Ken Small Engine Repair (that's how he always identifies himself to me) brought my tractor back last night! It was all clean and shiny, and only cost me about $215 more than I estimated. Gulp. This in a month in which I already used up my cushion and am trying to make a tank of gas last all week ...
But I hadda have the tractor. There's a sign along the bike trail labeling a particular area as "Prairie Restoration Area." I've been thinking about snagging a sign like that for my yard.
So the mower belt was broken (the original problem). The drive belt was about to go. The new bearing wouldn't seat because the housing was bad, so he replaced those. In addition ...
Both blades were bent, the mower deck wasn't level, the height was set wrong, and I must always always always keep the top of the mower deck clean because there are vents on it that cool the doomahickeys, and if they overheat the whatchamajingles do bad things. (I didn't know this. I have searched my memory banks for any inkling of Dale saying, "Goddammit Baby, I TOLD you!" but - nada.)
Well. I'm not surprised; we've put that mower thruogh some punishment. And I am glad I had a professional Small Engine Repair guy work on it.
And it works! Ken wanted to chat, tell me about the '53 Ford tractor he's working on now, that was sitting in somebody's garage all these years. I just wanted to mow! It was already 7:30, and I was wondering how much I could get cut if Ken would just shut up and let me get on the tractor!
I raced up and down the front slopes and it was exhilarating. Wahoooo! My tractor works and my prairie restoration project is postponed again!
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