 | By Geoff Ellis I SPOTTED it on my way into Wonny, a freebie mower on a nature strip. I checked it out on the return leg: a Rover Big Honcho with Turbothrust (registered trademark). A note on the rusty handlebar advised "Will start on eighth go". A diagnostic tug on the starter cord produced the right noises as the cylinder struck top dead centre. Good compression! With my foot planted against the rear wheel I yanked the cord again. Clunk, clang. Try again! The motor turned freely then coughed to a halt. Clunk, bang. |
Just add petrol, eh? Righto, into the ute. At home I pushed Honcho into a corner of the shed. That was June. Deep in the Gippsland winter nothing was growing, not even the capeweed. One September morning I looked out from the breakfast table and everything in the backyard was reaching for the sun. Especially the capeweed.
A few days into this premature growth spurt I dragged out old faithful, a Masport mower, and we started a lap of our big yard. It was heavy going due to swampy ground so I spread the effort over three afternoons, Each time the mower got a little more reluctant to restart. Probably needed a new spark plug but that meant a trip into town.
With the end in sight on day three, a stubborn clump of capeweed jammed the works and the poor Masport stopped in a backfired cloud of grey smoke.
Of course it was Sunday and of course the rain was coming and of course I wouldn't start the damned thing. The week ahead was too crowded and the predicted weather was alarming. With no time to spare I pushed the Masport aside and dragged out Honcho..
Filled the tank, set the rusty lever to start and pulled the cord. Clunk, clang and again. And again. And ... It roared into life on the eighth go. A tad noisy but there was work to do! And we got it done, finished just as the storm hit. As I parked Big Red I made a mental note to get the Masport serviced and to somehow thank the person who wrote that note.
I haven't spotted any freebie mowers lately but household appliances are trending strongly on nature strips this week. I keep driving past a solid looking basketball hoop in Campbell Street. Tempting, but I'd need to find a basketball.
A few days into this premature growth spurt I dragged out old faithful, a Masport mower, and we started a lap of our big yard. It was heavy going due to swampy ground so I spread the effort over three afternoons, Each time the mower got a little more reluctant to restart. Probably needed a new spark plug but that meant a trip into town.
With the end in sight on day three, a stubborn clump of capeweed jammed the works and the poor Masport stopped in a backfired cloud of grey smoke.
Of course it was Sunday and of course the rain was coming and of course I wouldn't start the damned thing. The week ahead was too crowded and the predicted weather was alarming. With no time to spare I pushed the Masport aside and dragged out Honcho..
Filled the tank, set the rusty lever to start and pulled the cord. Clunk, clang and again. And again. And ... It roared into life on the eighth go. A tad noisy but there was work to do! And we got it done, finished just as the storm hit. As I parked Big Red I made a mental note to get the Masport serviced and to somehow thank the person who wrote that note.
I haven't spotted any freebie mowers lately but household appliances are trending strongly on nature strips this week. I keep driving past a solid looking basketball hoop in Campbell Street. Tempting, but I'd need to find a basketball.