Modern marvel - my lawnmower

[hollohas]

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.

[Irving]

That's how my mower is, except for this year, because the pull cord is messed up, again.

[hollohas]

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.

[Irving]

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.

[MrPrena]

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.

[00tec]

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.

[fitz19d]

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]

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]

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.

[Irving]

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.