I have debacled my mower

[dixiehack]

After three summers of faithful service, my push mower has spit the bit. Went out to mow the grass earlier, and could not start it. I don't mean the motor wouldn't turn over, I mean the pull cord wouldn't budge. Tried unleashing it from the little hook on the side and the cord just retreated further into its shell like BYH's member at the 0:00:09 mark. I turned the mower over and cleaned out lots and lots of accumulated grass, but could not find anything on the outside to show where the cord was tangled.

Any advice for the mechanically declined?

 

[NoOneLikesUs]

Call the mechanic. Doesn't sound like an easy fix.

 

[MartinEnigmatica]

Yes, call a mechanic/lawn mower specialist. Be prepared for a list of random crap that you can't possibly think is broken. I hit a tree stump with the blade last summer and needed not just a new blade, but a driveshaft and numerous other assorted parts. It was only slightly cheaper than buying a new mower.
Of course, every situation is different, so I hope yours is a quick fix and just needs a replacement bolt somewhere inside.

 

[Sam Mills 51]

And here I was wondering what Emmitt Smith was doing with dixiehack's mower ...

 

[Rockbottom]

I had to check this thread, thinking I had started it two weeks ago when I shredded BOTH my blade belt and PTO belt on back-to-back mows.

RB

 

[qtlaw]

Get an electric. Smoother operation, greener than gas, better for the neighbors.

 

[MartinEnigmatica]

I know someone who still uses...

qt, I imagine an electric mower could be just as powerful as a gas-powered, given that it uses a handful of horsepower (walk-behind, at least). How long do those charges last?

 

[Trey Beamon]

Reason No. 23,697 why I love to rent.

 

[2muchcoffeeman]

Get an electric. Smoother operation, greener than gas, better for the neighbors.

I had a rechargeable mower. Unfortunately, and possibly because it was from the value line at Home Depot, it was of poor quality. The thin sheet metal the motor was mounted to shredded once, was welded back together, and then the metal around the welds shredded.

 

[Del_B_Vista]

I know someone who still uses...

I'm seriously considering buying one of those for our next mower. Damn tired of getting all Richard Petty behind a lawnmower.

 

[Bubbler]

I know someone who still uses...

I'm seriously considering buying one of those for our next mower. Damn tired of getting all Richard Petty behind a lawnmower.

I might too. Mowers are the most sensitive mechanical objects I've ever possessed.

 

[slappy4428]

You ran over sticks that pinched between the belt and the pulley...
When you fix it, come fix mine. The same thing has happened to me...

 

[buckweaver]

Reason No. 23,697 why I love to rent.

Hear hear. But to be honest, I wouldn't mind mowing -- my own yard. It works up a good sweat.

And it would beat ****-all out of being woken up by the ******* mowers every third day at my complex. I ****ing hate that worse than anything. Always seems to be at 8 a.m., right when I've finally settled in to sleep.

 

[qtlaw]

I know someone who still uses...

qt, I imagine an electric mower could be just as powerful as a gas-powered, given that it uses a handful of horsepower (walk-behind, at least). How long do those charges last?

I use electric cord. Gets in the way a bit, but a small tradeoff for the smoothness.

 

[Captain_Kirk]

 

[OTD]

After three summers of faithful service, my push mower has spit the bit. Went out to mow the grass earlier, and could not start it. I don't mean the motor wouldn't turn over, I mean the pull cord wouldn't budge. Tried unleashing it from the little hook on the side and the cord just retreated further into its shell like BYH's member at the 0:00:09 mark. I turned the mower over and cleaned out lots and lots of accumulated grass, but could not find anything on the outside to show where the cord was tangled.

Any advice for the mechanically declined?

Is there oil in it? People sometimes forget to put oil in mowers and they seize up.

You can get a rechargeable one like mine:

 

[Batman]

I have a $150 Briggs & Stratton push mower from Home Depot. It's my second one. I debacled the first one by trying to change the blade myself. I forgot to take the oil and gas out first, too. Ended up with a leaky mower with a loose blade that sounded like it was about to detach and cut off my legs. I put it on the curb halfway through a mow and ran out to buy another, which I've had for two years now with no problems at all.
Change the oil once or twice a summer, keep the air filter clean, run the gas out at the end of the summer and maybe swap out the spark plugs at the beginning of the year. So long as you're not cutting two-foot tall grass you're good to go.

 

[Inky_Wretch]

I know someone who still uses...

I'm seriously considering buying one of those for our next mower. Damn tired of getting all Richard Petty behind a lawnmower.

I might too. Mowers are the most sensitive mechanical objects I've ever possessed.

I've got one of those. It's a great workout. But don't plan on getting the job done quickly. It'll take about three times longer to mow your yard with a push mower.

Also, make sure you've got A) old shoes and B) a garden hose handy. When you use one of those, the clippings fly backwards in a perfect arch to hit your feet. I've taken to wearing flip-flops so I can stand on the back porch and rinse the clippings off my feet before going inside.

Dixie, go to your local hardware store. Local, not Home Depot or Lowe's. Pick up a few things, then wander over to the lawn mower section. Explain to the old dude what's happened, ask his advice. Do what he tells you. Buy what he tells you.

Or ship it to me, and I'll fix it. I've started buying broken mowers for $5-$10, fixing them and selling them for $50.

 

[JackReacher]

Ahhh. I love condo living.

I still want a house, though. Anyone want to offer to cut my grass?

 

[jlee]

So your hiring?