Opinion on buying a Lawn Boy

[Vervepipes]

I pulled the 1973 model 5247 into the basement utility room tonight and scraped the underside all around the cracks and it's for sure not all the way through the metal. Looking at it n
ow, it almost seems like a casting flaw because of the way the metal "overlaps" itself when scraped with a sharp knife. I couldn't find any "magnesium" label cast into the deck, I'm not sure where it would be but I took a quick look. I shaved a thin piece from an inconspicuous location, held it with some pliers and tried to light it but no dice, must be an aluminum deck. It was also a good time to try out my new Cannon Rebel T5

 

[Vervepipes]

I'm not sure what to do with the white stuff on the top of the tank, both the original and this used replacement have the same white rough coating of sorts on it. I think it looks out of place and work out, maybe a shot of paint to cover it up. The front wheels need replacing, I could just drill and bush the hole, but the tire is in rough shape as well. The rears are sturdy. I'll start taking a few parts off here and there during the winter and clean it up in detergent, and strip he deck for a repaint when it gets warmer.

 

[d_sharier]

I found this video on youtube that shows a technique for refinishing old plastic. I just used on the fuel tank of the 6302 I just restored and it worked great.

How to Restore Faded Plastic Motorcycle Fenders (For free) - YouTube copy the title and paste it on youtube, it should bring it right up. I bet it will take care of the top of the tank.

 

[unclelee]

The white stuff can be scraped off with a box blade...take your time..vinigar will react with magniesum (bubble) but will have no reaction with aluminum.
Lee

 

[Vervepipes]

I think the guy who gave me this mower was confused. He gave me a "1973 Lawn-Boy owner's manual" and said it was original to the mower, but I think the serial number and aluminum deck point it to be a 1979.

 

[unclelee]

Did a practice run on an old tank I had laying around....I didn't try to do it perfectly...just wanted to see how it worked.
A 73 would have a D series engine....the fins around your plug would be straight up and down...yours are at an angle....F series.
Lee.

 

[Vervepipes]

Yes, I can see from the signs that the owner was mistaken, or was misled when he bought it from somebody who gave him that manual. In any case, I will try that method for sure and will keep an eye out for replacement decals as well. I will try my best to keep the mixing instructions intact as it is in great condition, and getting the correct bilingual one could prove challenging.

 

[2smoked]

My first and only new mower I ever bought was a 5247 like yours except it was made in Galesburg, Illinois. That was in 1980. I was a first-time home owner and needed a lawn mower. I didn't know a lot about Lawn Boys back then except that they had 2-cycle engines and cost quite a bit more than many of the run-of-the-mill Briggs & Stratton or Tecumseh powered mowers. I was attracted to the aluminum deck and the engine, thinking at the time that those features would reward me with a long service life. My Dad stopped over just when I was about to fire it up and use it for the first time. He immediately questioned my wisdom for buying a Lawn Boy, referring to it as "expensive 2-cycle junk". My reply to him was that I figured it would last me a long time with proper care.

34 years later, my Dad is now gone, but that same Lawn Boy is still running strong. In all that time of continued use, I have replaced wheels, spark plugs, air filters, carb float needle and seats, blades, crank seals, shut-off switch, the coil, and the filter cover. Motor internals have never been repaired or replaced. The deck, shroud, and handle have their original finishes. The gas tank developed a crack about 15 years ago, so I simply mounted an auxilliary tank to the rear of the deck. Considering all the wear and tear this mower has endured, it really wasn't all that expensive. No wonder that people (myself included) look for these old mowers and collect them. To me, they are worth buying and repairing and using.

And it also helps that they look nice with their beautiful green color.

 

[Vervepipes]

It sure does stand out in a sea of black and red mowers

 

[Two-Stroke]

My first and only new mower I ever bought was a 5247 like yours except it was made in Galesburg, Illinois. That was in 1980. I was a first-time home owner and needed a lawn mower. I didn't know a lot about Lawn Boys back then except that they had 2-cycle engines and cost quite a bit more than many of the run-of-the-mill Briggs & Stratton or Tecumseh powered mowers. I was attracted to the aluminum deck and the engine, thinking at the time that those features would reward me with a long service life. My Dad stopped over just when I was about to fire it up and use it for the first time. He immediately questioned my wisdom for buying a Lawn Boy, referring to it as "expensive 2-cycle junk". My reply to him was that I figured it would last me a long time with proper care.

34 years later, my Dad is now gone, but that same Lawn Boy is still running strong. In all that time of continued use, I have replaced wheels, spark plugs, air filters, carb float needle and seats, blades, crank seals, shut-off switch, the coil, and the filter cover. Motor internals have never been repaired or replaced. The deck, shroud, and handle have their original finishes. The gas tank developed a crack about 15 years ago, so I simply mounted an auxilliary tank to the rear of the deck. Considering all the wear and tear this mower has endured, it really wasn't all that expensive. No wonder that people (myself included) look for these old mowers and collect them. To me, they are worth buying and repairing and using.

And it also helps that they look nice with their beautiful green color.

It's great to hear that.

I bought one of my LBs (model 7266 -- 1977 -- suitcase shroud) from the original owner who only sold it because he quit cutting his own lawn.