What should I do about my lawn mower?

debodun

debodun

SF VIP
Location
way upstate in New York, USA
I think I posted about this - I bent the blade on my mower and called a repair guy. He took it and called be 10 days later and said he couldn't fix it easily - this was a week ago Friday. He asked me what I wanted to do with it:

1) he could replace the motor which he didn't have on hand but could try to fit another one he did have and it would be very labor intensive and cost more that a new more for him to do that.

2) he'd keep it and scrap it.

3) he'd bring it back to me.

I requested that he return it. He said it would be sometime during the week (which is the week that has just passed). On Friday, after not seeing him or my mower, I called him and asekd to firm up a time. He said for sure on Saturday (yesterday). I still have not had it returned.
 

When it rains it pours!

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If the shaft is bent I would tell the man to keep it and settle up with him.

I would also ask him if he has an inexpensive old hooptie that would get you through the rest of the season.
 
debodun said:
He may have, but I didn't understand it and now I can't remember what he said other than what I already mentioned.
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In all likelihood, you damaged the engine crankshaft...in which case repairing the damage would cost as much as a new mower. Let him keep the old mower for parts, and start shopping for a new one. If you are planning on taking care of your yard at your new home, shop for a good mower....without stressing over "price". If there are any "slopes" in your new yard that would be hard to push a "manual" mower up, look at something like a Toro Personal Pace.
 
Look online to see what a blade would cost for your mower.
I would get the mower back pronto, and then either sell it or get a new blade.

Corded mowers like mine are very light weight and easy to use.
If you get a new one, I like the black & decker corded and have two of them now.
Mine just needed a new switch, then a neighbor was giving his away and I repaired both of them.
 
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I was given a lawnmower that wouldn't start. The guy who gave it to me thought the carburetor needed to be cleaned, but I tested it and there's no spark. I checked to make sure the kill wire wasn't shorting out or anything like that, but that's all fine, so I'm guessing it's the coil. They sell for like $15 on Amazon, but I don't want to spend any money on it, so I'm not going to try to fix it. But now I'm stuck with a junk lawnmower.
 
Most are forgetting Deb is moving to a new property that appears to have significant amount of lawn to mow. I didn't read that the mower with the bent blade was powered or she had to push it.

It could be that buying a riding mower with a bagger to collect the cut grass would be her best option.
 
debodun said:
He may have, but I didn't understand it and now I can't remember what he said other than what I already mentioned.
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If he told you something that you didn't understand then it's probably more than just a bent blade. Still, if I were you I'd call him back (because who cares about that dude, being a no-show twice?) and tell him to explain it again. Then, if it's the crankshaft or the motor, tell him to keep it for parts. If it's just a bent blade, he might be stalling so you'll give up, and he'll have the parts he wants.
 
Llynn said:
If it is simply a bent blade, that is an easy fix. If the engine's crankshaft got bent in whatever impact bent the blade, your engine is toast and it would be cheaper to buy a new mower.
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Yup

Quit calling the poor soul
Just hope like heck he keeps it

Buy a new one

TORO
Front wheel drive
Just push the handle and away you walk
Easy start
$200

Or

Hire a child
It's a new neighborhood
They don't know you .....yet
 
Gary O' said:
Yup

Quit calling the poor soul
Just hope like heck he keeps it

Buy a new one

TORO
Front wheel drive
Just push the handle and away you walk
Easy start
$200

Or

Hire a child
It's a new neighborhood
They don't know you .....yet
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He might be BSing her, though. Old mower parts are hard to come by and newer ones are expensive. I mean, it might just be a bent blade, and she's an old gal....could mean BS.
 
There comes a time in life to cut one’s losses. If the price of repair is half or more of the price of a new item, junk it and opt for the new one as a better investment. I had a similar situation with a riding mower that I had bought used. It worked for a few years, then failed. When the repairman came, he found that the item was fixable, but at a high cost. I opted to junk it, and just paid the guy for his time. To dispense with the old mower, I offered it for free as a non-working, parts item. It went quickly...
 
Murrmurr said:
If he told you something that you didn't understand then it's probably more than just a bent blade. Still, if I were you I'd call him back (because who cares about that dude, being a no-show twice?) and tell him to explain it again. Then, if it's the crankshaft or the motor, tell him to keep it for parts. If it's just a bent blade, he might be stalling so you'll give up, and he'll have the parts he wants.
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I got to thinking about "bent blade". I've had blades become dull or chipped but never bent. Considering the strength of mower blades bending one would be really unusual & most likely as you mention destroy the crankshaft.
 
terry123 said:
Call a lawn service and don't worry about it. If I had a house I would these days. I spent years mowing, edging and raking my yard. At my age now I would hire someone to do it.
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Considering the size of her lawn the cost of a new mower using a lawn service could be the better option. Then there is the long driveway that a lawn service may keep clear in heavy winter snows.
 
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