Best Lawnmower: 2014-02-23

Sabtu, 01 Maret 2014

Please help - I cut my Emerald Zoysia lawn way too short. How can I help it recover?

Jetset

I just bought a house with Emerald Zoysia. I had a rotary mower but traded it in for a reel mower. The first day I had the new mower I cut the lawn way to short. The back of my lawn has a pretty significant slope and now nearly half of the lawn is brown. I guess I scalped a lot of it. It's been about a week since I mowed it last and in some areas the grass is growing, but the brown areas are not growing. What should I do? I bought Weed and Feed but haven't been able to put it out yet. Please help because I love this lawn and don't want to ruin it! Will it recover?

Thanks!

Answer
The good news is that it's going to grow back. It looks ugly when brown, true, but it will grow green again. Next time, leave it at least 3" tall and plan to mow it weekly. Best if you bag the clippings, too, IMHO.

Emerald Zoysia produces an excessive thatch layer and will need to be thatched at least once a year.

It does make a beautiful lawn!

I'm planting zoysia grass in Georgia, and my original lawn has a lot of weeds (real fat leaves).?

linktoterr

Will the new plugs kill out the weeds or can i use weed killer on the weeds while the zoisia is trying to take root and grow?

Answer
Make sure the label reads "kills the weeds and not the lawn" before you spray. That grass is pretty hard to mow. It's hard to push anything with wheels through it. I use a self propelled walk behind mower for part of mine and the rest of the half acre I use a riding mower. The roots are deeper than other grass and also very thick and tough. I never water mine.

lawn mower mulcher door problem?

peace...an

the torsion spring came loose from the plastic door. how do i get it back on?

Answer
you have to examine the particular hinge you have and try to figure it out. What you often see in that situation is the plastic breaks and can't hold the spring in place any longer. What I do when that happens is get some self tapping screws, or predrill a hole in each corner of the door and the mower deck and install some short regular sheet metal screws screws to hold it in place. Be sure they are not so long that they come anywhere near the blade as it rotates.

Do all side discharge mowers also mulch?

Lipiew

I'm looking at push lawn mowers, specifically a Poulan from Valu. They all have side discharge but i'm looking for a mower that just mulches straight down onto the ground. Do you think even though it dischages to the side you can cover that so it does not.

Also what is ADA Compliant

and what kind of oil do mowers take 2 stroke or 30W

Answer
Some side discharge mowers double as mulchers but others do not have the cover to make them mulchers. Some mulching mowers don't have any discharge chute and can only be used as mulchers or rear baggers.

The only ADA I know of is the Americans with disabilities act but I can't see how that would apply to push lawnmowers.

As far as I know all mowers now have 4 stroke engines and use 10W-30 oil. The 2 stroke mowers have been killed by EPA rules about emissions.

Toro makes mowers that can mulch, side discharge and bag the clippings. I don't know if the Poulan is that versatile.

Info on antique lawn mower .MONO.?

GAH

Hi,I was given a 3 wheel aluminum deck push mower that's been in storage for many years.It says on the deck MONO and has a side sitting motor and belt that runs to the spindle in a cover.the little round gas tank says brigs and straton on the side and the plate says model "N".
Any info will be appreciated.age value.rarity history etc...
Thank You.

Answer
May be cool looking but they are not very valuable, not many people collect lawn mowers.

Antique lawn mower value?

holy_bacon

My step dad recently got a Benton Duzmore that's from the 60's. How much would it be worth? Estimates are fine. Thank you

Answer
Garage sale, $10.

Burning oil in Lawn mower.?

balls

So I just got a lawn mower on craigslist, and I fixed it and now it is running good. But the one problem is it is emitting blue smoke, which means it is burning oil.

It is about 100 degrees here, and I used 10W-30 instead of the recommended 30SAE motor oil when it is over 40 degrees outside. Do you think this may be the reason it is burning oil, and maybe not my rings? Also there was oil on the air filter from the breather tube, do you think the oil from that is going through the carburetor and then its burning that?

Answer
Big Guy is right. However, I would suggest you pour in an egg-cup full of SeaFoam into the cylinder via the spark plug hole and let it sit for 24 hours. This will un-stick a stuck ring and clean out the valve seats too when you eventually pull on the cord.

50 years fixing small and large mower engines.

what happens if i put vegeteble oil in a lawn mower engine?

in the crankcase

Answer
you will destroy the engine. Veggie oil is not made to withstand the friction of a combustible engine and the pistons will first overheat, then expand, then crack the cylinder walls finally causing the engine to seize. Other than that, not much

What type of lawn mower do you recommend?

Q. I have a small back yard (20' x 30') and love the way the grass looks once it has been cut with a gas lawn mower. However, I want to get rid of the gas mower and considering a reel or electric mower. Would the reel mower give it the same look as the gas mower does? I have Zoysia grass. Opinions?? Thanks!

Answer
I highly recommend a McLane 17" front throw reel mower. With the grass catcher. http://buyapushmower.com/2009/12/21/mclane-17-inch-7-blade-front-throw-17-ph-7/
I've been using mine for over 7 years and is without a doubt the best reel mower out there. Easy to push and maintain. I Never use a rotary mower on zoysia grass. I own a maintenance company and only mow properties with Bermuda, zoysia, or paspalum grasses. It's perfect for areas I can't get a heavy mower into. My zoysia grass is maintained at 350 mm.
You will be able to get a closer, or lower elevated cut on your zoysia, which in my opinion looks better. You will be able to scalp your grass at the lowest setting to dethatch your lawn when needed also.
The first few cuts will be a learning experience and there will be bald spots on any areas where the soil is not level under the grass. Rolling it will solve that problem.

should i burn my zoysia lawn in the winter?

william h

Answer
It used to be quite common to burn dormant lawns during the winter. It is not done very much anymore because of the danger of the fire getting out of control. Nowadays most people "scalp" Bermuda and Zoysia lawns. That entails cutting the lawn very low, to about half an inch in height. It is best to cut off only a max of about 1 1/2" at one time. If your dormant lawn is 3 1/2" tall then partially lower it in at least two different sessions instead of trying to cut off all 3" in one cut. I would do the first cut now and the next one in March. Or do three cuts of 1". Catch and remove the clippings each time.
If your Zoysia lawn is more than three or four years old, you may need to dethatch it. This is done with a piece of equipment called a vertical mower or verticutter. This should be done in June or July when the Zoysia is growing the most actively.

Jumat, 28 Februari 2014

how do you set the timing on a lawn mower?

Answer
You set the valve timing by lining up the spots on the timing gears when re-assembling the motor,.... its all but foolproof.
You set the ignition timing by making SURE the key way and the square key and the slot on the flywheel all line up exactly......again, almost foolproof.
The embedded magnet(s) in the flywheel pass the induction coil magnet and that charges the coil, and shoots the spark to the plug....

With the proper stoichiometric fuel ratio, the engine will run.

More lawn mower help?

Rob

I recently hydro-locked my lawn tractor, and I got it running again, i burnt off the excess oil in the system however, the motor doesnt seem to be running right. its acting as if its running out of gas (the rpms going up and down, pulsating really) it doesnt shut off, but it acts up and in low gears it jerks you as it gains and looses power, is there something i forgot to do? I cleaned the plugs drained the carb, air filter and all that.

Answer
Open the gas cap on your push mower. Tilt the lawn mower to empty the gas tank. Set the mower upright and fill the gas tank with new gas. For riding mowers, use a siphon tube with a hand pump to drain out the gasoline. Start the mower
Go to the carburetor and find the idle adjustment screw, Turn the screw to the left one-half turn. Start the lawn mower. If the idle is still too high, turn the adjustment screw one-eighth turn counterclockwise. If the mower idles too low, turn the adjustment screw one-eighth turn clockwise.

Also did you turn the engine over without the spark plug in to remove any excess fluid? Keep the engine running and pull the throttle cable back to allow the engine too burn any more oil away effecting the carburetor, if that doesn't work its time to move on to a carb rebuild.

Best of luck- BTW I strongly believe that the problem now lies with the carburetor , as you said you originally got it running after I told you the procedure how to get rid of the hydro lock condition

Poll Can a Snowman get work mowing lawns in Canada ...?

Ronatnyu

.... I hear its pretty cool up there.

Answer
Don't know aboot snowmen mowing lawns, but a lawn mower certainly woold take a job in Canada, eh? Lots of grass there, I hear. How far up do you have to go to enjoy snow all year long? I'm already sick of this heat and humidity.
.

craftsman lawn mower operating basics?

dncer228

ok so my fiance is in canada until Monday on a fishing trip and the grass in our backyard is as tall as my head (and i'm 5"1) lol!! my kids can't even play outside until I clean the yard up.

I want to surprise him and cut the grass myself. now i'm not an idiot so I know that I have to pull start it (gas mower).

it's a craftsman eagle one 6.5 mower. my dad taught me how to mow the grass when I was about 13 so I kind of know what I'm doing.

our mower doesn't have a bag on it so I won't have to worry about emptying it. it has a pull bar and an engine engage switch-what are these used for?

i'm assuming the pull bar is to lift the blades up when going over sidewalks,porches,etc. but not sure. and i'm pretty sure the engage switch is to put the mower into drive.

a little basic instruction would be greatly appreciated!!!
if we had the manual, i wouldn't have to ask the question (but thank you)

and the pull bar isn't loose

Answer
Read the manual.
The pull bar is a safety the mower will not run with it loose.

lawn tractor parts?

doielgary

i need parts for a frigidaire lawn tractor sold under quality it is a model q185h46b 18.5 hp 46 inch lawn tractor i need a clutch cable part number 170328

Answer
$31.00 at http://www.jackssmallengines.com/tractorparts_index.html

Look down right hand side of page to lawn mower parts data base and search for you part number under Sears or without a manufacturer. Made by Yard America. It will come up as a clutch cable #170328

Has anyone used the Huskee Supreme Blade 46" on their Huskee lawn mower/tractor?

David D

Hi everyone!

I'm thinking about buying the Huskee Supreme Blade 46" from Tractor Supply for my Huskee 42" rider, but I'm worried about the quality and performance since it's such a light-duty unit. I need to level out some areas of my yard (which has LOOSE dirt and soil) and I want to scrape down other areas of my side yard to remove vines and light brush so I can seed with grass.

I didn't know if the combination of the Huskee tractor and blade would be strong enough to scrape the top layer of leaves and grass and dirt to level it all out. I know it's not a dozer, or grader, or plow truck, but for $350 I thought it might be a sound investment if it worked.

If anyone has used this combination, or similar, I'd appreciate the assistance!! THANK YOU ALL!

-Dave

Answer
the tractor is too small to do too much with the blade.

Can I shovel snow with my riding lawn mower?

Jamaal

I don't have a shovel on it but can I still shovel snow btw I live in PA. and it' snowing bad.

Answer
Not efficiently. The plow blade is what actually pushes the snow away. You might be able to do a little bit without the plow attachment, but you also run the risk of ruining your lawn mower due to excessive use of the motor and transmission and water damage from the snow. You could try it, but you might be better off just buying a snow plow attachment. Living in PA, Iâm sure you will be able to use it for years to come. Below is some options from Snapper just in case you need an idea on whatâs out there.

do all craftsman plows fit all craftsman mowers?

Christophe

i have a fairly new craftsman mower and i want a plow for it but i dont know what kind of plow to put on it

Answer
A plow to PUSH things like snow or piles of sand, or a plow that pulls behind the tractor to dig the ground up for a garden ( bottom plow)? Use the model number on your tractor to search for the right plow for it here:
http://www.craftsman.com/shc/s/search_10155_12602?vName=Lawn+%26+Garden&keyword=plow+blade&sLevel=0&redirectType=SKIP_LEVEL&prop17=plow%20blade

www.ebay.com

Why will a lawn mower, foul it's spark plug?

Hartter

I have an old mower that keeps fouling it's plug. I have stripped the motor down, but do not understand how all the oil is reaching the plug. There looks to be a small groove in the piston head, but looks machined. Possible, that i need new rings? Also i do not see where gaskets come into play between piston and plug. So it would almost have to be the rings. I think but do not know.

Answer
Piston rings do not seal completely. They are open ended by design. When the engine is off oil can leak past the rings and into the cylinder area. The engine is designed so that when the mower is level the oil (if at it's proper level) will stay in the pan BUT if the mower is a an angle toward the head, the oil can and will run into the cylinder. Every year people wind up taking their mowers into the shop for oil in the head after the hung the mower up from a wall or shoved it into a corner at an angle.
Yes, bad rings could cause oil fouling but would more likely cause excessive blow by and thus oil out the breather system or seals. Stuck rings could do that too, while it is apart make sure to clean the ring grooves so the rings float freely.

Worn valve stem/guide could cause oil to be sucked through the guide and into the engine but would also allow the valve to not seat well and loss of power.

Another question is, how do you know it is the oil fouling the plug? A carb set too rich due to leaky/worn carb parts could also cause plug fouling.

If this mower is precious to you, put new rings, connecting rod, valves, guides, grind the valve seats and don't forget new gaskets and seals.

How do i remove the spark plug from my lawn mower?

Jacob

I have a OLD lawnmower and i bought it from jensen and pilgard all it says in trimmer on it and its red and green and theres a white wire were the motor is how do i remove it

Answer
Remove the connector on the end of the plug. If the plug looks to be rusty, give it a shot of WD-40 & let it sit for about 1/2 hour. It would be good to already have a spark plug wrench and a small wire/brass brush.

The brush with the wd-40 can clean up the plug if necessary. Then take your plug wrench on a ratchet & give it one quick turn counter clockwise. If you feel it loosen...continue in that direction. If you don't feel it break loose, turn it once quickly clockwise, then repeat in counter direction. Back & forth until you feel it loosen.

You do not want to force it hard in either direction past the once quick motion. Doing so can cause the ceramic core to fracture & break & then you really have a big mess on your hands.

In instances like this...brute force is not your friend. Once quick...one way then the other until you can easily unscrew it counter clockwise. I cannot stress this enough.

What is wrong with my lawn tractor? 1981 statesman 18hp?

chich

I have a little trouble staring it. I have to hook it to my truck battery to get it to turn over enough to start. After it starts and warms up it acts like it is over heating and looses power in all 4 gears when it is taking off and when i am going up the least little hill. It does alright on completely level ground. I have changed the oil and put new spark plugs in it and have cleaned out from around the heads and the fly wheel and it still looses power. What could be wrong with it???

Answer
You have two separate problems. Having to jump start it indicates a bad battery (is the battery the same age as the tractor?), or charging system. The power loss when it gets warm sounds like a bad ignition coil or breaker points. A weak ignition will be more evident under a load. You may also have a fuel flow problem, which again shows up under load. A restricted fuel filter, debris in the float valve or even the carburetor jets. A dirty air filter will cause the engine to smoke but you didn't mention that as a symptom. One last thing. Make sure the engine governor linkage is able to move freely. If the governor can't open when a load is place on the engine, you will get the same symptoms.

I have a Craftsman riding lawn tractor, a Lt1000 auto trans but it only has reverse gear?

Rod G

It has no forward gears, won't move forward, but does have reverse,,What could be causing this problem ?? Thanks in advance, Rod

Answer
1. Be certain that the amount of oil you added and the oil SAE is correct (10W / 30W) - It is possible you have air trapped somewhere in the transmission or if the amount of oil is inadequate the pump may be cavitating, (pulling air).

2. Check the shift linkage and be certain that the adjustment is correct. The second season for my tractor I noticed that the forward speed was dropping off and I changed the linkage to provide greater range of movement on the control arm located on the transmission. If your model is like mine you will notice that the transmission shift linkage arm (on the transmission) has 2 location holes for the shift linkage rod. The factory installation uses the hole farthest away from the pivot point for the control arm which minimizes the movement and thereby the forward and reverse speeds. I moved the shift linkage to the inside hole on the transmission shift control arm and the speed, especially forward, was back to its' perky self. Prior to moving the linkage arm, the shift knob would hit the limit of the Z slot and limit speed. Now the shift know does not bottom out, rather, the shift control in the transmission limits the movement of the shifter knob. No doubt now that the shifter is requesting full forward from the transmission.

3. Check the linkage to be sure that when you place the shift into forward that the dump valve is not engaging somehow. The dump valve is associated with the brake and is used to regulate pressure in the transmission to achieve a clutch effect. If you have noticed, when you have the transmission in full forward (normally working transmission) and the throttle full, you can ease off the brake and the tractor will gradually increase the forward speed as you continue to release the brake to full off positing. This is accomplished through a linkage tie into the transmission to push down what appears to be a little plunger or button on the transmission. It is also possible that the little plunger is sticking. keep in mind that the hydraulic force needed to move in reverse may not be as much as for forward due to internal gearing. In other words, your hydraulic pressure may be low in general and only showing its' ugly head in forward.

4. Can your tractor back-up a hill with authority? If it can then you may have an internal leak in the forward side of the internal system.

Kamis, 27 Februari 2014

review of a walker brand lawn mower for cutting lawns?

jeffrey r

i am interested in buying a lawn mower for starting lawn business i looked at walker brand with grass catcher and also a x mark navagator with the same features can any one tell me what one they would buy and why

Answer
I have used Walker mowers for about 15 years. I love them. I know them inside and out, every nut, bolt, sensor, pulley and wire. I know nothing about the Navigator except that Exmark mowers are widely used in the business and they designed the machine to include the features that Walkers have always had. That brings this line to mind: "Why buy the copy when you can have the real thing?"
Walker has been refining that design since 1982? or so. They have learned alot about that design and have slowly introduced new features that have greatly improved on the original design. Today's Walker mower is light years ahead of the original in terms of productivity and durability. Last year they upgraded the GHS blower that sucks up the clippings and that has, once again, transformed the machine. Now it can move through heavier grass even faster than before and can handle wet grass even better.
The Exmark does have alot of plastic on it that the Walker doesn't have. The Exmark sits taller than the Walker which is a big deal. First, when you sit closer to the grass you are way more aware of the cut quality. You will know if you need to sharpen your blades or clean out your deck right away when you are that close to the grass and you can lean over and pick up sticks and trash and rocks. Plus you can mow under low hanging limbs easier if you are lower and can mow hills better because the center of gravity is lower.
The 26 EFI machine with the large bagger, a 48" deck is the commercial standard in Southern Maine and most of New England. It is THE machine to have and I believe customers expect to see it. Get the power dump feature and you will thank yourself a hundred times a day. There also is a high dump feature that lifts the bagger high and then dumps into a truck. That looks great too.
Test both machines but remember that the correct tool may be harder to use the first time using it but when you train yourself to use it properly you will be better off than buying the machine that is easier the first time out but limited in capability long term.
Enjoy...

Self propelled lawn mowers?

Gnann

I am in the market for a walk-behind, self-propelled mower. The key is self-propelled. I need something that will pulled up the slopes in my yard. Every review I've seen does not address the power of the self-propelled function.

Would appreciate any recommendations.

Answer
go with a gear type transmition, even if it has a smaller engine it should be able to go up any hill that should be mowed! friction based systems will probably slip and as for as front or rear drive, go with rear drive for hills, the weightis mostly on the rear so they shouldnt slip as much ! if its not too big of a hill you might consider a weed whacker they cost about one third or less, (as cheap as 59.99 at walmart for gas powered) than a self propelled lawn mower, although it takes some practice to make it look like a mowed lawn, its much safer!

Coupons or deals for a lawn mower?

Boston Fan

I want to buy this lawn mower http://www.lowes.com/lowes/lkn?action=productDetail&productId=303527-270-TB240&lpage=none or one like it. I was wondering if any of you knew where I could get a coupon (besides the 10% off one from the post office) or a deal from somewhere else for a good mower.

Answer
try Sears

riding lawn mower questions?

guitarlove

I looking to buy a new riding lawn mower from sears and theres two im intersted in.I will be using it to cut the grass and drive around are neighborhood.the one is 21hp and has an oil pump and I dont know what this means but it says it has infinate gearing. the other one doesnt have a oil pump and is 20hp smaller and uses 6 gears. which one is better? and what does infinate speed mean?

Answer
my father and I own a lawn service and we have a craftsman rider. It is a very nice mower. We have the 21 hp briggs and stratton with the oil filter! Runs awsome. this is our third year with it and I can say this is the best we've owned. for sure go with the oil filter system ( longer engine life ) infinate gearing is the hydro trans. no gears just go as slow or as fast as you want no specific gears to put it into. I have the 6 speed gears. but wish i had the other. I hear it's nice! if you have any more ? shoot me an E mail I'll help as much as I can!!

How to put in a lawn mower bag?

Emmanuel R

I have a bolens side discharge lawn mower, & I'm trying to mow my lawn but I don't know how to get this bag in, it's opening is way smaller then any other bags I have ever had, plus it's a side discharge, if you guys know any videos that would help or know exactly what I'm dealing with please help, thank you.

Answer
Look to the manufacturer for what to do. Do it on-line.
Are you sure it's the right bag and just as important are you sure that mower is made for a bag.
You just cant make a mower into one that holds the grass if it's not already capable of doing that.

Electric Earthwise Corded Lawn Mower manual?

Rey franci

Do you happen to know where I can get the manual of this from?

Answer
Contact the manufacturer. Earthwise mowers are manufactured by

Website: https://www.reelin.com/
American Lawn Mower Co.
P. O. Box 369
Shelbyville, IN
46176
Consumer Hotline: 1-800-633-1501
Email: Sales@reelin.com

How to time a honda lawn tractor..?

princess =

a liquid cooled 2-cylinder over head valve.
its for my grandpa so asap plzz
kthnxx

Answer
difficult to answer your question without a engine model number. repost your question with a model, type and serial number and i can help you. i am a honda engine dealer. i also take it you are talking about ignition timing or are you asking about value timing?

what is the value of my lawn tractor?

Eric

model lt1024 cub cadet 24hp 450hours very good condition

Answer
Beats me. Make believe you are trying to buy one, check on Craigslist and your local Want Advertiser, see what others are asking, and price yours accordingly.

Australia: Can anyone recommend a good lawn mower 'edger'?

Peter H

Just a middle-range one, not particularly expensive.
Preferably one you actually use that is good.
Aka a 'whipper snipper' or lawn 'trimmer' or something - I DON'T KNOW... just looking for a good brand name

Answer
I have a "Little Wonder" which were/are put out by MTD; a large Mower etc Dealer. Were made in USA and plenty of parts available if you need but rarely have any trouble. If you need it to cut back edges along paths etc it's the best one I have used, better the VICTA and most other edgers. I have 620ft of edging (in my old language) to do every now and then. Easy to use and a cinch to maintain. If you're looking for a Whipper Snipper go for a "Styll" brand and don't waste your money on the cheaper brands that are available in Bunnings and the like. Talk to a trusted mower repair shop proprietor if you know of one, as they can normally in all honesty, can tell you what brands they recommend and what cheaper brands to stay away from as most aren't repairable etc. Be careful if you're looking for an electric 240vAC one as they are in my mind not worth the bother of having to run out 50ft of lead etc, they are also too dangerous in my mind as an Electrician as you can cut the power lead easily and that adds a risk to life if you don't have an earth leakage circuit breaker or similar to save you from bigger problems, even so these electric ones are in some cases claimed to be "Double Insulated" etc. I personally wouldn't take the risk having seen some of "their" Double Insulated methods.

what ratio of oil to gas should I use for a 2-stroke lawn mower?

Mike

I got a lawn mower from a second hand shop, so I don't have any documentation on my lawn mower, what do 2 stoke engines typically use?

Answer
It was 25 to one for all the 2 stroke victa lawn mowers made where i am.

Questions and answers about this item
Q: Hey, does this lawn mower use fuel to operate please. Is it fully functional with no problems, just signs of use etc. cheers
A: Yes it uses 25:1 ratio regular petrol mixed with 2 stroke oil. Yes it is fully functional doesn't need anything but fuel to start mowing your lawn. Thanks

craftsman mulcher mower?

shrimp1964

how do i drop the blades to cut the grass a little shorter without taking it apart? there's levers on the wheels but i don't know what they're for and not sure which direction to push them. it's a 6.0 21" mulcher mower

Answer
Pull out on the levers and it will drop the mower down or raise it up. Do this on all 4 wheels.
http://www.ehow.com/how_5920688_raise-wheels-lawn-mower.html
http://www.gardenguides.com/85802-raise-wheels-toro-lawn-mower.html

Lawn mower problems!?

jesse-w---

Ok im only 14 i couldent find anywhere that would let a 14 year old work and i found a lawn mower our neighbors threw out so i decided to go around mowing yards. i changed the oil, carburator, gas, air cleaner, fuel line, spark plug, and pull rope. It was running good but yesterday i was working on it and the only way to get it to start is to set it to medium throttle and as soon as it starts it shuts off. So i put it at medium throttle again and as soon as it starts you have to switch it to full throttle. i dont get it, it shouldent be run ning like this, BTW its a craftsman 22" mulcher push mower with a 5.5 horse tecumseh motor.

Answer
What the first answerer was referring to is the primer. It sends a bit of gas into the combustion chamber to coat (or prime) it.

I don't know if you've tried it, but I always start mowers on the lowest possible throttle and then gradually work them up once it's been started. It could be that you are just running too rich or lean on gas. But the carburator should take care of that. Maybe try giving it some more air through the carburator and see if that helps. My old mower used to burn so much gas it was insane. I'd get big clouds of it when i first started it. But it always started on the first pull so I didn't mess with it.

EDIT: another thing i thought of is that some mowers use a gas/oil mixture. And i've seen some weird concentrations. you might want to check on that to see if this one requires anything special like that.

How best to approach a hill with a gas lawn mower?

tigrillen

Part of a lawn I have to mow is on a hill, more precisely a fairly steep short berm. I notice that my gas lawn mower (toro brand, 4 stroke engine) has problems with it and tends to eventually stall and definitely burns more oil. Changing the landscaping to not-lawn is not an option. I am wondering if there are differences if I approach the hill sideways or better from top or bottom? Sorry if that is a stupid question but I am pretty clueless about gas engines in general.

Answer
Hi, tigrillen. Not a stupid question at all. Two things, one being the mower.

Some old Toros actually had an oil pump in the engine, while their standard mowers these days do not. On a steep slope, the new ones may have some oiling issues as a result. I used to keep an older Lawn Boy with a two-stroke running just for this issue. Lacking that option, you might even consider using a line trimmer to keep things neat, rather than a mower (gets pretty good with practice).

Second thing is that approach with a mower. If the slope is steep enough to potentially roll the mower when trying to go across the slope ("traversing"), have to just go up and down. Then the issue is not slipping when coming down and getting your foot under the mower deck. (A relative is missing a couple of toes from doing that.) Don't mow damp turf (i.e., avoid a lawn "water slide"), wear good shoes, and stay a little off to one side. And keep kids and pets well away while doing this.

Lawn mower for a hill?

Q. There's a lake behind my parent's house and the back portion of the lawn slopes down into it. My father has trouble reaching the farthest part of the grass by the water. What kind of lawn mower should he use?

Answer
Id suggest a weedwacker - you dont want to be driving a tractor or using a push mower by the water ( too muddy) .
Kidd

Which brand zero-turn riding mower do you recommend?

Jackie

I have 4 acres of mostly flat lawn to mow. Not many obstacles to mow around besides a large oval shaped pond which is on higher ground so there's a nice slope up to it at the back of the yard.

Answer
A lot of people will tell you to buy a commercial mower since you have a lot of space. Probably not needed. The main difference between a commercial mower and a consumer version is how many hours they expect you to use the machine. Commercial mowers can handle 40 hours a week. They have much thicker steel in their decks and more rugged components. Pretty much overkill for someone mowing their own yard once or twice a week.

Now, with that much space it would be good to get a large deck from a dependable brand. Something that is built by a commercial manufacturer but meant for home owner use. So, a little brother of one of the big ones but still very good and reliable. You'll see Gravely HDs used by a number of startup landscapers but it's a top end home owner unit. Get a big deck to cut down your mowing time and you're good to go. Maybe 60 inches?

fastest zero turn riding lawn mower?

shelly-wal

Answer
Exmark

Rabu, 26 Februari 2014

Honda, John Deere or Snapper for quality self-propelled gas lawn mower?

Craig Lee

I'm looking for a lawn mower for a house I just bought. The total area for the yards is fairly large (over 1/4 acre) and irregularly shaped. So, a corded mower is probably not a good option. Also, I don't think it's really big enough to justify a riding mower. The mower brands that seem to have caught my attention are Honda, John Deere and Snapper. I'm looking for a high end self-propelled gas lawn mower and was looking for any comments on these brands. Thanks for your input.

Answer
Snapper is a proven winner and parts are easy to obtain. John Deere has been around for a long time however, parts and quality can still be 'suspect'.
Honda is a great mower although I recommend pirchasing it from a genuine dealer (instead of Home Depot) as they're just not the same.

Where can i find parts diagrams for Honda lawn mowers?

dee

Answer
Try looking for Honda dealerships on line WWW.Honda Lawn Mowers.com. Or you can look in the yellow pages for Honda dealerships they may be able to help!!!Your lawn mower must have a cereal number on it you'll need that to purchase the right diagrams. Hope this Helps!!!

Why is it that only low quality fat or trashy white girls only date black guys?

Duke

And these stupid black dudes think we jealous were laughing at you, we arent jealous at all. White people > Black people. Only thing you have above us is basketball and football and thats it. But sports does not contribute to mankind so sports do not count. blacks have invented nothing useful and never even had a advanced society in their history. South Africa was basically modernized by white people.

Answer
Are you fucking kidding me? I can't even handle your ignorance & I hope you're just trolling.

Biscuit Cutter A.P. Ashbourne
Super Soaker Lonnie Johnson
Folding Bed L.C. Bailey
Bicycle Frame Issac R. Johnson
Coin Changer James A. Bauer
Space Shuttle Retrieval Arm Wm. Harwell
Rotary Engine Andrew J. Beard
Printing Press W.A. Lavallette
Car Couple Andrew J. Beard
Envelope Seal F.W. Leslie
Letter Box G.E. Becket
Laser Fuels Lester Lee
Stainless Steel Pads Alfred Benjamin
Pressure Cooker Maurice W. Lee
Torpedo Discharger H. Bradberry
Window Cleaner A.L. Lewis
Disposable Syringe Phil Brooks
Pencil Sharpener John L. Love
Home Security System Marie Brown
Fire Extinguisher Tom J. Marshal
Corn Planter Henry Blair Lock W.A. Martin
Cotton Planter Henry Blair
Shoe Lasting Machine Jan Matzeliger
Ironing Board Sarah Boone
Lubricators Elijah McCoy
Horse Bridle Bit L.F.Brown
Rocket Catapult Hugh MacDonald
Horse shoe Oscar E. Brown
Elevator Alexander Miles
Pacemaker Otis Boykin
Gas Mask Garrett Morgan
Guide Missile Otis Boykin
Traffic Signal Garrett Morgan
Lawn Mower John A. Burr
Hair Brush Lyda Newman
Typewriter Burridge & Marshman
Heating Furnace Alice H. Paker
Train Alarm R.A. Butler
Airship J.F.Pickering
Radiation Detector Geo. Carruthers
Folding Chair Purdgy/Sadgwar
Peanut Butter George W. Carver
Hand Stamp W.B. Purvis
Paints & Satins George W. Carver
Fountain Pen W.B. Purvis
Lotion & Soaps George W. Carver
Dust Pan L.P.Ray
Automatic Fishing Reel George Cook
Insect Destroyer Gun A.C. Richardson
Ice cream Mold A.L. Cralle
Baby Buggy W.H. Richardson
Blood Plasma Dr. Charles Drew
Sugar Refinement N. Rillieux
Horse Riding Saddle Wm. D. Davis
Clothes Dryer G.T. Sampson
Shoe W.A. Detiz
Celluar Phone Henry Sampson
Player Piano Joseph Dickinson
Pressing Comb Walter Sammons
Arm for Recording Player Joseph Dickinson
Curtain Rod S.R. Scottron
Lawn Sprinkler J.W. Smith
Automatic Gearshift R.B. Spikes
Photo Print Wash Clatonia J. Dorticus
Urinalysis Machine Dewey Sanderson
Photo Embossing Machine Clatonia J. Dorticus
Hydraulic Shock Absorber Ralph Sanderson
Postal Letter Box P.B. Dowing
Refrigerator J. Standard
Toilet T. Elkins Mop T.W. Stewart
Furniture Caster David A. Fisher
Stairclimbing Wheelchair Rufus J. Weaver
Guitar Robert Flemming ,Jr
Helicopter Paul E. Williams
Golf Tee George F. Grant
Fire Escape Ladder J.B. Winters
Motor J. Gregory
Telephone Transmitter Granville T. Woods
Lantern Micheal Harney
Electric Cutoff Switch Granville T. Woods
Thermo Hair Curlers Soloman Harper
Gas Burner B.F. Jackson
Telephone System Granville T. Woods
Kitchen Table H.A. Jackson
Video Commander Joseph N. Jackson
Electric Raillway System Granville T. Woods
Remote Controllers Joseph N. Jackson
Roller Coaster Granville T. Woods
Auto Air Brake Granville T. Woods

Those are only some of the things black people have invented. Those don't seem useful to you? They have advanced our society tremendously. Only ignorant people like you bring it back. And black people date all kinds of other people. "Low quality, fat, trashy white girls" is an awful stereotype, that's not true.

The lack of intelligence you possess is really dis-concerting.

Is this version of events the most likely scenario had McCain-Palin won in 2008?

Mike Nicel

For starters, it would be President Palin to whom you refer, following that little accident involving the lawn mower, a confused Sarah Palin and a very drunk President-for-five-days John McCain in the Rose Garden.

President Palin's first act would have been to launch a space ship to the moon to check out rumors that the craters are full of crack. First Dude Levi Johnston (First First Dude Todd Palin had that awful accident involving the lawn mower at the VP's residence, remember?) provided President Palin with some hot inside information on that one. President Palin's second act was to launch a manned space flight to the sun. She overcame NASA objections that the ship would burn up by deciding it would fly at night. The memorial mass was moving.

God then told President Palin to launch a preemptive nuclear strike on Venezuela. But the President, never too sure of her geography, thought He said vuvuzela and launched the attack on South Africa during the World Cup soccer match, instead. Ironically, the nuclear weapon struck only the U.S. team. God told the President it was OK because American soccer players lack cojones.

Last week, in a bid to overcome 60% unemployment and a complete collapse of the U.S. economy, President Palin replaced the dollar with a new unit of currency she called the "Louise" upon the advice of chief economic adviser Newt Gingrich. Public response was so overwhelmingly negative that the media almost glossed over the terrible accident in the White House kitchen involving a lawn mower and a confused President Palin that cost Newt Gingrich his life. Mr. Gingrich was buried in Arlington, Atlanta, Cucamonga and somewhere back of the President's Wassilla White House. (NB: The President decided it was inconvenient to move to Washington DC, so she moved the Federal Government to Alaska instead.)

Then for some silly reason or another, the President quit. There were unproven allegations of bribes by Rupert Murdoch and the Saudi princes, but let's not be haters. The ex-President had not yet named a Vice President, so pursuant to the 25th Amendment, President Pelosi was immediately sworn in by an obviously drunk Chief Justice Roberts and is now kicking butt and taking names. President Pelosi's approval ratings currently exceed 99%. Republicans are poised to lose every single House, Senate, Governor, state office, county office and city office to their Democratic opponents.

The ex-President's last reported whereabouts were somewhere between Big Diomede and Little Diomede Islands, where she was last seen firing an AK-47 indiscriminately at local Eskimos and walruses. The local constabulary theorizes that she either fell into an ice fissure or was swallowed up by a Big White One.

Conspiracy theorists insist that Russian PM Putin reared his head and bit her in half, because "(a)s Putin rears his head and comes into the airspace of the United States of America, where do they go? It's Alaska. It's just right over the border. It is from Alaska that we send those out to make sure that an eye is being kept on this very powerful nation, Russia, because they are right there, they are right next to our state."

Answer
you forgot to kill off the president of the senate with the lawnmower before pelosi could become prez... :P
- president palin's first official act was to go shopping at her favorite store, Nordstrom's on Michael Steele's GOP credit card, spending yet another $150,000 on clothing, for which she later refused to reimburse again, stating that presidents cant wear the same thing twice to those pesky G20-something meeting thingies.
- president palin, appearing before the press, refused to answer any 'gotcha questions,' which thereby cut her 20-minute official press conferences by 20 minutes.
- president palin, in an effort to cut 'big brother spending,' ordered all future rape-testing kit expenses to be paid for by the victims. "after all" she said, "what worked in wasilla should work for the whole country, right?"
- president palin made history by being the first american president to meet with the reclusive north korean leader, president kim il jong. at the internationally publicized official meeting, she asked if she could call him "jong" (her handlers realized that she couldnt control herself from refering to him as 'lil' kim') while she winked incessantly at the cameras in her desire to appear as presidential as possible in front of the world press.
- president palin held her first state of the union speech last friday. she addressed both houses of congress with as much details as she could remember & comprehend on various topics such as energy, budget cuts (...er strike 'budget', it's just 'cuts'), taxes, and 'lift american spirits.' five short minutes later, she started on additional topics written on her other hand, which included sales tax cuts on red leather jackets & hooker heels as well as on birth control pills for teenagers named bristol from alaska.
- president palin, swearing that from the second-story balcony of the white house she could see iran preparing to attack america, ordered all the military branches to position themselves for a first strike. from her cutesy nicknamed "ovaltine office," she used her Time magazine football-phone to call up her orders: the air force was to sail their ships to the caspian sea; the navy to drive their dark blue tanks to the sahara, just outside the iranian border; but she stalled the army from flying their fighter jets to that nefarious part of the world since she couldnt get the department of defense to agree to transfer the flight mileage credits to her personal credit card. she would have sent out the marines, but she figured they were needed to keep out the illegal immigrants sneeking their way in through the halls of montezuma, mexico.
- president palin, in an effort not to repeat her disasterous turkey-rendering interview/turkey pardoning event of 2008, ordered that for her first presidential thanksgiving, she'll be 'freeing' the turkeys by throwing them out of her wolve-hunting helicopter. "as god as my witness," she said in a state of shock after the end of the mayhem caused by turkeys crashing onto D.C. towncars & govt buildings, "i thought turkeys could fly!!!"

Can you help with Lawn Mower Maintenance?

scotty_doe

I am a lawncare newbie (I've lived in an apartment the majority of my life). Now that spring is here, I need to get my lawn mower ready. How do I change the oil?? Sharpen the blades? What to use for an oil catch pan? I feel stupid for asking these questions, but I was never taught this growing up. Any help/suggestions are appreciated.

Answer
Quick and dirty for lawn mower tune ups:

1. Pull the spark plug. If it's fouled, replace it. Better yet, replace it anyway, as they only cost a few bucks.

2. Unscrew the air filter cover (or unsnap it, if it snaps into place) and check to see how dirty it is. If it has a foam element over it, clean the element with water, dry it, then squeeze some motor oil onto it and wring it out (it should seem mostly oil free, but still tacky). If the air filter itself is dirty, replace it. IMPORTANT: If the air filter looks even slightly dirty, replace it. The particles caught by the main filter are too small to see by the naked eye, so if you see particles, it is over-dirty.

3. Drain and replace oil:
- The drain plug will be square, so you can't miss it. It is normally located on the lower side of the engine (riders) or the underside (push). Simply unscrew with a sizable pan under it. Riders have 2-4 quarts of oil, Pushes have just over 1 quart normally.
- Once the oil is drained, replace the plug and fill it with the recommended oil (riders normally take 10W30, pushes normally take SAE30). Every brand has different specs, so look in your manual! Do not listen to people who say "every mower takes ..."
- Do not over fill the oil! The oil dipstick will tell you if it should be crewed in or not while checking oil level. On screw-in types, if you do not screw it in while checking the level, you will drastically overfill the crankcase and cause the engine to seize up in short order. (made a LOT of money from that one)

4: Sharpening the blades: Don't do this yourself! If not properly balanced after sharpening, you will destroy your spindle bearing (riders) or destroy your engine crankshaft (pushes). Not to mention sharpening a blade is not as easy as it looks. The angle must be right and mulching blades require steady hands to avoid damaging the blade beyond repair.

5: General lube/cleaning:
- Spray your mower down with degreaser and let it sit for a few minutes. Spray off with a jet water nozzle.
- Drip oil anywhere a hinge or cable opening resides.
- Grease anywhere a grease nipple resides (you need a grease gun for this). Many riders have them, almost no pushes have them. If you do grease, grease until grease comes out of an opening. Greasing a few shots does not cut it.

6: Check belts for damage. Replace if any damage is seen, especially dry rot! Belts take a lot of torture, but a damaged belt will fail in short order and sometimes a bit of damage to the mower or you upon failure.

7: Check tire pressure. Fill tires to nominal PSI stated on the side of the tire. e.g.: Different tire pressures in the rear end of a rider can (and will) kill your tranny. Sometimes the little things make a big difference.

8: Prior to storage, always put fuel stabilizer in the your mower and run it for a few minutes. Many people will say "run it out of gas to prevent fuel clogs", they are ignorant! No fuel = no lubrication of the rubber gaskets in the carb, which = dry, cracked gaskets in the spring and a complete carb rebuild in your future. PS: Carb rebuild kits cost very little, but let your mechanic do the job if you are not knowledgable in the area, as a properly tuned mower will add years, if not decades to its lifespan.

Doing your own mechanic's projects are fun and instantly rewarding when done properly. Why let your mechanic get all of the gratification? Do it yourself and save a few bucks at the same time, when appropriate.

Have fun!

Are lawn mowers.........................?

Go Isles!

friends with other lawn mowers?????

Answer
Look you need to better clarify your so called question.
Now are you talking about Gardners that Mow and Blow Lawns?
If your asking about Professional Gardners that Mow other folks Yards?
If not then are you referring about Professional Landscape Contractors?
If not are you asking about is there Professional Groups that get together. Then some refer to networking ideas or Assoicaition for better
Standards of the Green Profession?
Now in California we have the C.L.C.A. which stands for
CA Landscape Contractors Associations: This group strives to promote better trained and professional Landscape Contractors State
wide. That are Landscape Contractors that are accountable for work performed. This is from Design to as Build projects. Yes and Yard maintenance projects. We do network, have discount Insurance rates for the Independent Business owners to large Business Company.
Then also do from Residentials to Large Commercial projects.
So now good luck networking with other lawn mowers:

How to pick a riding/tractor lawn mower?

amy

Hi, it's pretty much lawn mowing season here and our current tractor lawn mower broke down. It was a hand-me-down and didn't handle well in the first place, but now we need a replacement.

What are some suggestions? In terms of brands in general, durability, easy handling, ease of use, and good maneuverability (I'm a pretty small female and am generally not that great with mechanics but our yard is over 1 acre and I'd feel bad if my dad were the only one in the house who could easily use the thing).

Completely new to buying riding lawn mowers so help would be welcome. If you recommend one you use yourself, could you also include a price range and how many years you've had it for and how much you use it?

Answer
Consumer Reports Magazine in their May issue has an article that rates and compares riding mowers and hand mowers. You might want to get a copy and read it. It is also available on their website for a fee. If I remember right their top rated tractor mower was a John Deere model priced around $2000?

Brand new briggs & stratton lawn mower will not start. What am I doing wrong?

Lolis d

It has a ready start system and does not have a stop switch or shut-off valve. It does say to move throttle control to fast. What throttle control? Where is that? There is no visible switch or button. Someone please help!!! I am holding the stop lever to the handle like it instructs by the way.

Answer
on the top near the handle look for a rabbit and a turtle with a lever between--the turtle is slow and the rabbit is fast

Selasa, 25 Februari 2014

Should I buy a residential lawn mower or a commercial one?

Joe

I have 7 lawns and my lawn mower just broke and i was wondering should i buy a riding mower or a push mower
my lawns usually took me 2 hours to do with a 21 inch cut deck

Answer
A commercial lawn mower would be a better idea as they are very efficient and good at cutting grass. The companies that provide you with them offer a limited service option as well. This way if something goes wrong you can always rely on them to offer professional service. Here are a few cheap lawn mowers which you could probably use => http://home-and-garden.become.com/cheap-lawn-mowers-riding

How exactly do lawn mower engines work?

Q. I am trying to build a beefed up go kart and I have a lawn mower engine that I can use but lawn mower engines are vertical driven and a go kart is usually driven with a horizontal mount. How do I make the conversion, should I just use a gear box? Also how do the governors work, my budy build one with an old 5hp briggs and stratton and he tore the governor off why did he do this? any ideas?...thanx guys.

Answer
You can buy a gear box to run a vertical shaft engine, but it is probably cheaper to buy a horizontal shaft engine than to try to convert it.

The governor is in place on a lawn mower for 2 reasons -

(1) when you're using the lawn mower, its not practical to keep a hand on the throttle, but the mower needs to operate at different throttle openings to work efficiently. The governor senses load on the engine and reduces or increases throttle opening as needed.
(2) if you were to just run it wide open, you would overheat the engine and reduce the life of it. Also, the maximum speed has to be governed because the blade is only safe to a certain RPM.

On a go cart, you can regulate the throttle manually (in fact, you want to). The governor is not required, and because you are changing the load, you don't really have to worry about over revving the motor to the point that things break.

ps - if the engine came off a riding mower, you might already have a gearbox. If its from a push mower - I would check the price of horizontal shaft units first, you might be pleasantly surprised.

First season with a 4-stroke lawn mower - winterize/storage?

Derek

Recently (mid-September) bought a new 4-stroke lawn mower and had cut the grass three times. Now, winter here in Canada is fast approaching, should the engine oil and gas been drained prior to storage in the backyard shed? Any other recommendation or advice are much appreciated.

Thanks in advance.

Answer
My lawn mowers usually last about 10 to 15 years, that's mowing every week for 7 to 9 months out of the year, and sometimes other people's lawns as well. What do I do for winter prep? Last mowing of the year, I empty the basket and push the thing into my shed. In the spring I sharpen or replace the blade, replace the spark plug, check the oil, and start mowing. I don't change the oil or put in any additives in the gas. I figure I could change the oil and such, but I average $20 a year for a new lawn mower. Why spend more. Never had a problem with one, until it just wears out after 10 to 15 years.

lawn mower wont start, no crank, NO SOUND!?

cam2790@sb

so I dont know what im doing, big shock.
I bought a house, that came with a riding lawn mower.
ive started it up before, but it took a lot of time.
let it sit for a couple months, and now theres no crank, and no noise at all..
ive tried jumper cables, I still dont even get a sound from the engine.
my only clue is that the oil light is on,I know that soem have oil sensors, if its too low, it wont crank at all... but I have replaced the oil filter and filled it up with new oil.
still no sound at all.

I really need help, my grass is growing by the minute!!..

okay, so today I have bought a new battery for it, wired it up, and still....nothing...nothign at all...
both spark plugs look clean and new.. and I still get an oil light that comes on...

Answer
Riding lawn mowers have a few safety features built in. For instance, to start the engine, you must be sitting in the seat, the brake must be engaged, the shift lever must be in neutral and if it has an electric clutch for the mower deck, that too must be in the off position.

These safety features are so that you cannot get off of the mower and have it run away from you, or put your foot on the rotating blade(s) and if the mower rolls over, the engine will quit, helping to avoid injury or death.

lawnmower issues 10 pts?

mrspelley

i can turn it on and start mowing now, i couldn't mow before cause right when it touched the grass it died, the grass is only about 4 in high, k so i put oil in it, and now it starts to mow but the it starts spitting out white smoke, so i kill it cause i don't want it to blow up or anything lol, anyone know what could be wrong with it?? thanks
i dont think it had much oil in it before i put more in, my husband usually does this stuff but he is in iraq so i have to do it and i haven't the slightest clue what to do, thanks to all of you though for givign me ideas :) i appreciate it

Answer
Let's start by checking the oil.(sounds like it is overfull). Then check the connection on the seat switch. Raise the seat. there should be a wire connector that control mower deck if you get off machine. This is a safety that stops the mower in the event of a rollover or if you get off with the mower running. If you weigh under 100 pounds chances are you don't weigh enough to engage the switch.

I am having lawnmower problems?

Justin

i can get my lawnmower started and running, but when i let go of the brake, it shuts off. i know this wasnt very elaborate but good enough. any help?

Answer
seat safety switch faulty?

Senin, 24 Februari 2014

my husband wants to buy a USED lawn mower...?

stephanien

ok... before you answer read on:
Our riding lawn mower was stolen about 2 months ago, we had insurance that covered it, they gave us $230 for it, but will reimburse us another $1000 upon replacement, so basically they would pay for us to get a new mower, but my husband wants to pay $200 for a used riding mower. Any opinions?
Just to clear up, we don't get the $1000 if we dont spend it, it is not like we are saving money or money in our pocket, we only get back what we spend on the mower, and we both mow.

Answer
Tell him people sell their old mowers for a reason. :-| It's usually ready to fall apart. It would be far better and a much better idea to purchase a new one. At least it'll be under warranty, right? If it needs something, the warranty will pay for it.

The old one won't. The old one kicks the bucket, he has to put money in to it for repairs himself, and there's no guarantee that it'll work much longer, then he'll have to put more money in to it. There goes that $1,000+ more he tried to save by buying an old one! Perhaps that's why the previous owners are selling it.

What is the best riding lawn mower for under 2000 dollars. I have 3/4 of an acre to cut, no trees or hills?

robertkuhn

Answer
I bought a Cub Cadet last year and I love it. It was sitting next to a John Deer with the exact same engine and the same size deck but was $1,500 less. I mow 4 acres here and it cuts it great. I paid $1,919 for it, but for the size yard you have Iâd say a smaller one for about $1,200 would last you for many years.

bwg

Popular Post