Lawn Mower Musings

[CAJUNLAWYER]

Y'all may remember last week I was ranting about the lawn mower repair place not calling me first and then presenting me a bill for $217.58 to "fix" a mower that cost me $249.00 new. Well, the more I thought about it the madder I got and when it wouldn't stay running unless you ran it on choke, I fired off a letter telling them that I was reversing the charges and did they want me to bring the mower back or just throw it away. Long story short-they took the mower back for parts gave me dollar for dollar credit on the repair and I am now the proud new owner of a Honda Quadra Cut Mower with mulching, bagging, rear discharge and smart choke ! This thing has a silver deck that says HONDA on it and a red cover on the motor. It's the first lawn mower I have ever bought from a lawnmower store. They set it up, put oil in it and gave me a full tank of gas.
I'm bad.
I sat and admired it for two days, then today I cut the grass. It cut the grass into almost powder, really nice -but now that I have used it and sweated behind it and rolled through that first pile of Angus poop, the bloom is off the rose and it's just "the mower" now. It's not shiny any more, has grass dust on it and dog poop on the left wheel tread It has now morphed from my shiny new toy into the hated mower. Why does this happen? And then I see where I could have bought this.
Honda Miimo Robotic Lawn Mower Demonstrated at The Honda Classic Exclusive Product to Wow Fans at 2013 Golf Tournament - Honda.com

Oh well, it be what it be.

 

[ralph7]

And if you leave the new and improved ethanol gas in it too long, it will break down faster than the old stuff used to and your mower won't want to stay lit again.
Mowers are simple to work on, you wouldn't believe how bad the shops are getting to folks when they do a carb job.

 

[Alnamvet68]

I power wash my mower(s), bottom deck and all after every use; that said,.....

www.youtube.com/watch?v=K2_AIWFO77s

 

[timn8er]

I like that robot mower! Since its a Honda I'd have it painted up in the same colors as my old CBR900RR. The bad thing is, even though it has an alarm on it, I think people would still try to steal it, so you'd still have to sit on the porch & watch it. What am I saying, that would be fine!

 

[KeithC]

I just replaced my 15 year old Honda this past spring, no matter what I did, or put in this crappy gas, every year I had to replace the carb so I didn't have to yank my arm off trying to start it. A new carb was only around 20 bucks online, but after a while all the pulling to start it got really old.....

Got the new one with the automatic choke, so far so good. Especially like the variable speed drive.

 

[amazingflapjack]

might want to keep some star tron in the gas.

 

[jgh4445]

Yeah, that underground telekinetic, wired, wireless net work, remote, don't cross this boundry stuff will work until the mower figures out it can squinch its eyes almost closed and tough if out for a second while it crashes thru the boundry. My Lab does it all the time.

 

[zonker5]

There is a better way....Every Wednesday afternoon my lawn is cut, edged and blowed.

Then the young man knocks on the door and I give him $40. He says "Thanks" and I go back to my adult beverage and Judge Judy.

 

[G-Mac]

....I fired off a letter telling them that I was reversing the charges and did they want me to bring the mower back or just throw it away.

How much did you charge yourself to write the letter?

 

[DeadAye]

Put a manual fuel cut-off valve on it (probably 1/4")
and turn the gas off and let the engine run till it stops
EVERY TIME YOU USE THE MOWER.
It will start right up next time - even if next time is next year
(provided you remember to turn the valve back on - my wife can verify this )

This seems familiar for some reason

 

[RonJ]

Did you sign your name with an "Esq"?

BTW, is this ethanol thing a myth?
My Toro has sat in the shed all winter long for about 5 years with at least a quarter tank of gas. Every spring it still starts up on the first or second pull.

 

[shouldazagged]

As for the Angus droppings, look at it this way: you got a fine new mower and a manure spreader! Heck of a deal, I'd say.

 

[4011]

Ethanol will ruin the rubber products in a lawn mower. I used a Used Honda for years then sold it. The new owner finally wore it out. I did find that the one I had used bearing in the wheelsa and in the drive. You could replace these bearings by number and save a bunch on them.

 

[max]

You want to wash and wax your new mower. Also you want to pick up Angus droppings prior to mowing.

 

[therevjay]

Did you sign your name with an "Esq"?

BTW, is this ethanol thing a myth?
My Toro has sat in the shed all winter long for about 5 years with at least a quarter tank of gas. Every spring it still starts up on the first or second pull.

"Is this ethanol thing a myth?" I honestly think so. I have had the same mower since 1994. In this area all pump gas has 10% ethanol. (and has for years) No problems with starting, rubber parts in carb, etc. (I do add 'Sta-Bil' to the gas that will set for long periods)

 

[doublesharp]

Good job Caj!. That Honda will still be going when you give it to your grandkids to take over.

I laughed about the prior post that said pay the young guy $40 and go back to Judge Judy. At 62 I don't qualify as young but I've got several yards that I cut for $40 a pop. I'm weird but I like it as long as I've got good equipment to work with and it does keep me off the streets and out of the bars.

I've got a Honda Quadra cut with zero turn front caster wheels and I'm keeping an auction honest right now on a Hustler Mini Z with a 24 hp Honda. Has 450 hours and that's just broke in for a GX series engine. My 61" Bob-Cat zero turn has a 37 hp, 1000cc direct fuel injected Kawasaki. I use Oregon heavy duty G6 gator blades and they turn the clippings to dust.

 

[old bear]

There is a better way....Every Wednesday afternoon my lawn is cut, edged and blowed.

Then the young man knocks on the door and I give him $40. He says "Thanks" and I go back to my adult beverage and Judge Judy.

Zonker5, a man after my own heart. Life is just to short to bust your butt mowing the lawn. Why deprive a hard working young man a chance to develop a real work ethic, as you are enjoying an adult beverage. That's gotta be your classic Win-Win deal.

 

[Autococker07]

Not all rubber/plastics are affected by the corn oil, but older ones sure are... I have a awesome lawn boy top o the line unit in the backyard that died from ethanol poisoning.... Funny thing is the Murray that it replaced, still goes like poop from a goose..... but it now gets the good gas, just like my weedeater

 

[Mike McLellan]

Renaissance Wax will keep the poop from fouling your wheels. I use a John Deere riding mower myself. I'm old, you see, and frail.

 

[mc5aw]

Caj ... My mower is on its last legs, and the backyard looks like a hay field. Our Rat Terrier Angus has left some piles out back as well. I know you're a lawn cutter, just not my lawn cutter, but if you have some extra time, I'd be most obliged.