Things You Don't Tell Your Wife...

[Hedgemaster]

Here, I'll start. Today I flipped my mower. Yeah, my push mower - and not just upside down - went right over a 4' wall as well! Holy CRAP! It all went in slow motion. Hard to describe... back yard is a slope down towards the back of the house which ends with a sharp drop-off down about 6 more feet before the yard ends at a wall with a patio 4' below. Well, I was doing the old stand at the top of the hill and lower the mower at an angle, before pulling it up again backwards trick, when good old gravity came out to play. I felt the mower start to tip and tried to torque it with my wrist to stop it from going, but it was too late. Over it went onto it's back - but only for a split second before it continued to roll like an alligator spinning with it's kill. That damned thing went right over that wall and ended up nose down with the front wheels about an inch from the patio - a bracket for the handle had caught on the top edge of the wall preventing it from free falling that last inch to an almost certain death! LOL! To my amazement, I was still holding on with one hand! I saw that I had no choice but to "drop" it, so I let it "bounce" down onto its wheels and jumped down to comfort my baby. I held her tight and told her that "everything would be OK". I hated to lie, but she had just been through a frightening ordeal, and I needed her to lie still, and be calm while I assessed the damage. Wheels all look straight. Good. Handle isn't bent. Good. Some slight scuffs across the plastic on top of the engine. Not bad - could have broken off completely. Ouch! Rough gouges right through her shiny, red paint, and deep into the aluminum on the right side. That's gotta hurt. I think there's gonna be a scar. After she calmed down and having inspected the underside, I fired her up again. Good news - everything seems to be functioning. Bad news - How the FRICK am I going to get the mower back UP there?! Ugh. Irony: At this home, there is a small, 8x14 strip of grass that I cut with my line trimmer because there is no access for the mower without going UP 15 steps in the front or coming DOWN 8 steps in the back. (at the wall I just went over) I "don't do steps". Mower is too heavy and I'm not willing to risk messing up my back. Anyway, the "ironic part" is that NOW I can MOW the patch of grass that I never could before! LOL!!! It took some thinking, but I was finally able to get the mower back up over the wall and finish the job. Close call. I probably shouldn't tell the wife. (She was freaking out because I called and told her I was stung by a ground be the other day)

[CHEESE2009]

Lawn care business tips

Ya I wouldn't tell your wife that if I were you. I had a similar scenario the other month and it's never pleasant. "How are you gonna get the tractor back out?" I don't know, but I'm happy as hell right now that I got it in the back!

[Sprinkler Buddy]

Love the story! I would get an el-cheapo mower and leave it their if you have a place to hide it with the customers permission.

[Steve]

First off, I am glad you are alright!

Is there a safer way you can do this in the future?

This kind of reminds me of Rodney Dangerfield from the movie Back To School when he said to his son "Jason, you don't lie to your father, you lie to girls."

[bruces]

hedge ,you have posted several times that you dont do stairs because your mower is too heavy .Fair enough ,my back is crap ,so I do see your point .Anyways ,have you ever thought of purchasing an old two stroke aluminum deck lawnboy so you can tackle these jobs ? I would think you could charge a little "mower " for the stair service ,and those mowers usually run and cut great , and weigh practically nothing .

[Hedgemaster]

Originally Posted by Steve

First off, I am glad you are alright!

Is there a safer way you can do this in the future?

This kind of reminds me of Rodney Dangerfield from the movie Back To School when he said to his son "Jason, you don't lie to your father, you lie to girls."

Thanks. Yeah, I was "slightly" concerned for my safety, but apparently not enough to let go of the damned thing and just let it fall. Not the best course of action, but it happened so quickly.


Safer? Sure - just use the sting trimmer instead of being greedy with the mower. Also I would highly recommend removing any bungee cords from the dead man's handle when working near a hillside.

[Hedgemaster]

Originally Posted by bruces

hedge ,you have posted several times that you dont do stairs because your mower is too heavy .Fair enough ,my back is crap ,so I do see your point .Anyways ,have you ever thought of purchasing an old two stroke aluminum deck lawnboy so you can tackle these jobs ? I would think you could charge a little "mower " for the stair service ,and those mowers usually run and cut great , and weigh practically nothing .

You know, I used to wonder why I would see so many trucks running around with one person and three mowers in the back - now I know why.
Sometimes a little lightweight bugger is all that is needed and would likely all but eliminate the "stairs" issue. Maybe next season I'll get one.

The only problem is my current setup only allows me to haul one mower at a time. I guess I could work those properties into a "trailer day". Heck, I'm starting to think about a wide deck walk behind, so at that point I'll HAVE to start dragging the trailer around with me.

[bruces]

get a lawnboy,fold the handle,then stick it under your cap .

[Steve]

Also I would highly recommend removing any bungee cords from the dead man's handle when working near a hillside.

Oh wow, can you imagine what kind of mess could have happened with the bungee cord on it like that? Yikes!

[LawnBoy0311]

"Things you don't tell your wife..." I almost crashed while watching a smokin hot girl running. Then say "Don't worry though, I didn't crash, AND I still got to watch!"