Today a guy with a mower waved at me.

[Conquiztador]

I was out and about and my neighbour waved at me while he was mowing his lawn. Probable reason was that he felt that we connected as I was mowing my lawn too. When I was done I parked my ancient B&S, grabbed two beers and went over for a chat. He showed me his new toy. A Rover mower with electric start. Comes with key for ignition and clearly has hi-tech electronics. His was a nice red.

He did recognise my classic machine thou and told me that he used to have one just the same long time ago. I could see in his eyes that he went down memorylane as he was smiling at the memories.

We chatted about stuff as you do with someone that you connect with. I told him that I was planning to get a bigger and sharper blade for mine. He was impressed.

As I walked back to my mower I felt good. But also a little sad. See, soon I will get one of those ride on mowers. And then I will not be able to wave back at him anymore. But I did not want to tell him this as it would have broken his heart.

[monkeymcbean]

Hmmm...Ive been in the same situation, different toys, i would most likely go to the extent of packing up, selling the house, move somewhere else buy my ride-on, than destroy that moment.

[smoky]

Boredom; the mother of conversation

[MacD]

Just as well it wasn't one of them Iron Horse two-stroke mowers. If you take your hands off the bars to wave with one of those, it'll get away on you!

[Mully]

Was it this bloke??

[stify]

I was out and about and my neighbour waved at me while he was mowing his lawn. Probable reason was that he felt that we connected as I was mowing my lawn too. When I was done I parked my ancient B&S, grabbed two beers and went over for a chat. He showed me his new toy. A Rover mower with electric start. Comes with key for ignition and clearly has hi-tech electronics. His was a nice red.

He did recognise my classic machine thou and told me that he used to have one just the same long time ago. I could see in his eyes that he went down memorylane as he was smiling at the memories.

We chatted about stuff as you do with someone that you connect with. I told him that I was planning to get a bigger and sharper blade for mine. He was impressed.

As I walked back to my mower I felt good. But also a little sad. See, soon I will get one of those ride on mowers. And then I will not be able to wave back at him anymore. But I did not want to tell him this as it would have broken his heart.


my neighbour popped over for a chat after a similar "moment"..but when he saw my austrailan made honda powered machine he just walked off...worst part about it was the fucker took his beers back..bloody rude I thought

[Usarka]

How big were his strips?

[YellowDog]

Well I can really understand and relate to this.

When I ride around on my CT110, I just assume that I am on my Triumph. When I wave at Triumph rider suitable waves, I get quite dissapointed when they don't even acknowledge me.

It could be the 'super cool' and hardly at all embarrasing yellow flag on the back :)

[soundbeltfarm]

when i was mowing the lawns my neighbour came over to compare breasts.
was like sweet and sour pork . sweet that my neighbour was a bird . sour that i had bigger tits than her.

[Motu]

My old B&S powered Rancher shat itself a couple of months ago,so I had to drag out my brutal Victa 550 Professional to do the job....and now that indestructible never say die mower has had enough....

So I found my mothers old Bolen electric mulching mower tucked away in a corner.I'm pretty dismissive of electric lawnmowers - and just like all the Harley bashers,I've never even used one.So I'm staggered with just how grunty this little thing is,the B&S was useless,just a gutless wonder,and even the mighty Victa had to dig deep sometimes.The Electric thing didn't even slow down as I just pushed it straight through....and it's so light I only used one hand,the other holding the cord.

I don't know if I can live with an electric mower,but it'll give me time to find something else.So,where can I find an electric motorcycle....or will I have to build one?

[Pedrostt500]

My Mower is electric, no body waves at me, though i might record the sound of a real mower and play it on my stereo just to keep in with the in mower crowd.

[soundbeltfarm]

Heres a thought.
has anyone had a 2 stroke mower?
im sure there have been some before.

the farm came with a john deere ride opn and man what a piss of shit.
it is so slow. maybe it is old but my parents finally got one to mow their huge lawn and man their one would drag our one of 3 times over.

[sidecar bob]

Was it this bloke??

Look at those lazy bastards in the process of rendering a species extinct.

[Leyton]

Heres a thought.
has anyone had a 2 stroke mower?



I still have one!!! I don't allow it to die. I can not count the times I have had it apart :), 1st set of rings though!!! still going strong. Has to be around 30 years old now and more ?, I should get it carbon dated.

My old nahbours used to give me shit about it being real old :P, It may mow on a slant but it still goes hard!

[crazyhorse]

hmmmmmmmmmmmmm....... you need to get more of an exciting life. It has been reduced to mowers and neighbours LOL. Good on ya getting to know your neighbour:headbang:

[Elysium]

You sure this guy waved? I'm certain Harley riders don't wave. :wari:
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2153/2249586950_196b618169.jpg

[YellowDog]

My Mower is electric, no body waves at me, though i might record the sound of a real mower and play it on my stereo just to keep in with the in mower crowd.
You could wear ear muffs too!

[Winston001]

As I walked back to my mower I felt good. But also a little sad. See, soon I will get one of those ride on mowers. And then I will not be able to wave back at him anymore. But I did not want to tell him this as it would have broken his heart.

A touching tale - but there is a whole beautiful future ahead of you. Ride-on mowers (I have two) have their own forums just like KB http://forums2.gardenweb.com/forums/tractor/nph-ind.cgi?type=gal

Just remember Americans call them riding mowers or lawn tractors. And then there are old tractors. (Got one of them too) :2thumbsup http://www.oldengine.org/members/harrold/index.htm

You've stirred up too much emotion, gotta have a lie down.....:buggerd:

[AllanB]

I hate it when people don't wave when you are mowing your lawn.

Mines red and loud.

I've experimented lately running it on 91 or 95 - there has been no noticeable performance difference. I may try some 98 next time - I want to get another 200-300 rpm out of the top end :2thumbsup

[MacD]

I saw my neighbour mowing his lawns in shorts and a t-shirt today! It was a sunny day, doesn't he know about skin cancer!? There should be a compulsory requirement to wear sunscreen!

[Conquiztador]

Hmmm...Ive been in the same situation, different toys, i would most likely go to the extent of packing up, selling the house, move somewhere else buy my ride-on, than destroy that moment.
This is an option. Wonder what the landlord would say if I did sell it?


Just as well it wasn't one of them Iron Horse two-stroke mowers. If you take your hands off the bars to wave with one of those, it'll get away on you!
Need to sort the headstock bearings. Or perhaps balance the wheels?


my neighbour popped over for a chat after a similar "moment"..but when he saw my austrailan made honda powered machine he just walked off...worst part about it was the fucker took his beers back..bloody rude I thought
Intimidated. He has issues. Just wait, next week he has a bigger one!


when i was mowing the lawns my neighbour came over to compare breasts.
was like sweet and sour pork . sweet that my neighbour was a bird . sour that i had bigger tits than her.
Hope her hubby does not know, as the only real way to measure breasts (as you would know) is by using your mouth. ;)



I don't know if I can live with an electric mower,but it'll give me time to find something else.So,where can I find an electric motorcycle....or will I have to build one?
But... what about the smell of petrol? The noisy engine and the ability to stroke?


My Mower is electric, no body waves at me, though i might record the sound of a real mower and play it on my stereo just to keep in with the in mower crowd.
Sorry to have to break this to you. It is too late for you. You are beound waves.


hmmmmmmmmmmmmm....... you need to get more of an exciting life. It has been reduced to mowers and neighbours LOL. Good on ya getting to know your neighbour:headbang:
How can it get more exciting than waving and talking about machines? You are trying to tell me I am missing out???



You've stirred up too much emotion, gotta have a lie down.....:buggerd:
You can bring the mower in so it can stay next to the fire. Then you can lie down next to it and call it nice names. Mine always appreciates that.


I hate it when people don't wave when you are mowing your lawn.

Mines red and loud.

I've experimented lately running it on 91 or 95 - there has been no noticeable performance difference. I may try some 98 next time - I want to get another 200-300 rpm out of the top end :2thumbsup
Try Avgas. But watch it as it might turn in to a Flymo...


I saw my neighbour mowing his lawns in shorts and a t-shirt today! It was a sunny day, doesn't he know about skin cancer!? There should be a compulsory requirement to wear sunscreen!
Disappointing. Has he not heard about ATGATT??

[vifferman]

I felt really guilty last week when reading the thread about 6the weedwacker that wouldn't behave, so yesterday before mowing the lawn, I put the Flymo on the workbench, and gave it a quick once over. Plug was oily and the gap was huge, so I fixed that, aircleaner was clean, blade was serviceable, cowl was full of dried grass and twigs, and the carb linkages/springs for the governor were crudded up, so I sprayed them with brake cleaner and CRC.
When I started it, it tokk a weak half pull and it was away. :niceone:
The motor sounded like it was revving nearly twice as fast, so I stopped it, pulled the cowl off again, and checked the carb linkage and vane thingie again.
Nope - all pretty normal.

It's a like a new friggin' mower! :eek5:
I raced around in half the time it normally takes, and instead of being covered in clumps of grass, i was all properly mulched and blown in, and neat'n'tidy. I was so stoked! Nice Father's Day present for myself (seeing as I didn't even get a cheery "Good Morning" from the TroglodyteMutantSpawn.

I rewarded myself with a Harrington's Wobbly Boot. Very nice it was too! :niceone:

[ynot slow]

When working for MAF on research station we used to have victa 2 strokes to tidy the plots used for grass cover experiments,the 4 strokes couldn't last due to typical paddock not being like a bowling green.

[MIXONE]

Two strokes are the best if you have got a hilly section.Get a 4 stroke on the wrong angle and it will run out of oil.


PS.I always wave to anybody mowing lawns.Don't care about the make or model of mower involved.

[sidecar bob]

Im feeling really left out here. I spent 13 years with a ride on mower & and all my neighbours had them too. We would wave & smile knowingly at each other as we passed near the boundary.
A few years ago we sold the property complete with mower & occupied one of our rental houses that only required a push mower, somehow it just wasnt the same, a bit like riding a scooter when you have had a Gixxer 1000, but nobody knows or remembers you.
A couple of years ago my wife & i split & i said she could take the mower because i had decided to pay a contractor to do the lawns.
This thread has re opend the wound, leaving me feeling hurt & hollow, i really miss that mower.

[CM2005]

our old two tanger caught fire lol

[Swoop]

I'm a solitary mower. On the rare occasion that another mower is spotted, I'll nod the head in salute, then continue on my way.

Apart form tassle wearers, that is. I don't nod to tassle wearers.

[madbikeboy]

Im feeling really left out here. I spent 13 years with a ride on mower & and all my neighbours had them too. We would wave & smile knowingly at each other as we passed near the boundary.
A few years ago we sold the property complete with mower & occupied one of our rental houses that only required a push mower, somehow it just wasnt the same, a bit like riding a scooter when you have had a Gixxer 1000, but nobody knows or remembers you.
A couple of years ago my wife & i split & i said she could take the mower because i had decided to pay a contractor to do the lawns.
This thread has re opend the wound, leaving me feeling hurt & hollow, i really miss that mower.

There is a support group - here's the link which will give you details on how to join:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1EY7lYRneHc

This is the best thread. Ever. I bought a mower about 2 weeks ago. I used it to chop down the MadBikePad rain forest. It's an Australian made Victor 4 stroke. It does good wheelstands, although it doesn't seem to countersteer worth a damn.

[Del Fuego]

You sure this guy waved? I'm certain Harley riders don't wave. :wari:
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2153/2249586950_196b618169.jpg

Harley guy waved (well, waved back) yesterday... is this amazing? Then I dropped the Bike at home, jumped on the scooter... and everyone went back to ignoring me... snobs lol.

I think we really should have a few more waving threads... and I should buy a lawnmower... matt black and rust ratmower i reckon.

[Conquiztador]

matt black and rust ratmower i reckon.

Nope. Don't think it will pull the chickies. As I came home today I decided to wash the mower after all the hard work yesterday. After all it had performed well and done the whole lawn. So some TLC was deserved.

I was standing there brushing the blades when two young ladies appeared. They were wearing T shirts with clearly recognisable bouncy thingies under them. I stood up erect and said "Hi, what can I do for you ladies?"

They sidestepped my question and asked if my oldest son was home. I informed them that he had moved out over a year ago.

"OK" they said. And left. But not before they had a look at my now shiny mower. Sadly it was clear that the classic style was not to their liking. I really think that if I had one of those Rovers as my nextdoor neighbour, then I could have held their interest.

But all well. I told them that he will be here in two weekends. And by then I will have my rideon mower. And that one will impress them! With some luck they will want a ride...

[Naki Rat]

Heres a thought.
has anyone had a 2 stroke mower?
im sure there have been some before........

Are you kidding the Suzuki powered Rovers kick arse :woohoo:
And I learned to mow with a Victa VC160 two stroke. I still remember the TV advert song "Zip on the doo-dah" :clap:. Couldn't find it on YouTube but this is interesting ....

<object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/ZCV6ygszGh0&hl=en&fs=1&"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/ZCV6ygszGh0&hl=en&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object>

Heaps of retro mower stuff on YouTube too :woohoo:

[skidMark]

That aint a fucking mower...

Dads old victa 2 stroke 160cc i mwed the lawns with as a kid...

now that was a fucking mower...

not the gutless shit you buy these days

that victa could slice rocks in half,in saying that mum wasnt impressed when 12 year old son spat half a rock right thrugh her car window.

ahh the good ol days:weep:

[mossy1200]

My Mower is electric, no body waves at me, though i might record the sound of a real mower and play it on my stereo just to keep in with the in mower crowd.
Your sad.You should take the washing machine out front and let housewives wave at you.

[Pixie]

How big were his strips?

mowing strips?

[young1]

I nearly had a similar experience. I have a Husqvarna V twin powered ride on, bigger than my neighbours luckily. Then he sold up and moved, new neighbour moves in and buys a ride on like mine!!! After a bit of detective work I have found that his isn't a twin, phew!

But best of all he has got a KTM300EXC in his garage and seems like a genuine good bloke!

[<G>]

We have the standard 6 ft. fence in the backyard, and a few months ago, I
heard about burglaries increasing dramatically in the entire city. To make
sure this never happened to me, I got an electric fence and ran a single
wire along the top of the fence. Actually, I got the biggest cattle charger
Tractor Supply had, made for 26 miles of fence. I then used an 8 ft. long
ground rod, and drove it 7.5 feet into the ground. The ground rod is the
key, with the more you have in the ground, the better the fence works.



One day I'm mowing the back yard with my cheapo Wal-Mart 6 hp big wheel push
mower. The hot wire is broken and laying out in the yard... I knew for a
fact that I unplugged the charger. I pushed the mower around the wire and
reached down to grab it, to throw it out of the way. It seems as though I
hadn't remembered to unplug it after all. Now I'm standing there, I've got
the running lawnmower in my right hand, and the 1.7 giga-volt fence wire in
the other hand. Keep in mind the charger is about the size of a marine
battery and has a picture of an upside down cow on fire on the cover.



Time stood still.....The first thing I noticed is my pecker trying to climb
up the front side of my body, my ears curled downwards, and I could feel the
lawnmower ignition firing in the backside of my brain. Every time that
Briggs & Stratton rolled over, I could feel the spark in my head. I was
literally at one with the engine. It seems as though the fence charger and
the piece of shit lawnmower were fighting over who would control my
electrical impulses.



Science says you cannot crap, pee, and vomit at the same time. I beg to
differ. Not only did I do all three at once, but my bowels emptied 3
different times in less than half of a second. It was a Matrix kind of
bowel movement, where time is creeping along and you're all leaned back and
BAM BAM BAM you just crap your pants 3 times. It seemed like there were
minutes in between, but in reality it was so close together it was like
exhaust pulses from a big block Chevy turning 8 grand. At this point I'm
about 30 minutes (maybe 2 seconds) into holding onto the fence wire. My
hand is wrapped around the wire palm down so I can't let go.



I grew up on a farm so I know all about electric fences.....but dad always
had those pieces of shit chargers made by International or whoever, that
were like 9 volts and just kinda tickled. This one I could not let go of.
The 8 foot long ground rod is now accepting signals from me through the
permadamp Ark-La-Tex river bottom soil. At this point I'm thinking I'm
going to have to just man up and take it, until the lawnmower runs out of
gas. 'Damn it!,' I think, as I remember I just filled the tank! Now the
lawnmower is starting to run rough. It has settled into a loping run
pattern as if it had some kind of big lawnmower race cam in it. Covered in
poop, pee, and with my vomit on my chest I think 'Oh God please die...
Pleeeeaze die'. But nooooo, it settles into the rough lumpy cam idle nicely
and remains there, like a big bore roller cam EFI motor waiting for the go
command from its owner's right foot.



So here I am in the middle of July, 104 degrees, 80% humidity, standing in
my own backyard, begging God to kill me. God did not take me that
day.....he left me there covered in my own fluids to writhe in the misery my
own stupidity had created. I honestly don't know how I got loose from the
wire...I woke up laying on the ground hours later. The lawnmower was beside
me, out of gas. It was later on in the day and I was sunburned. There were
two large dead grass spots where I had been standing, and then another long
skinny dead spot where the wire had laid while I was on the ground still
holding on to it. I assume I finally had a seizure and in the resulting
thrashing had somehow let go of the wire.



Upon waking from my electrically induced sleep I realized a few things:

1- Three of my teeth seem to have melted.

2- I now have cramps in the bottoms of my feet, and my right butt cheek (not
the left, just the right).

3- Poop, pee, and vomit when all mixed together, do not smell as bad as you
might think.

4- My left eye will not open.

5- My right eye will not close.

6- The lawnmower runs like a sumbitch now. Seriously! I think our little
session cleared out some carbon fouling or something, because it was better
than new after that.

7- My nuts are still smaller than average, yet they are almost a foot long.

8- I can turn on the TV in the game room by farting while thinking of the
number 4 (still don't understand this???).



That day changed my life. I now have a newfound respect for things. I
appreciate the little things more, and now I always triple check to make
sure the fence is unplugged before I mow. The good news, is that if a
burglar does try to come over the fence, I can clearly visualize what my
security system will do to him, and THAT gives me a warm and fuzzy feeling
all over, which also reminds me to triple check before I mow!!!

[cc rider]

OK, had a weird mowing moment on Saturday.
As I got home from work, I noticed the nature strip had been mowed. :gob: I thought. Only I do the mowing. (I actually really like mowing) Then thought :shit: the catcher wasn't used. (I actually really hate raking)

It thus transpires that, he didn't do it, I didn't do it - who the frack did do it? :whocares:

At this point I'd like to say, yes it was a tad long, but it is very wet ground & I had no intention on marking the lawn with dug in tyre marks. So I was waiting for dryer weather to prevail. I now have dug in tyre marks. Grrr!

It was thought that there would be those evident grass tyre tracks leading back to the 'Mower Fairies' abode. But alas, no. No-one else had mowed on Sat. But feel the old duck next door may have felt embarassed to be living next door to long lawned, bike riding types & made her poor hubby mow it.

So on principle & because I can't be arsed, I'm not going to fire up/charge battery on the little red devil, completing the granduer that is my frontage (no not my frontage). Well not until next Saturday anyways.

All this being said. All the neighbours are pretty cool folk & do tend to do random nice stuff for each other :rockon: