blown up lawnmower
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Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 1,986
Likes: 43
From: maryland
blown up lawnmower
i have had a snapper rear engine mower thats 2 years old and blew up tuesday. the rear went out then the motor popped! damn it. its a level lawn. it really pisses me off, new house and not looking to buy a new one.
Elder User
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 738
Likes: 2
From: McChord AFB
blown up lawnmower
i remeber when i was running a lawnmowing busines we ran whith Honda lawn mowers. But man i tell ya the rear axel in em (self propeled) finally when out (after 8 years of hard use) and its a little dana rear end (looks like a dana 5 or something
). Anyway that sucks man.
). Anyway that sucks man.
New User
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 0
Likes: 24
blown up lawnmower
George !!
Perhaps this wil cheer you up ?
Imagine the conversation The Creator might have had with St. Francis on the subject of lawns:
GOD: Frank, you know all about gardens and nature. What in the world is going on down there? What happened to the dandelions, violets, thistles and stuff I started long ago? I had a perfect, no-maintenance garden plan. Those plants grow in any type of soil, withstand drought and multiply with abandon. The nectar from the long lasting blossoms attracts butterflies, honey bees and flocks of songbirds. I expected to see a vast garden of colors by now. But all I see are these green rectangles.
ST. FRANCIS: It's the tribes that settled there, Lord. The Suburbanites. They started calling your flowers "weeds" and went to great lengths to kill them and replace them with grass.
GOD: Grass? But it's so boring. It's not colorful. It doesn't attract butterflies, birds and bees, only grubs and sod worms. It's temperamental with temperatures. Do these Suburbanites really want all that grass growing there?
ST. FRANCIS: Apparently so, Lord. They go to great pains to grow it and keep it green. They begin each spring by fertilizing grass and poisoning any other plant that crops up in the lawn.
GOD: The spring rains and warm weather probably make grass grow really fast. That must make the homeowners happy.
ST. FRANCIS: Apparently not, Lord. As soon as it grows a little, they cut it . . . sometimes even twice a week.
GOD: They cut it? Do they then bail it like hay?
ST. FRANCIS: Not exactly, Lord. Most of them rake it up and put it in bags.
GOD: They bag it? Why? Is it a cash crop? Do they sell it?
ST. FRANCIS: No Sir. Just the opposite. They pay to throw it away.
GOD: Now let me get this straight. They fertilize grass so it will grow. And when it does grow, they cut it off and pay to throw it away?
ST. FRANCIS: Yes, Sir.
GOD: These Suburbanites must be relieved in the summer when we cut back on the rain and turn up the heat. That surely slows the growth and saves them a lot of work.
ST. FRANCIS: You aren't going to believe this Lord. When the grass stops growing so fast, they drag out hoses and pay more money to water it so they can continue to mow it and pay to get rid of it.
GOD: What nonsense. At least they kept some of the trees. That was a sheer stroke of genius, if I do say so myself. The trees grow leaves in the spring to provide beauty and shade in the summer. In the autumn they fall to the ground and form a natural blanket to keep moisture in the soil and protect the trees and bushes. Plus, as they rot, the leaves form compost to enhance the soil. It's a natural circle of life.
ST. FRANCIS: You better sit down, Lord. The Suburbanites have drawn a new circle. As soon as the leaves fall, they rake them into great piles and pay to have them hauled away.
GOD: No! What do they do to protect the shrub and tree roots in the winter and to keep the soil moist and loose?
ST. FRANCIS: After throwing away the leaves, they go out and buy something which they call mulch. The haul it home and spread it around in place of the leaves.
GOD: And where do they get this mulch?
ST. FRANCIS: They cut down trees and grind them up to make the mulch.
GOD: Enough. I don't want to think about this anymore. St. Catherine, you're in charge of the arts. What movie have they scheduled for us tonight?
ST. CATHERINE: Dumb and Dumber, Lord. It's a real stupid movie about.....
GOD: Never mind. I think I just heard the whole story from St. Francis.
Perhaps this wil cheer you up ?
Imagine the conversation The Creator might have had with St. Francis on the subject of lawns:
GOD: Frank, you know all about gardens and nature. What in the world is going on down there? What happened to the dandelions, violets, thistles and stuff I started long ago? I had a perfect, no-maintenance garden plan. Those plants grow in any type of soil, withstand drought and multiply with abandon. The nectar from the long lasting blossoms attracts butterflies, honey bees and flocks of songbirds. I expected to see a vast garden of colors by now. But all I see are these green rectangles.
ST. FRANCIS: It's the tribes that settled there, Lord. The Suburbanites. They started calling your flowers "weeds" and went to great lengths to kill them and replace them with grass.
GOD: Grass? But it's so boring. It's not colorful. It doesn't attract butterflies, birds and bees, only grubs and sod worms. It's temperamental with temperatures. Do these Suburbanites really want all that grass growing there?
ST. FRANCIS: Apparently so, Lord. They go to great pains to grow it and keep it green. They begin each spring by fertilizing grass and poisoning any other plant that crops up in the lawn.
GOD: The spring rains and warm weather probably make grass grow really fast. That must make the homeowners happy.
ST. FRANCIS: Apparently not, Lord. As soon as it grows a little, they cut it . . . sometimes even twice a week.
GOD: They cut it? Do they then bail it like hay?
ST. FRANCIS: Not exactly, Lord. Most of them rake it up and put it in bags.
GOD: They bag it? Why? Is it a cash crop? Do they sell it?
ST. FRANCIS: No Sir. Just the opposite. They pay to throw it away.
GOD: Now let me get this straight. They fertilize grass so it will grow. And when it does grow, they cut it off and pay to throw it away?
ST. FRANCIS: Yes, Sir.
GOD: These Suburbanites must be relieved in the summer when we cut back on the rain and turn up the heat. That surely slows the growth and saves them a lot of work.
ST. FRANCIS: You aren't going to believe this Lord. When the grass stops growing so fast, they drag out hoses and pay more money to water it so they can continue to mow it and pay to get rid of it.
GOD: What nonsense. At least they kept some of the trees. That was a sheer stroke of genius, if I do say so myself. The trees grow leaves in the spring to provide beauty and shade in the summer. In the autumn they fall to the ground and form a natural blanket to keep moisture in the soil and protect the trees and bushes. Plus, as they rot, the leaves form compost to enhance the soil. It's a natural circle of life.
ST. FRANCIS: You better sit down, Lord. The Suburbanites have drawn a new circle. As soon as the leaves fall, they rake them into great piles and pay to have them hauled away.
GOD: No! What do they do to protect the shrub and tree roots in the winter and to keep the soil moist and loose?
ST. FRANCIS: After throwing away the leaves, they go out and buy something which they call mulch. The haul it home and spread it around in place of the leaves.
GOD: And where do they get this mulch?
ST. FRANCIS: They cut down trees and grind them up to make the mulch.
GOD: Enough. I don't want to think about this anymore. St. Catherine, you're in charge of the arts. What movie have they scheduled for us tonight?
ST. CATHERINE: Dumb and Dumber, Lord. It's a real stupid movie about.....
GOD: Never mind. I think I just heard the whole story from St. Francis.
Post Fiend
Joined: Feb 2000
Posts: 5,130
Likes: 8
From: Brea CA
blown up lawnmower
Sorry to hear about that.
On the flip side, I had a neighbor with an ancient 2-stroke McCullough twin blade rotary lawnmower. It was a loud, smoky, smelly nuisance to put up with every week until it finally threw a rod and left a jagged hole in the crankcase, it was a good day.
On the flip side, I had a neighbor with an ancient 2-stroke McCullough twin blade rotary lawnmower. It was a loud, smoky, smelly nuisance to put up with every week until it finally threw a rod and left a jagged hole in the crankcase, it was a good day.
Posting Guru
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 1,577
Likes: 0
From: Southern MD
blown up lawnmower
Sorry to hear your problem. You say the engine popped, you mean blew up?
When I had my lawn equipment shop, I sold hundreds of the rear-engine riders, never had rear end problems in 9 years. Only time there were engine problems, were when the user ran it without oil.
Check with your Snapper dealer, maybe they can do something, being it's only 2 years old. It's doubtful, but maybe worth a try.
When I had my lawn equipment shop, I sold hundreds of the rear-engine riders, never had rear end problems in 9 years. Only time there were engine problems, were when the user ran it without oil.
Check with your Snapper dealer, maybe they can do something, being it's only 2 years old. It's doubtful, but maybe worth a try.
Posting Guru
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 2,205
Likes: 1
From: Vancouver WA
blown up lawnmower
I say drop in a 302 and a narrowed 9" rear end and get that lawn mowed FAST! Maybe I'm watching too much Monster Garage.
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Posting Guru
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 1,067
Likes: 0
From: Fairbanks Alaska
blown up lawnmower
When I was growing up I was given an OLD Ward rear drive hydrostatic tractor mower. I used it to mow lawns in the summer and used a blower attachment in the winter to clear snow. That thing ran like a raped ape all the time. I used and abused that thing so bad. It's still in service 6 years after I gave it up to my dads friend and his grand kids drive it all the time. That thing won't quit. Only problem I ever had was when I rolled it and the hood grounded to the plug. Hammer fixed that.
Tyler
95 F-150 302 5 speed
94 F-250 PSD 5 speed
Tyler
95 F-150 302 5 speed
94 F-250 PSD 5 speed
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Post Fiend
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 6,940
Likes: 2
From: Eastern WA
blown up lawnmower
Look for a shop in your area that maintains a junkyard for power tools. I'm fortunate enough to have one and there are probably 50+ Snapper rear ends out there right now. Not sure what blew in your motor or if it's fixable.
My Snapper was built in 1972. It mowes 1/4 acre of grass almost every week and has done such since 1975. In 1997 I replaced virtually every drive component (but not the rear end) for a cost of about $200; I did the work myself. In 2001, I put on a new engine, not because it needed it but because I wanted more HP and the engine was just laying around. I'm sticking with the Briggs engine since I'm not comfortable with the new ones, but that's just a preference. If my Snapper ever somehow dies, my first dealer visit will be a Snapper dealer.
My Snapper was built in 1972. It mowes 1/4 acre of grass almost every week and has done such since 1975. In 1997 I replaced virtually every drive component (but not the rear end) for a cost of about $200; I did the work myself. In 2001, I put on a new engine, not because it needed it but because I wanted more HP and the engine was just laying around. I'm sticking with the Briggs engine since I'm not comfortable with the new ones, but that's just a preference. If my Snapper ever somehow dies, my first dealer visit will be a Snapper dealer.
Logistics Pro
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 4,907
Likes: 39
From: suburban atlanta
blown up lawnmower
I've gotten 11 years of mowing 1.5+ acres with a snapper... 14H Kohler OHV engine. One big piston clanking around in there. Had to replace the axle boots and the steering nylon inserts. Couple belts and 1 new blade Wore out the tread on the fron tires (ON GRASS!!!!!) so you can see it has gone some miles... Couple batteries until I got a no-maintenance one and it has lasted.
Call your dealer and if they don't help, call the local zone rep. They should stand behind their product. The engine *MIGHT* still be warranted if not used in commercial service. Check your paperwork...
tom
Call your dealer and if they don't help, call the local zone rep. They should stand behind their product. The engine *MIGHT* still be warranted if not used in commercial service. Check your paperwork...
tom
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