I was out at the field with Al and Bob today and almost got a plane munched by the local wildlife.
got tired of stuffing my planes in the deep grass so I was going to mow it.
I tried to get it fired up and it cranked it for reasonable short periods but it wouldn't take, even with starter fluid direct into the intake. After pausing for a break and having an 'engine won't run discussion' a wire in the harness between the engine and the solenoid burned up, even with the key out of the thing so I disconnected the battery and put the mower back in the barn. Also seems like the drivers side rear wheel is binding up for some reason (brake off, in neutral, yes)
Not sure what you guys have any more discussion on a replacement, but I think this one has probably seen it's last days without taking it to a shop, etc. Hate to be the bearer of bad news about the old'n'dusty field mower.
They closed my local field in Saugerties for huntin' season so I might be making the long drive down to the field a few more times in the next couple of months. Might have to worry more about bringing a snowblower than a lawnmower
If you go out tomorrow bring clothespins for your noses, they were spreading manure on the fields this afternoon.
Well... There is something wrong with that woodchuck because he should have run away from you guys and did not, he was acting strange and he kept doing circles, I see his coat seemed to be real shaggy and messed up so I would not doubt he is rabid. Someone should shoot him and get him away from the other animals. 22LR to the head should do it !!! Wear latex gloves when touching it and put it in a plastic bag for disposal.
Nice to see people are actually flying, Looks like I will have to dust off the biplane and come flying before the snow flys. I will have to look at the mower and get it running again. We could also look into buying another one. Talk to Manzer about the funds and see how much we have left to put towards a new machine. I had one already lined up to buy but we got the other one running again and did I didnot follow through. Oh well... Have fun flying !!
PS: Has anyone heard from P I L O T ....AKA > Man who does not fly ?
More than likely it'll just run in circles till it gets to the main road.
When did you guys have the mower running last? I couldn't get a bit of life out of it when I tried not even a pop or a puff out of it. The fields not been mowed in a while, grass is 4-5" tall again, I heard someone had to bring their own mower? The last time I was at the field I swung by on my way back from a work trip and mowed it then left, but that was last summer.
Jon, it's been a while since the mower ran dependably. Not sure what you did to the wiring last time, but if you asked me my opinion, I would say the main reason the mower would not star would be traced to a fuel issue, and mainly a cold start fuel issue, since once it was running it would run fine and restart easily. Starting issues coupled with a weak battery equal frustration.
Things of least use to a pilot: fuel on the ground runway behind you altitude above you
Didn't mean it if it sounded like I was saying you did it, but you did post:
"After pausing for a break and having an 'engine won't run discussion' a wire in the harness between the engine and the solenoid burned up, even with the key out of the thing so I disconnected the battery and put the mower back in the barn."
and I don't know what the deal is now. Sounds like something shorted out tho.
Things of least use to a pilot: fuel on the ground runway behind you altitude above you
Didn't mean it if it sounded like I was saying you did it, but you did post:
"After pausing for a break and having an 'engine won't run discussion' a wire in the harness between the engine and the solenoid burned up, even with the key out of the thing so I disconnected the battery and put the mower back in the barn."
and I don't know what the deal is now. Sounds like something shorted out tho.
But what, I disconnected the battery? That's the most I did with with the wiring. It would have been foolish battery connected to a piece of equipment with a fried wiring harness and I didn't think Ed would appreciate having his barn burned down. Generally wires bursting into smoke would indicate what you've concluded.
All I did was turned the key.
