Gentlemen, start your mowers!

[JKNW]

I got my second cut of the year in on Friday, pretty trouble free.

The Craftsman is now a head gasket, front end bushings and a couple Amazon carbs deep into life with me. I found a Walbro clone instead of the Nikki, it's a little lean sometimes but it runs good under load. Also put some rear tires on it last season, local flat track closed to motorcycles and ATVs so I pulled the 18s off one of my trikes. Had to put air in one front tire and gas in the tank this year.

The late 80's Snapper push mower didn't ask for anything but it's usual sharpening and a snort of the good stuff off the primer bottle for the first start. That mower is the best thing I've ever pulled out of a dumpster.

 

[Wilhelm]

Walk behind mower, 6hp, last Friday PM



Mower was acting up, would have no power full throttle.
I had to push the throttle lever into cold start position engaging WOT & choke to get power from the engine - ran OK that way, ate through thick juicy grass with authority.

 

[Wilhelm]

And last Saturday, weedeater action where the walk behind can't go.



It is heavy, it is unwieldy, it vibrates - but damn do I appreciate the power of my supermarket weedeater - 1.5kW/2.0HP.

 

[Wilhelm]

I got this one today to be my spare.
Should be OK featuring similar specs as my old one, plus some additional features.

4-stroke 224cc, 4.5kW/6.1HP, self propelled, 20" wide cut, with collecting basket and side throw.

 

[Squareground3691]

 

[RCBS]

Nope, not yet. Trying to hold out till after Easter like always.

 

[Wilhelm]

Nope, not yet. Trying to hold out till after Easter like always.

Slaker !!!

 

[Al Smith]

I had to get the Toro out to spot a trailor I borrowed from my neighbor ..Zero turn it with spin on a dime and give you nine cents change .It started right up after sitting all winter.Had to blow the two rear tires up using a battery powered mini compresser.I'll have investigate why they are leaking down .

 

[FergusonTO35]

Briggs must have revised the carburetor, because the 450E now runs perfect. I also noticed the o-ring which seals the carb to the intake fits a lot more snug than it used to. I always suspected this was a problem area. New part number is 84001982, I'll order one for the other mower as well.

 

[Al Smith]

Those carbs drive me bonkers .For reason unknown over the years I've managed to get grass clippings in my gas tank .Which they float but if the tank gets low some get sucked into the carb even going through the fuel filter .Toro was either too stupid or just plain stingy there is no filter screen in the tank fill .There is no bottom drain on that tank so to clean it out would take me half a day to just unbolt it .Mean while I'll just cuss at it ,remove the carb and blow out the jet .I've gotten real good at that .

 

[FergusonTO35]

I always use a filter funnel when fueling my small engines, this seems to help keep crud out.

 

[FergusonTO35]

I'm here poking around at TSC and see they have a Yardforce 21" push mower here that is surprisingly solid for a cheap mower. The metal thickness of the deck compares to that of a big zero turn and the handle brackets are welded on. The plastic on the front is just decorative, everything under it is metal including the boxes where the wheels mount. Made in the USA too. I have one of their older ones and it's definitely lower tier. I think I'm gonna buy one of these with my tax refund when it comes in just to support a company that seems to give a crap about making a decent push mower.