Good news, bad news

[David Freed]

The good news - I got a new lawn mower. http://www.helpfulgardener.com/phpBB2/images/smiles/icon_biggrin.gif
The bad news - The reason I got a new lawn mower is that I burned my old one to the ground trying to get it started. http://www.helpfulgardener.com/phpBB2/images/smiles/icon_rolleyes.gif

I filled the gas tank first. The battery was down so I put jumper cables on it for a while with no luck. I then decided to jump straight to the starter to see if there was a problem with the ignition or if the starter was weak. Of course there was a pretty big spark when I touched the hot post. Unfortunately the carburetor must have been leaking. It was a small fire to start with but I didn't have a fire extinguisher handy and it was a roaring fire by the time I got something to put it out. http://www.helpfulgardener.com/phpBB2/images/smiles/headonwall.gif

P.S. I bought 3 fire extinguishers when I bought the new mower. http://www.helpfulgardener.com/phpBB2/images/smiles/icon_wink.gif

[Mitchell Andrus]

The good news - I got a new lawn mower. http://www.helpfulgardener.com/phpBB2/images/smiles/icon_biggrin.gif
The bad news - The reason I got a new lawn mower is that I burned my old one to the ground trying to get it started. http://www.helpfulgardener.com/phpBB2/images/smiles/icon_rolleyes.gif

I filled the gas tank first. The battery was down so I put jumper cables on it for a while with no luck. I then decided to jump straight to the starter to see if there was a problem with the ignition or if the starter was weak. Of course there was a pretty big spark when I touched the hot post. Unfortunately the carburetor must have been leaking. It was a small fire to start with but I didn't have a fire extinguisher handy and it was a roaring fire by the time I got something to put it out. http://www.helpfulgardener.com/phpBB2/images/smiles/headonwall.gif

P.S. I bought 3 fire extinguishers when I bought the new mower. http://www.helpfulgardener.com/phpBB2/images/smiles/icon_wink.gif

Mitch's progression to getting a tool or appliance to do it's job:

1. Kind language, passwords.
2. Screw driver and soldering iron.
3. Bits and pieces on the driveway and a credit card.

I haven't set anything on fire yet.

Cool.
.

[Michael Weber]

Thanks for the laugh. Sorry, I know it's not funny, but still..... I once set my 1950 MG TD on fire trying to start it having forgotten I had just disconnected the fuel line from the electric fuel pump. Carbs backfired and set the engine ablaze with flames to the garage ceiling. Had an extinguisher nearby thankfully.