RYOBI RY401220 40V HP Brushless 21-inch CrossCut push mower kit review

RY401220 is RYOBI’s 21-inch 40V HP CrossCut push-mower kit. Its defining decisions are straightforward: it is operator-pushed rather than self-propelled, comes with two 6Ah batteries and a rapid charger, and supports bagging, mulching and side discharge. Its matching mower-body manual is labeled RY401022, a different code from the kit’s RY401220. Keep those identities separate when checking instructions or a retailer’s package.

Two batteries, two ports, a push-only mower

The exact U.S. RY401220 page lists one RY401022 21-inch mower, two OP40605 40V 6Ah battery packs, an OP406A rapid charger, grass catcher, start key, mulch plug, side-discharge chute and operator materials. The product-page specification lists the charger at 295W. The body manual confirms dual battery ports. It describes moving the start-key selector to choose which battery is in use; this is a manual choice between packs, not a promise of simultaneous battery discharge or a guaranteed amount of cutting time.

Two 6Ah packs provide a useful kit distinction from RY401260’s single 8Ah pack: if a two-pack minimum is essential, the 21-inch RY401220 meets that package condition while the RY401260 does not. Nominal amp-hours describe the batteries in the box; they do not translate directly into acres or runtime. RYOBI claims up to 70 minutes and describes the mower as ideal for up to three-quarters of an acre using the two included batteries. Those figures are manufacturer estimates, not independent mowing tests or a guarantee that a specific lot will fit one charge. Grass height, moisture, cutting height, terrain, turns and chosen blade/cutting arrangement all affect the work completed.

Choose it only if you are comfortable pushing

The 21-inch deck covers a path one inch wider than the 20-inch RY401260, but do not choose by cutting width alone. The manual lists an 8-inch front wheel, 11-inch rear wheel and a 21-inch deck. Measure the whole machine, gates and storage clearance. Unlike RY401260 and RY401210, this exact package has no powered drive wheels: the operator supplies forward motion. That can be a welcome simple arrangement on a manageable lawn, but a long route or a need for powered travel points to a self-propelled configuration instead. If self-propel is an essential requirement, this push model must be excluded even though the motor and blade use a battery.

The exact page calls the mower CrossCut multi-blade and the manual describes dual blades, plus a separate combination-blade option. The manual says the combination blade gives the longest battery runtime. The page establishes the CrossCut kit identity, but should not be read as proof that every optional lower blade is included. If you require a particular high-lift or extended-runtime lower blade set, verify that exact part in the package; otherwise keep that field unknown rather than assuming it from ordinary bagging capability.

Three clipping routes need the right setup

RYOBI’s exact kit listing and the RY401022 manual document rear bagging, mulching and side discharge. The package includes the catcher, mulch plug and chute. The manual’s setup procedure matters: remove the key and packs before changing accessories; fit the catcher for bagging, secure the mulch door for mulching, or install the side chute for side discharge. Use the path that fits the grass and your cleanup routine rather than assuming every route uses the same hardware. A catcher also adds recurring emptying and transport; mulching avoids collecting clippings but is not a cure for mowing wet or excessively long grass.

The manual recommends not cutting wet grass and warns against slopes greater than 15 degrees. It directs the operator to mow across a slope, never up and down, and says to stop if footing feels unsafe. Before cleaning below the deck or removing a catcher, stop the motor, wait until the blades have stopped, remove the key and both packs. Do not wash the machine with a hose, water or other liquids. Wipe it dry, clear grass buildup and store it indoors. The handle folds for compact vertical storage; plan how you will lift and position the machine before relying on that feature.

Where it fits among the RYOBI CrossCut choices

Pick RY401220 when push-only movement is acceptable, a 21-inch cut fits access, and two 6Ah packs plus bagging/mulching/side-discharge hardware are useful. Pick RY401260 when a 20-inch cut and rear-wheel self-propelled travel matter more than a two-pack kit. Pick RY401210 only when its selectable all-wheel-drive setup is an essential distinction; that is a separate self-propelled mower. Compare exact codes and included battery totals, not the common 40V badge. A standard 40V label does not mean every kit contains the same number of batteries, charger or attachment.

Sources: RYOBI RY401220 exact U.S. product page, RY401022 operator manual, and CPSC notice 25-127 (a bounded code check, not serial clearance).