On Mon, 24 Apr 2017 10:26:14 -0400, songbird
wrote:

Frank wrote:
songbird wrote:

have to get the lawn mowed today and so
pulled the mower out of the shed, changed
the oil, topped off the gas... started on
first pull.

luckily i do not have to do the mowing
(yet).

I learned years ago, the hard way, that you make sure your mower is OK a
few weeks before needing. Mine would not start one year when I needed
it and backlog was 3 weeks in the mower shop.

she who mows wants to buy a new one.
this one has worked very well for some years
now. it did need a new carb put on it and
that has been all done to it other than new
blades or me sharpening them once in a while.

it does need some work (rusted cables need
to be replaced) but i want to do that service
run after the season is over. that will be
a good time to take it to the shop before we
put it away for the winter.

Another shop told me it is the same way with snow-throwers and generators.

hmm, may rethink timing, but if i take it any
other time then it means we may get stuck without
a mower when we need it. where we stored it for
the winter meant it wasn't coming out very easy
any time. this coming winter i hope we'll have
more room in the garage instead of stuffing it
in the garden shed.


songbird
My "daily driver" mower is a late forties or early fifties vintage
24 inch self propelled Yazoo Big Wheel style mower (sold by Pro Inc in
Shreveport La) that had a 2 1/2 or 3 1/2 HP Briggs on it when I bought
it back about 1987? I blew it up and put on a 6.5HP Bolton "CHONDA"
engine. I just replaced the spindle bearings for the second time, and
a number of years back I replaced the rusted mild steel sheet metal
deck with stainless steel (now I need to wear shades when I mow!!)

My "backup" mower is a 1957 Lawn King 19 or 20 ich job with a Lauson
engine.

Both started on the second pull this spring. I got the big one out
early because I knew the spindle was getting rough and the blade
needed balancing (likely what took out the bearing) - and I didn't
know how much time I was going to need to get it beetenapart and put
back together.
Likely another couple weeks before I need to cut the grass.

The generator starts on Propane, so I don't need to worry about stale
gas or bunged up carbs. For long term use I connect it to the natural
gas line. (reduced output though)