US/North American source for compatible base hardware?

[aderusha]

As noted in the README, the existing platform is the Yard Force Classic 500 which comes from a Chinese OEM SUMEC Hardware and Tools which itself is a subsidiary of SINOMACH. Their "Brand" page lists G-Force, Yard Force, and PowerG. PowerG looks to be battery powered hand tools, which leaves the G-Force and Yard Force side of things.

Yard Force USA

The Canadian and US links from the SUMEC page bring you to YardForceUSA.com. They have a Robot Mower product page with two products listed, the RVX4E and RVX4. I can find no mention of these devices being made available for sale anywhere. I've emailed the US distributor and will update if I get an answer back. I eventually found an online shop for Yard Force tools in the US but no robot mowers are listed.

The international page for Yard Force lists different models than the NA page, and that includes a model SA500ECO which bears a passing resemblance to the Classic 500 (as well as being suspiciously similarly named). Amazon in the UK shows this model as no longer available and it appears to be an older 2018 device which they possibly are no longer making.

G-Force

This line is harder to pin down. The product page shows a handful of models, but I cannot find any listings for these mowers on sale anywhere. Product videos I've found are from 2015, so this might be an older line of devices.

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If anyone else has any ideas as how to obtain a suitable mower deck in the US, post here and we can all get to hackin'!

[llama]

I am planning on ordering from amazon.de and using mygermany.com to forward the package to the US.

The question I have: do all of the models on that Amazon.de page work with OpenMower? My yard is small enough that the 260 m² would work, but I'm wondering if I should buy the "Classic 500" to exactly match what @ClemensElflein has done.

[MartijnGevaert]

I'm wondering, if this project becomes popular enough, it might be possible for @ClemensElflein to contact the hardware manufacturer, and try to get them to send out kits without the excess electronics that get replaced.
This way the hardware could become cheaper, and @ClemensElflein could add a little bit price back on top for his efforts and to continue supporting the project.

Shouldn't be too much work for the manufacturer to send out some units, but just without for example the mainboard, right?

[rjt]

$590 New mowers in box for sale on eBay. Buying thru PayPal may offer some protection even though drahman7 is probably a member or even the founder of this project.

YARD FORCE robot lawn mower Classic 500, 500 m², 40% incline, works w OpenMower

https://www.ebay.com/itm/304477543176?mkcid=16&mkevt=1&mkrid=711-127632-2357-0&ssspo=E2AUex2jTNW&sssrc=2047675&ssuid=Yrw_Ogb9TDi&widget_ver=artemis&media=COPY

[darkmastermindz]

Any updates on this?

[ffries]

As a reminder here is the shopping list.
https://openmower.de/docs/knowledge-base/shopping-list/

I just purchased a used Yard Force Classic 500 from Amazon Warehouse (in France) for 350€.

In the past. I remember purchasing Blu-ray discs on Amazon US account with Amazon French credentials.
Please try connecingt to Amazon DE with Amazon US credentials, it could work.

Hope this helps.

[symmatree]

I can't find the Yard Force 500 Classic for sale on any site now. I'd guess some other chassis would work but it's not at all clear how to validate that?

[liquidbear99]

@symmatree I also am unable to see it sold anywhere
on any site. (North America or Europe) The classic 500 may be discontinued.