Some days ya should just stay inside

I have a 4 yr old lawn tractor that is well maintained and WELL used. It has served as more of a brush hog at times than a mower and all has been well. It's been hard to start as of late and a bit noisy as well, so Fri morning I did some research and found that I should adjust the valves. After watching a couple of youtube videos on it I got the stuff together and did the adjustment along with changing the oil/filter, air filter and fuel filter.
No joy. Fiddled with the carb, got everything running great but there was still a slight knocking. Figured "ta hell with it" and picked up the plastic shroud that covers the top of the engine to install it and disturbed a black wasp or hornet that took great offense. Stung me on the inside of my rt. forearm. Took the dip out of my mouth slapped it over the bite and tied a strip of rag around it. Loaded the mower and drove the 20 minutes to the other property. The burning from the bite had subsided and I mounted my orange steed to begin my battle with the brush. Approximately 60 yards into the battle that little knock became MUCH louder and half of the crankshaft exited the crankcase.
This was a Briggs and Stratton 20hp engine. Not sure what a new one costs, but I'm guessing upwards of a grand and I paid $1,300.00 for the whole mower. So, after pushing the dead mower back on the trailer I headed home.

Now, a couple years back a neighbor gave me a Troy Bilt mower minus a seat,gas tank and with a badly beaten up blade deck. I was all excited about getting it running until I priced the replacement parts-it's been sitting out back of a shed under a tarp ever since. The engine has one season on a complete rebuild. After getting back home I uncovered the mower and checked the engine. SAME series of engine just 2 hp less. Six hours later I had pulled the engine swap, and put my carb on the "new" engine and was ready to mow. Forearm is still swollen and very red from wrist to elbow.
This am I went out and tried the mower. Fired right up and I mowed the front and side lawns-until the mower deck belt broke

A new set of belts along with a spare set will be here Weds...

 

Ouch frustrating

 

I know when it's going to be one of those days, because when I'm getting dressed for the day's work, I feel like wearing my combat boots. And invariably it will be a day where you need them on...

 

Was plowing the snow down the road and slipped into the ditch 3 times in about a hundred yards.. Called the boss and told him something is telling me that I have no business coming into work...
A hardy laugh and an "ok" was all he said..

 

Yeah, it's just hard for me to turn down free stuff that I think I may have a use for. The pack rat gene evidently runs strong in my family

 

@Tully Mars - wow bro are you ever lucky!!!!
There is BALANCE in the universe....and having a day THAT BAD also means that you're in line for a day THAT GOOD.
Hopefully, you're "nothing could go wrong" day comes very very soon.

 

I'd view this as a wonderful day as there was a fundamental violation of a rule of nature (like a ball going under the car not stopping at the geometric center of the undercarriage) when that old engine fit! Wow, what are the odds of that happening: you got it offered to you, you took it, wife didn't make you get rid of it, you had room to keep it and it happened to fit? You were just being tested with the noise factors (wasp, belts, etc.) to see how much of a pessimist you are. It was a miraculous day: the free engine fit mower, carb fit new engine, you were taught a new skill adjusting valves, and managed all that in one day. Time to celebrate, maybe even buy one lotto ticket.

AT

 

Yup, I think we all get days like that, then there are the day's where every thing seems to work out just right. Glad you had a spare engine laying around. as long as you have the space, never hurts to have a "few spare parts" laying around (what some call being a "pack rat", I call "spare parts" )