Repaired my lawnmower today...

[choppingwood]

I turned my lawnmower over this week to clear some long grass caught up in the wheels and the lawn mower stopped working. Apparently the carburetor got clogged.

Looked it up on the internet. It said I probably needed a new air filter and that I needed to top up the oil and possible wipe off the spark plug.

When I took the air filter out, it stunk of gas, so I assumed that was the problem. Checked the two stores in the village that sell air filters for lawn mowers and found one that was a decent match. Installed it, topped up the oil with 4 stroke engine oil. Pulled the lawn mower cord once. Vroom, said the lawn mower.

Apparently, you are supposed to turn the lawn mower over away from the air filter/carburetor. In the city, I would have called the lawn mower fixit guy, who would have charged me $70 plus $10 each for pick-up and drop-off, and I would have had to listen to him tell me off for having turned over the lawn mower, without my knowing what to do in future. I feel more independent, though I am really just more internet dependent.

[Hummer]

That's great. Now you should upgrade to an engine free lawnmower... :) I like mine, the best part is it's so quiet. I am starting to detest noise pollution from all my neighbors lawn mowers.

[choppingwood]

That's great. Now you should upgrade to an engine free lawnmower... :) I like mine, the best part is it's so quiet. I am starting to detest noise pollution from all my neighbors lawn mowers.

I did have one for awhile, when I had a much smaller lawn. I liked the idea if it, but it gave a really uneven cut. I think I hadn't gone for as good a lawn mower as I needed.

The plan on this property is to replace parts of the lawn with something more constructive, like food producing plants, and some recreation space. And I remind myself not to go out and mow the lawn when my neighbours are outside enjoying the summer, especially on weekend evenings and early Sunday mornings. (I'm waiting another hour this morning, though it is supposed to get hot today.)

[forummm]

Nice DIY.

With my electric mower I don't have to deal with air filters, gas, spark plugs, etc. You should try one out sometime. I use a 100 foot cord and I've had it 5 years. Good deal.

[choppingwood]

With my electric mower I don't have to deal with air filters, gas, spark plugs, etc. You should try one out sometime. I use a 100 foot cord and I've had it 5 years.

I had one with a 50 ft cord when I had a smaller lot. I loved that it started every time. I didn't love managing the cord, but I agree that its a great pick for simplicity's sake.

I don't think I could physically manage the cord for this lot. It also has some patches that are normally very wet for the first five or six weeks of the season, and I don't want to be dragging electric cords around those patches.

At this point, I have also promised myself that I am going to master small engines; they are not going to master me. Though I'm never, never going to be someone who tinkers around with them for fun.

PS I once had an office garage sale (where I left a list of things for sale on the lunchroom table). The list included a few lawnmowers. One of the guys at the office said, "You just go buy a lawnmower when you can't get the one you have to work, don't you?" Guilty as charged.

[GlobeTrttr]

The simpler the machine, the easier it is to fix. 

I'm using a gas-powered push mower I bought as a 15 year old in the late 90s to mow neighbors' grass for cash.  Deck and motor housing a bit rusty but runs solid.  Just sharpen the blade, change the oil, spark plug, and air filter once a season and run it until it burns so much oil that the rings are fouled up - that's when it's time to scrap it.

[forummm]

With my electric mower I don't have to deal with air filters, gas, spark plugs, etc. You should try one out sometime. I use a 100 foot cord and I've had it 5 years.

I had one with a 50 ft cord when I had a smaller lot. I loved that it started every time. I didn't love managing the cord, but I agree that its a great pick for simplicity's sake.

I don't think I could physically manage the cord for this lot. It also has some patches that are normally very wet for the first five or six weeks of the season, and I don't want to be dragging electric cords around those patches.

At this point, I have also promised myself that I am going to master small engines; they are not going to master me. Though I'm never, never going to be someone who tinkers around with them for fun.

PS I once had an office garage sale (where I left a list of things for sale on the lunchroom table). The list included a few lawnmowers. One of the guys at the office said, "You just go buy a lawnmower when you can't get the one you have to work, don't you?" Guilty as charged.

Your cord should be double insulated. The wires inside and the coating around them. And you should be on a GFCI circuit since it's outdoors. It should be fine if the ground is wet. And I wouldn't cut crass in standing water--that would be a pain no matter the method.

I move the cord to a certain area and then just walk up and down with it trailing behind me a bit. I'm not dragging the whole 100 feet around with me. I don't think it's much extra effort.