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Well Mowing season is just about done here

#1

P

platefire

A real long dry spell seems to have ended the mowing season kind of early this year. I guess if it starts raining again before
the first frost, might get a little more growth.

At least I picked up a new angle grinder this summer and got a new faster/better way to sharpen my blades now as oppose
to my old antique bench grinder. I think the next thing to go are my deck spinals on my 2019 Husq that I think are running on borrowed time plus still got all original belts. Usually when you spend as much time working on them
as mowing, it's time to get another. So far the ol Husq is holding up good but I did have to replace two deck return springs
this season. Don't no whats up with that?


#2

Scrubcadet10

Scrubcadet10

the last good rainfall ive had was hurricane beryl.... its dusty here now.


#3

Craftsman Garage

Craftsman Garage

Our grass had been cooked by the sun, and then decided to go dormant. 🤦🏼‍♂️ We don't have a sprinkler system set up to water the lawn because we run on well water. Nothing worse than having no grass to mow😐. When there were all the wildfires in the west here in 2021 or 2022 (?) the lawn was a literal golf course because of the Ash. Anyway, just got done tilling the yard with an old JD 318 And just spread some seed a few days ago. Also just finished my 30x36 shop with fresh concrete this week. Can't wait to get the old 72 Ford F100 and 92 F150 pulled into the shop and eventually on a lift😁. Been working on a full rebuild on the Red 92 F150 from the cylinder heads up. Putting a lot of time and $ into this beauty of a truck and I think its going to be worth it in the end. 1972 Ford F100 360 4x4 Manual - 1992 Ford F150 302 Reg cab shortbed 4x4 manual


#4

StarTech

StarTech

Considering the cost of used vehicles now most older vehicles are worth repairing. I recently put $2200 in my 2000 S1500 by install a recon transmission. Took me 4 months with work and my health problems. Now I got about 350K miles on the PU.

Here I been more or less letting my lawn to reseed itself.


#5

Scrubcadet10

Scrubcadet10

StarTech said:
Considering the cost of used vehicles now most older vehicles are worth repairing. I recently put $2200 in my 2000 S1500 by install a recon transmission. Took me 4 months with work and my health problems. Now I got about 350K miles on the PU.

Here I been more or less letting my lawn to reseed itself.
Click to expand...
used vehicles are ridiculous.. Thats why i jumped on the dodge i'm driving now for $2200 2 years ago, so far just a water pump and 02 sensors and control arm bushings... piles of junk are selling for $5000🙄🙄🙄🙄


#6

Craftsman Garage

Craftsman Garage

Yeah, newer vehicles are more expensive, but not more durable...


#7

P

platefire

My 1994 Ranger is up to 399K original engine. Had it from new and always change the oil/filter & grease ever 5K miles. Had multiple people stop by wanting to buy it. I just tell them no because
I would just have to turn around and buy another. I have looked at some used trucks for sale
but at today's prices I end up deciding to keep running my Ranger


#8

7394

7394

Well my mowers are put up in storage, maybe I'll have a new lawn to mow next mow season..


#9

P

platefire

I got to where I get it all dun with a 42" Husq rider and a HD Stihl weed eater. 1.8 Acres and a lot of trees(and roots). The self propelled push mower hasn't been fired up in a couple of seasons. I'll probably touch up the high spots before I run them dead dry of gas and put them away. It hasn't rained in about two months of more


#10

S

slomo

New or old, you all better be wiring up an ignition kill switch, HIDDEN in the car. All these new Kamala/Biden "migrants" are stealing cars left and right here in OKC. Shootings are off the charts in the poorer side of town.


#11

Craftsman Garage

Craftsman Garage

@slomo yeah, what did they think was going to happen when they let all these immigrants in 🙄 Lucky for us, these immigrants are too stupid to know what a "kill switch" is lol. I'm near Portland, Oregon so not sure if this totally applies to me.


#12

S

slomo

Craftsman Garage said:
@slomo yeah, what did they think was going to happen when they let all these immigrants in 🙄 Lucky for us, these immigrants are too stupid to know what a "kill switch" is lol. I'm near Portland, Oregon so not sure if this totally applies to me.
Click to expand...
They are flying them in all over the place thanks to you and I. No house for them, we'll just throw them in a luxury hotel. Destroy the hotel, not a problem.


#13

Craftsman Garage

Craftsman Garage

slomo said:
I never voted for Biden-Harris in 2020. I Don't think a lot of people actually voted for Biden and Harris in the first place😒
Click to expand...


#14

7394

7394

That part is irrelevant...


#15

Craftsman Garage

Craftsman Garage

Ah, but isn't freedom of speech great 🙃


#16

G

GearHead36

platefire said:
My 1994 Ranger is up to 399K original engine. Had it from new and always change the oil/filter & grease ever 5K miles. Had multiple people stop by wanting to buy it. I just tell them no because
I would just have to turn around and buy another. I have looked at some used trucks for sale
but at today's prices I end up deciding to keep running my Ranger
Click to expand...
I'm in this boat, too. Several years ago, I bought a 2000 Ranger for $1000, and it was a basket case. It needed work on: engine, transmission, suspension, brakes, A/C, radio, window and door lock switches. I put about another $1000 in it, and it runs, stops, and steers like new. Still looks crappy, but it runs great. That same kind of basket case is $3000 these days. I would kinda like to have a truck that can tow more, but as we just mentioned, even used trucks are stupid expensive. My Ranger will do anything I need a truck for, except towing, and even then, I can tow my riding mowers with it.


#17

Craftsman Garage

Craftsman Garage

Yeah, originally I was looking for a Ranger too, but I needed something just a little bit stronger, while being a relatively small truck. That's how I found my 92 F150 reg cab short bed. It was actually cheaper than some of the Rangers out here for sale. Plus I wanted a V8 too 😏. I bought it for $2800 and changed plug wires, plugs, Distributor, lower intake manifold, Rebuilt injectors, and a new radio. It needs new suspension too so scraping up the money for that. Do you guys want to post pictures of your trucks? I'll post a photo of mine later today.


#18

Craftsman Garage

Craftsman Garage

IMG_7714.jpeg92 Ford F150


#19

S

slomo

Craftsman Garage said:
View attachment 6990492 Ford F150
Click to expand...
LOVE that body style.


#20

Craftsman Garage

Craftsman Garage

@slomo IKR?! It looks so good at night with the running lights on.


#21

P

platefire

That's a fine looking F150! Looks like you could go about anywhere in that.
I like not having to pay a note on my Ranger, haven't paid one in a long
time--some pretty hefty repairs occasionally but that goes with old trucks
1994 Ranger a.jpg


#22

Craftsman Garage

Craftsman Garage

Thanks, the PO trashed it so bad. Just took out most of the emissions equipment except the cat. Cleared out the freaking rats nest of wiring they put in for their CB. They obviously didn't know how electricity worked because they had 3-4 inline fuses on the negative wire for their CB crap. 🤦🏼‍♂️


#23

Tiger Small Engine

Tiger Small Engine

platefire said:
A real long dry spell seems to have ended the mowing season kind of early this year. I guess if it starts raining again before
the first frost, might get a little more growth.

At least I picked up a new angle grinder this summer and got a new faster/better way to sharpen my blades now as oppose
to my old antique bench grinder. I think the next thing to go are my deck spinals on my 2019 Husq that I think are running on borrowed time plus still got all original belts. Usually when you spend as much time working on them
as mowing, it's time to get another. So far the ol Husq is holding up good but I did have to replace two deck return springs
this season. Don't no whats up with that?
Click to expand...
About two weeks before a hard freeze here. It was a great year rain wise until about 7 weeks ago, then very dry. Will be doing leaves for two days at my place after Thanksgiving.


#24

P

platefire

Leaves, I usually let them lay until pre-spring just before the grass starts growing and grind
them with the mower around the house. To me leaves on the ground is part of the decorations of the winter season. On the lower side of the yard away from the house, I usually burn those leaves in place. On the lower side of the yard got lots of trees witch makes lots of leaves,
I find easier to do a control burn to get rid of them because they are so thick


#25

Tiger Small Engine

Tiger Small Engine

platefire said:
Leaves, I usually let them lay until pre-spring just before the grass starts growing and grind
them with the mower around the house. To me leaves on the ground is part of the decorations of the winter season. On the lower side of the yard away from the house, I usually burn those leaves in place. On the lower side of the yard got lots of trees witch makes lots of leaves,
I find easier to do a control burn to get rid of them because they are so thick
Click to expand...
Let the leaves stay on the grass all winter and it will kill your lawn. Do this every year and it will really wipe out the good grass.


#26

B

bullet bob

platefire said:
Leaves, I usually let them lay until pre-spring just before the grass starts growing and grind
them with the mower around the house. To me leaves on the ground is part of the decorations of the winter season. On the lower side of the yard away from the house, I usually burn those leaves in place. On the lower side of the yard got lots of trees witch makes lots of leaves,
I find easier to do a control burn to get rid of them because they are so thick
Click to expand...
Bet your neighbors just love you.......


#27

P

platefire

Everybody burns around here. No big deal long as there is no burn ban on. In that part of the yard
I'm not concerned about a perfect blanket of grass, only the grass around the house. IMHO it grows plenty good even with the burning as long as we have rain.


#28

Craftsman Garage

Craftsman Garage

Those Rangers seem to be pretty solid little trucks. I wonder what mpg they get 🤔


#29

P

platefire

I have a 4 cylinder with a 5 speed manual transmission. It's been a long time since I
checked it but as I remember about 25 to 30 MPG gallon depending driving conditions


#30

Craftsman Garage

Craftsman Garage

WOAH!!!🤯 that's double what I get...


#31

tgzzzz

tgzzzz

Craftsman Garage said:
Those Rangers seem to be pretty solid little trucks. I wonder what mpg they get 🤔
Click to expand...
I saw 20 on a long trip with the V6 3.0 ... one time. usually 15. The 4 cyl is the way to go.


#32

D

ddbtdd

Scrubcadet10 said:
the last good rainfall ive had was hurricane beryl.... its dusty here now.
Click to expand...
There is no possible way that I could replace my commercial grade ztr for what I paid for it 10 years ago. The price has more than doubled. With only 300 hundred hours, it only makes financial sense to make repairs as needed.


#33

D

ddbtdd

slomo said:
New or old, you all better be wiring up an ignition kill switch, HIDDEN in the car. All these new Kamala/Biden "migrants" are stealing cars left and right here in OKC. Shootings are off the charts in the poorer side of town.
Click to expand...
It sounds like the migrants are working the wrong side of town if they are working the poor side.


#34

J

J316

I'll have one more mow this year, probably at the end of next week. Friday will be nice and windy up here in 'Ceciltucky' Maryland, just how I like it! I'll have 50 hours on the new ZT HD by then.


#35

G

Gym123

Craftsman Garage said:
Yeah, newer vehicles are more expensive, but not more durable...
Click to expand...
My friend who worked in V8 Powertrain Development at the GM Desert Proving Ground until about 2002 drives a 1995 Chevy Silverado- he could easily buy new vehicles but why, so he can be stylish and trendy? Not that type and because he has a 2400 square foot garage with a lift IN the floor with foot controls and all of the tools he could need, he can just fix whatever goes bad.

Working in that garage is great, except for the fact that I'm quite a bit taller and need a hard hat to work under a vehicle if he sets the height of the lift. Man, that hurt my melon!


#36

G

Gym123

slomo said:
New or old, you all better be wiring up an ignition kill switch, HIDDEN in the car. All these new Kamala/Biden "migrants" are stealing cars left and right here in OKC. Shootings are off the charts in the poorer side of town.
Click to expand...
I put a starter kill in my '83 Cutlass after it was stolen (and recovered about 20 minutes later, when the guy kicked the metal collar onto the asphalt as he got out of the car at an intersection where a bunch of cops were handling another call). That worked great at car washes and they always had to push my car to the hand dry area (they shut cars off to prevent CO accumulation). That switch broke and I needed to come up with a way to prevent starting without being obvious, so I used the same relay and used the cigarette lighter to close it when I wanted to start the engine. If I thought there was a chance that someone would mess with it, I carried the lighter with me. I don't smoke, so the ash tray always had coins in it. Even if they had peeled the column, it would have cranked.


#37

G

Gym123

I have one area in the back yard that goes dormant, so I watered it a few times this week and will cut the whole lawn after it grows a bit more- waiting for more leaves to fall. We need rain- it's not growing fast, so I hope the snow waits until I get the leaves off- we're not supposed to see snow until about Nov 28, so I have some time. We had five days of heavy wind and I learned a long time ago that raking during wind is a total waste of time.


#38

S

SamB

StarTech said:
Considering the cost of used vehicles now most older vehicles are worth repairing. I recently put $2200 in my 2000 S1500 by install a recon transmission. Took me 4 months with work and my health problems. Now I got about 350K miles on the PU.

Here I been more or less letting my lawn to reseed itself.
Click to expand...
My 1997 Ranger supercab 4.0 5 speed manual has near 300,000 miles on it. and is in near new condition. Has a slight transmission rattle, bearing going out, I assume. I have no options on replacing it with any sort of similar truck, so repair is my only option.
A 2024 Ranger is not near the truck mine is, and at 40 thousand dollars, out of my league to buy. I can put a lot of repair money into my truck, vs buying a new one. Same with my ztr Husqvarna

Attachments





#39

Dixie Boosh Wookie

Dixie Boosh Wookie

slomo said:
New or old, you all better be wiring up an ignition kill switch, HIDDEN in the car. All these new Kamala/Biden "migrants" are stealing cars left and right here in OKC. Shootings are off the charts in the poorer side of town.
Click to expand...
Great advice. Both. 👌👍


#40

Dixie Boosh Wookie

Dixie Boosh Wookie

platefire said:
My 1994 Ranger is up to 399K original engine. Had it from new and always change the oil/filter & grease ever 5K miles. Had multiple people stop by wanting to buy it. I just tell them no because
I would just have to turn around and buy another. I have looked at some used trucks for sale
but at today's prices I end up deciding to keep running my Ranger
Click to expand...
You can't kill them. I have a 96 Ext cab XLT 2.2 Ltr. 5 speed with 385K I drove off the lot in 95, Last "new" vehicle I ever bought. All the normal maintenance, Including ball joints, tie rod ends seals and bearings, don't use a drop of oil, hell, I just put a paint job on it and I have a new truck w/ice cold a/c.
I drive it everywhere, while my 2019 F150 5.0 sits in the yard with 9k miles on it.
Used to be you could buy USA made items that would last, if you took care of them. No more.


#41

MyGrassHasCrabs

MyGrassHasCrabs

Speaking of can't kill, here's my Mazda B2000, bought new in 1984. It's still going strong and has hauled everything from what I had left after my divorce in 1993 to more loads of rocks than I can remember. Same 4-banger engine, about 300k miles, all I've ever done is tune-ups and oil changes. I don't know if it really does much of anything, but I've been using a quart of Dura Lube Engine Treatment with each oil change for the last 30 years or so.

Mazda_B2000.jpg

It's bone dry around here too (Greensboro NC) - we have lots of trees and leaves are everywhere. Went out to hook up my 23 year old pull-behind TracVac and saw that the hose support bar was broken in half. That's what started the latest example of my typical project. Pull out the old mig welder, angle grinder, and other associated stuff. Tested out the Wel-Bilt auto-darkening welding mask and saw it wasn't working. Ok, must need a new battery. Then the fun begins. The $&#* thing doesn't have a simple way to change the battery! As it turned out, I had to dissassemble the helmet & pry the screen module open, then I find out the two flat batteries are spot welded in place. You get that? They welded the batteries in place. I could have ripped them out and refitted it with new battery holders, etc., but an hour later I threw the whole mess in the garbage and ordered a Hobart. That's how it goes for me a lot of the time - fix or replace the tools I need first in order to fix what's broken. Typical fun & games. Y'all be safe out there!


#42

S

SamB

MyGrassHasCrabs said:
Speaking of can't kill, here's my Mazda B2000, bought new in 1984. It's still going strong and has hauled everything from what I had left after my divorce in 1993 to more loads of rocks than I can remember. Same 4-banger engine, about 300k miles, all I've ever done is tune-ups and oil changes. I don't know if it really does much of anything, but I've been using a quart of Dura Lube Engine Treatment with each oil change for the last 30 years or so.

View attachment 69976

It's bone dry around here too (Greensboro NC) - we have lots of trees and leaves are everywhere. Went out to hook up my 23 year old pull-behind TracVac and saw that the hose support bar was broken in half. That's what started the latest example of my typical project. Pull out the old mig welder, angle grinder, and other associated stuff. Tested out the Wel-Bilt auto-darkening welding mask and saw it wasn't working. Ok, must need a new battery. Then the fun begins. The $&#* thing doesn't have a simple way to change the battery! As it turned out, I had to dissassemble the helmet & pry the screen module open, then I find out the two flat batteries are spot welded in place. You get that? They welded the batteries in place. I could have ripped them out and refitted it with new battery holders, etc., but an hour later I threw the whole mess in the garbage and ordered a Hobart. That's how it goes for me a lot of the time - fix or replace the tools I need first in order to fix what's broken. Typical fun & games. Y'all be safe out there!
Click to expand...
Boy, I've had that experience more than once! Have to fix something before you can fix what you started out to fix in the first place!


#43

P

platefire

My Ranger still has has its unmolested original engine but I done a lot more than
change oil and filter! replaced heater core, new stabilizers for front suspension, new breaks about twice, new front wheel bearings, U-joints, new hood hinge, new headliner,
new alternator, new timing belt at least twice, new windshield, new shocks on rear,
new water pump, new heater blower speed control resistors about 3 times and that's just what I can recall off the top of my head:>)


#44

7394

7394

Been running my 08 Chevy HHR Panel 2LT since '09. Still getting it done..And it's packed almost full in this pic.
KY-Arrived.jpg


#45

D

davis2

Its drier than a popcorn fart here on the Maryland Eastern Shore!


#46

D

davis2

tgzzzz said:
I saw 20 on a long trip with the V6 3.0 ... one time. usually 15. The 4 cyl is the way to go.
Click to expand...
Geez, I've seen 24 mpg with my Ram 2500 Cummins Diesel. It averages 20-21around town. I use hot shot's everyday diesel treatment in the fuel.


#47

P

platefire

We got a good rain last Thursday, broke a two month drought here in Lousyana


#48

D

davis2

platefire said:
We got a good rain last Thursday, broke a two month drought here in Lousyana
Click to expand...
We need it here. Send some our way!


#49

M

Markdd60

slomo said:
New or old, you all better be wiring up an ignition kill switch, HIDDEN in the car. All these new Kamala/Biden "migrants" are stealing cars left and right here in OKC. Shootings are off the charts in the poorer side of town.
Click to expand...
Yes, I'm 30m East... work just East of downtown OKC. Shooting\stabbings are normal part of daily news. Pretty sad.... happy to live in the country.


#50

Ozcub

Ozcub

Well we are in the last month of Spring , heading to Summer , plenty of mowing to be done


#51

P

platefire

Where you at?


#52

S

SamB

platefire said:
My Ranger still has has its unmolested original engine but I done a lot more than
change oil and filter! replaced heater core, new stabilizers for front suspension, new breaks about twice, new front wheel bearings, U-joints, new hood hinge, new headliner,
new alternator, new timing belt at least twice, new windshield, new shocks on rear,
new water pump, new heater blower speed control resistors about 3 times and that's just what I can recall off the top of my head:>)40 grand Ranger!
Click to expand...
I've did some of those also, but still a better more solid truck than a new 40 grand Ranger and the associated higher costs of ownership. Tax, license, insurance, etc.


#53

G

Gym123

SamB said:
My 1997 Ranger supercab 4.0 5 speed manual has near 300,000 miles on it. and is in near new condition. Has a slight transmission rattle, bearing going out, I assume. I have no options on replacing it with any sort of similar truck, so repair is my only option.
A 2024 Ranger is not near the truck mine is, and at 40 thousand dollars, out of my league to buy. I can put a lot of repair money into my truck, vs buying a new one. Same with my ztr Husqvarna
Click to expand...

Does the drive shaft have an intermediate bearing? Could that be the source of the rattle?


#54

Ozcub

Ozcub

platefire said:
Where you at?
Click to expand...
In the Great South Land (aka Terra Australis) a place of wonderment and excitement , we call it Australia


#55

P

platefire

Oh OK! Guess I didn't realize the seasons were that far offset. Well have a happy mowing
season! I'm getting ready to run all the gas out of the carb and set it up til next year.
Good to meet some one from Australia, welcome to the forum!


#56

Ozcub

Ozcub

platefire said:
Oh OK! Guess I didn't realize the seasons were that far offset. Well have a happy mowing
season! I'm getting ready to run all the gas out of the carb and set it up til next year.
Good to meet some one from Australia, welcome to the forum!
Click to expand...
The season are opposite to the Northern Hemisphere , so we have a Summer Christmas not a white one
Pleasure to meet you what part of the North are you from (lol)
Did a big mow on Sunday and now the mower is due for its 250hr service , have got all the bits just need to do it
Regards


#57

P

platefire

I'm in North West Louisiana USA about 80 miles south of Shreveport. Most people when they hear Louisiana they think Cajuns, swamps and Alligators but in North Louisiana it's red clay hills, Pine Forest, creeks and Red Necks:>)

I don't ever keep up with hours of operation. I just change the oil, oil filter, air filter and
grease every mowing season rather it needs it or not


#58

Ozcub

Ozcub

platefire said:
I'm in North West Louisiana USA about 80 miles south of Shreveport. Most people when they hear Louisiana they think Cajuns, swamps and Alligators but in North Louisiana it's red clay hills, Pine Forest, creeks and Red Necks:>)

I don't ever keep up with hours of operation. I just change the oil, oil filter, air filter and
grease every mowing season rather it needs it or not
Click to expand...
About 50 hours is my season so do it on the meter
Have heard of Shreveport but it evades me as to why for the moment
We are on the East coast of Australia down in the Southern Highlands region about 100 miles south-west from Sydney
This service will have to wait a little while had a cataract out yesterday 5/11/2024 (please-note we put day first)
See part way through this post the lads were putting pics of their trucks , must put one of mine up that will give them all a thrill

This is the view people get when I pass them (haha)
Regards


#59

P

platefire

Well we got several good rains lately, the grass is revived and I'm back in the mowing business again o_O


#60

S

SamB

Gym123 said:
Does the drive shaft have an intermediate bearing? Could that be the source of the rattle?
Click to expand...
Center driveshaft bearing is a recent replacement via a drivetrain shop.


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