We're heading out tomorrow for a few days, FINALLY. Going to Kelleys Island State Park in Ohio, a place we've never heard of but that sounds like an interesting piece of land to explore. We'll bring the bikes and yaks and just relax...
Morning Cup Of Coffee And Weather
- Thread starter Tour 931
- Start date
My first mower was an 18" Lawn Boy commercial trim mower that my dad bought in 1963 from my uncle who was a Chevy dealer, and who also sold Lawnboy mowers.
I used that for my lawn mowing jobs until I left home, but when I finished my schooling and was in a position to buy our first home, I got it back again. I used that mower for the next 30 years until it lost so much power that I decided it didn't owe me anything anymore. I bought a new 22" 4 cycle powered mower, and used it for about a month when I accidentally hit the large bolt that held the funnel shaped end to the culvert under our driveway, and bent the crankshaft. I needed to finish the mowing, so pulled out the old Lawnboy. I thought if I sharpened the blade maybe it wouldn't take as much power, but when I turned it on it's side to remove the blade, I noticed that the outlet of the kidney shaped muffler under the deck was completely blocked with carbon.
Those early Lawnboys required a cup of oil per gallon of gas, which is a extremely rich mixture by today's standards. Anyway after removing the two nuts that held on the lower half of the muffler, I found the inside was completely full of carbon from all of that burned oil. I spent about 15 minutes scraping all of the build-up out, put the muffler halves back together, put in some mixed gas, pulled up the choke lever, wrapped the starter rope around the flywheel (the recoil had broken years earlier with no replacement parts to be had), and it started on the second pull, and ran like new!
I used that mower until about 2010 when the newer and larger Lawnboy my dad (who had died about 7years earlier)had bought finally quit. I brought the old one back to their home so my brother and I could mow the lawn for my mom until she passed in 2015. In the meantime I had bought a new Honda powered 22" mower for our lawn, so when we sold my my mom's home and all her possessions that the siblings didn't want or need, that mower went with them. As far as I know it's still running (or least I'd like to think so), but i know it ran for 52 years for sure.
Sweeney
Administrator
What was great to reconnect with friends at at our 40th. The turnout was impressive—maybe 30% of our class?—likely boosted by the missed 35th due to the plandemic. It was heartwarming to see so many familiar names, even if time has reshaped us all a bit since we were 48, the last time I saw most of them. Which was almost as significant as the changes from our 1985 yearbook photos...
My senior photo, with those big glasses and that "permanent wave" trying to tame my wild hair, feels like a fun relic compared to my streamlined look now!
The weekend was a whirlwind, though I’ll admit, as a melancholic, coming home on my 58th birthday stirred a touch of nostalgia for our old hometown days. Still, it was a gift to be there.
Most of the times I've been home for similar events, I have an urge to move back - perhaps it's that almost all of my family is gone, and most of the 'haunts' are slowly disapearing too. Thank goodness the old simonton lake drive-in is still in business!!! Great root beer!!!!
If you're ever in Elkhart, this drive in is just a few minutes north near Simonton Lake (obviously) it is a must!
Sweeney
Administrator
My first mower was an 18" Lawn Boy commercial trim mower that my dad bought in 1963 from my uncle who was a Chevy dealer, and who also sold Lawnboy mowers.
I used that for my lawn mowing jobs until I left home, but when I finished my schooling and was in a position to buy our first home, I got it back again. I used that mower for the next 30 years until it lost so much power that I decided it didn't owe me anything anymore. I bought a new 22" 4 cycle powered mower, and used it for about a month when I accidentally hit the large bolt that held the funnel shaped end to the culvert under our driveway, and bent the crankshaft. I needed to finish the mowing, so pulled out the old Lawnboy. I thought if I sharpened the blade maybe it wouldn't take as much power, but when I turned it on it's side to remove the blade, I noticed that the outlet of the kidney shaped muffler under the deck was completely blocked with carbon.
Those early Lawnboys required a cup of oil per gallon of gas, which is a extremely rich mixture by today's standards. Anyway after removing the two nuts that held on the lower half of the muffler, I found the inside was completely full of carbon from all of that burned oil. I spent about 15 minutes scraping all of the build-up out, put the muffler halves back together, put in some mixed gas, pulled up the choke lever, wrapped the starter rope around the flywheel (the recoil had broken years earlier with no replacement parts to be had), and it started on the second pull, and ran like new!
I used that mower until about 2010 when the newer and larger Lawnboy my dad (who had died about 7years earlier)had bought finally quit. I brought the old one back to their home so my brother and I could mow the lawn for my mom until she passed in 2015. In the meantime I had bought a new Honda powered 22" mower for our lawn, so when we sold my my mom's home and all her possessions that the siblings didn't want or need, that mower went with them. As far as I know it's still running (or least I'd like to think so), but i know it ran for 52 years for sure.
I wouldn't doubt it -- the nice part about 2 cycle engines is that they are really low maintenance excpet for de-carboning every 10 or 20 years
I know for a fact most lawn mowers today never see new oil. Heck, back in '15 or so I think it was breaks & scrapem (briggs & Stratton) that sold an egine with "lifetime oil" What a great business model! guaranteed sale in just a few years...
John and Shawna
Newbie
woke up to these guys 5:30 am Friday
TRNP juniper campground
TRNP juniper campground
Tour 931
Ranger
Great story! This spring I bought a 24 hp diesel Kabota belly mower. I mow about seven acres and it’s 62” mower makes quick work of it.My first mower was an 18" Lawn Boy commercial trim mower that my dad bought in 1963 from my uncle who was a Chevy dealer, and who also sold Lawnboy mowers.
I used that for my lawn mowing jobs until I left home, but when I finished my schooling and was in a position to buy our first home, I got it back again. I used that mower for the next 30 years until it lost so much power that I decided it didn't owe me anything anymore. I bought a new 22" 4 cycle powered mower, and used it for about a month when I accidentally hit the large bolt that held the funnel shaped end to the culvert under our driveway, and bent the crankshaft. I needed to finish the mowing, so pulled out the old Lawnboy. I thought if I sharpened the blade maybe it wouldn't take as much power, but when I turned it on it's side to remove the blade, I noticed that the outlet of the kidney shaped muffler under the deck was completely blocked with carbon.
Those early Lawnboys required a cup of oil per gallon of gas, which is a extremely rich mixture by today's standards. Anyway after removing the two nuts that held on the lower half of the muffler, I found the inside was completely full of carbon from all of that burned oil. I spent about 15 minutes scraping all of the build-up out, put the muffler halves back together, put in some mixed gas, pulled up the choke lever, wrapped the starter rope around the flywheel (the recoil had broken years earlier with no replacement parts to be had), and it started on the second pull, and ran like new!
I used that mower until about 2010 when the newer and larger Lawnboy my dad (who had died about 7years earlier)had bought finally quit. I brought the old one back to their home so my brother and I could mow the lawn for my mom until she passed in 2015. In the meantime I had bought a new Honda powered 22" mower for our lawn, so when we sold my my mom's home and all her possessions that the siblings didn't want or need, that mower went with them. As far as I know it's still running (or least I'd like to think so), but i know it ran for 52 years for sure.
What a great experience for your little one!...and of course you too!!
Last edited:
Love those driveway ornaments!Great story! This spring I bought a 24 hp diesel Kabota belly mower. I mow about seven acres and it’s 62” mower makes quick work of it.
Sweeney
Administrator
WOW! Thats a sight of a lifetime!
Warren Mary Ellen
Ranger
Seeing reports of high winds & hail in Wisconsin. Hope everyone is ok.
Tour 931
Ranger
I live on Timms Hill which is usually windy but we didn’t have much wind. Only a few inches of rain.
That's incredible. Looks like that system just sat there and rained...
We've got friends who have a place near Viroqua, WI and it looks like they got their share as well. They're up in the Twin Cities so they're lucky...
Sweeney
Administrator
I don't see a 'bumper pull' cost to get a camper on to the island --- $40 for an automobile,and then a 5'th wheel price. This looks like a really cool experience! I missed it when you posted this...
For a round trip with the teardrop it was $127 total including the 2 old farts in the car. It was a great place. Not to be confused with nearby Put In Bay, which is a big party fest from what we heard around the island. Just sayin'...
Warren Mary Ellen
Ranger
Cut the grass once all of July because of no rain. I’ve cut it 3 times in the last 6 days & I should have cut it more than that. Need a happy middle ground.
TheSongDogHouse
Ranger
"happy middle ground"
I thought that is the new garage/beer hall you put in, amiright?
I thought that is the new garage/beer hall you put in, amiright?
Sweeney
Administrator
Thats cheaper than Iwould have expected! Maybe some day I'll get up there
I want to see put-in-bay too -- but tahts a day trip. I'm not a crowds person.THAT is tomorrow job --- it was going to be today -- but it rained and is now growing. I'm really glad I have a "commercial" lawn mower....