View Full Version : Modern marvel - my lawnmower
hollohas
05-02-2021, 18:53
I purchased the cheapest gas lawnmower I could find when I bought my first house 12 years ago. It was $119. A Briggs and Stratton off brand called Bolens. I put oil in it when I unpacked it and not once since. It lives outside, uncovered and completely exposed to the elements year-round. I don't empty the gas at the end of the season nor at the beginning of the next. I sharpen the blades once a year, I've cleaned the air filter twice and I replaced the spark plug once two years ago.
I got it out yesterday for the first mow of the season. Topped it off with kinda fresh gas that's been sitting in my garage who knows how long (I do use stabil). Pumped the priming bulb 4 times and it started FIRST pull. Starts first pull every time I use it This thing is a small engine marvel of engineering.
That's how my mower is, except for this year, because the pull cord is messed up, again.
hollohas
05-02-2021, 19:06
Nice.
Seems like everyone I know has major problems with their gas mowers. No matter how well they maintain them or winterize them.
I thought I had some sort of miracle mower.
I have the exact same story, except my mower was old and a neighbor gave it to me when I moved in about 7 years ago. I do put some Stabil in the past tank and run it dry though, except last year.
As long as people do basic maintenance such as Oil, Air, plug, it should last longer. I bought cheap Lowes Bragg Stratton around 2010, and works great even now.
I have unfucked enough carburetors now that I buy ethanol free fuel for anything around the house. The lobbyists that are paid by corn farmers can eat it.
And here i can't even tell the difference between mulching blade and the normal one. Not sure how easy to sharpen or get done cheap, still works but bet itd start to blog in heavy grass less.
hollohas
05-02-2021, 20:11
As long as people do basic maintenance such as Oil, Air, plug, it should last longer. I bought cheap Lowes Bragg Stratton around 2010, and works great even now.That's my point. I bought it in 2009 and don't really do any of that.
Oil = never.
Air filter = I've swished it around in gas to clean it twice.
Plug = replaced the original after 10 years.
Still runs like a champ. Although the priming bulb might not make it through this season. It's pretty brittle after sitting in the sun that long.
We might have the same mower. Mine came from Lowes too.
Now, trimmers are a different story for me. Those damn things suck. If I didn't have the motorized starter accessory, mine would never start. I have to give my gas trimmer a bunch of TLC every year and cross my fingers it will start every week. So this year I switched to a battery powered trimmer. Only used it once, but I have to stay, so much nicer. Quieter. Smoother. Start/stop on demand. I'm a convert.
Bailey Guns
05-02-2021, 21:39
Some machines are like that. I have a Stihl 029 Farm Boss that was in the barn when we bought our second Bailey house in 2000. From the looks of it, it was in there several years before we acquired it. I think I changed the plug before I tried to start it the first time after buying the house...don't recall. But basically I put the fuel mixture in, flip the choke switch and pull the cord. It always starts in a pull or two. Always. I can't even begin to remember how many chains I've worn out with that saw.
Some machines are like that. I have a Stihl 029 Farm Boss that was in the barn when we bought our second Bailey house in 2000. From the looks of it, it was in there several years before we acquired it. I think I changed the plug before I tried to start it the first time after buying the house...don't recall. But basically I put the fuel mixture in, flip the choke switch and pull the cord. It always starts in a pull or two. Always. I can't even begin to remember how many chains I've worn out with that saw.
My hunting podcast occasionally tells a story of a guy that cut his leg while using a chain saw in the woods. He ended up in the ER and the next day when the son went out to the woods to retrieve the gear, the chainsaw was sitting on the forest floor still putting away.
Circuits
05-02-2021, 21:50
basic small gasoline engines are a very mature technology. If you don't try to complicate them, and take modest and reasonable care, they'll keep running - though they're nowhere near as clean, quiet or efficient as more modern engines.
The motorcycle space can demonstrate how complicated you can make a small gasoline engine in the name of pollution control, power to weight ratio and fuel efficiency.
That's my point. I bought it in 2009 and don't really do any of that.
Oil = never.
Air filter = I've swished it around in gas to clean it twice.
Plug = replaced the original after 10 years.
Still runs like a champ. Although the priming bulb might not make it through this season. It's pretty brittle after sitting in the sun that long.
We might have the same mower. Mine came from Lowes too.
Now, trimmers are a different story for me. Those damn things suck. If I didn't have the motorized starter accessory, mine would never start. I have to give my gas trimmer a bunch of TLC every year and cross my fingers it will start every week. So this year I switched to a battery powered trimmer. Only used it once, but I have to stay, so much nicer. Quieter. Smoother. Start/stop on demand. I'm a convert.
I believe I paid 119 ish as well. If yours came from Lowes, it is most likely the same one.
I think once every 3 year is usually more than enough to maintain those budget (but decent) lawn mower running for 10+ years.
BTW, i just take the filter to car wash places to vacuum the dirt out. :D
Paid $30 back in 2000 for a programmable thermostat. Spent about an hour installing it in the wife?s grandpas house. Got the mower as payment. It was a few years old by then.
Yep. B&S engine. Burns oil now and needs topping off at beginning of season now. But fairly sure I ran it a few seasons before remembering the oil last year. Did only one oil change on it. Starts well and is not winterized. Going to run it into the ground and then probably buy an electric.
But do yourself a favor. Sharpen the blade and inspect it yearly. For one it works so much better and your grass will recover faster. And inspection will help you find the huge nicks that can cause problems.
I've never sharpened a blade and would like to see the difference.
Probably cheaper to just buy a new blade for ~$10.
hollohas
05-03-2021, 06:21
I have a little attachment for my Dremel to sharpen the blade. Works good and don't have to remove the blade.
ruthabagah
05-03-2021, 07:17
I got my first lawn mower forfree when I bought a house in 2002. It died a sudden death last fall, after 18 years of hard labor and little maintenance.... Just bought an electric one, I know it won't last that long but damn its quiet and convenient!
The last time I inspected the blade I decided to swap it out due to some chunks missing from the blade. So I put the blade on upside down....after the cutting season I decided to sharpen it up because it was cutting like crap. No need to sharpen the blade, I put it back the right way. It pretty much shows you that a large enough motor will even cut grass with the dullest of blades.
After a nice tune up the lawn mower is working right as rain...oil change+new plug+new air filter + new primer bulb + lube on the drive components. And yes, the lawn does look a lot better not being hacked to death, and it is a bit easier to start. I figured after 10 year it was past time to do more than toss a tarp over the lawn mower for the winter months.
StagLefty
05-03-2021, 08:16
I started running a stabil/gas mixture in the mower gas can a few years ago and store it without draining the tank or running it dry. Starts every year on the 1st pull.
BladesNBarrels
05-03-2021, 08:23
We converted the back yard from lawn to natural landscaping and large flagstones about 6 years ago.
The front has a small patch of grass that my daughter mows for us.
The mower was from Home Depot in 2009 and we didn't winterize, change oil, or clean the air filter.
It is really hard to start and I told her I would get a battery operated mower for the small area in the front.
She is stubborn - she glares and yells at the mower and it starts for her after 6-10 pulls.
I can only shrug and say whenever you are ready for a new mower. She just shakes her head.
I mostly use a manual mower for my small yards. You have to stay on top of the grass with that thing though because it doesn't handle tall grass well.
Aloha_Shooter
05-03-2021, 08:40
I use an electric lawnmower but thanks for the reminder to sharpen the blades.
I hit a mailbox post that had been flush cut. (I didnt know ot was there FTR) Sacrificial pin didnt sacrifice so my crankshaft bent. 12 yo. Still runs like a champ but will give you carpal tunnel in 15 minutes or mix paint in 5. I probably should be getting another one...
My next mower will probably be cordless electric, but if I ever end up using another gas mower, I am going to drill start it.
Count the number of double entendre this joker uses in his video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tO3Z24wgd1Y
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