Did I break this mower?

[Remydon]

Situation: I work for a guy who runs a small landscaping company, and we also have a mowing circuit. We were going through about 5 yards, with him hitting the flat areas on his zero-point and me doing the slopes and trim work with a Honda self-propelled mower. I don't know the exact model number, but he claims he paid ~$1000 for it, so must be higher end.

We had mowed 4 yards earlier in the day, it was about 90-95 degrees out. On the fifth, with grass at about 8 inches tall. I had the self-propel lever fully depressed, letting it pull me at the pace it wanted to go (a brisk walk). After 15 strips on the last yard, the mower suddenly died (no slow down). I tried to restart it, but the rope didn't want to go, so I checked for clogs. No grass, but I did find a bit of mud and a lot of dried clay on the axle. I chipped away what I could until the blade moved easily, then tried to restart. It went a few feet, died, and gave off white smoke. Checked gas, saw it was pretty low, and I sent the owner's teenage daughter who was out helping to get a can and fill it up. Tried again after, still no joy, more white smoke. Called the owner over, and at that point he accused me of blowing it up by pushing it too hard. There was oil on the deck with gas mixed in, so it looks like a blown gasket. He claims the mower will feed faster than the blade can keep up if the self-propel is fully depressed, and that I blew it up by running it to fast.

Is there any truth to this? My husband is an engineer, he thinks this is crap (the mower was only a month old), and the guy either didn't have enough oil in it, or it was a lemon. Or possibly it overheated, since it was a hot day and it's air cooled. I just wanted to get some input from experienced operators before I cover the repair costs for his equipment like he wants me to. He claims the failure was due to operator abuse, which the warrant won't cover. Again, appreciate any input!

 

[reynoldston]

Is this a job you need to live on? If not I would tell him to take his job and mower and hire someone else, only it might be in a different type of language from me which I can't say here. If this is a job you depend on you might just have to do what ever you need to do keep it. The only thing I can see is that you might be responsible for is gas and oil.

 

[Rivets]

I have never see a mower that was abused by mowing to fast. A mowers self-propell system is designed to operate with the engine speed. This guy doesn't know what he is talking about. The only possible abuse I could see in your description is the possibility of unit being low on oil. He is making a claim that it is not covered under warranty, without taking it in, is his way of blaming someone else. As reynoldston said, if you don't need this job, wave goodby. Even if you need this job, in my opinion, it is going to cost you more than it is worth. You will always be blamed for what ever happens. RUN.

 

[Remydon]

Thanks for the input guys!

I definitely do not need the job to live on, I was just doing it to get some extra spending money for the summer; it payed better than any other seasonal jobs, and I enjoy being out doors and getting the exercise. Definitely not going to work for him anymore, but I didn't want to leave him high and dry if it really was my fault. Up until now he's been a very fair employer, I don't know what is going with him now, but either way I'm done.

 

[Rivets]

If you are good at it, most landscapers in my area are always looking for reliable help. Should be able to find another (better) employer.

 

[reynoldston]

I am not in the mowing business but into the repair business. If I was in the mowing business one of my rules would be for my employs is the oil would be checked at every gas up or at the very less would be at the first gas up. If the mower was low on oil who's job was it to check the oil yours or his? If it was your job to check the oil and the oil was low I can see pointing the finger at you. The first thing I do before I start any mower mine or a customers I check the oil level. Mowing too fast is not your fault and I have never heard of such a thing.

 

[Carscw]

Situation: I work for a guy who runs a small landscaping company, and we also have a mowing circuit. We were going through about 5 yards, with him hitting the flat areas on his zero-point and me doing the slopes and trim work with a Honda self-propelled mower. I don't know the exact model number, but he claims he paid ~$1000 for it, so must be higher end.

We had mowed 4 yards earlier in the day, it was about 90-95 degrees out. On the fifth, with grass at about 8 inches tall. I had the self-propel lever fully depressed, letting it pull me at the pace it wanted to go (a brisk walk). After 15 strips on the last yard, the mower suddenly died (no slow down). I tried to restart it, but the rope didn't want to go, so I checked for clogs. No grass, but I did find a bit of mud and a lot of dried clay on the axle. I chipped away what I could until the blade moved easily, then tried to restart. It went a few feet, died, and gave off white smoke. Checked gas, saw it was pretty low, and I sent the owner's teenage daughter who was out helping to get a can and fill it up. Tried again after, still no joy, more white smoke. Called the owner over, and at that point he accused me of blowing it up by pushing it too hard. There was oil on the deck with gas mixed in, so it looks like a blown gasket. He claims the mower will feed faster than the blade can keep up if the self-propel is fully depressed, and that I blew it up by running it to fast.

Is there any truth to this? My husband is an engineer, he thinks this is crap (the mower was only a month old), and the guy either didn't have enough oil in it, or it was a lemon. Or possibly it overheated, since it was a hot day and it's air cooled. I just wanted to get some input from experienced operators before I cover the repair costs for his equipment like he wants me to. He claims the failure was due to operator abuse, which the warrant won't cover. Again, appreciate any input!

So the grass was 8 inches tall and you was walking fast. I was not there so I can just assume that the engine was working hard.
I do know with a $900 snapper mower cutting 8 inch tall grass I need to go slower than a brisk walk or it just will bog down and not give a good cut.
With that said do I thing it's your fault? NO

Should you have worked it so hard? No

He is the boss it is his $400 mower he should have said something. Like hey make half passes so you don't over heat the engine.

Did you check the oil?

Now if he yelled or raised his voice to you or showed any disrespect then you need to tell him to piss off.
I am sure your husband would like to talk to him if he disrespected you.

(( cowboy up and get over it ))

 

[exotion]

I am not in the mowing business but into the repair business. If I was in the mowing business one of my rules would be for my employs is the oil would be checked at every gas up or at the very less would be at the first gas up. If the mower was low on oil who's job was it to check the oil yours or his? If it was your job to check the oil and the oil was low I can see pointing the finger at you. The first thing I do before I start any mower mine or a customers I check the oil level. Mowing too fast is not your fault and I have never heard of such a thing.

I always check in the mornings buts really it I would kinda hope that I would see or feel signs of something wrong before it actually blew up

 

[exotion]

So the grass was 8 inches tall and you was walking fast. I was not there so I can just assume that the engine was working hard.
I do know with a $900 snapper mower cutting 8 inch tall grass I need to go slower than a brisk walk or it just will bog down and not give a good cut.
With that said do I thing it's your fault? NO

Should you have worked it so hard? No

He is the boss it is his $400 mower he should have said something. Like hey make half passes so you don't over heat the engine.

Did you check the oil?

Now if he yelled or raised his voice to you or showed any disrespect then you need to tell him to piss off.
I am sure your husband would like to talk to him if he disrespected you.

(( cowboy up and get over it ))

Lol no shi t I didn't even catch the eight inches part I don't know a single mower that can cut 8 inches at full walking speed that part could definately went better.

 

[Remydon]

I'm not 100% sure on 8 inches, it was 2 weeks worth of growth in Northern Virginia with a bunch of rain, for whatever it's worth.

It was never asked of me to check or add oil to any equipment.

My husband did go talk to him. He was told to leave when he pointed out that either a.) he watched me "abuse" the equipment and did nothing to stop it or b.) he didn't see me and has no idea at what speed I was mowing. Eventually he got him to calm down and agree to take it in and see what the shop says. Still haven't heard back.