My Lawn Mower Repair Thread (56k warning)

[Snapperfreak]

I love that old craftsman. Similar to what I remember us buying when I was about 3 or 4, I distinctly remember us unboxing it and my older brother starting it and mowing. Would be great to find one in such good shape as yours for such a price! Great find!

 

[wfsway]

Fine work my friend, I know how much is involved there. Check out the Honda thread Walk Behind Restoration HR215 SXA.

 

[The G-Man]

Oh no. Is this thread dead? Say it ain't so. Always liked following the progress.

 

[primerbulb120]

Me too! :smile:

 

[hanyoukimura]

Not dead! I just didn't get much done this year. i probably only worked 3 of them the entire year. I actually have 4 or 5 lined up for warmer weather.

Last year I got a late start and really April-June is when these things move. Coupled that with the drought and there just wasn't much supply or demand.

I also spent more time going places and doing things, which ate up time I would have spent doing things...but the trade-off was worth it I think.

I do have a few winter projects. I'll share them when I get a chance to take photos.

 

[Boobala]

Not dead! I just didn't get much done this year. i probably only worked 3 of them the entire year. I actually have 4 or 5 lined up for warmer weather.

Last year I got a late start and really April-June is when these things move. Coupled that with the drought and there just wasn't much supply or demand.

I also spent more time going places and doing things, which ate up time I would have spent doing things...but the trade-off was worth it I think.

I do have a few winter projects. I'll share them when I get a chance to take photos.

Enjoy your photos, what type camera are you using ?? Also ... where is Athol ..?? I think your "projects" turn out to
be fantastic , and show a good deal of dedication .... Boobala

 

[primerbulb120]

Enjoy your photos, what type camera are you using ?? Also ... where is Athol ..?? I think your "projects" turn out to
be fantastic , and show a good deal of dedication .... Boobala

Athol is in Maryland.

 

[hanyoukimura]

Enjoy your photos, what type camera are you using ?? Also ... where is Athol ..?? I think your "projects" turn out to
be fantastic , and show a good deal of dedication .... Boobala

When I started I used my Canon SX10-IS. Since thhe bgeinning of the year I uses my phone, Moto X Pure. Given enough light it actually takes superior photos.

Athol is in Maryland.

Athol, MA

 

[hanyoukimura]

Alright, since its been a while let's give you guys something to look at!

A few years ago in this thread I posted about our snowblower, a Craftsman 5/24 31A-3CDE799.

Well the years haven't been kind to it, and even though its only 10 years old the blower housing is more rust than metal. I can't believe how severely its corroded. Compare that to my 1974 Simplicity S4 which has some minor surface rust. They don't build them like they used to. Still, I hate to throw it away since the back half is solid and it's never failed to run and two snowblowers are always better than one after a snowstorm!

I did a bit of hunting and came across an guy on CL who sells snowblower parts. Turns out he had a complete 5/22 front end and offered it for $50 with my old one. Bit of drive but not bad. nice thing about these little units is that the front ends completely fit in the Prizm's trunk. Here's what I got:

The guy was shocked how badly rotted mine was. We chatted for a bit, he threw in some nice skids for it, and home I went.

Today, I finally got a chance to perform the operation. I picked up a new belt for the front end since the original was on its way out and some nice new bolts to mount the skids and the two halves together. Operation went smoothly and I declare it a success. It lives once more!

 

[primerbulb120]

Hanyoukimura, I don't know if you already noticed this, but here you go:

http://www.lawnworld.com/learning-center/what-is-lawn-mowing/

Does that picture look familiar? :biggrin: