Snappy is my very used Snapper lawn mower that I purchased last year. I do believe it was built around the age of Flintstone. We have a relationship that borders on love/hate. Before purchasing Snappy, I've never owned a riding lawnmower, never operated a riding lawnmower or anything similar - not even a 4-wheeler.
Snappy and I have had quite a few interesting moments together, some scary, and some funny. I live on a corner lot and have a ditch that is "L" shaped between my yard and the street. After several attempts of cutting the ditch, I realized it wasn't a smart idea. In part of the ditch, there are hidden sink holes. Well, I found them, and needless to say, the wheels of Snappy fell in them. The other part of the ditch retains water, and I have tried to cut that section as well. When a riding mower gets stuck in mud that's several inches thick, it doesn't budge!!
Snappy has a transmission problem that has recently given me problems at the wrong time. When I stop the mower, and then put it in gear, there is a 3-5 second hesitation before it engages in gear. Snappy then JUMPS into gear and takes off. So far, I've managed to stay on, but a couple of times -- it was questionable. Last weekend I was cutting the side between the ditch and the street, I stopped the mower, lifted the blade, turned around in a driveway to proceed to make another sweep of the grass. Snappy hesitated and then jerked, and went straight down into the ditch front first. I looked around to make sure no one was outside watching, turned the mower off, put it in neutral to DRAG it up the hill of the ditch. By then the rain had started and by the time I dragged Snappy to the garage it was as if I had taken a shower, we both were soaked.
I have a neighbor that likes to come outside when he hears me crank my mower, and I know why he does it. For several reasons: A. to help me drag it out of the ditch. B. Probably to record my efforts for "worlds craziest people" C. So he can tell the paramedics what in the world I was doing at the time I rolled the mower (so far I've not done this). I know he sits over there laughing, I haven't seen him laugh, but surely he does enjoy the free entertainment.
Since my street is rather bright with all the street lights, I thought one evening I could cut the grass as it was getting dark. Bad idea ! I almost forgot about a tree until the last moment, even though it was funny at the moment, I doubt I would have laughed if I had hit the tree head on.
One of my gutters is bent thanks to Snappy. As I was cutting near it, Snappy decided he wanted it and we made contact with it. Snappy almost didn't let go of it but I'm lucky he didn't rip it off the house.
I also have learned, never leave Snappy in park for any reason. I noticed a large limb on the ground, I stopped the mower, put it in park and raised the blade. I got off Snappy, and decided to take the limb to the street. Well, Snappy has a "vibration" problem and when I came back, Snappy was trying to climb up one of my pecan trees. He almost made it ! Note to self - never leave Snappy running !
I'm not going for yard of the year - trust me on this. I'm just glad the lawn gets mowed! I use to pay a guy to do my yard, he was wonderful - could do my entire yard in about 45 minutes including weed eating. I'm in awe. It takes me an hour and 30 minutes just to mow and another 6 weeks to complete the weed eating.
I had to weigh my priorities though: grass cutter or pedicure & manicure. I decided pedicure and manicure was more important, and so now I cut my own yard.
If you're ever in the area and you see someone flying across the yard with no plan of action or planned cutting, it's me. I'll be the one laughing as I duck under the tree limbs, and hold on for dear life. Or if you see a riderless mower, look for me in the ditch.
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