Post by Clipper on Mar 30, 2020 17:17:22 GMT -5
I started the day mowing the lawn. One of the tires on the tractor was as bald as a baby's butt from turning the same way so many times since 2002. Well, today there was a bit of dew on the grass and that bald tire cause me to slide down a bit of a low spot and up against the garage, where I was totally stuck and spinning the tires. It took me half an hour and finally had to manhandle the mower out of there. Literally picked up the front of the tractor and swing it around to where I could drive it out.
When the mowing was complete I immediately headed for the repair shop to buy a wheel and tire. The old tire and wheel came right off. Popped off a horseshoe shaped snap clip, removed two washers and slid the wheel off. Brought the new wheel and tire home, slid it onto the axle, put the washers back in place and THAT is where things started to go down hill. I played with the snap ring for over an hour, using every tool I could think of. Every time I would get it almost into place it would pop out of the pliers and fly across the driveway. If the neighbors were outside, I am sure that they learned some new words.
My fake knees were so sore from kneeling on them by then that I postponed the rest of the work on the tractor until tomorrow. Tomorrow I will drop the deck and put it up on my workbench for it's spring maintenance. Scrub and wash the top of the deck. Scrape the bottom clean with a putty knife and wire brush, spray the bottom of the deck with undercoat and put the deck back on the tractor. Then I will wash the tractor and put a quick coat of turtle wax on it. My neighbor makes fun of me for waxing my lawn tractor, but it has kept it going since 2002 with few troubles. Almost 18 yrs of use while he has had three tractors in that same time and his lawn is smaller than mine, haha.
It is going to be much cooler tomorrow. Only in the low to mid 50's with a good chance for rain. It will be a good day for working in the garage, out of the wind and weather.
How did the rest of you retired folk spend your day? With this self quarantine deal I am glad that I am able to find enough things to do around here to take up my time and chase the boredom away.
When the mowing was complete I immediately headed for the repair shop to buy a wheel and tire. The old tire and wheel came right off. Popped off a horseshoe shaped snap clip, removed two washers and slid the wheel off. Brought the new wheel and tire home, slid it onto the axle, put the washers back in place and THAT is where things started to go down hill. I played with the snap ring for over an hour, using every tool I could think of. Every time I would get it almost into place it would pop out of the pliers and fly across the driveway. If the neighbors were outside, I am sure that they learned some new words.
My fake knees were so sore from kneeling on them by then that I postponed the rest of the work on the tractor until tomorrow. Tomorrow I will drop the deck and put it up on my workbench for it's spring maintenance. Scrub and wash the top of the deck. Scrape the bottom clean with a putty knife and wire brush, spray the bottom of the deck with undercoat and put the deck back on the tractor. Then I will wash the tractor and put a quick coat of turtle wax on it. My neighbor makes fun of me for waxing my lawn tractor, but it has kept it going since 2002 with few troubles. Almost 18 yrs of use while he has had three tractors in that same time and his lawn is smaller than mine, haha.
It is going to be much cooler tomorrow. Only in the low to mid 50's with a good chance for rain. It will be a good day for working in the garage, out of the wind and weather.
How did the rest of you retired folk spend your day? With this self quarantine deal I am glad that I am able to find enough things to do around here to take up my time and chase the boredom away.
