Thursday, June 13, 2024
Yesterday, I couldn’t start my new riding lawn mower. My neighbor Frank came to see why; he sat on the seat, pushed the brake pedal, turned the key, and boom! the motor roared. He said that lowering the brake pedal adequately needs legs longer than mine and pointed out that we could move the tractor seat forward. We corrected the seat position, and I started the tractor easily.
I took it for a spin. It’s smooth to drive and has horsepower equaling that of my old 2004 Poulan mower (out of commission right now). But the new machine is less powerful; it failed the test of pulling a drag around inside the horses’ dry lot. Its rear wheels spun whenever debris collected on the drag, adding weight. There are times when dragging calls for using a backup machine, and Old Pouland handled the work effectively.
Yesterday’s mowing test went smoothly. The new machine feels more balanced than the Pouland and its gears shift more easily. It makes me happy enough. The Pouland will be repaired and become a backup for heavier jobs.
Now that the challenges of mowing my place are under control, I may focus elsewhere. Waiting are routine maintenance chores, critters demanding attention, and gardens requiring refreshing or restarting. Plus, nearby are the great outdoors with opportunities like horseback, photography, and sports.
Dear Friends: I’m a pitifully short left-hander in a world of tall right-handers. Diana
Diana's Morning Blog 