BS: Lawn mower versus water entrance valve

Subject: RE: BS: Lawn mower versus water entrance valve
From: gnu
Date: 28 May 12 - 01:51 PM

Spaw still hasn't seen my NASTYCAR comment. My bro used to watch it, even tho he called it Roundy-Round or Go Straight-Take a Left.

Subject: RE: BS: Lawn mower versus water entrance valve
From: Ed T
Date: 27 May 12 - 07:57 PM

OK who put the lawnmower ads at the top of the page? is it an attempt to get gnu's goat?

Subject: RE: BS: Lawn mower versus water entrance valve
From: gnu
Date: 27 May 12 - 02:05 PM

And I assume he will be for another two and a half hours minimum... gentlemen, start your engines.

Subject: RE: BS: Lawn mower versus water entrance valve
From: gnu
Date: 27 May 12 - 01:57 PM

SPAW must be "away".

Subject: RE: BS: Lawn mower versus water entrance valve
From: gnu
Date: 26 May 12 - 09:34 PM

Bobert... NASCAR IS definitely in the bible. What about that bunch that spent 40 years goin in circles and never gettin anywhere? Sounds like NASCAR to me, eh?

Subject: RE: BS: Lawn mower versus water entrance valve
From: Bobert
Date: 26 May 12 - 07:26 PM

Well, Hell, Ya' learn somethin' new everyday... What next... NASCAR in there, too, EBarnz???

B;~)

Subject: RE: BS: Lawn mower versus water entrance valve
From: EBarnacle
Date: 26 May 12 - 12:43 PM

Bobert, Lawnmowers ARE in the Bible. See the Book of Ruth, referring to the harvest. Also see the Torah laws, referring to same and to not binding the mouths of the kine which tread out the grain of the threshing room floor.

Subject: RE: BS: Lawn mower versus water entrance valve
From: gnu
Date: 26 May 12 - 08:20 AM

Ed... "**MOVING MUST SELL**"

I think he needs to move IT on accounta a lawn mower engine just don't cut the grass around here.

Subject: RE: BS: Lawn mower versus water entrance valve
From: Ed T
Date: 26 May 12 - 07:56 AM

redneck snowblower

Subject: RE: BS: Lawn mower versus water entrance valve
From: Ed T
Date: 26 May 12 - 07:51 AM

Mny folks have a lawn mower and a snow blower-two machines, two engines, taking up space. Why not convert the lawn mower into a snowblower in the winter (rednecks style) parts could be easy to find, if you have the redneck skills needed- just a thought :)

snowblower-lawnmower

Subject: RE: BS: Lawn mower versus water entrance valve
From: gnu
Date: 25 May 12 - 04:35 PM

Can't believe how much the reduction in weight from the 22" deck makes for my back. Just finished an hour of mowing on rough ground with one nasty slope to deal with (cross-hill) and I am VERY happy with the CHEAPEST mower in town... after reading all the bad reviews of self-propelled models on the internut, I made the right choice.

Thanks for all the advice and the jokes. Truly appreciated.

Subject: RE: BS: Lawn mower versus water entrance valve
From: gnu
Date: 25 May 12 - 02:25 PM

Well... I thought long and hard and fired it up with the new blade in place. Ran like a charm... not much more vibration than usual. I started to mow. About two feet into light, fairly short grass it started to "ratchet" so bad it scared me.

My new mower is a Yard Machines with a 4.5 B & Stratton on a 20" deck. $170 at Crappy Tire. It's light and that should be good for my back. PLUS, I am 99% sure I can change out the motors and I'll probably do that this winter if the new motor works well the rest of this season.

Oh, yeah. The valve cover has shiney duct tape on top of it.

Subject: RE: BS: Lawn mower versus water entrance valve
From: Sawzaw
Date: 25 May 12 - 10:48 AM

I would think that a new lawn mower is cheaper than a new water entrance valve.

Subject: RE: BS: Lawn mower versus water entrance valve
From: Bobert
Date: 24 May 12 - 07:57 PM

Lawn mowers here in the States are cheaper than dirt... Sneak down here, snag one and you'll be mowin' in no time...

Sorry about yer bent crank... Lotta that going around with older guys...

B;~)

Subject: RE: BS: Lawn mower versus water entrance valve
From: gnu
Date: 24 May 12 - 07:48 PM

Sorry.... tossed my cookie. That was me.

Subject: RE: BS: Lawn mower versus water entrance valve
From: GUEST
Date: 24 May 12 - 07:45 PM

Ya gotta put it on the pins or it'll fly all over the place. That's just the way it's made.

I took a chance and put the new blade on and cranked er up. VERY little vibration, Put it 2' onto the lawn and the clacking was scarey. Got an idea to buy a mower with a 4.5 B&Stratton like I have now and see if I can swap motors. If not, the new one will have to do... a lot cheaper... manual height adjustment and the side discharge chute is bolted solid NOT a good thing in heavy grass). But, that is my only option. The perfect mower was on sale at Home 'o The Hardware Man on the the front page of today's flyer and I was there at opening... oops, sorry, the supplier could not deliver and we can't get any until next spring. Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrr.

Subject: RE: BS: Lawn mower versus water entrance valve
From: Bobert
Date: 24 May 12 - 08:30 AM

Now, listen to me, gn-ze... I have worked behind many a mechanic who also thought there was only one one way to install something... Not that you fall into that category, mind you... But...

B;~)

Subject: RE: BS: Lawn mower versus water entrance valve
From: gnu
Date: 23 May 12 - 09:33 PM

Only one way to install the blade. On the pins to the sides of the crank plate. One way only.

Subject: RE: BS: Lawn mower versus water entrance valve
From: Bobert
Date: 23 May 12 - 08:48 PM

Okay, if we are going to be technical then...

The blade has a correct way to go on and a not-so-correct way... That hole in the blade has to match up with the bottom of the crank correctly or it's gonna hit the deck housing...

There may have been a washer between the crank and the blade... Yeah, I know there is one under the blade but...

Here's what you do... Rotate the blade 360 degrees and see what's what... if the crank is bent (which I doubt) then you will see that in the way the blade moves...

I am betting that you just bent a blade and have not installed the new one correctly...

B~

Subject: RE: BS: Lawn mower versus water entrance valve
From: frogprince
Date: 23 May 12 - 08:09 PM

gnu, as to the limited area of contact, I would really think there are at least a couple of possibilities that are easy answers. Before the scrunch, when things were in proper shape, that might not mean that all of the blade was prexactly the same distance under the deck surface. So warp things some, and what was already the closest area is now a scrapping area??
Then again, if I saw what was really happening, maybe I would know that that's a stoopid answer...

Subject: RE: BS: Lawn mower versus water entrance valve
From: Ed T
Date: 23 May 12 - 08:09 PM

Looking beyond the symptoms of a problem is like the game "whack a mole" — where a mole pops its head up and you whack it with a hammer.

If you don't stop the mole (the root cause problem), then all that happens is the mole pops its head up somewhere else. Go ahead, whack that problem-give it a good try. "Percussive maintainance" also increases testosterone and relieves stress' Don't tap it,whack it - what's the risk? It is even a strategy in the high tech field.

On the NASA space walk to fix the Hubble, the NASA astronauts had a set of precision, million-dollar NASA instruments to remove one bolt and over 100 customized precision tools to fix the Hubble. They also had a soft blow space hammer. When they had a problem reomoving one part, the orders from below were "to whack the bejeebers out of it with the space hammer". Luckily it didn't get that far, and elbow grease and force eventually worked. But, the astronauts ended up kicking the Hubble's antenna, breaking it in half, and sending it into outer space! It's the golden rule of repair: When you fix something, break something else.


""Before we got technology, my Mom would spit on the stove to get the temperature right, she could tell how hot it was by the noise and speed the spit bounced off"" Another quote from the worldly Anon

Subject: RE: BS: Lawn mower versus water entrance valve
From: Bobert
Date: 23 May 12 - 07:06 PM

Hey wait... I like it... Three wacks for $2... Let yer friends beat the sumabich into a mangled mass then use the proceeds to buy a new mower...

Now if you get more $$$ that the cost of a new mower then buy a bunch of beater mowers and have a mower-thrashing every weekend... Purdy soon you'll be rich...

B~

Subject: RE: BS: Lawn mower versus water entrance valve
From: gnu
Date: 23 May 12 - 07:05 PM

I watched the video. I just don't smack shit without trying everything else first. Well, equipment, that is... people who are nasty to me or to my friends are a different situation.

Seriously, why does the blade only contact the deck for about 8" per turn?

Subject: RE: BS: Lawn mower versus water entrance valve
From: Gurney
Date: 23 May 12 - 04:53 PM

You didn't watch Ed T's video, did you, Gnu.

Suggestion: Put the mower on the front lawn, then take it apart with a sledge-hammer. Leave the pieces there for a week.
You may be surprised how polite wifey and neighbours are, afterwards.

Subject: RE: BS: Lawn mower versus water entrance valve
From: Bobert
Date: 23 May 12 - 04:05 PM

Maybe the lawn-mower's owner are bent???

B;~)

Subject: RE: BS: Lawn mower versus water entrance valve
From: gnu
Date: 23 May 12 - 02:16 PM

Ya know, I was just thinkin (yes, I know) and I began to wonder why the blade strikes the deck only in one spot (about 8" long)??? Maybe the shaft is bent? Maybe the deck is bent? Maybe both?

Subject: RE: BS: Lawn mower versus water entrance valve
From: frogprince
Date: 23 May 12 - 11:09 AM

Surely this has gotta include taking bets on how long before it seizes up.

Subject: RE: BS: Lawn mower versus water entrance valve
From: Bobert
Date: 22 May 12 - 10:42 PM

Plus, what kinda lawn-mower-wuss are you, gn-ze??? Ya afraid that when ya' get to the pearly gates of Heaven that St. Peter is gonna be a friggin' lawn-mower??? I got news fir ya... The term "lawn-mower" ain't in the Bible... You ain't going to Hell for throwing the sumabich off something high... I promise..

Okay, here's another idea... Invite yer friends over for a cook out... Take the sumabich and drain out half the oil and then let the sumabich rub wide open until it locks up...

I mean, compared to the drop it's like drop-lite... No, not drop-light... But kinda cool... Get the keg...

B~

Subject: RE: BS: Lawn mower versus water entrance valve
From: Bobert
Date: 22 May 12 - 10:30 PM

Ah hah, gn-ze... That's yer problem... Yer a north-souther... You need to move up to the big leagues and mow east to west... Horace Greely tell ya that, son... No wonder you broke the sumabich... Go west, young man, go west!!!

B~

Subject: RE: BS: Lawn mower versus water entrance valve
From: gnu
Date: 22 May 12 - 10:15 PM

The "drop" sounds like fun, Bobert. Not my style. Sledge hammer maybe but fact is it was my fault. I mowed north to south... against the grain... and couldn't judge where the valve was. My bad. I pay. Besides, even tho it's fucked as far as I am concerned, someone might mess with it, dangerous as it is (redneck style?). So, it'll go on the internut for free with all the caveats.

So... bad back... goin fer a self-propelled. $298 for a front wheel drive with 8" front and 12" rear wheels. $358 for a rear wheel drive 8" front and back. ???

Subject: RE: BS: Lawn mower versus water entrance valve
From: Bobert
Date: 22 May 12 - 10:10 PM

Man, if you can do it running then you make the Lawn-Mower-Drop-Hall-of-Fame... Yer great grand kids will tellin' the story long after yer gone!!!

Drop it runnin', gn-ze!!!!

B~

Subject: RE: BS: Lawn mower versus water entrance valve
From: frogprince
Date: 22 May 12 - 10:05 PM

Bobert, do you recommend doing it with the mower turned off, or with it running?

Subject: RE: BS: Lawn mower versus water entrance valve
From: Bobert
Date: 22 May 12 - 07:37 PM

I'd say a "lawn-mower-drop" is in the cards... Here's what you do... Find the closest tower... Bell towers are great... Buy a keg... Invite yer friends... Take mower to top of tower and when keg is about 2/3s empty (very important) then drop the sumabich off the top of the tower to the delight of all yer friends... If you ain't a folk hero now you will be after the drop... Double-damned-guarenteed!!!

B~

Subject: RE: BS: Lawn mower versus water entrance valve
From: gnu
Date: 22 May 12 - 07:11 PM

Fingers and toes.

Subject: RE: BS: Lawn mower versus water entrance valve
From: Gurney
Date: 22 May 12 - 05:13 PM

Gnu, you could try Ed T's 'Redneck Style' up there, to unbend your crankshaft. What have you got to lose?

Subject: RE: BS: Lawn mower versus water entrance valve
From: gnu
Date: 22 May 12 - 03:37 PM

SOB of a time to find a new blade! Got er on. Pulled er over slow and the blade hit the deck each rotation = shit hit the fan. She's toast.

Subject: RE: BS: Lawn mower versus water entrance valve
From: GUEST,999
Date: 12 May 12 - 07:10 AM

Be still my beating heart.

Subject: RE: BS: Lawn mower versus water entrance valve
From: JohnInKansas
Date: 12 May 12 - 04:57 AM

RentAGoat

A good goat will eat pet toys and might even eat yer plumbing.

John

Subject: RE: BS: Lawn mower versus water entrance valve
From: Richard Bridge
Date: 11 May 12 - 06:28 PM

I should perhaps mention that if you own a German Shepherd Dog, wear a visor if you use a strimmer.

Subject: RE: BS: Lawn mower versus water entrance valve
From: gnu
Date: 11 May 12 - 06:17 PM

Not to mention sheep shit for the garden. Among other amenities. I still have my hip waders. >;-)

Subject: RE: BS: Lawn mower versus water entrance valve
From: Ed T
Date: 11 May 12 - 05:59 PM

Why subject yourself to the complexities of a hired hand, or play the odds game at the lotto booth?

For economic and sustainable reasons, have you ever considered investing in a lawn maintaining goat? Even better, a sheep could maintain the lawn, provide nutrients and cloth for your spinner, and also add a dash of entertainment at the homefront.

Subject: RE: BS: Lawn mower versus water entrance valve
From: Skivee
Date: 11 May 12 - 04:59 PM

Gnu, you don't want to wear gloves while changing out the blade...too dangerous. Use steel-toed work boots instead.

Subject: RE: BS: Lawn mower versus water entrance valve
From: olddude
Date: 11 May 12 - 03:46 PM

Well I just ran over my dogs stuffed toy with my rider ... looked like it was snowing out with all the fuzzies flying everywhere ... he looked sad that I ground it up ... hey don't leave it in the yard ... I too don't see like I use to LOL

Subject: RE: BS: Lawn mower versus water entrance valve
From: gnu
Date: 11 May 12 - 03:32 PM

If I do, I will wear gloves.

Subject: RE: BS: Lawn mower versus water entrance valve
From: GUEST,999
Date: 11 May 12 - 11:22 AM

Gnu, you have as usual received excellent advice on this thread, but knowing you as I do I have but one thing to add: do NOT, repeat NOT replace the blades while the mower is running. OK?

Subject: RE: BS: Lawn mower versus water entrance valve
From: gnu
Date: 10 May 12 - 06:14 PM

SINS... great idea. I didn't check my ticket for the lotto last night. I am gonna do that RIGHT now.......... gotta mow my own lawns.

Subject: RE: BS: Lawn mower versus water entrance valve
From: SINSULL
Date: 10 May 12 - 12:39 PM

Hire someone to do your mowing?

Subject: RE: BS: Lawn mower versus water entrance valve
From: Ed T
Date: 09 May 12 - 10:03 PM

redneck style




sheared flywheel key

Subject: RE: BS: Lawn mower versus water entrance valve
From: gnu
Date: 09 May 12 - 07:44 PM

Rap... ooooohhh shheeet!

Subject: RE: BS: Lawn mower versus water entrance valve
From: Rapparee
Date: 09 May 12 - 07:38 PM

One October 4 many years ago some friends and I took a boat up the Mississippi. We managed to shear the shear pin in the motor. Naturally, we didn't have a spare. The prop and motor was okay, but it wouldn't go around and so we faced a five-mile paddle back using boards instead of something designed for rowing or paddling.

We managed to get onto a sandbar and found...pieces of welding rod!! Yay! They fit the slot for the shear pin like they were made for it, and we were able to motor back.

Unfortunately, my friend (whose father owned the boat) forgot to tell his father, who put the boat up for the winter.

Next Spring, about six or seven miles downstream from his launch site, Dad hit a log with the prop. The "shear pin," which should have been soft bronze and sheared and instead was a slug of welding rod and didn't, caused the transmission to pretty much reduce to junk.

Dad had to paddle upstream against a fairly brisk current with aforesaid boards to get back. Dad had been the Pacific in WW2 and when he mentioned it to his eldest son he did so with lots and lots of words he hadn't used since he left the Army.

Subject: RE: BS: Lawn mower versus water entrance valve
From: gnu
Date: 09 May 12 - 07:31 PM

I am mostly bald and not a keen hosuekeeper but I know the world is kinda oval if you tilt yer head.

Subject: RE: BS: Lawn mower versus water entrance valve
From: Bobert
Date: 09 May 12 - 07:26 PM

I donno??? What is one, Gn-ze??? If it's smart, good looking with long wavy dark hair then I'd like to be one... If it's a slob who thinks that the world is flat then I'll have to respectfully take a pass...

B~

Subject: RE: BS: Lawn mower versus water entrance valve
From: gnu
Date: 09 May 12 - 07:23 PM

Of course I will, Bobert. I are a ingunear.

Subject: RE: BS: Lawn mower versus water entrance valve
From: Bobert
Date: 09 May 12 - 04:49 PM

BTW, Gn-ze... The idea that the blade acts as a big balancing flywheel ain't exactly correct... If it is balanced, then yeah, but I doubt if too many are... The engine should run smooth without it... Crank it up when you take the blade off and I think you'll be pleasantly surprised at just how smooth it will run without the blade...

Back when I was racing VWs we had to balance everything that moved down to the crankshaft pulley...

BTW, be sure to take your bent blade with you to be sure that you are getting the correct replacement...

B~

Subject: RE: BS: Lawn mower versus water entrance valve
From: Gurney
Date: 09 May 12 - 04:36 PM

Some Briggs motors have a shear KEY locating the flywheel, which is also part of the ignition mechanism. Sometimes this part-shears when you hit something, and then the motor runs rough, or won't start, depending how badly distorted it is.
Changing this key is only for those with some mechanical nous and fairly comprehensive tools.

Subject: RE: BS: Lawn mower versus water entrance valve
From: gnu
Date: 09 May 12 - 03:41 PM

Great advice and funny stuff guys. Thanks. Didn't get the new blade yet.

Ed... hahahahaa!

Subject: RE: BS: Lawn mower versus water entrance valve
From: Ed T
Date: 09 May 12 - 03:34 PM

The poem\complaint below is not related to the posted topic - but, to "kinda" quote another poster:
"I reserve the right to post as I please on here- now and then- if'n I want to" :)

Funny Poem On Craigslist

Posted by a fed up licensed contractor on Craigslist.

NON LICENSED PROBLEMS SOUNDS FAMI---LIAR

Yes I do just about anything , and for less than anyone. The only thig is ,if at any point during your home improvement project I get uncomfortable , I fly by night.

Thats right I fly by night.

I will leave you with a mess of problems a licensed contractor wont even be interesed in fixing. You can hire me or my friends and the price is always right.

If anything happens like a water leak a fire or broken water pipe thats ok to because I fly by night. .

Its ok if I am late and you need to wait,

or, if I loose your keys to your house,

or, if I let your dogs play in the street .

Or, that I accidently scratched your custom Armoire , Its ok because I fly by night.

You can sleep well after hiring me because you got the very best price .
possible , and if you want I can sell you some pirate copies of your favorite
cd's , or your favorite software too.

Maybe a cable signal descrambler would be pretty cool.

And if you need saomeone to yell at when all the **** hits the fan,

I'm quite alright , I'm ok, I fly by night.
So, when I finish the job your a little scared because it all happened so fast so you ask.

"Can you give me a warranty ,
I am happy cause I saved a hundred bucks, but my wife, well shes somewhat uptight."

I tell you thats no problem, I can email you one along with maitenance .
instructions and an invoice ,

I'll do it when I get home .

I'll do it tonight..

You say ok, and as I drive away I can see you wave with a big grin on your .
face because you finally did something right.

So, I dial you quick on the cell phone .

You answer, and I say "Can you see my tailights," .

and you say "Yes I see them."

I say "Thats great watch as I go around the corner and out of sight.".

I offer a light guarantee and yours just expired ,.

sucker you blew it because I fly by night .

Subject: RE: BS: Lawn mower versus water entrance valve
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 09 May 12 - 03:30 PM

You mean you fix the hose to a thing sticking up out of the lawn rather than a tap on the wall? Asking for trouble that is.

Subject: RE: BS: Lawn mower versus water entrance valve
From: Bee-dubya-ell
Date: 09 May 12 - 03:16 PM

Nowadays, it's harder to damage lawnmower engines by hitting obstructions than it used to be. Most newer push-mowers don't even have a throttle that lets you adjust engine speed. They run at one relatively low speed, and hitting an obstruction stalls them out very easily.

Subject: RE: BS: Lawn mower versus water entrance valve
From: Charley Noble
Date: 09 May 12 - 12:53 PM

gnu-

So how do you like your new lawn fountain?

Cheerily,
Charley Noble

Subject: RE: BS: Lawn mower versus water entrance valve
From: open mike
Date: 09 May 12 - 03:47 AM

some mowershave a sheer pin that holds th eblades on..
don't know if riding ones deo that, but push mowers
sometimes have those...so that part gets shredded
before the whole engine does...a safety device...

Subject: RE: BS: Lawn mower versus water entrance valve
From: Ed T
Date: 08 May 12 - 10:16 PM

""There's one good thing about snow, it makes your lawn look as nice as your neighbour's"". Clyde Moore

Subject: RE: BS: Lawn mower versus water entrance valve
From: Ed T
Date: 08 May 12 - 10:00 PM

Sorry to hear you are having issues with your waterworks. On the bright side, it approaches many as they reach "the mature" decade.

Subject: RE: BS: Lawn mower versus water entrance valve
From: GUEST
Date: 08 May 12 - 09:49 PM

I can't better the advice on the mechanical side that you have already. However, if it turns out that it's not economically fixable, I'd recommend you get an electric. It takes some practice to get used to the cord, but it's a lot quieter and easier to start.

Subject: RE: BS: Lawn mower versus water entrance valve
From: Bobert
Date: 08 May 12 - 09:09 PM

Yeah, gn-ze... A new blade and yer back in the running... Like Bill said... Hard to bend the crank... The blade is the weak link in the chain...

B~

Subject: RE: BS: Lawn mower versus water entrance valve
From: JohnInKansas
Date: 08 May 12 - 09:06 PM

gnuber -

I've bent lots of blades on my 16.5 hp riding mower (Briggs Engine) without bending a shaft. Just putting a new blade on usually does the trick okay. The worst case was when I hit a log, and bent the tip of one blade down so it was dragging the ground, and mowed a pass clear across the yard before discovering I was being followed by a 3" deep trench with circly little squiggles in its bottom (and no grass).

Runnng the engine without the blade may be a little "iffy" depending on the engine model, since the blade may be the only "flywheel" you've got if it's a "mower special" engine, and the engine may run too rough (with no flywheel effect to smooth it out) for you to tell conclusively whether something's bent or it's just running rough.

On the other hand, 4.5 HP is pretty small, so it may not need much of a flywheel, but don't be too alarmed if it sounds a little rougher than you're used to. A small amount of vibration (the wheels stay mostly on the ground?) won't necessarily mean anything serious is bent.

Depending on the local market, you might be able to buy a replacement engine if it's really necessary, for around $70 or $80 if you're lucky, or $100 if you're not. Since you'd have to figure out how to connect all the controls, a new mower might still be "cost effective" if it meant buying any parts at all.

"Small engine repair" (i.e. lawnmower & chain saw hustling) is often a popular "home business" for local tinkerers, so you might also find a used (they'd say rebuilt) mower a little below new retail, but not many of those back porch mechanics have the budget to advertise much, so they can be hard to find unless you've shared a beer with one.

And if you don't have to hurry, yard sales where someone's bought a new one and has a pretty good old one to get rid of are a real possibility, since springtime is when people "move up" when they start thinking about cutting the grass with the old one. (Then next year you can buy their new one cheap when they've found out that the "upgrade" can't turn sharp enough to get to the edges and won't fit between the trees that mama won't let them chop down.)

Lots of possibilties.

John

Subject: RE: BS: Lawn mower versus water entrance valve
From: Bill D
Date: 08 May 12 - 08:27 PM

It is hard to bent the shaft..... I have ruined TWO blades on Maple roots, and that made a heck of a wobble. I have now set the mower one notch higher. Do Boberts test.... I'd bet at least 25 cents it's just the blade.

Subject: RE: BS: Lawn mower versus water entrance valve
From: gnu
Date: 08 May 12 - 08:00 PM

Thanks Bobert... and others. I figured I would buy a new blade and try it. But, trying it without the blade might save two trips to the hardware store. Good idea Bobert... par fer the course eh? BTW... there's no oil stain on the shaft. First thing I looked for after I let it sit overnight.

Subject: RE: BS: Lawn mower versus water entrance valve
From: Rapparee
Date: 08 May 12 - 06:26 PM

How old is the mower? You can get a Toro self-propelled with a 6.5 hp B&S engine for about USD 300.00. Easy oil change, even electric start for a bit more. It'll even mulch your clippings, water valves, shoes, toes, etc.

Subject: RE: BS: Lawn mower versus water entrance valve
From: catspaw49
Date: 08 May 12 - 06:18 PM

I was 10 and the proudest kid around with a new Lawn Boy.....Hit one of those cast iron fuckers which my Dad had warned me about and a chuink of it flew across thstreet through a picture window. Got any idea how many yards the kid had to mow to pay for THAT???    Mower was fine thankfully.

Spaw

Subject: RE: BS: Lawn mower versus water entrance valve
From: CupOfTea
Date: 08 May 12 - 06:00 PM

Gnu-

Sympathies. I hope it doesn't translate to idiocy every time one of these lawn mower disasters happens. I managed to kill an older lawn mower by going over a part of a dead tree stump that hasn't been removed, but was covered by very very long grass. That bent the shaft too far to repair.

More recently, again bamboozled by very very long grass (finding a time to mow large lawn in a rainy season is a challenge) I thought I'd killed the NEW lawn mower by running over a bit of metal cable that had come out of the trash collection on my tree lawn. Mower stopped DEAD, and I pulled the cable out from under it with tears of frustration. I didn't have the heart to look farther, and just tucked it away for the winter with the last band of grass left long.

This spring, my dear mechanically inclined friend found that what had stopped the mower was a chunk of wood the cable had been attached to. Once he pulled the wood out, the mower worked just fine. I hope that what Bobert and Richard suggested about your mower being possibly repairable turns out to be true for you. I know the agony of feeling an idiot in this situation as well as the joy at not having to get ANOTHER lawn mower. I'm also fortunate in, had I needed another mower, this same mechanical guy has the habit of buying up sad looking ones at garage sales and fixing them up and selling them. Should need arise, perhaps a good used one would do the job for you.

Wish I had the energy to turn the whole thing into a big bed of pachysandra.

Good luck to you and your lawn equipment

Joanne

Subject: RE: BS: Lawn mower versus water entrance valve
From: Richard Bridge
Date: 08 May 12 - 05:29 PM

Other than on cheap shit there should be a mandrel between the crankshaft and the blade mounting - precisely to stop you bending the crankshaft if the blade hits something. Take the blade off and check to see if there is a mandrel. If so, your worst case scenario should be to change the mandrel. Oh, and the blade.

On cheap shit the crankshaft may have an extended nose. In fact it will need one to put the blade in the right place. You may (may) be able to improve matters by trying to reduce the bend: long hollow lever and/or large hammer. But if your eyesight is like you say it is, it's be better to get someone with good eyesight to do it and preferably someone skilled with a big biffing iron.

I don't know about over there but in the UK you can get a cheap shit rotary mower (about 18 inch blade) for about £100 and a self-propelled one for about £125.   

I have done this before with tree stumps, and once with a very large spanner hiding in the grass!

Subject: RE: BS: Lawn mower versus water entrance valve
From: Gurney
Date: 08 May 12 - 05:11 PM

Water entrance valve = Stopcock??? Check that, it's possible to 'mow' it off, and it's under mains pressure on a BIG main. Firehose stuff if it blows, can't turn the house water off if it bends of breaks.

Take Bobert's advice, but it may be difficult to start as movers get some of their flywheel effect from the blade. You have to get them spinning fast, to start without.
In the worst case, borrow a mower whilst yours is in the hands of a mower specialist. Or even a go-cart specialist, as some classes use the B&S motor. It's not huge money for a new crank.
The go-cart guy I know mix-and-matches B&S parts to get the most powerful (but untuned, as the rules demand) motor, and he has spares for Africa!

Subject: RE: BS: Lawn mower versus water entrance valve
From: John MacKenzie
Date: 08 May 12 - 04:48 PM

Are we talking Watergate here?

Subject: RE: BS: Lawn mower versus water entrance valve
From: Bobert
Date: 08 May 12 - 04:40 PM

Listen, gn-ze... Here is what ya need to do... Take the blade off and start the engine... It the engine still vibrates then you are in trouble because there is a rubber seal that keep the friggin' oil in the engine that a bent shaft will wipe out in no time...

My guess is that all you did was bend the blade which will make it vibrate bad...

B~

Subject: RE: BS: Lawn mower versus water entrance valve
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 08 May 12 - 04:31 PM

"valve stem head"

You've lost me. Is this some device for watering lawns instead of using a hosepipe?

Not that we're allowed to use a hosepipe here in England, because right now we've got a hospipe ban. Doesn't stop us having floods of course We do things differently here when it comes to having droughts.

Subject: RE: BS: Lawn mower versus water entrance valve
From: Becca72
Date: 08 May 12 - 04:20 PM

Boy, I wouldn't get that guy to mow your lawn again... :-)

Subject: RE: BS: Lawn mower versus water entrance valve
From: Beer
Date: 08 May 12 - 04:02 PM

Sounds like you need both.
ad.

Subject: BS: Lawn mower versus water entrance valve
From: gnu
Date: 08 May 12 - 03:47 PM

So... this idiot was out mowing the lawn last night. Instead of mowing the lawn next to the sidewalk as he always does, he mowed in the opposite direction. In the usual direction of mowing, the valve stem head is always in the same place and easily seen and avoided. When mowing in the opposite direction, the valve stem head is 1' 2 3/4" closer to the direction of travel (yes, I need glasses).

So, the valve won, dramatically. Neighbours looked out their windows. I inspected the blade and shaft. The blade was mangled on both sides. I couldn't see if the shaft was bent (yes, I need glasses). I fired it up and it was vibrating like a *** but I finished mowing the front lawn.

It's a 4.5 Briggs & Stratton with a shaft (crank, if you want) about 3" long. Of course, a short crank is more difficult to straighten and ANY vibration is "looking for trouble" on something like a mower. What's your call? Buy a new mower? I can get one for $190, tax in, that will do the job... not as nice, but it'll work.

I dunno what the new glasses will cost but surely they are cheaper than buying lawn mowers, eh?