Post by papaof2 on Jun 15, 2020 18:15:09 GMT -6
Well, I'm about to part with an old friend. The 2003 model year Craftsman 42" mower that I bought used in 2008 ($450 with dump trailer) is beginning to show its age.
Problem one has been around for a couple of years - the compression release (to make starting easier) doesn't always engage on the first try and it sounds like a bad battery (can barely turn the engine over) but trying again nearly always gets a quick start. Once the engine is warm it always starts quickly so not a problem with the battery.
Problem two showed up today when the hydrostatic transmission had no forward motion at the lowest speed settings but jerked right up to mowing speed when the lever was moved that far - if I wanted a jerky engagement I'd have bought a mower with a manual transmission. A new transaxle is $570 (free shipping) and a used one is $220 (free shipping). I doubt that this one will last the summer.
Talked with the better half and she told me I was too old to be replacing pieces as big as the transaxle or pulling the engine off and taking it almost completely apart to replace the compression release mechanism which runs off the crankshaft and is at the bottom of the engine (as mounted) so requires pulling the engine and opening up the business end of it.
A new Craftsman mower with comparable features and a 3 year warranty is on order and the sale price less the 5% Lowe's card discount makes it just $20 more than the original list price of the 17 year old mower. The stimulus money has been spent and it did provide stimulus - the mower was assembled in Greenville, TN and its Kohler engine was built in Hattiesburg, MS.
The nearest store with the mower in stock is 44 miles away so I took the free shipping offer. The mower will be here Sunday so I guess it's the biggest Father's Day gift yet ;-)
Now do I put the old mower in the For Sale section on Craig's List for $150 with a video of it starting and running or just put it in the Free section and let someone have a pig in a poke? The blade mandrels and blades are new, as are the belts and both front wheels. I know that I have at least one spark plug and one air filter in stock - I may even have spare belts. Need to check that after the new mower gets here and I see what plug and filters (it has an oil filter) it uses...
Problem one has been around for a couple of years - the compression release (to make starting easier) doesn't always engage on the first try and it sounds like a bad battery (can barely turn the engine over) but trying again nearly always gets a quick start. Once the engine is warm it always starts quickly so not a problem with the battery.
Problem two showed up today when the hydrostatic transmission had no forward motion at the lowest speed settings but jerked right up to mowing speed when the lever was moved that far - if I wanted a jerky engagement I'd have bought a mower with a manual transmission. A new transaxle is $570 (free shipping) and a used one is $220 (free shipping). I doubt that this one will last the summer.
Talked with the better half and she told me I was too old to be replacing pieces as big as the transaxle or pulling the engine off and taking it almost completely apart to replace the compression release mechanism which runs off the crankshaft and is at the bottom of the engine (as mounted) so requires pulling the engine and opening up the business end of it.
A new Craftsman mower with comparable features and a 3 year warranty is on order and the sale price less the 5% Lowe's card discount makes it just $20 more than the original list price of the 17 year old mower. The stimulus money has been spent and it did provide stimulus - the mower was assembled in Greenville, TN and its Kohler engine was built in Hattiesburg, MS.
The nearest store with the mower in stock is 44 miles away so I took the free shipping offer. The mower will be here Sunday so I guess it's the biggest Father's Day gift yet ;-)
Now do I put the old mower in the For Sale section on Craig's List for $150 with a video of it starting and running or just put it in the Free section and let someone have a pig in a poke? The blade mandrels and blades are new, as are the belts and both front wheels. I know that I have at least one spark plug and one air filter in stock - I may even have spare belts. Need to check that after the new mower gets here and I see what plug and filters (it has an oil filter) it uses...
