Good morning! Are you up yet? What's your plans for today?

[avator]

Little bit of side news for Bill- Briggs and Stratton sells surplus engines for next to nothing on their website.  I needed a 17.5 hp engine for a neighbor's mower and it cost me under $100 direct from B&S.  The link is kinda buried but chances are there's something here that works for ya:  https://www.briggsstrattonsale.com/spare-replacement-parts/

Those Husqvarna mowers with the Kawasaki engines are tanks.  Ours is a 24hp unit with a smaller 42" deck, sat over a decade before we got it, and just needed a new carb (the old one was junked up so bad a hot-solvent tank couldn't fix it).  Oh, and it needed some wiring repairs and a new battery thanks to fieldmice.  I had to replace the deck belt last year, and sharpen the blades a couple weeks ago, but it still runs great.


Speaking of mowers and today's plan- I'm mid-way through setting up a 21" push mower with pneumatic wheels in the back for use in the semi-cleared woods.  All the clearings are growing grass like crazy and a push-mower is a better choice there.  But the stock plastic "bigwheel" wheels in the back get stuck in/on every root.  I did the same with my walk-behind line trimmers and they work like a champ.  I was gonna smoke some ribs today but work got really busy up until about 20 minutes ago... and will likely pick up again later so I'll smoke them tomorrow.  After work, I foresee a Tractor Supply trip and maybe some wrenching on another freebie mower a neighbor gave me last night- that likely needs LOTS of work knowing him.

TY for this Peter... I'm going to pull the old motor off and see which I need. Mine is the 23.5 HP pro and I think I can use the 25 HP on the sight... I just want to double check the shaft size they list.
https://www.briggsstrattonsale.com/shop-briggs-stratton-44s977-0033-g1-25-ghp-vertical-shaft-engine-black/

[buellm2]

Sometimes I think there is an unusual amount of lawn mower and lawn cutting discussion here.   I've picked up a few discarded lawn mowers around town and at the dump.   Too many rich people in this town who toss anything that has a gummed up carb or fouled spark plug.  I've fixed them up and given some away and sold a couple on Craigslist.   But for my personal use mowers, I've only owned two in my entire life.   A Toro and a Honda.  Both self propelled walk behinds.   They have been fantastically tough and reliable machines considering the disrespectfully minimal maintenance I give them.   I don't have a tiny suburban lawn either.   It used to take me 3-4 hours to cut my lawn and my parents lawn next door and I walk at pretty high speed.    I've used them to cut my way to the target racks in the woods.  They were great at chopping light brush, leveling dirt and flinging chunks of dead wood out of the way.  They're starting to show some wear.   

[Blowpipe Sam]

Maybe someone could start a dedicated mowing thread?

[A.K.A. Tommy Boy]

Little bit of side news for Bill- Briggs and Stratton sells surplus engines for next to nothing on their website.  I needed a 17.5 hp engine for a neighbor's mower and it cost me under $100 direct from B&S.  The link is kinda buried but chances are there's something here that works for ya:  https://www.briggsstrattonsale.com/spare-replacement-parts/

Those Husqvarna mowers with the Kawasaki engines are tanks.  Ours is a 24hp unit with a smaller 42" deck, sat over a decade before we got it, and just needed a new carb (the old one was junked up so bad a hot-solvent tank couldn't fix it).  Oh, and it needed some wiring repairs and a new battery thanks to fieldmice.  I had to replace the deck belt last year, and sharpen the blades a couple weeks ago, but it still runs great.


Speaking of mowers and today's plan- I'm mid-way through setting up a 21" push mower with pneumatic wheels in the back for use in the semi-cleared woods.  All the clearings are growing grass like crazy and a push-mower is a better choice there.  But the stock plastic "bigwheel" wheels in the back get stuck in/on every root.  I did the same with my walk-behind line trimmers and they work like a champ.  I was gonna smoke some ribs today but work got really busy up until about 20 minutes ago... and will likely pick up again later so I'll smoke them tomorrow.  After work, I foresee a Tractor Supply trip and maybe some wrenching on another freebie mower a neighbor gave me last night- that likely needs LOTS of work knowing him.

TY for this Peter... I'm going to pull the old motor off and see which I need. Mine is the 23.5 HP pro and I think I can use the 25 HP on the sight... I just want to double check the shaft size they list.
https://www.briggsstrattonsale.com/shop-briggs-stratton-44s977-0033-g1-25-ghp-vertical-shaft-engine-black/

Bill, I did a engine changeout on a Torro Z-Turn once.
You need to check the length of the shaft as well as the diameter.
Might as well check the key size on the shaft too.
Getting the electric clutch to slide off can be a job, as they tend to rust up a bit.
I sprayed JB 80 on mine and let it set a couple of days.
After that it came off easy.
Good luck.


Best Wishes - Tom

[avator]

Little bit of side news for Bill- Briggs and Stratton sells surplus engines for next to nothing on their website.  I needed a 17.5 hp engine for a neighbor's mower and it cost me under $100 direct from B&S.  The link is kinda buried but chances are there's something here that works for ya:  https://www.briggsstrattonsale.com/spare-replacement-parts/

Those Husqvarna mowers with the Kawasaki engines are tanks.  Ours is a 24hp unit with a smaller 42" deck, sat over a decade before we got it, and just needed a new carb (the old one was junked up so bad a hot-solvent tank couldn't fix it).  Oh, and it needed some wiring repairs and a new battery thanks to fieldmice.  I had to replace the deck belt last year, and sharpen the blades a couple weeks ago, but it still runs great.


Speaking of mowers and today's plan- I'm mid-way through setting up a 21" push mower with pneumatic wheels in the back for use in the semi-cleared woods.  All the clearings are growing grass like crazy and a push-mower is a better choice there.  But the stock plastic "bigwheel" wheels in the back get stuck in/on every root.  I did the same with my walk-behind line trimmers and they work like a champ.  I was gonna smoke some ribs today but work got really busy up until about 20 minutes ago... and will likely pick up again later so I'll smoke them tomorrow.  After work, I foresee a Tractor Supply trip and maybe some wrenching on another freebie mower a neighbor gave me last night- that likely needs LOTS of work knowing him.

TY for this Peter... I'm going to pull the old motor off and see which I need. Mine is the 23.5 HP pro and I think I can use the 25 HP on the sight... I just want to double check the shaft size they list.
https://www.briggsstrattonsale.com/shop-briggs-stratton-44s977-0033-g1-25-ghp-vertical-shaft-engine-black/

Bill, I did a engine changeout on a Torro Z-Turn once.
You need to check the length of the shaft as well as the diameter.
Might as well check the key size on the shaft too.
Getting the electric clutch to slide off can be a job, as they tend to rust up a bit.
I sprayed JB 80 on mine and let it set a couple of days.
After that it came off easy.
Good luck.


Best Wishes - Tom

Yessir, that's exactly the plan. I'm gonna pull this motor first. The one I linked shows the dimensions or the shaft so I can compare.

[maraudinglizard]

Little bit of side news for Bill- Briggs and Stratton sells surplus engines for next to nothing on their website.  I needed a 17.5 hp engine for a neighbor's mower and it cost me under $100 direct from B&S.  The link is kinda buried but chances are there's something here that works for ya:  https://www.briggsstrattonsale.com/spare-replacement-parts/

Thanks for the info Peter, I have a DR string mower that is electric start and is a B&S engine that some day I will have to replace. I have other stuff that will take B&S engine as well.

[buellm2]

So today I drained the gas out of the snowblower and dumped that old gas into the lawnmower.   The old Honda started up with a little blue smoke that quickly cleared.   I only used the snowblower once this past winter so I didn't change it's oil before putting it away for the summer. 

[Jshooter71]

  First thing this morning...Chiropractor appointment.

Me too!!!

I slept in until 0600, I stayed up way too late. No call for work yet, I’ll head to the chiropractor and call the office between 0730-0800.

I'm now paying for ALL the foolish things I did when I wore a younger mans clothes.

Yes Sir! Me too. 

[Jshooter71]

Maybe someone could start a dedicated mowing thread?

You’re probably right, Carter… though, you might not have much to say there… except, mocking the lawn manicurists… hee hee! 

[avator]

Yup, I'm up.
Watching the recorded Xfinity qualifying from yesterday.. This Is Talladega !!
Funny, I live 5 hours from that track and never been there. I had a chance to go free and spend 4 days in an RV in the infield a couple years ago and had to turn it down due to prior obligations. It's a bucket list thing.
I've already slipped out to the Red Shed and fired up the lead pot. Gonna run a big batch of 217 20 FN today.

[Jshooter71]

Good morning GTA! Happy Saturday! I got up at 0515. I’ve had 2 cups o’Joe, but I might have time for one more. The girls are not going to get up for another 15 minutes or so. But, I’m taking them on a trip out to Eureka Springs. The plan is to visit Christ of the Ozarks, the Crescent Hotel and walk around downtown. My birthday isn’t til Monday, but I’m looking forward to a steak dinner while we’re there. 

[avator]

Maybe someone could start a dedicated mowing thread?

You’re probably right, Carter… though, you might not have much to say there… except, mocking the lawn manicurists… hee hee! 

If we did that we'd have to start a 'driving a boat, getting a buzz and gardening'. thread.  LOL   
But then there wouldn't be anything to talk about here. 

[Jshooter71]

Yup, I'm up.
Watching the recorded Xfinity qualifying from yesterday.. This Is Talladega !!
Funny, I live 5 hours from that track and never been there. I had a chance to go free and spend 4 days in an RV in the infield a couple years ago and had to turn it down due to prior obligations. It's a bucket list thing.
I've already slipped out to the Red Shed and fired up the lead pot. Gonna run a big batch of 217 20 FN today.

Funny you mention Talladega, Bill. For 5 years I lived a half hour from there and I’ve never been to the track either. I wasn’t a NASCAR fan back then. I did used to see the Harley test riders around, between Talladega and Anniston though, on their secret-squirrel clad motorcycles. My wife says we should go next year, a bucket list for me.

[Jshooter71]

Maybe someone could start a dedicated mowing thread?

You’re probably right, Carter… though, you might not have much to say there… except, mocking the lawn manicurists… hee hee! 

If we did that we'd have to start a 'driving a boat, getting a buzz and gardening'. thread.  LOL   
But then there wouldn't be anything to talk about here. 

True
 

[Hoosier Daddy]

  First thing this morning...Chiropractor appointment.

Me too!!!

I slept in until 0600, I stayed up way too late. No call for work yet, I’ll head to the chiropractor and call the office between 0730-0800.

I'm now paying for ALL the foolish things I did when I wore a younger mans clothes.

Yes Sir! Me too. 

DITTO HERE!


AND.... How ironic, I received a box of mower parts yesterday that I ordered from Cub Cadet.
 Last fall I broke the deck on the last mow of the season and parked it in the shop.
Now it's spring and I need to mow.
Today I'll be rebuilding the 54" deck and sharpening the blades.

[Back_Roads]

 I live 35 miles and less from 4 race tracks, Road America, Wisconsin international Raceway, 151 Speed Way, and Gravity Park, a combination off road and dirt track. Been to all but GP a few times or more.
 I drive by GP daily LOL 

[A.K.A. Tommy Boy]

I am waiting on belts for my riding lawn tractor.
The lower transmission belt is shot.
I am going to replace all the belts when the order gets here.
I have a Honda walk-behind mower as a back up.
I doubt that I'll have to mow grass for quite some time to come.

This morning I woke up to a light coating of snow and 32 degrees.
I is supposed to snow some more today but the high is supposed to reach 40.
This nuisance snow most likely will melt off.
I am hoping that this Winter like weather will be over in May.


Best Wishes - Tom

[Bicycleman]

Good luck and good mowing, Tom. 
I have mowed twice here.

[Hoosier Daddy]

Tom... Did you get a new Pooch?

[A.K.A. Tommy Boy]

Tom... Did you get a new Pooch?

Hi Scott.... yes we have a new Pooch.

We got the dog last December.
He was my Christmas present to my wife.
JoAnne named him Rusty.
He is a Red Phase - Golden Doodle crossbreed.
He is a fire ball with no off switch.
I think he will make a good hunter.
He has a high prey drive and an excellent nose.


Best Wishes - Tom