Protecting the Bank Account

The lawn tractor has been ailing. Definition: Won't start. We use this lawn tractor, which we've had for fifteen years, to not only mow grass but to haul the manure spreader and mulch leaves. It had light duty the first eleven years, mowing the back yard in our previously urban life, kept under cover the rest of the time.

We also use the Ford tractor to spread manure and mow grass, but sometimes the tractor is too big, the weight would leave tracks in soft dirt; we wouldn't want to bend the grass.

When he finished installing the face boards a couple Sundays ago, he started it up to mulch the accumulating leaves. He ran it about two swipes in the little woods and it died. Kaput. Dead.

He tried this and that to get it going again, and then it got too dark to see. He had taken it apart, pulled the hood off, the air filter, exposed the carburetor and spark plugs. The filter was full of dust. Maybe we chocked it to death?

He took some time, tinkering and thinking, and even researched a candidate for replacement. The research revealed that we were better off with the fifteen-year old model than a brand new upgrade. He was determined to fix whatever was wrong with it, within reason.

The power of the internet, and the use of his 'GOOGLE' finger provided feedback about the new models and 'how-to' videos on a sure fix. He located the parts that would be needed and worked nearly all day getting it right. The weather was predicted to be great, what wasn't taken into account was the 30mph 'breeze' that chilled us both to the bone. Made a sunny day seem like torture.

Nearly dark and he got it running! YEA! He proceeded to mulch the remaining leaves, until he ran over a tree root in the little woods and bent the blade. O well, he knows how to replace a blade, too, but he did save us $3,000.00.