Cublover

I recieved a 'donation' of a surplus Snapper from the city. I have been mowing their grass with my own stuff for over 2 decades.
The unit they delivered today was a rear engine, 36" deck, 16 HP, v twin.
I mowed about an acre of 2 1/2 ft high weeds in 1 1/2 hour. The mower part was WONDERFUL! I did not like the steering and it seemed to get stuck easy.
It is light enough that I could wrestle it back onto solid ground by myself, (I used my pickup to pull my Cub Cadet out of the same spot)
Just giving a 'report'.
The Snapper' will be used 'UP', so there will be more reports over the next decade from me.
Since it is a very 'used' unit, I don't know a lot about it yet. It came from the Flood Control Dept. It was used ' forever' to mow the piles of dirt that keep the Potomac River from washing away our downtown.
It came to me as a pressure washed, recently serviced, fresh painted, gassed up and ready to work peice! GRATEFUL!! I am!

After spending 2 hours on it, I came to realize that it would be TOUGH to spend all day on it! It is HARD to steer! The deck requires a lot of 'watching', because it will 'drop' if you hit a bump. Then it took both hands to raise it back up. One to raise the deck, the other to release the 'lock'.
As far as 'EATING' the deck will consume anything that rolls under it.
I LOVE the mower part! The 'vehicle' that moves the mower leaves something to be desired.

__________________
I'm not a REDNECK! I am an Appalachian-AMERICAN!!

farmertim

Seems like a well deserved acquisition Cublover.
Let's hope you get your body used to working the thing so it doesn't tire you out too much.
Well done mate.
Cheers

__________________
Einsteins theory of insanity; doing the same thing repeatedly and expecting a different result

G'day from Tim in Australia.

Cublover

I'm going to try to drag the construction ruts out of the area in the spring. They parked heavy equipment there last year while they re-did the street. It sure is rough terf!
Thanks Tim.

__________________
I'm not a REDNECK! I am an Appalachian-AMERICAN!!

dangeroustoys56

What about 'modding' the tractor - like different rear tires ( ag style), changing the steering to like a go kart setup ( its close to that now) - maybe add some wheels to the deck so it wont drop?

Cublover

The deck has 4 wheels. Instead of the factory linkage, the 'city' guy replaced them with chains. (Pics, the next time I have it out.)
The 'turf' looks like a place to run 'stadium trucks' instead of lawn mowers.
I'm better off trying to fix the 'turf' since the construction crew has moved on. Also, the 'man cave' neighbor has a 'grate' that I can drag over the area that just might fix the problem. It weighs about 100# and looks like it will push dirt into low spots just fine. I have to burn the gas out of it before winter, so I'll turn the deck off and drag that grate for an hour or so. IF I do it between 'frosts', the weed seeds might germinate and DIE before spring.

__________________
I'm not a REDNECK! I am an Appalachian-AMERICAN!!

Cublover

I took the Snapper back out and gave the area one last cut tonite.

Mowing season is now 'CLOSED' for this year. There were some areas that 'grew' since last week and a few spots that raised back up after the hay was made.
I'm going to drain the last of the gas, run it till it quits and tarp it till spring.
It is in the 'mower' cave, so it will be high and dry. I'll drag the area in the spring.
The snow over the weekend kinda took the wind out of my sails.

__________________
I'm not a REDNECK! I am an Appalachian-AMERICAN!!