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Last day of the week...I fill up gas in all equipment first thing...we get to first job (VIP customer)... Hector (R hand man for 9 yrs) gets out of truck and shouts BOSS we got problemos! I get out to see and sure enough sitting in front of neighbors house we are losing fluid fast! I jump up to the bed and smell those strong fuel aromas that are unmistakable in diagnosis...I @ first cant tell where we are leaking from...it WAS the 60" (exmark laser z '09) but where from? W/ in 20-30 seconds after lifting the seat and pulling back black plastic guard (between engine & seat) I locate the leak...it has originated from a line that I have never needed to take much notice to...(plastic/rubber thin black gas? line?) There seems to be a clean puncture through both sides of the line & gas is furiously retreating from my machine exiting through both holes on either side of line...I quickly instruct Jesus (L hand man 6 yrs) to grab my trash/aluminum home depot 5 gal bucket to start catching the runaway fluid so that we minimize the size of that nasty black stain near our Vip customers driveway...in the meantime I ask Hector what do we do? What do you need to stop this? (I have found in all my yrs almost all Hispanic employees are very ingenious w/ improvising repair techniques while supplies are limited...it is truly amazing sometimes what they can come up w/) but Hector is stumped...Jesus then inspects and he has no answer either... I turn off the gas w/ valve...still leaking...I pull out electric tape but I know it wont work b/c this line is super saturated...I tell Jesus to grab my first aid kit...I pinch the linewhich only slows the flow...I have Hector grab 2 gauze strips out of first aid packaging and then tell Jesus that he needs to find another place to keep his tortillas he brought for lunch b/c I need his plastic baggie asap...while Jesus puts his torts in another tupperware (currently holding his blackbeans) I then start by wrapping the guaze strips around the leaky line...the gas stops pouring out but gauze and hands are soaked, mind you this is very tight space, the lines are tight b/c some type of plastic ties hold in place, also Hector is holding back that pain in the arse black guard for me...I retrieve baggie and place over gauze hoping it will stay dry on outside...not completely though...it is a bit slippery...I start wrapping electric tape around baggie...mind you I am stressed and slightly frantic (horrible start huh?) The line is accompanied by 2 other identical lines coming from other locations on mower, the space between lines is so small that I must wrap the tape around ALL lines (aaarrrggg! Very annoying) not easy...I am already using 3 hands including Hectors I need a couple more! And more space to work too please! Thar its. Done..."THAR " I say! Never in 15 yrs have I expirienced this...and the punctures on both sides...strange...the line that was leaking originated from gas tank under seat on right side of tank... the accompanying identical lines originate from different locations on machine but then run almost together when they reach to behind the seat but before the engine...this particular line (maybe all 3, cant remember..where other 2 end up) so this line for sure though ends up inside of the roll-bar frame/casing? Inside the roll-bar -I don't know- I hope you understand that...I really don't, I never knew before that there was a line that they directed to finish out there? Strange I think...the only thing I can speculate, is that the lines purpose is to help the gas tank from collapsing or sucking in by giving it air/oxygen to breathe...thus the reason for the strange perfectly punctured holes on both sides of line...the gas started to leak from them b/c we had just filled machine up (maybe too much gas) ? Also the mower was leaning b/c parked 1/2 on angled dove tail attached to back of work trucks cab...the mower was parked sideways, again one side on dove tail, therefore right side of machine lower than left side...combination of a lot of gas (full tank) - & leaning mower (if my only guess is correct) the line that was meant to help the machines gas tank breathe was thus inundated w/ petrol and then obviously began leaking that petrol...but still seems unlikely...that's my only guess assumimg those punctures were meant to be there..but if that were true I would want to believe that no matter how much fuel I put in machine and even if machine was slightly leaning the exmark engineers would not have created this potentially dangerous situation...so even if my guess was correct, there are still other problemos b/c AGAIN the gas shouldn't be able to reach those holes, if infact those holes were put there for the tanks ventilation........so where am I wrong? What is this line(or what are these lines) ?? And what should I do? Sorry for long story I am selfishly proud that I was able to prevent a major pain in the arse from potentially ruining my day...the fix prolly took 4.5 minutes to complete...and 9 days later (due to very hectic schedule and never enough time) that temporary fix is still being utilized and holding steady...also pride is evident b/c I fixed something Hector and Jesus could not!!!(rare) I could take this to central equipment for repairs or call my mercenary part time mechanic (no doubt I eventually will) just wandered if any of you can help...and I wanted to share my small lawncare epic adventure/catastrophe-averted tale! Thanks for yorn's attention, advice, knowledge, & assistance .... Sharp Lawn - salutes like minded hardcore turf taming artists out there everywhere - God bless...and thanks again! Scott Morgan - sharp lawn Inc.- "the landscape artists " Lexington KY

Yes it feels good when you can save the day. My recomendation is to cut the fuel line at the puntures and go to an autoparts store and get a brass splice and clamps. They are made for rubber fuel lines and come in all sizes. Exmark's 3 way fuel valve and fuel line schematics can drive you crazy