Happiness is a $40.00 Lawnmower

RJM62

RJM62

Touchdown! Greaser!
Gone West
Joined
Jun 15, 2007
Messages
13,157
Location
Upstate New York
Display Name
Geek on the Hill
This is the lawnmower I bought last year for $40.00 from a lady on Craig's List. I usually use a reel mower for the lawn, but reel mowers don't work well on weeds; so I use the power mower for the weedy areas.

The mower barely ran when I bought it, but all it needed was a new plug, air filter, a few other odds and ends, and a thorough cleaning. Also, the drive belt snapped late last fall, but I didn't bother replacing it until today when I got two of them in from a guy on eBay (only $4.99 each -- woo hoo!).

I'm happy to say that my 30-year-old, $40.00 lawnmower still runs like a champ.


I get great pleasure out of being a tightwad keeping old equipment running. My family says that I throw nickels around like manhole covers am very prudent when it comes to money.

-Rich
 
I logged into craigslist and found a man giving a mower and weedeater away. I go and pick it up and they both were brand new. never had oil or fuel put in them. He said he decided to hire someone to mow his yard.
I gave both to my son.

Tony
 
Happiness to me is not having extra internal combustion engines to nurse. Sold my little outboard motor the other day now the only internal combustion engines I own are two regular cars. Still have toys, boats, and flying machines, but no motors to feed. Not a green based thing, it is a low hassle thing. I know living in the country it is an impossible goal, but it works in the burbs. Bring on the electric cars.
 
You are slipping. You could not find a free one?
Look on craigslist in the spring people are always giving them away because they can not start them.
Clean the carb throw a new plug in and 90% of the time you have a running mower.
 
denverpilot said:
Heh. Reminds me of your car stories.
Click to expand...

Yep. My primary car is a 2001 Saturn with about 184,000 miles. It's been getting 40+ MPG combined since the latest round of tweaks (up from a pre-tweak average of ~38 MPG). That's better than almost any new car on the market right now. Even those silly "Smart Cars" only get about 36 MPG combined, feel like you're riding in a kiddy car, and can barely get out of their own way with two people pushing them. They should take out the floorboards so they can be propelled Fred Flintstone style.

My winter car is a 2000 Kia Sportage that gets about 26 MPG and still runs well, although the body has seen better days. But if I want it to last much more than one more winter it'll need enough repairs, with a sufficient combined PITA value, that fixing them all would be more work than I feel like doing. It did pass inspection and is safe to drive, but this upcoming winter may be its last.

My dad just bought my brother's off-lease SUV (I forget the model -- maybe the Equinox?) that he's not liking as much as he thought he would. He bought it because his Buick had seen better days, but now he says that it's a bit small for his liking. Also, it's FWD and he wants 4WD or AWD for the snow.

Personally, I think he's just itching to buy a new car. First of all, the SUV replaced a FWD Buick. Secondly, dad already has a full-size 4WD pickup that can move mountains. Thirdly, the FWD SUV with a set of winter tires would handle the snow just fine. I mean, my FWD Saturn SC1 with General Altimax all-seasons can deal with snow under 4" in a pinch, and the county generally doesn't let the snow sit on the roads long enough for there to be more than a couple of inches on the pavement.

So come the fall, if I see Dad heading toward the dealership, I may relieve him of the SUV for whatever the dealer offers in trade-in value.

I'm not averse to buying new cars, but I do like not having the monthly payments. I also like being able to spend < $65.00 / month for insurance (on both cars combined). If you're handy enough with things mechanical that you can handle most of the repairs yourself, having two used cars (so you always have a spare) is a perfectly good way to go, IMHO.

-Rich
 
ron22 said:
You are slipping. You could not find a free one?
Look on craigslist in the spring people are always giving them away because they can not start them.
Clean the carb throw a new plug in and 90% of the time you have a running mower.
Click to expand...

Up here, not so much. There are people here who make their livings that way. They snatch up those free mowers as soon as they're posted, fix them up, and sell them. I'd probably do the same if I had the time.

-Rich
 
RJM62 said:
I'm not averse to buying new cars, but I do like not having the monthly payments. I also like being able to spend < $65.00 / month for insurance (on both cars combined). If you're handy enough with things mechanical that you can handle most of the repairs yourself, having two used cars (so you always have a spare) is a perfectly good way to go, IMHO.
Click to expand...


We're down to six. Ha.

2000 Subaru, 2004 Yukon, 2001 Dodge 3500 Diesel, and Karen's "fancy" 2008 Lincoln LT pickup truck. (She's over the "bling" and says a regular truck is fine next time. Ha. Mission accomplished!)

And two TV broadcast vans that are on permanent loan to the ham radio club. ;)
 
Good deal! The old stuff always seems to work better. Was $40 asking price??
 
denverpilot said:
We're down to six. Ha.

2000 Subaru, 2004 Yukon, 2001 Dodge 3500 Diesel, and Karen's "fancy" 2008 Lincoln LT pickup truck. (She's over the "bling" and says a regular truck is fine next time. Ha. Mission accomplished!)

And two TV broadcast vans that are on permanent loan to the ham radio club. ;)
Click to expand...

Colorado, Vette, CBR600, MX80 (my first bike), Comanche, Riding Mower, Chainsaw#1, Chainsaw#2, Snowblower, Weedeater. I think that's it. :D

When the plane sells, I will be probably adding two engines in replacement. (No, not a twin)
 
denverpilot said:
We're down to six. Ha.

2000 Subaru, 2004 Yukon, 2001 Dodge 3500 Diesel, and Karen's "fancy" 2008 Lincoln LT pickup truck. (She's over the "bling" and says a regular truck is fine next time. Ha. Mission accomplished!)

And two TV broadcast vans that are on permanent loan to the ham radio club. ;)
Click to expand...

Hmm..

2001 Honda Civic
2010 Toyota Tundra
1965 Chevy Truck
42" Yazoo mower
36" Yazoo mower
edger
push mower
weed eater
suzuki JR 50 dirt bike
Yamaha 4 wheeler
pressure washer
4HP Tiller handle John Boat
1961 Bonanza
1 old chainsaw
1 new chainsaw

and currently about to purchase a 20' or better boat.

That's 15 going on 16

Not to mention the 1930s era mechanical/electrical machinery I'm resurecting.... Good thing I like messing with things.
 
EdFred said:
Colorado, Vette, CBR600, MX80 (my first bike), Comanche, Riding Mower, Chainsaw#1, Chainsaw#2, Snowblower, Weedeater. I think that's it. :D

When the plane sells, I will be probably adding two engines in replacement. (No, not a twin)
Click to expand...


Haha. I didn't list the snowblowers, chainsaws, and weed wackers. Nor generators. :-)
 
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