There wasn't anything growing near the house to try it out on, except some wild onions near the driveway. It's not a finish mower, so it's meant for bigger stuff, but it cut them. (today)
Do you ever miss things because they are in plain sight? I won't go into all the trouble I had getting that mower attached and everything ready, but one thing that wasted a whole hour was looking for the oil dip stick on the tractor. I looked everywhere inside around the engine. Came home and watched YouTube videos, and one showed the dipstick near the bottom that you had to bend to get it out. That had to be it! Nope. Then just happened to see this sticking right out the side of the tractor as I walked by. I ought to write the company a letter and complain about the new tricky design.
I can find dipsticks, if you give me enough time, but that's about it. Not fooling myself with this mowing venture. I'll try it until something goes wrong, and that's it. It may very well be the first time I take it out...kaput! Just hope, if/when the tractor quits, it's close to the house. The tractor is at the top of the food chain when it comes to moving other vehicles around. This tractor probably has less than 60 hours on it, and the mower less than 3, but sitting idle seems to be harder on things than using them.
Tractor dipsticks are usually very accessible but not often obvious as you are supposed to check the oil every time you start them...but that is not often done. Mine is supposed to be lubed every 8 hours of use, but that isn't on schedule either, especially in the winter. If you aren't familiar with tractors, perhaps you could have someone, like a neighbor or friend, who is a tractor user, check it out. There are many tractor forums online, too, and those guys are always ready to help a novice. My tractor is a treasure, and I cannot imagine doing without it now. My wife loves it, too, as it allows her to do things she wouldn't even contemplate without the tractor. She says it is the one thing she wishes we had purchased years earlier. She enjoys taking out stumps with it. I had my SIL make a compost/manure fork for it that made handling manure and turning big compost piles easier. Carol uses that to help her dig out stumps....
@Don Alaska: I've checked all the tractor fluid levels, except hydraulic, and they were OK. (I was surprised.) If it has hydraulic fluid I guess it would be on the two lift arms in the back? Of course the manual is gone, and you can't download one for free. But I'll figure that out eventually. Maybe you can help me with this. The mower is way too low I think. And I don't see how you raise it and keep the back wheel on the ground. It looks like it's set in the highest position possible already. If you moved that bolt to the top hole, the mower would be sitting on the floor. Am I backwards thinking on this? [This is the best picture I could come up with at home.]
@Nancy Hart the hydraulic fluid should have a dipstick or a sight hole somewhere. Mine is a John Deere so it will be different from yours. My sight glass is at the back directly below the back of the seat and is a simple glass "eye". The fluid tube where the fluid is added if needed (or when changing the fluid) is underneath the seat and has a cap that resembles an oil dipstick on a small engine but no dipstick on the tractor there. As far as the mower goes, it appears you are correct and the wheel is as far down as it will go and the deck is as high as it will go in the current configuration. You can probably lift it higher with the three-point and you may be able to get another wheel with a longer shaft. Is there a set screw or anything on the housing at the back of the mower above the wheel?
Thanks, Don. I'll look for the hydraulic Monday. I know what to look for now. If the mower is still too low, and can't be changed, I'll think about getting a different wheel. Btw, I found 3 dead mice under the mower in the garage. Those critters sure do get around.
While looking for the tractor manual yesterday (no luck), I ran across two pictures---1st and 2nd grade class photos. This is 1st grade. Class size 33, and some may have been missing. What a goofy looking bunch. After the first two years they only took individual pictures. I like the group photos better, especially now that you can zoom in with a scanner. The teacher was Mrs. Ross. She was mean and tough, but she was a good teacher. You had to learn out of fear. When she got angry her face would turn beet red. She also roomed at my grandmother's house during school season on weekdays. Ruined visits to Grandma's house because she always scared me. This little girl (#6, back row) was Karen, my first school friend. She had red hair and freckles. One day during noon recess we were standing at the front door of the school talking. The principal came out of the building and said "Let's go!" So we followed him, got into his car, and he dropped us both off at home and took off. I walked in the house and my mom's says, "How did you get home?"... "I don't know." Pretty soon a phone call came from the school apologizing. Apparently two girls at the school were diagnosed with measles, and were supposed to wait at the front door to be taken home. I got to stay home the rest of the afternoon so it was great by me. The principal remembered that for years later. He was a very nice man. This was Paul (#6, row 3). He and I were the only ones who already knew the alphabet and could count before 1st grade. This gave me confidence from the beginning I could do this school thing. lol Karen disappeared after first grade. I don't know if she was put in another class, but eventually she must have moved, because I never saw her again. I bet we would have been friends forever, otherwise. Paul was around through H.S. graduation. I was #2 in the 3rd row.
They all look as cute as can be! I had a mean first grade teacher. Started school when I was five, no kindergarten. Didn't know how to write my name. Second grade - had the nicest teacher. Very patient.