Buying Undesirables
Yesterday, between painting jobs and waiting for the last load of laundry to finish, I decided to cut the lawn. It doesn't take too long, just 45 minutes, or an hour if I do the edging as well.
Nothing is easy.
The last time I mowed the lawn I noticed that the handle was a little sloppy and under inspection, found that the welding had cracked away and it wasn't holding by much. As I can't weld, I was just hoping it would last the summer, or until I can buy a replacement part. As you can see where this story is going,
It didn't last, nor can I get a replacement part for it.
The model is too old and even if I could get a part shipped in from somewhere, it would be over half the price of an equivalent replacement. It is definitely not money I wanted to spend, but without an option, we went to buy a new lawnmower today, getting one of the cheapest ones there, as it was on sale.
However, there was also some electric models we enquired about, but our yard is quite large and the guy said that even if it states it would do that square metreage, it probably won't and if the grass is wet, it will do even less. We'd need to have at least one set of additional batteries to ensure we could get the job done in one session.
And while we were there, I ran into an ex-client and his family, and they are looking to get a robot mower, and were trying to convince us to get one. They are good as they do a decent job and trim regularly, but they are pretty bloody expensive. Plus, as I was saying to the guy, both of our neighbours have robot mowers, and they are constantly out there adjusting it, and then going around with their old push mowers to do the parts it can't do well.
Seems like a lot of trouble.
I figure, if the mower we had (we inherited from our friend's dead grandma [I bought him a cook book as payment]) lasted since she had bought it, an engine is fine. Plus, while I couldn't fix the handle on the old one, I likely could do some work on this one, which I couldn't do with electric. It is a bit noisier and I have to push it for an hour or two a week during a few months of the year, but with some earbuds in I can listen to music or an audio book, and get a bit of exercise. As I did today after putting some oil and then fuel in the machine, and giving it a whirl.
Because the blades are sharp I think, it is a bit easier to push, but not too much easier. And I have to adjust the height setting again next time because I cut a bit too long. One better thing is that it has a wider cutting blade than the previous one, so it doesn't take quite as many runs. It is also lighter than the last, which matters because I have to carry it up a few stairs these days, after building a fence for the dog.
I didn't want to spend money, especially on this, but I have to accept that unfortunately, I had to otherwise the garden will get unruly very fast. The previous owners didn't have a mower - and it looked like it. I try to keep our yard looking neat during the summer and since I enjoy being out there these days, I don't see cutting the grass as so much of a chore anymore. I used to hate it, now I just deal with it and look forward to the result.
And I finished all the painting I could do, plus went to the gym
A productive day.
Taraz
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Sorry you had to get a new mower. Those are never cheap. The electric ones are nice, but they definitely need a second battery in most cases. My concern with a robot mower would be it'd be easy steal and possibly make the home a target. Hopefully the new mower lasts you a long time.
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I was given an electric mower with a battery that lasts just long enough for me to complete mowing the lawn before it dies. If I dilly dally with it on a specific area for 10+ minutes then theres a chance it'll die before I complete the total lawn. It's a bit of a rush to get the lawn done but whatever works to get the job done.
Those robot mowers look cool but they do seem finicky. If your neighbors are still having to adjust it after so many sessions then its no different than giving the mowing task to a rebellious teenager. They'll do the bare minimum but will have to go back to get the missed spots.
An interesting story! Hopefully your new mower does a satisfactory job and you can enjoy the yard results in peace.
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STOPTime to build Smallsteps a go-kart with the old mower engine?
The Mother Thing got an electric lawn mower, and it's far easier for her to handle than a gas mower.
I have an electric mower and it is great, it lasts for a long time more then enough to get the job done if you mow your lawn regularly. And I have a very large lawn...
This is the lawn mower I have: https://www.homedepot.com/pep/RYOBI-40V-HP-Brushless-20-in-Cordless-Battery-Walk-Behind-Push-Lawn-Mower-Tool-Only-RY40HPLM06B/338978234?g_store=&source=shoppingads&locale=en-US&fp=ggl&pla&mtc=SHOPPING-BF-CDP-GGL-D25P-028_035_WALKS-NA-NA-NA-PMAX-NA-NA-NA-NA-NBR-NA-NA-NA-PMAX_SHP
We often end up buying things we don't really need, and they eventually create clutter at home, which I really hate :)
Our tv has started dying I think. Sometimes it flickers and makes weird noises. Well it was bought probably like 12 years ago. So that is probably decent length of life for a tv... Still I at the moment I don't plan on buying a new tv. Maybe around october because I believe that Euroleague starts around that time.
I feel ya on the mower. As you may have read recently, had my own issues with mine. Luckily I was able to repair it for little cost. You might be able to sell the old mower engine. Some people will buy them to make them into Go-Karts or to repair and resell. Overall, sounds like a productive day. I didn't do shit but a little research and writing. Found what I needed to get my walking pad going though, so there is that.
It is not easy when something breaks and you have to spend money you were not planning to spend. I think you made the right choice with the petrol mower, especially since your yard is big. It is nice that you still got everything done and had a good day.
I'm assuming you don't know anyone that can weld and that the problem was somehow too big for duct tape? XD
Some of my friends have robot vacuums (but not mowers as far as I'm aware) and it apparently does save them doing a lot of cleaning. One of them strongly recommended theirs and I reminded them our dog is a bit more playful than their dog and would likely chase that thing down and chew it up XD And we'd also likely find one cat riding it around and never see the other one again. I feel like everyone needs to sit down and time the things as I think we're all biased XD (some with thinking it takes just as long with the amount of tinkering and messing around and touching up you have to do and some thinking it's less time when the robot is doing it).
Always fun when you have to make big purchases and it feels like no matter what you can never be "ready" for them -_- hopefully the new mower lasts for ages.
Yay for productive day :)
Repetitive work like this is like meditation
If you know what to do, it can turn from a boring task into a useful activity
I don't hate my mower, but if I got another one I would probably go with a propel assisted one. Our current one is a Cub Cadet that is fully manual and it seems like each summer it gets a littler tougher for me to push. I like getting the exercise though.