... you'll see.
Written on: 13/04/2011
I bought one of these mowers in September of 2010, used it about 4 times and seemed ok, but dusting it down this year 2011 and used it 2 times the motor packed up half way through mowing my front lawn. I have had to send it back for a refund. I will now go and buy another make like a qualcast as they are more reliable. I also agree with some of the other reviews about the cutter height it is hard to adjust. (read more)
Written on: 16/07/2011
Something is wrong here, used 4 times then the mower rested for winter,come spring 5th use, then motor packs up?this failure is very common.some consumer organisation should be looking into this.To purchase something that's hardly had much use and is now scrap can not be right.if a new car engine failed after 10 hours use.that company would have a recall.Bosch seem to be getting away with this obvious fault.
I wonder what the motor fail rate is?? All the customers who have experienced this motor fault should make a noise about it,they should get the motors looked at by an independent electrical motor engineer.
It could be a case of cheap commutator bars, one by one falling off, causing the motor to burn out.The company would blame the customer,when its more than likely poor manufacturing.Lets face it, Bosch mowers are not the cheapest, but on reputation you would not expect rubbish like the Rotak range seems to be.
Written on: 29/07/2011
WHAT A USELESS REVIEW - think you'll find this is a comment not a review, how pointless.
Written on: 09/04/2011 by Brandon Kane (10 reviews written)
I have had the Bosch Rotak 40 for over a year and have a very large garden which I like to keep neat & trim. In the first few uses I was very impressed with it although the then sharp blade become blunt very quick, but the grass was long and had many stones in there. The cutting width is wide but does not cut too well to the very edge but is satisfactory. The electric cable can become a be a bit stiff also. The grass collection box on this mower is quite large but will chuck grass back on... (read more)
Written on: 31/08/2011
Just an update, my Bosch lawnmower has died, motor has gone and costs more than the lawnmower to replace. Problem is I cannot find another mower in this price bracket that is better, may have to buy the new version called ergoflex, damn what do I do, it was a good lawnmower, but expect it to die after a years use. (i borrowed my dads qualcast, nowhere near as good as the Bosch)
Written on: 09/04/2011
I bought Bosch Rotak 40 GC 2 years ago and it I cannot complain about the efficiency and cut quality over 2 years. However reliability is very poor. Exactly after2 years and 8 months the motor has started smoking. I've only got a small garden and use it no more 10times a year. (read more)
Written on: 12/03/2011
Had my Bosch Rotak 40 for about three years and the motor appears to have siezed. Only ever used it on my small lawn and a total of about 40 uses. Not impressed at the cost of a new motor - around the £100 inc. vat and delivery. Would have expected beter from Bosch (read more)
Written on: 23/10/2010
Had this for about a year and it has been used in a relatively small garden. The motor has just packed up 'mid-mow' - similar to other reviews.
It's light, gives a good cut but this sort of relaibility is totally unacceptable.
(read more)
Written on: 22/10/2010
Have had a Rotak 43 for less than a year and it now refuses to start having stopped "mid mow". The supplier is not interested in trying to repair it.
Mower is great to use when working !! But to fail in less than a year of mowing a smallish lawn is poor.
Still trying to contact Bosch repair shop somewhere to see if it can be repaired
(read more)
Written on: 24/07/2010
The lawnmower was working fine at first, then it made a loud noise and stopped. After investigating, I found that the motor had broken, the brush holders had split and the brushes and springs had collapsed. This looks like a design fault. I also discovered that replacement brush holders could not be purchased - you had to buy the complete motor for £120.
I feel this product is not value for money after less than 2 years of use.
(read more)
Written on: 20/07/2010
I have been useing my Rotak 40 for two years now, its been briliant up to now, its light, fast, and have had no trouble with the motor.
I bought it on a which best buy recommodation,I use it at least once a week in the growing season,but I do agree with some of the reviews about the height adjustment it is a pain,and quite a knack to get used too, I find it best to lift it off, of the ground as it is light and adjust the height, while there is no presure on the wheels.
(read more)
Written on: 23/06/2010 by DouweBrouwer (1 review written)
I bought a Bosch Rotak 43 and was expecting good things, but feel really hard done by. I've given it one star because there wasn't a choice to give less.
Take my advice. Don't buy. The height adjuster if you are a woman or don't have much strength is stiff, clumsy and ill-considered. I used the mower for two stripes and that was enough. I took it back to the store to complain. An assistant at the shop where I bought the machine said to me that she has to get her husband to do the height...
(read more)
Written on: 05/05/2010 by geraldbacala (2 reviews written)
The machines couldn't be more different in operation and results, and I'd highly recommend the Rotak 40. Due to its large cutting width it has halved the time to cut my lawn and left a very neat cut. The grass collection is superb, rendering my electric grass rake redundant. It really does cut right up to the edge, so there is less work for the strimmer as well. It even has two carrying handles built into the body of the mower, and the non-removable cable easily wraps around the handle.
(read more)
Written on: 22/04/2010
I believed in the reliability of Bosch when I bought this product I should have read the reviews,I mowed my lawn 11 times with this product and the grass was not that long and the engine packed in.Please Please dont waste £123 on this product,I could have got my lawn done at £10 an hour and still have change instead of buying this.Bosch had a reputation as being reliable but please note the word had.This review would not me give overall ratings and value for money as 0,that is why it got 1... (read more)
Written on: 24/08/2009
I purchased this Bosch Rotak 40 Electric Rotary Lawn Mower about a year ago, and use it to mow 2 fairly small lawns. The quality of the cut has been excellent, and it's really easy to use.
I would be giving it 5 stars, if the motor hadn't suddenly died in a puff of smoke. If you read some of the other reviews, it must be a fault with the component. I don't think I've over stressed it; I don't leave the grass to get very long or mow when it's wet, the air filter above the motor isn't...
(read more)
Written on: 18/08/2009
Read all the submissions of all the people who burnt their motor out with concern, and contacted BOSCH-service about it, before I bought mine, BOSCH ROTAK 40 lawnmower.
If one cuts too high grass on the low settings, ie abuses the machine, it will slow down the cutters and overheat/burn out the motor.
Cutting maybe only half the width, slowly, keeping the revs up, it will cut anything, especially on a high setting.
Its like putting your hand over the plug in the sink, with the water...
(read more)
Written on: 08/08/2009
second Bosch Rotak 40 Electric Rotary Lawn Mower in 4 months electical problem within a week ,took back got a replacememt now the motor has burnt out its used once a week on short well maintaned lawn (read more)
Written on: 24/06/2009
this is my 2nd Bosch Roak 40 mower am not sure I will have another.
Motor Burnt out, there must be a weakness
does not trim up to the edge very tidly
does not cut the lawn finely enough
(read more)
Written on: 09/06/2009
The Bosch Rotak 40 Electric Rotary Lawn Mower is a brilliant machine to use with great cut and light and easy to carry
Sadly the motor on mine has failed at 12 months after about 30 uses.
My repair dealer says there may be a problem as he has 5 others in now waiting parts. This could take at least 2 weeks not what I expected from Bosch!!!!!!!!!!!!
(read more)
Written on: 01/06/2009 by alan689 (2 reviews written)
The Bosch Rotak 40 Electric is an amazing lawn mower. Would highly recommend this to anyone. We use it to cut huge lawn, which our old mower just couldn't cope with. (read more)
Written on: 07/05/2009
Motor burnt out during third use. Returned Bosch Rotak 40 Electric for a full refund. (read more)
Written on: 30/04/2009
excellent!!!!! i use the Bosch Rotak 40 Electric to cut 1 acre of garden which mostly consists of meadow grass, the grass is often over a foot long which poses no problem at all!. on my old lawnmower the cutting deck underneath used to get bent and would be cut by the blade, but on the bosch the build is excellent and this is not a problem at all. extremely light for its size and easily manoeuvrable. the only downfall is the shape of the grass box which when trying to empty takes a couple of... (read more)
Written on: 04/05/2009
I find this review very difficult to beleive. You are seriously suggesting you cut 1 acre of grass a foot long with a lightweight 14" electric lawnmower?
Written on: 28/05/2012
@291866_Pleasant: More BS from some know-it-all who prefers to dwell in theory than practice.
I too use this exact mower to cut half an acre which is regularly over a foot long with no problems at all. And get your facts right 291866_Pleasant, it is almost a 16" mower which is just as wide a cutting platform as many petrol mowers.
What electric has to do with your premise is irrelevant, provided the motor has the power to cut.
Being lightweight is actually preferable for cutting long grass, as opposed to a heavier mower which would have to be significantly bigger and more powerful to achieve the same task. This mower can be manhandled over and back on grass up to two feet long .
Written on: 28/04/2009 by kingofreviews (89 reviews written)
The Bosch Rotak 40 Electric is a huge improvement over the rubbish electrical cylinder mower we had previosuly. Plenty of grunt for long(ish) grass, but still really only suitable for smaller town gardens. Cuts pretty well up to the edges. (read more)
Written on: 20/04/2009 by baggie (1 review written)
Very unhappy with the Bosch Rotak 40 Electric. First time of using it the bolt holding the blade on sheared off, after abou 10 minutes of use. Returned for a full refund (read more)
Written on: 17/03/2009 by stephen hull (1 review written)
The Bosch Rotak 40 Electric lawn mower is great for long grass and moist weather conditions and light weight. One of the best validated by the which report before purchasing. I have yet to find any, however if you have a bowling green lawn, it will not cut so fine. (read more)
Written on: 28/08/2008 by miller161 (5 reviews written)
The Bosch Rotak 40 Electric I have found to be a good mower. It has the ability to tackle long wet grass with no problem and it is also not too heavy. I do think an improvement could be made, a cord tidy or rewind is what I would like to see. (read more)
Written on: 08/09/2008
Keeping the cord neat and tidy would be a useful addition
Written on: 12/08/2008 by susuz138
Was going pretty well until the motor burnt out after only 3 months. Very disappointed and got my money back as I have since read of this happening to others so possibly a design fault. (read more)
Written on: 09/03/2009
I found this review unhelpful because...<br/>Quite a few people burn out electric mowers because they expect the mower to chew through huge quantities of thick grass and don't bother to keep the motor vents clear of rubbish. Thus the motor overheats and burns out. It's a mower not an industrial grass cutter and some people would do well to remember that.
Written on: 23/08/2012
our mower has just done the same thing after 3 months - how did you get your money back, did you take it back to the place you bought it or did you complain to bosch?
Written on: 17/06/2008 by androo4519 (2 reviews written)
Really very hard to fault. This Bosch Rotak 40 Electric is by far the best mower I've used and it makes very light work of my lawn no matter how long the grass. owerful motor cuts long grass without slowing down. Height adjuster very easy to use. Large grass box. Professional looking cut. Cuts right up to the edge so very little strimming needed afterwards. Feels robust and built to last. (read more)
Written on: 02/06/2008 by fatherted01 (2 reviews written)
I had a qualcast concorde 32 and this lawnmower just blows it away. It has a very powerful motor and makes easy work of mowing the lawn. The Grass box is large and the grass gets really well packed in. It actually does mow to the edge but does miss a little. I thank other reviews for recommending this excellent lawn mower. My only concern is that as with most things these days it is made of plastic but for the money this is the lawn mower to have. (read more)
Written on: 18/05/2008 by ellwayhz123
Overall the Bosch Rotak 40 Electric is a good lawn mower. (read more)
As rated by real users
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"Fantastic lawnmower" Read More
Guest's Comment
Written on: 27/07/2012
I have had the same problem with a Rotak 34- after just 2 years usage - no more Bosch for me