Old heroes never die, they just get newer lawn mowers.


 
B

Brock Gingery

TVWBB Super Fan
Been a tough couple of weeks and the retrospection of feeling like an old man is starting to play like an old phonograph. Right in the middle of this heat wave my lawn tractor gives up the ghost right after getting it back from having it in for an engine repair. Stubborn as it was, I was trying and hoping to make it last until next spring.
So I took delivery of a brand new mower this week, coated the underside of the deck, waxed it for being the Brand that will scratch if you look at it sideways, and finally this morning after the fog cleared used it for its maiden cut on my lawn that has now sat unmoved for over two weeks. It was at this point I had the thought "you never used to worry about it the lawn looked unmowed five years ago cause grass is grass. When the heck did this happen?!"

Figured I'd ask to see if anyone else has been having "fun" monstrous mechanical machinations this year.
 
Brock Gingery said:
Been a tough couple of weeks and the retrospection of feeling like an old man is starting to play like an old phonograph. Right in the middle of this heat wave my lawn tractor gives up the ghost right after getting it back from having it in for an engine repair. Stubborn as it was, I was trying and hoping to make it last until next spring.
So I took delivery of a brand new mower this week, coated the underside of the deck, waxed it for being the Brand that will scratch if you look at it sideways, and finally this morning after the fog cleared used it for its maiden cut on my lawn that has now sat unmoved for over two weeks. It was at this point I had the thought "you never used to worry about it the lawn looked unmowed five years ago cause grass is grass. When the heck did this happen?!"

Figured I'd ask to see if anyone else has been having "fun" monstrous mechanical machinations this year.
Click to expand...
Not this year but as some know since I documented the journey here a few years ago I finally acquired a Kubota Diesel tractor. The next year I tore it down to the frame and did a minor restoration. Geez talk about work. The deck alone weighs as much as my previous Honda 4514 all together and that thing was no lightweight. Even it had a full automotive type frame separate from the "body" of the machine. So it's (the Kubota) built like a small tank even the frame is 7/16" thick steel!
 
Not a rider but I did give up on my gas mower and upgrade to a EV mower last summer.
Love it for the weight, easy to handle and almost whisper quiet.
No smell no changing oil plugs etc.
I mow twice a week just to keep it manageable.
Neighbors do it maybe once a week or bi week and really struggle and the lawn looks like cow feed when done.
 
timothy said:
Not a rider but I did give up on my gas mower and upgrade to a EV mower last summer.
Love it for the weight, easy to handle and almost whisper quiet.
No smell no changing oil plugs etc.
I mow twice a week just to keep it manageable.
Neighbors do it maybe once a week or bi week and really struggle and the lawn looks like cow feed when done.
Click to expand...
I bought a Toro 60V walk behind Personal Pace for my trimming work. You're right I love it for what it does. Too small and too slow to do walk behind (gas or otherwise) I don't have the patience. I've gone to battery operated blower, trimmer and snow blower as well. (snow blower and mower use same battery packs). If I could find a full size battery operated pressure washer I'd be pretty happy.
Still love the smell of diesel in the morning.......smells like...................................................victory
 
Brock Gingery said:
Figured I'd ask to see if anyone else has been having "fun" monstrous mechanical machinations this year.
Click to expand...

Push mower is doing fine. other stuff with engines, not so fine. I had a tree to take down and my chainsaw would not stay running. estimate to repair was was through the roof so I bought an electric saw. It's doing OK.

Youngest kiddo's car has a leaking head gasket ( common for this motor ) and cost to repair is about double the value of the car.
Oldest kiddo's car needs about $3K of repairs and scheduled maint, which is about half what its worth.
My jeep died pulling into the driveway and I had to winch it in to the garage. I had to drill two 3/8 inch holes in the concrete floor to mount a 12K pound D-ring. Looks like the fuel pump is toast and I'll need to drop the skid plate and tank to get to it.
 
timothy said:
Not a rider but I did give up on my gas mower and upgrade to a EV mower last summer.
Love it for the weight, easy to handle and almost whisper quiet.
No smell no changing oil plugs etc.
I mow twice a week just to keep it manageable.
Neighbors do it maybe once a week or bi week and really struggle and the lawn looks like cow feed when done.
Click to expand...
I don't know squat about mowers. Do you have to have a dedicated charging station, or can you plug it in to a wall outlet? How much time do you get from a full charge?
 
Tim Campbell said:
I don't know squat about mowers. Do you have to have a dedicated charging station, or can you plug it in to a wall outlet? How much time do you get from a full charge?
Click to expand...
It's a Ryobi 40V Takes about an hour to charge, holds two batteries but you only use one at a time.
I can do my back and front with one.
Basic battery charging station like any cordless tool.
 
Yep, My Toro stuff uses the same batteries. I have 2 a larger one and a smaller (lower AH) one IIRC one is 10 and one is 6. Lots of power, love the quiet and in winter LOVE not needing to stand out there like a fool pulling a cord and hoping the darn thing will start.
I have 2 chargers as well so I always have topped off batteries. The snow blower can use both and when/if one dies switch to the fullycharged one
 
LMichaels said:
Not this year but as some know since I documented the journey here a few years ago I finally acquired a Kubota Diesel tractor. The next year I tore it down to the frame and did a minor restoration. Geez talk about work. The deck alone weighs as much as my previous Honda 4514 all together and that thing was no lightweight. Even it had a full automotive type frame separate from the "body" of the machine. So it's (the Kubota) built like a small tank even the frame is 7/16" thick steel!
Click to expand...
My Granddad loved his old Kubota Diesel. Growing up I spent a lot of time mowing his land during the summers while I was there. Love the old machines.
 
DanHoo said:
Push mower is doing fine. other stuff with engines, not so fine. I had a tree to take down and my chainsaw would not stay running. estimate to repair was was through the roof so I bought an electric saw. It's doing OK.

Youngest kiddo's car has a leaking head gasket ( common for this motor ) and cost to repair is about double the value of the car.
Oldest kiddo's car needs about $3K of repairs and scheduled maint, which is about half what its worth.
My jeep died pulling into the driveway and I had to winch it in to the garage. I had to drill two 3/8 inch holes in the concrete floor to mount a 12K pound D-ring. Looks like the fuel pump is toast and I'll need to drop the skid plate and tank to get to it.
Click to expand...
Dang Dan, that's rough. I already filled my quota on truck repairs this year, and fingers are crossed I won't have more.
 
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