Of all things in this world ...

[brain]

Of all the things of this world; just when you think you
have seen everything ... think again!

Sunday afternoon; I had to mow the lawn as my son was
not feeling very well, both of us have been battling with a
cold, as I am overcoming it but apparently he is still down
with it.

With nary a few strips left to mow, since the weeds had
denominated the dormant lawn (as it is not yet time for the
grass to grow) and not yet time to use the fertilizer with weed
killer; the most oddest and strangest event I have ever seen
and experienced (even the days that I had owned my own
business decades ago before I was even married but sold it
out after marriage) - but before I proceed, I have witnessed
and seen a lot of strange things with lawn equipment which
also includes mowers.

The powerful gas mower, which is only but a few years old;
always kept in the shed and well cared for, no rust at all. It
had done something that I had never, never, never - ever seen
in my entire life! The whole engine block literally ripped itself
right off the platform base! I was left standing there after shutting
itself down, totally dazzled and that is only putting it lightly. I
looked around, and looked at the engine block; and being
bewildered and perplexed. It had left me scratching my head!

Since I always wear leather gloves, I lifted the engine block,
and sure enough, it ripped itself completely clean right off the
platform base. (It is a walk behind mower.) Ripped itself clean
off the solid metal platform (or housing, cover, mount, or what-
ever you so desire to call it) and I dropped it back down.

I stood there, at complete loss for words!

It took me about 5 to 10 minutes to figure out how do I explain
this one to my son? Since my son, being sick and was asleep.
I knocked on his bedroom door, and told him "It was an emergency
but I cannot explain this and he would have to see this one for
himself." He got up, went outside - and I showed it to him.

He stood there - completely motionless, I do not know if he was
in a shock or in a daze. (For my son has worked in the past for
a neighbor's Lawn Company, but he had sold his business. And
he himself has seen strange things with lawn equipment too.)
It was almost as if he did not know what to make of it.

He walked up finally after 3 or 4 minutes of standing there; and
once again I lifted it and he just glared at it before I dropped
the whole thing back down. He just stood there staring at it,
completely loss for words.

I finally told him to get the other mower out and finish the other
few strips (for we have another mower that my ex had given to
us but it does need some work and we are working on it; but it
is not powerful as this engine is; however, the metal platform is
much heavier and more solid that the one that it had just literally
ripped right off) and while I dismantled everything to put aside
in the shed while my son worked quickly to get the other mower
going so that the yard would be complete.

Both of us were still standing there glaring at that new mower.
Neither one of us were able to make sense of this at all. Just when
you have seen it all; this one took the cake!

However, we do have plans to remove the engine off of the other
mower (less powerful, only a 5.0 engine block) and install this
6.75 engine block onto that mower as we know that the metal is
much thicker and durable. We plan to remove the wheels and
other parts off the "broken platform", and then have it tossed in
for scrap metal with hopes for some $$$ out of it down the road
from us; but we are keeping that 5.0 engine block for a back-up
and parts.

Right now, currently, we are still in a 'shock' of it all. In a strange
way, slightly amused by it, but still at loss for words. Before anyone
inquires about the warranty, I already checked. The warranty still
exists, but unfortunately, that mower is "discontinued" making the
warranty invalid; and we should have received such 'notification'
in the mail nearly a year and over a half ago, to return the model
for exchange for a replacement model due to that reason; the engine
block rips off the housing cover (their terminology) creating a
hazard. The time limitation was 90 days of receiving the notification.

I had never received such notification, and my son did phone in
and spoke with the Manufacturer; but they repetitiously show on
their computer database that the "warning postcard" was sent, but
I had never exchanged it so therefore, I took the liability myself. My
son argued with them that we had never received such postcard; but
he was getting nowhere with them. Going to the website, did no good
either; I read all the 'fine print' there. Even the "recall" of that specific
model. Pretty much I am out of luck due to "Statue of Limitations"
which suing or arguing or turning them over to BBB or Customer
Affairs is going to do absolutely no good. I also learned that the pro-
duction of that specific model was taken off from the shelves as soon
as they obtained reports of engines dismounting. and that there were
4,782 recalls sent out to the owners of that specific models for exchange
of a better model (which was more expensive) by returning it back to
the store where purchased, along with the receipt, regardless of how
frequent the mower was used. It did provide an update that 247
owners did not return the specific mowers and provided the serial
numbers of such said mowers and I scrolled down and found my serial
number on the list; after 1 year time span and the Company was free
of all liabilities involved per se and all warranties were null and void,
and all the legal mumble jumbles.

*sigh*

[ziggidypoo]

I still think manufactuers (spelling?) intentionally make things to break down just when you either get them paid for or the warranty wears out.

Just glad you weren't hurt.

Hey, you didn't seize - right!!! That's one good thing.

Sorry ya'll have been sick.

Everyone around here and in Mississippi and Tennessee have colds and flu.

INVASION OF THE BUGS!!! EEEEEEK!!!!

I'm just feeling better - My Mom gets moved from critical care down to the heart telemetry floor today - like a step-down unit. YAY!!

Been missin' you, but, with me preoccupied with mom, you might have been here and I wouldn't have known. Sorry.

Now, I forgot, how old is your son?? Hope he feels better too real soon.