Out of Plumb

Again nothing on the house because I decided to mown the lawn. Simple right, well not for my free lawn mower and me. I was given this riding tractor and after $50 in parts promptly had the motor die. Caught fire and everything! Scrounged a new motor free from the trunk of a junked car. It used some oil and smoked but it was free, dumpster diving is a hoot.

Well today we got off to a good start with a flat tire, soon set that right we chugged off to our destiny, only to push it back with a broken drive belt. Now I could have waited for the store to open tomorrow and ordered a new belt OR I could remove the motor, torch out the frame some and use a slightly smaller belt I had lying around. Hmmm… what to do?

In the end it worked ok, except that the gas tank no longer fit and had to nestle down at your feet, eh whatever. Off we chugged! First sign of trouble was a twitching of the starter cord with the backdrop of this ominous warbling noise. I ignored it. All of a sudden the starter cord barfed out and the motor started issuing the unmistakable shriek of a spun bearing. Now I could have stopped mowing, some would even argue it would be the wiser course of action, but did I mention the mower was free? Lets not underestimate the intrinsic yet intangible value of my own amusement. I shoved the throttle all the way open bound and determined to ride my fire breathing, smoke belching steed into eternity or be damned in the attempt! The end alas came shortly thereafter. The shriek became a tic; the tic became a knock and the smoke rolled like a cathouse fire. It would have made the earth first people wet themselves.

With the setting sun at my back she popped once, twice and silence. About 10 seconds after it died there was a whoosh and a jet of flame shot from the muffler licking skyward towards the heavens. I think I might have witnesses the ascension of its soul. I plan to attempt a resurrection, maybe tomorrow, maybe the next day; sometimes you just need space and time to mourn.