RYOBI RY401170 20-inch 40V HP push mower kit (one 6Ah battery and charger) review

The RYOBI RY401170 is the 20-inch 40V HP Brushless push-mower kit, not a self-propelled mower. Its exact U.S. listing describes a 6Ah 40V battery and fast charger with the RY401017 mower body, along with a grass catcher, start key, mulch plug, side-discharge chute and manuals. The tool-only code RY401017BTL shares the push-mower body but excludes the battery and charger. This package distinction is the first useful question: if you already own compatible RYOBI 40V equipment, the included pack may duplicate what you have; if not, the kit offers the mower and power source together.

A 20-inch push mower with no powered wheel drive

The RY401017 body is pushed by the operator. Its 20-inch cutting path is a middle-ground format: wider than a compact 13- or 16-inch mower, but still a walk-behind that turns around trees and beds rather than a seated machine for long open acreage. The manual specifies seven height positions from 1.5 to 4 inches, 8-inch front wheels and 10-inch rear wheels. RYOBI publishes 42.2 pounds for the mower; that specification does not state the battery basis, so do not assume it is the all-in carrying weight. Handles fold for vertical storage, but storage and gate access still depend on the complete machine dimensions.

Choose this push layout only if you are willing and able to supply the forward motion. It does not gain self-propulsion from the kit battery. If powered travel is a must, compare the self-propelled RY401180 kit or the tool-only RY401018BTL. If the must-have is instead a mower compatible with a battery you already use, the no-battery package may be the more economical fit—but that is an ownership decision, not a difference in blade width.

What the 6Ah kit claim does and does not promise

RYOBI states up to 45 minutes of runtime and describes the mower as ideal for lawns up to one-half acre when using a 40V 6Ah battery. The exact RY401170 listing supplies one 6Ah battery and a fast charger, so the maker’s stated scenario at least corresponds to a pack in this package. It remains a maximum claim, not a measured result or a guarantee that every half-acre yard will finish in one charge. Dense growth, a low cutting setting, wet grass, frequent turns, bagging stops and an uneven route can change the work completed. Treat the yard-size phrase as orientation, not a promise.

The manual describes one active battery port and a separate storage compartment that can hold an extra pack; it explicitly says the stored pack does not power the mower until moved into the battery port. Therefore, this is not a two-port mower and the one supplied 6Ah battery should not be described as two batteries or as a dual-pack runtime system. If your yard is routinely demanding or close to the maker’s upper estimate, think about charge planning and whether another compatible pack is already part of your tool system.

Mulch, bag or discharge; then clean and store

The RY401017 manual and kit list document mulching, rear bagging and side discharge, using the plug, catcher and chute as the selected setup. The machine starts only with its key and the required safety equipment in place. Before switching modes, unclogging, emptying the catcher or cleaning underneath, stop, wait for the blade to stop, remove the key and battery. The manual warns against wet grass, says new or thick growth can call for a higher setting or narrower pass, and asks the operator to clear stones, sticks and wire that can be thrown. Those instructions are more useful than assuming a brushless motor makes every condition easy.

The manual’s slope limit is 15 degrees, with mowing across the slope instead of directly up or down; if footing is doubtful, do not mow it. That is a maximum in the instructions, not a blanket promise of safe traction at that angle. For ownership, keep the deck clean and dry, inspect the blade and fasteners, and store the mower indoors. The handle folds upright, but remove the battery and key first and follow the manual so the handle cable is not pinched.

Where this package sits in the RYOBI lineup

RY401170 is worth comparing with the newer 20-inch RY40HPLM06K if a longer maker-stated runtime number matters: the newer push kit’s page gives a different maximum claim, and its exact package/manual should be checked rather than borrowing that figure for this older SKU. The 40V HP label is shared across models, but it does not make the batteries, product generation or feature list interchangeable by assumption. For the 20-inch CrossCut multi-blade system, look at a different exact model such as RY401260; the RY401017 manual describes one cutting blade, so this is the conventional single-blade route.

Shortlist RY401170 when a 20-inch push mower, the three documented clipping routes, folding storage and an included 6Ah battery plus charger fit your routine. Choose RY401017BTL if you already have compatible 40V power and do not need the kit parts. Move to RY401180 only when self-propelled rear-wheel drive matters more than the push mower’s longer stated maximum runtime. This assessment uses manufacturer documentation, not personal ownership or measured tests.

Sources: RYOBI’s U.S. RY401170 product page, the RY401017BTL tool-only page, and RYOBI’s RY401017 operator manual. The exact kit page supplies package facts; the manual cover supplies mower-body identity.