86 years old? God bless you!
I think the gas and carb cleaner fumes are keeping you young!

Yeah, Arcee--that and the one beer a day regimen!
Well, i got into it today. Magneto was rusty, fins full of acorns and grass, Spark plug un-screwed half way! Finally got it running, and driving. took a turn around the lawn today with it.
The bar that connects the front steering to the back axle is gonzo. BUT!!!??
The deck spindles have turned their last! Nothing but rust. Checked with my supplier-they say they bought up a bunch of out-dated (Older model) spindles, and they'll call me if they can match them up! Possible price of $30.
If not, i have a Murray deck with spindles and the right size pulleys. If all else fails, they might get used on it.
I think the man who owns it had it parked outside with no cover, for at least a year! You cannot do that with those cheapo lawn tractors. They become rental property for mice, chipmunks, and anything else that wants a place to live over the winter. And, with the louvers in the top of the hood---the rain, which falls mainly on the plain, runs right down around the whole ignition assembly and rusts it badly! One guy complained about the price of fixing his ignition--said he figgered he could leave it sit in the rain and snow, just like his car and truck! WRONG!

I like your style. I'm not retirement age yet, but when and if I get to I won't set on my a@@ till I'm gone. I got to be doin something.

Up-date on tractor: Soaked deck spindles in a bucket of oil, got them both turning good!Still need one pulley wheel on deck spindle. All rusted away!
The deck pulley doesn't have the splines. No, it has an oval hole, (sort of) and i haven't found one yet to match or work. Might have to cut out the pulley center and graft it to a better pulley wheel. Too hot to worry about it today. And the owner is using a walk-behind right now. Tomorrow is another day--i'm going for a cool can until dinner time!

My supplier found me the new shaft that goes inside the mandrel, and i installed it this morning. Everything seems to be ok, so now i'll have only the deck belt to buy for it.I don't see a problem with that.
But, tomorrow, i must take the wife to hospital for x-rays of her head. funny thing, she always said i needed my head examined when i'd put forth some idea that she thought was stupid. She has a problem with one eye. It is seeing double, and she has to wear a patch on it. Otherwise, she is still cookin', and getting around. I've been told that is the sign of a mini-stroke! Hope not, but--ya never know at age 79! I've been keeping my head on straight! by: Rusty Jones

Scotts tractor is back! The owner destroyed the new spindle shaft first time he went out to mow! He didn't say how it happened, but he sheared off the threaded portion of the new spindle shaft! Probably hit a rock, or a root. He has numerous trees on his property.
Well, the man who cleaned out my roof gutters sez he has two spindles that should work on it, so he's bringing them tomorrow. I think i can install the replacement without dropping the deck out from under. Hopefully!

rustyj, you take care of Ruth and all the little stuff can wait.
You have the right idea marrying a woman who is a lot younger than you :^)
Y'all hang in there sir.

The gutter cleaner was here yesterday, and when he heard the problem about deck spindles, he said he'd bring me a couple he has at home from a lawn tractor deck.
Well, i got to installing the better spindle. Got it in and bolted down (or up, as it sets) Got the belt on, pulley same size. Might have to shorten the blade, but thats no problem. My air driven cut-off tool, with a new disc, will make short work of the blade ends. (BTDT)
Sold 2 small mowers today, got 2 more to get ready. Folks aren't pitching them out like last year.
I have a problem with a nice big self-propelled walk-behind mower. I found it all apart, not the engine. I checked everything, put it back together, but no start. Changed the coil, plug, checked head gasket, did it all, but still no start. New flywheel key, no start! I cut the green wire, checked the safety cut-off, but--nothing. I'm stumped. Has compression, new spark plug, all that jazz, but still no run! What am i missing? It has compression when i pull the rope.

Try ether, Rusty...
If she then starts, you will know..
Or check the plugs, if dry, probably no spark.
I dislike these "safety " devices - more to go wrong and less operator responsibility.
Are U 86 or 79 or do toy josh ?
I like your philosophy of life.

DO NOT use ether as a starting fluid in light weight air cooled engines.
use a short burst of spray carburetor cleaner instead.

amen to mownie's advice. Yrs ago I trashed a briggs 5 horse engine doing just that.

stick with the carb cleaner, not ether.

To: Earthworm--I am 86, and wife Ruth is 79! I robbed the cradle, as the old saying goes.
As of this evening, she's up and around, and wants me to take her grocery shopping tomorrow. And, she's COOKING!!
We've had other set-backs in our life together, so we'll weather this one, too!
I've tried everything on the Toro, to no avail. Then, a regular customer left his walk-behind Craftsman older model mower, self propelled, for its yearly tune-up. He said it had an oil leak, so i checked the build dates, and the dates for the emissions stuff, and it looks like it is at least 10 years old, or more. Found the oil leak---the sump gasket is leaking! Its a lot of work to replace it, and sometimes the blade adapter is a bugger to remove, and the other stuff too. So, i'll wait to hear from him, although the age of it makes it an iffy job, with all of the stuff i'd have to remove.

well, the Scotts hasn't been back, and the large Craftsman mower with the leaking gasket was traded in on another mower. The Craftsman tractor came to me as a gift, since the owner bought a new JD tractor. Without my help! I gave the Toro walk-behinbd to a young fireman, and got a nice one from the trash. Things are going along well.
Blazing HOT here the past few days! No wind, and hot sun, and dry as popcorn! We don't have AC, just ceiling fans. They work ok, but the electric bill will have us worried about paying for it! Have to dig into the old sock, i suppose!