Yet another kick in the pants.

[NinJaBob]

The last year has been really rough around here.

Anyway

Today I was mowing the grass when suddenly the engine slowed way down. Then this loud high pitched rhythmic squeal started coming from the engine. Then smoke started pouring out. Then I heard this sound like when you fire up a gas grill. I turned off the engine and did a Spiderman style backflip off the tractor followed by a dead sprint backwards out of the effective killing radius of an exploding tractor. In hind sight I don't actually know what the killing radius of an exploding tractor is but that's neither here nor there.

Anyway my yard is just this side of an acre. My back is shot and I can barely walk for more than five minutes without excruciating pain. Push mowing is not an option. I haven't worked in 9 moths so money is really tight. Can't afford to fix mower.

Ok so the Spiderman back flip probably looked more like a Chris Farly Prat fall but whatever.

[Dadu2004]

Ugh, that sucks dude...time to teach the wife how to push mow!

[mom2many]

UGH...I feel your pain!

My son took ours to school as part of his small engines class, mind you this was in January. Anways a month or so in I ask him about it, all they are supposed to do is tune it up. I kept getting "we are waiting for parts". A month before school gets' out I ask about it again and get told the samething, two weeks before school get's out I get told that the wrong part came in and they reordered a new one. Needless to say I have no lawn mower, the teacher was going to try and swap out it's engine with another one since it turns out they also broke a part but that never panned out so I have no mower. Just so you know I am not happy about it! But I think at least I have my weed eater.......nope it's broke also. I at least can borrow my MIL's...anybody you know that feels like sharing for the summer?

[LisaH]

Sorry to hear about that. There may be a way to fix this problem.
You may be able to look in ads or craigs list for free mower? Take mow to community college or high school and see if a class can fix it up? Take it to Home Depot or Lowes and see if somebody can fix it for very low rate?
As for your back, may you can try get different wheels or something that would make it easier to pushes the mow?

[IADad]

oh, man, that sucks.

I know you're not sitting flush with cash, but what about finding a kid (like a friend of the family) who might help you out for the balance of the sumer, for something minimal, like gas plus $10...I know $10 is a lot when you don't have it, but it's a lot less than trying to replace or pay to fix right now...

[kdryan]

You know, when I was small, we had one of those old push mowers with no engine and the rotating blade on the front. It was old then and I haven't seen one in years. But that non-powered mower was easier to use than any mower I have ever had that used an engine. It was light and I could whip around the yard like it was nothing. I wish I had another one...

[mom2many]

We are looking into a push mower, I am not very good about remembering to buy gas, and they are almost as expensive as a gas mower. It is crazy!

I keep hoping I will come across one at a yard sale or second hand store but so far no luck.

[kdryan]

Phil, that would probably be better on your back than a regular mower because it's lighter and there is no vibration coming up through the handle. Add to that the lack of a need for gas, no pollution so it's good for the environment, and no noise, so no worries about neighbors complaining, plus a smaller footprint so it's easier to store. I think I'll start looking for one for me!

[St. Nobody]

Kdryan, I wonder if I was using mine wrong? It was exceedingly hard to use!

I don't know what kind of neighborhood you live in or if you're set up for it, but you're set up for it, a goat or older horse would be great for a lawnmower. Horse rescues are overrun right now, and if you could foster an old horse, they'd probably pay for the food it can't get from your yard and its medical needs.

Of course, not everyone is set up for livestock, but if you are, it's something to keep in mind.

Suggestions others have made are also good- perhaps someone from CraigsList could fix it, or if you would be willing to loan it out in exchange for having it repaired, you might find someone who would help you fix it.

[kdryan]

If I remember, the trick was keeping it super clean and oiled, plus not letting the grass get too big. I used to literally run through our yard pushing that thing.