Lawnmower question - don't laugh **Update with a few more concerns*** - got the mower!

[episodic]

Update: I have it - and have more questions
Ok, I got it home.

I got it together and started it. Seems fine.

I wish I had read the posts in here first. Someone said that if I tipped it over make sure the air filter is up. My bad - I tipped it up once looking for the oil plug - the air filter was down. Of course this was before I put oil or gas in - so I guess I'm ok.

The mower came with SAE 30 oil. It said to change it after only running 5 hours. Then change it every 25. So looks like I get to mow twice before changing it.

I don't see an oil drain plug. I guess I just tip it over and drain it from the fill hole?

I know this sounds crazy, but the mower is liable to be stolen around here. I physically picked it up and carried it inside and have sat it in a spare bedroom. I got to thinking about the gas cap. I can smell a 'little' gas - does it vent that many fumes to be considered dangerous? I can't figure out a place I could chain it and it not walk away. The handle can be unbolted in seconds. Unfortuantly no shed and the property is wide open.

Thanks for all the tips so far hahah

Also, the manual is chalked full of warnings to disconnect the spark plug if you do anything. Of course I read this inside in my easy chair after I grabbed it by the deck plate underneath and picked it up and carried it in. Can these lawnmowers start with noone pulling the cord? Don't wanna loose a hand.


I ended up getting a 3.5 horsepower "Weed Eater" brand mower at Walmart for 99$ plus tax onsale. A grand 20 inch cutting path I know that some recommended the self propelled, it is a flat yard, and well - it was another 100$ for self propelled.

END OF UPDATE



------------------------

I've always rented apartments or houses that lawn service was included. As a kid, dad hired people to do our yard. So basically, I'm a 30 something that has never mowed a yard.

I recently have got my own house. I've been paying a kid like 30 every other week for a few weeks to do it. He does it in about an hour and half with a push mower (it is a pretty good sized yard).

Walmart (the only store around here) sells small murray push mowers for 109. Being a cheapskate in a place with fast growing grass, of course my inclinations are to purchase this mower and do it myself.

Some questions I'm too embarresed to ask people in person:

What kind of fuel does it use - regular gas - any particular octane?
Oil - is it 2 cycle - or regular car oil - or something else.

Do you change the oil? Is there a filter? Or does the mower mix the oil with the gas?

Do mowers last a few years generally. There are no small engine service shops anywhere around here, and I don't know the first thing about them.

Please don't tell me to spend 500$ and get a super OMGBBQ mower. . . and I don't mind a little excercise so I'm content with a small push - I just want some pointers before I go buy it so I don't look like a total idiot. . .

TIA

 

[boomerang]

Regular gas, low octane is fine.

Regular car oil. There will be a manual of sorts with it that will explain what to use. Probably 30W or 10W-30.

Change oil = yes. Air filter = yes. I highly doubt you mix oil with the gas. That would be a 2 cycle motor. But if it is, the manual will tell you so. Also, if it is, change oil = no.

With regular oil changes and a little maintenance you could easily get 5 years or more from it. It's cheap though. Don't expect it to last forever.

For clarification, if it is in fact a 2 cycle;

No oil to change, you'll mix oil with the gas. 2 cycle oil at the recommended ratio.

Otherwise you'll need to change the oil.

This reply has become so convoluted I hope you can follow it.

 

[Howard]

4-cycle engines don't need to have their fuel and lubing oil mixed, which is nice.

 

[BrokenVisage]

Obligatory: LOL

 

[thejnaitor]

Originally posted by: BrokenVisage
Obligatory: LOL

+1.

Sorry, but that is pretty funny.

I would have replied with some helpful info, but previous posters took care of you.

 

[vi edit]

Push mowers are almost indestructible. I've got 15 year old Craftsman push mower and I don't think it's had anything done to it in over 5 years short of putting in gas. Still fires up on the first pull.

 

[jadinolf]

Originally posted by: BrokenVisage
Obligatory: LOL

 

[FoBoT]

Originally posted by: episodic
.. sells small murray push mowers for 109.

i bought one of those from kmart around 1995 and it still works!! usually on the first pull

the deck isn't even rusted (you need to wash the grass out from the underneath of the deck EVERY time you mow or it'll rust out)

oh, and i have never changed the oil
not that that is a good idea i suppose
i do check the oil every couple of years

but i only use it a few hours a year at most these days, just to do right up against the house, the rest is mowed with the rider mower

 

[iRONic]

Spend $200 and get a Craftsman self propelled, rear-drive lawnmower. You'll thank me later.

/thread

 

[Evadman]

Originally posted by: episodic
What kind of fuel does it use - regular gas - any particular octane?

Cheap 87 is fine.

Originally posted by: episodic
Oil - is it 2 cycle - or regular car oil - or something else.

They make special oil for lawn mowers and other small engines because they are air cooled and thus run hotter. Since they do nto have a filter, contaminants are not taken out either, so it is a good idea to use the stuff for 4 cycle engines. I use automotive synthetic because you only need to change it once a year, and you only use about a quart,a nd it is what I have all over the garage. Any oil is better than running low. Just change whatever you put in once a year and you are fine.

Originally posted by: episodic
Do you change the oil? Is there a filter? Or does the mower mix the oil with the gas?

change the oil once a year. Change the filter when it gets dirty, and change the plug every few years. Technicly youa re supposed to do all 3 every year on most engines, or at a certain number of running hours (like 50) which you can estimate. See the manual. There is a plug under the deck to drain the oil, the plug will generally have a square indentation in it that is the same size as a 3/8" ratchet extension. Use that to take it out (no socket). at minimum, do this every 2 years.

If you have to tip the mower on it's side for any reason, make sure the air filter is on the side that is pointed up or you will foul the carb.

Originally posted by: episodic
Do mowers last a few years generally. There are no small engine service shops anywhere around here, and I don't know the first thing about them.

They will last forever if maintained. Follow the mainteance stuff and you will get 15-20 years out of it, or until he deck rusts out. I used to have a Aeriens 4 HP rider from the 60's or 70's (don't remeber) that I did a bunch of stuff too, beat the hell out of it and such, and it was still running when I gave it to someone else.

Originally posted by: episodic
Please don't tell me to spend 500$ and get a super OMGBBQ mower. . . and I don't mind a little excercise so I'm content with a small push - I just want some pointers before I go buy it so I don't look like a total idiot. . .

Here are my recommendations on the mower:
Get the cheapest self propelled one.
If you have a bumpy yard get a high wheel.
Get one with at least 4 HP, 5 if self propelled.

Here are my recommendations on how to mow:
Mow often. If the grass is longer it will wear the blade out faster and scalp the lawn. Depending on length, once a week is fine. It also depends on your grass. 2 weeks is pushing it.
Don't mow when the grass is wet. This will wear the blade and you will get clumps.
Mow along the edges of your yard then do the inside, starting with the longest part of your yard. (mow in the 50' direction not the 20' direction)

 

[GeekDrew]

Originally posted by: vi_edit
Push mowers are almost indestructible. I've got 15 year old Craftsman push mower and I don't think it's had anything done to it in over 5 years short of putting in gas. Still fires up on the first pull.

We've got a Lawnboy push mower that was purchased sometime in the late 80s, and it still runs perfectly well. Mom bought it when she was mowing cemeteries as a side job, and uses it constantly back then. She stopped doing that in the early 90s. Since then, we've just used it for light duty since then, just trimming around the buildings and etc on our 4 properties that have lawns (probably about 10 acres to mow, total). We mow two of them with a John Deere riding mower from 1988, and two of them with a Cub Cadet from ~1999. The John Deere still runs really well, but the Cub doesn't run worth crap. We used to use either Rally or Murray push mowers on two of the places, but we were going through one push mower per year, so we just gave up on that and started hauling the Lawnboy around to all 4.

</ramble>

 

[Raduque]

You're supposed to change the oil on these things? Huh, news to me. My parents have had the same mower for about 5 years now, and haven't done anything to it except put in more gas when it runs out

 

[Evadman]

Originally posted by: Raduque
You're supposed to change the oil on these things? Huh, news to me.

You are joking right? Oil burns off, gets carbonized, and particulate matter can get in on occasion. Changing the oil will keep the engine running. Sooner or later the engine will seize and you will have a nice lawn ornament.

If the brake light turns on in your car, do you just squirt toothpaste in there till it turns off? God (or something or evolution or whatever) gave you a brain. The manufacturer gave you some paper with words written on it. Please put them both together.

 

[KK]

Originally posted by: Raduque
You're supposed to change the oil on these things? Huh, news to me. My parents have had the same mower for about 5 years now, and haven't done anything to it except put in more gas when it runs out

Lawn mower forum. main thing like everyone has said is to maintain it properly and it'll last.

 

[imported_Imp]

We use one of the newer non-powered/manual mowers since our lawn is pretty small. Also, saves some gas and we're afraid of losing a hand when we ask Jimmy to check what's jamming the rotor...

 

[thepd7]

Originally posted by: Evadman

Originally posted by: Raduque
You're supposed to change the oil on these things? Huh, news to me.

You are joking right? Oil burns off, gets carbonized, and particulate matter can get in on occasion. Changing the oil will keep the engine running. Sooner or later the engine will seize and you will have a nice lawn ornament.

If the brake light turns on in your car, do you just squirt toothpaste in there till it turns off? God (or something or evolution or whatever) gave you a brain. The manufacturer gave you some paper with words written on it. Please put them both together.

lol if you only use it once a week 20 weeks a year for 2 hours it's really not that big of a deal, chill out. It would still last you 5-7 years without every changing the oil.

 

[PHiuR]

I prefer a RWD mower to a FWD.

 

[Evadman]

Originally posted by: thepd7
lol if you only use it once a week 20 weeks a year for 2 hours it's really not that big of a deal, chill out. It would still last you 5-7 years without every changing the oil.

If you want to wreck a perfectly good lawn mower that costs $200-$600 for $2 worth of oil that is your choice. Lawn mowers are supposed to last more than 5 years, but if you want a new one every 5 years, it doesn't really matter. In all likelihood it probably will last 5 years on average without changing the oil, B&S engines will take a good amount of abuse as long as particulate matter is kept out.

<edit>
Here is a link to what B&S says for maintenance. B&S engines are the most popular for small engines including lawn mowers. Along witht hat, here is a how to do maintenance page.

Cliff notes:
Change oil every season or 50 hours. (20 weeks at 2 hrs is 40 hrs)
Change air filter every season or 25 hours (that would be 2x a season)
Change plug every season or 100 hrs
Change fuel filter every season or 50 hrs
Inspect cooling fins & muffler (spark arrester) every season.

 

[ponyo]

Originally posted by: Raduque
You're supposed to change the oil on these things? Huh, news to me. My parents have had the same mower for about 5 years now, and haven't done anything to it except put in more gas when it runs out

I never changed the oil for my riding lawnmower. I've had it about 10 years although the last two years I haven't used it since I now use a landscaping company for my lawn maintenance.

 

[GeekDrew]

Wow, these posts are just astounding... and I'm not talking about the op.

 

[xSauronx]

Originally posted by: GeekDrew
Wow, these posts are just astounding... and I'm not talking about the op.

no kidding. we usually changed the oil in ours at the beginning of the summer

i rent an apartment now, god, i love not having to do yardwork. i had a bit more than an acre that took an hour on a riding lawnmower, and then another 4 hours a month of weed-eating and trimming to keep it looking decent

my dad had a murray riding mower for a good 10 years or so, he gave it to a friend of his because he got a smaller yard and just need a pushmower, and i *know* that guy got at least another 3 out of it.

 

[DrPizza]

As for changing the oil, I prefer the "look at it and decide if it needs to be changed" strategy. If it still looks relatively clean, then I leave it alone. If it's black and gooey like tar, then it's wayyy past when it should have been changed.

Regardless, it's simplest to just do that maintenance at either the end of one season, or the beginning of the next. The last time you run it in the year, let it run completely out of gas. Never leave it in the rain. The air filter: just treat it like a sponge and wash it in soapy water. Rinse well. After it dries, apply just a couple drops of motor oil and work them in.

NEVER leave damp or wet grass stuck to the underside of the mower when you put it away - this leads to the deck rusting out. I've seen many many mowers at auctions whose engines are fine, but whose decks have rotted right out.

 

[Kirby]

Zero-turn FTW!! Those things are so much fun to drive.

 

[episodic]

tttt

 

[Evadman]

Originally posted by: episodic
Someone said that if I tipped it over make sure the air filter is up. My bad - I tipped it up once looking for the oil plug - the air filter was down. Of course this was before I put oil or gas in - so I guess I'm ok.

The reason to tip it a certain way is to keep from fouling the carb or filling the combusion chamber with oil. No oil = OK.

Originally posted by: episodic
The mower came with SAE 30 oil. It said to change it after only running 5 hours. Then change it every 25. So looks like I get to mow twice before changing it.

That is because the first 5 hours will loosenn any remaining casting sand and knock the points off the crosshatch on the cyl walls.

Originally posted by: episodic
I don't see an oil drain plug. I guess I just tip it over and drain it from the fill hole?

it is usually underneath. Check the manual.

Originally posted by: episodic
does it vent that many fumes to be considered dangerous?

Yes. It must be stored outside.

Originally posted by: episodic
Can these lawnmowers start with noone pulling the cord?

Yes. They spark using magnetic energy. There are 2 safety features to prevent starting, but the only sure fire way is to ground the spark plug.