If you want to increase your success rate, double your failure rate.

Sunday, March 29, 2015

Its 19 degrees and I'm Already Thinking About Lawnmowing

Hello and welcome to Sunday,

Today will mark my last post before the A to Z challenge begins on Wednesday.
There is still time to enter the challenge.  Just click on the badge on the right side of the screen!

I have modified the blog look slightly to allow easier reading of the month long challenge posts.
Unfortunately, I can't see it through your computer so if you see any problems with your view please comment and I will correct them.

I have decided not to trade the truck in.  The dealerships will not offer enough for my current truck.  I was a bit appalled at their offer and promptly walked out the door.  I will probably keep this one until the wheels fall off it.  It's a good truck anyways.

On to the next thing - lawnmowers.

The current mower I have is about 25-30 years old.  I know that seems pretty old for a lawnmower but it is a John Deere and back then they were built to last.

Two seasons ago I removed the engine, installed a new piston and rings and cleaned up the valves a little.  It had so much crud in the valves that it was burning a lot of oil.  Also, the rings were shot which didn't help much either.  After replacing all that the engine ran good for the next season but by the second season it was back to its old tricks again.  In order to fix it correctly I would need to have the cylinder bored and an oversize piston installed.  Not a huge deal but the mower is really starting to go downhill.  So I think I will sell it and buy a new one.

Meet my new mower




This is a Cub Cadet with a 54"cutting deck.  It has a 23 HP Kohler engine and will mow the lawn at 7 MPH.  Which is kind of silly because at those speeds you're sure to spill your beer!

I chose this one over the other competitors because of the construction.  It has a fabricated heavy duty steel framework.  The competition has a weak stamped construction and overall seemed a bit wimpy.

The 54" cutting width will be awesome.  They offer a smaller width of 46" but the savings is only $200.  It is the exact same tractor body and engine it just has a skinnier deck.  That's a no-brainer in my book.  

I really enjoy mowing my yard and I take special pains to make it look just right.  It's about time I had a nicer tractor to mow with.  At $2999 it is a pretty good deal.  The dealer is offering 18 months interest-free financing too so that helps when it comes to pulling the trigger.

A photo of my yard after a fresh mowing.


Signing out for now,
-Bushman


3 comments:

  1. Your layout and colours are great on my monitor. Two thumbs up!
    Good decision regarding the truck, and the new mower. Your lawn does look awesome and if a new mower will make that go easier than you did the right thing!

    I'm looking forward to your posts Bushman - I know they will be amazing. So, until April 1st… take a break and have a relaxing few days away from the screen.

    Cheers, Jenny
    2015 A to Z Challenge Ambassador
    @PearsonReport

    ReplyDelete
  2. Yeah, I dig the new layout. It looks sharp. And 25-30 years old for a mower isn't much. My parents' mower is older than I am and still runs like a champ. I don't think they'll be rushing out to buy a riding mower that'll go almost 10 mph, though...

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  3. I like the new blog look; no problem with it that I could see. Mighty big yard you have to mow! I can see why you would want the lawn mower you plan to get!

    betty

    ReplyDelete

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