Work and such

[OldRedFord]

Tomorrow I am starting on a decent size grounds keeping project.
This time I am renting a trailer, well it is being rented for me to use.

It is a pair of lots with two duplexes on each lot. Grass cutting, picking up dead limbs, raking up those dastardly balls the sweet gums drop.

I tried to get my riding mower straightend out. No matter what I do I can not get the mower deck to sit right from front to back. There is supposed to be a 0"-1/2" difference from the front to the back. With the front being higher.

The back sits about 2 1/2" higher then the front. Doesn't pick up grass clippings that well.

I tried adjusting the level following the instructions in the manual but no luck.

There are two adjusting bars, one on each side on the front of the mower. I can not get the front of the deck to raise up any more. The rods are maxed out. The back of the mower deck has no adjustment to fine tune the height.

It is a older Murray riding mower if it helps any.

Anyway, I was asked what I wanted to do all this. I said $200. Guy that owns the place said thats too little. That they had been paying $275. So I agreed to that.

I was told they like my work so far. Thats a good thing.

Im not used to bidding jobs on my own. Ive always been payed a hourly wage.

[BobbyFord]

Always bid high, that way they can counter and you can agree on a happy medium

[OldRedFord]

Im just trying to get my foot in the door with this group of people. My buddy does building maintenance and improvements on all their properties. So my name was tossed out one day.

They are looking to have lawn maintenance done on 20 properties right now. Trust me they have at least twice that. I have seen the wall of keys.

20 is enough to keep me pretty dang busy by my self.

They rented a trailer for my use. 5x10 drop deck trailer. Just big enough to get the rider and push mower on.

Even though the mower deck is all crooked on the rider it seems to cut decently, except in turns.

I also have a line on another property owned by a different guy that needs the grass cut, semi permanent gig. Every two weeks. Ill need my rider for it. Pretty big yard.

I have always wanted to be self employed. Here is a great chance to kick it up a notch.

That Murray riding mower is 20 years old. I am not sure if it can hold out doing all this. So I went to Lowes and looked at trailers and riding mowers.

They have a 5x10 trailer and a 6x12 that I really like.
Which one would you guys get? Both seem light enough for my Ranger to handle.

http://www.lowes.com/pd_100367-15476-6X ... tt=trailer

http://www.lowes.com/pd_185886-15476-5X ... tt=trailer

I wish they listed the weight of the trailer.

Next is the riding mower. It is for sure a step above the Murray I have now.

http://www.lowes.com/pd_288803-270-13AN ... 294937087_

I will be for sure making some purchases if I take this on full time. I am leaning heavily towards "yes I will do it".

I take the job...trailer first or new mower first? I do have a line on a trailer I can borrow any time I need it until I can afford my own.

I should try to convince my dad to buy me a Dixie Chopper.

[bb429power]

Well with the mower deck issue, I had the same problem. What it was was this threaded bar in the front center of the mower deck. It goes through a bracket and a nut is tightened down on it (while the deck is put in the lowest cutting position). /without it, the back goes up and the front stays down while trying to adjust the deck height. Hope that's it for you. Its a simple fix.

[OldRedFord]

So far this gig is going well. Tomorrow I get some directions to some other properties that need cut.

I talked to my dad the other night about going half in on a trailer. Then paying him the rest of it off each month. Sounds like a go. I just have to get half or 3/4 the money for the trailer I want.

[OldRedFord]

Here are some pictures.

1st is the 5x10 drop bed trailer, and the riding mower and push mower.
2nd and 3rd are of the edger.
4th is a close up of the logo on the engine. I have never seen a B&S this old. Any idea on when it might have been made?









The edger was a craigslist score $50.

[papabug71]

You can decode the B&S engine to find the date. On the side of the cowl just above the spark plug or in that region, there should be something like
MODEL TYPE CODE stamped on it. You want the 1st two #'s on the "code".

EXAMPLE:
CODE:804566754

since the 1st two #'s are 80, the engine was built in 1980.

I would guess yours is a mid 60's model. Its a good looking old machine. I'de be interested to see just how old it is. The old B&S engines have twice the HP the newer ones have.

[OldRedFord]

If my eyes are not messing with me...its a 1965 engine. The edger is a model 5001 Little Wonder.

It runs great. Starts on the second pull.

[papabug71]

I dont doubt it one bit. Its old school for sure. The old B&S engines are made with good metel, & the internals were balanced to alot higher standards than the newer ones.

Bottom line is, they just dont make em' like they use to.

[OldRedFord]

You know what the catch 22 here is...

I need a new riding mower....sooner then later. Now the starter likes to hang up on it.

So I need something better, but theres no way I will get financing to get a new mower. Kinda scared to buy used because I don't want a basket case mower.

I need something good, but better then box store quality.

i doubt I can pick up a usable Scag or ExMark for $1500 or less. The walk behind mowers (36" or 32" deck) look appealing but I have never used something like that and dont know how they are to control.

[papabug71]

If your really in a bind, Sears will let you open a charge card/credit card & you could put a new Craftsman mower on the card. I did it in '03 when I needed a new mower.

Craftsman mowers are ok. I used mine as a brush hog (litterally) to clear out 10 acres of land. It lasted up untill last year when it finally threw a rod. Im sure if you took care of one & didnt abuse it like I did, one would last a long time.

Mine was a 25 hp 50" cut. It was stout for a lawn mower. I raped that poor mower.

[OldRedFord]

If your really in a bind, Sears will let you open a charge card/credit card & you could put a new Craftsman mower on the card. I did it in '03 when I needed a new mower.

Craftsman mowers are ok. I used mine as a brush hog (litterally) to clear out 10 acres of land. It lasted up untill last year when it finally threw a rod. Im sure if you took care of one & didnt abuse it like I did, one would last a long time.

Mine was a 25 hp 50" cut. It was stout for a lawn mower. I raped that poor mower.

had not thought of that. I am going in half and half with my dad on a trailer and then paying him off. Then I am getting a new rider or something. $1500 or less. Think I will again go half and half in with my dad and pay it off.

Might be the way to go.

[OldRedFord]

Picked up another yard today. Bi-weekly cut & edge.

Ten places so far.

[papabug71]

Ten places is enough to keep you busy.

What are your rates if you dont mind me asking? Last time I cut grass, I charged $25 to $50 a yard, for cut, trim & cleanup depending on the size. These were all smaller yards that didnt require anything more than a push mower, although the $50 dollar yards were on the verge of needing a riding mower.

You can make good money doing yards. Like I said, some of the guys I graduated with now have their own landscapeing companies that started out as lawn care. They're all rolling around in brand new trucks with brand new equipment & have guys on a payroll.