I Need A Little Help

[OBJ]

Guys...<br /><br />I'm in a real delemma here. My tractor has died. It's a Whites 12hp Briggs&Stratton with a 48" mower deck. Lord knows I've tried every thing to keep her going. But tonight she finally died. Now, she herself is making suggestions like "We need a new one anyway" and "Let it die, you've put enough into it" and the ever popular, "Get a new tractor or your cut off for six months!!". <br /><br />I just don't know what to do. The old girl has served us for many a' year and I just can't let her go. She turned 23 last year. <br /><br />What should I do? Think with my tallywacker or revive the old White?

 

[muskyone]

Re: I Need A Little Help

tell her you were sick of useing that old thing anyway and fix the mower http://www.northerntool.com/ <br />.<br />.<br />.<br />.<br />.<br />..<br />.<br />.<br />..<br />just kidding

 

[BR549]

Re: I Need A Little Help

I know how you feel - had to replace the "Lawn Wizard" this year after three generations of service. I will have to admit that the memory fades a little each time i crank up the new John Deere and wonder how I lived without cupholders on the mower

 

[petryshyn]

Re: I Need A Little Help

if momma ain't happy.........ain't nobody happy!

 

[Skinnywater]

Re: I Need A Little Help

Next month it will be something else broke on the old girl. The month after, something else.<br /><br />That V twin (Vangaurd?)Briggs has is a real nice motor.<br />After it's broken in you can start using Mobil1.<br />This one may be the last you'll need to buy so get a real nice one. <br />Sears has good customer service and thier parts network is excellent.

 

[roscoe]

Re: I Need A Little Help

Get a Buehl, they are light, fast, good handling too.

 

[cotterman]

Re: I Need A Little Help

get the new tractor and keep the old one too as a project....then you'll have two

 

[Ross J]

Re: I Need A Little Help

Take a photograph of the old tractor and have it blown up to 12x10" size, then mount it in the bedroom.<br />Next, go out and buy the new one to use. You'll not win this one but there'll never be a repeat performance of the "you'll be cut of for..." threat. Every time she rolls over the photo will remind her of the implications of such action.<br />It won't solve this problem but you'll get a wee mileage from it all the same.......<br />Good luck.<br />Ross.

 

[ehenry]

Re: I Need A Little Help

This is a no brainer to me......If my wife came and told me that I needed a new tractor and was cool with me buying a new one.....I'd strike a trott straight to the tractor place and fetch a new one home. Plus I'd get one that was bigger-n-better than the old one ! ! ! My philosophy on yard mowing is....If it takes you more than an hour to an hour and a half to beat your grass, you aint got enough mower or your yard is too big ! ! !

 

[FLATHEAD]

Re: I Need A Little Help

Heck yeah Outboard. I agree with Efhenry. I wouldn't have to be asked twice. That new mower would be home the next day.

 

[roscoe]

Re: I Need A Little Help

On second thought, skip the Buehl.<br />Flathead, you got an old H-D engine?<br />Maybe OBJim can make a Tim Allen special, More Power!!!! ARGH ARGH ARGH

 

[OBJ]

Re: I Need A Little Help

Thanks for all the help guys. I've kinda made up my mind that a new tractor is the way to go. You know....keep things on an even keel around the house, keep she herself happy, don't lose any night life. <br /><br />Although I thought about re-power....small block chevy maybe..... <br /><br />Going to start looking tonight if she herself wants unless she wants to go to the river. Won't know till the last minute. She needs to learn to drive the Starcraft over again after I re-powered it with a 90hp Rude. Did have a 50hp. This ought to be good.

 

[bubbakat]

Re: I Need A Little Help

well here comes the new tractor to cut the grass or here comes a whole lot of cold showers

 

[FLATHEAD]

Re: I Need A Little Help

An HD powered lawn mower??? I LIKE IT!!!!!

 

[ebbtide176]

Re: I Need A Little Help

good luck there OBJ. i know what you mean. i used my snapper bagger most of last year with a dead battery & broken throttle cable, just jumpstarted with batt charger and tweaked gov with my fingers <br /><br />so i bought, installed the goods last weekend. new batt, new throttle, already put solenoid/ign swtch on to use key to crank without pushing the stupid button...<br /><br />drove it one lap and the friggin axle broke! i have never.... man did it bite the sack. but good ole neighbor batchelor man lemme borrow his fine mochine- john deere counter rotating blades, hydralic tranny, center chute builtin bagger with touch button dump. jeez, now imma ruined.<br /><br />i gotta fix my $300 mower cauz i aint shellin out $3500 for what i really want. lol <br /><br />now if i can avoid whatever hit skinnywater on the bike purchase i'll be okay til i get a raise or something. but for you, i'd say gofer a cadillac mower

 

[blifsey]

Re: I Need A Little Help

Buy a new one to keep the grass in check and rig the old one up to move your boat(s) around the yard.

 

[SS MAYFLOAT]

Re: I Need A Little Help

Hi Outboard Jim, <br /><br /> My old cub is a 72 model. She still fires up on the first crank when it is 0 cold out. May smoke some, but she is old enough and legal too.<br /><br /> My new cub (made by MTD or modern technical disaster) has been worked on more than my old cub ever has. Old mowers were built to last if you have one made prior to the 80's.<br /><br />So at one time I was in your situation. Didn't think the old cub would handle mowing an acre a week, so bought a new one. Wished I spent the money on new parts for the old one. <br /><br />IMHO stay away from anything that has MTD on it. When I go get a new mower, I think it will be one of those 4x4 Steiners. They are awesome! You have a great day Jim ........SS<br /><br />By the way, tell your wife your going to conserve fuel, Buy her a couple of goats!

 

[Scoop]

Re: I Need A Little Help

Outboard Jim, I feel for ya. Those old tractors and mowers were great, but when you get an ok from the wife, you have to take avantage.<br /><br />I say get the new tractor, take the old tractor and shady it into some type of boat project. <br /><br />I do like the picture idea. It is even better if you hang it in te bedroom like what was suggested.

 

[12Footer]

Re: I Need A Little Help

My 1980 Crafstman 42" lawn racer finally threw a rod last year, so I feel your pain (sniff).<br /><br />On the B&S vee twins, there is the fuel pump, and that silly electric solenoid cutoff on the carb, that fail 2 months outta the box. I bypassed my cutoff solenoid by tying a string to the throttle linkage. Then ,when the string was pulled up past the spring stop, it would shut down.<br />But I sure miss the old girl. I got a used Yardman 42" from my brother, and it runs great. But it aint near as fast, or as strong a puller as that old Crafstman was.<br />Hydrostatic drive indead!