It's finally here!

[irvingj]

Picked up my used (6hrs, +/-) M-F 2325 60" MMM last weekend... can't wait to try it out! (Like ly to be 4 weeks --at least-- from now; still snow-covered up here but melting fast! )

Still sitting in my little trailer, waiting for grass>

 

[Ductape]

Nice ! Looks like new. I think we are close enough to springtime that I'm gonna pull the blower, and put the loader back on at the beginning of the week. Won't be long you'll be mowing.......

 

[JJZ 109]

Nice ! Looks like new. I think we are close enough to springtime that I'm gonna pull the blower, and put the loader back on at the beginning of the week. Won't be long you'll be mowing.......

I took the blower off almost 2 weeks ago. Ballast box is on for spring, but mower was cleaned up, greased and blades sharpened last fall before I put it away so it's all ready to go.

 

[Thumper & Buttercup]

We'll I've got to go out and blow snow today and they are talking of more this week....come on spring!!!!

 

[Johndeere3720]

Nice mower! I need to get a new bearing for my riding mower. Luckly, a few days ago I borrowed my grandpa's Johndeere 2210 with MMM and cut the lawn at 10 mph! way faster than the riding mower and 32'' wider. Hope you like your new mower!

 

[irvingj]

Yeah, I'm excited! I've never had even a self-propelled mower, let alone a rider.

I got it from woody49705, who graciously allowed me to pay $500 three times, beginning last November. Drove down to CT last weekend to pick it up after final payment. It does look pratically new, Rob said it had only been used a couple of times; seems he has a neighbor who has a MMM which they share, so he didn't really need his.

I'm happy- just have to figure out how to get it out of the trailer (shouldn't be a big deal) and where to store it. Still don't dare remove the blower!

I'm learning that these tractors are a lot like motorcycles-- they tend to proliferate, right in your dooryard!

Oh- one other thing, in case others don't know about it-- I had only ever seen 3/4" heater hose, but there IS actually such a thing as 1" heater hose. A cap from a can of spray window washer, a touch of superglue, and I now have slip-on, grease-retaining covers for exposed driveshafts- hence the "MOWER DECK" in white in the pic--

Ductape- we've lost a lot of snow, but the ground outside of driveway is still mostly covered; the rain we're getting now & tomorrow.... every time I hear "possibility of mixing with snow/snow showers" I know we'll get some!

 

[Thomas]

That should bring the blackflies and there crazy cousin mosq. a live when they hear mower running.
Not just for mowing,also leave clean up.
Snow...been good slow melt this year...whew...about another month and old man winter should be on vacation.

 

[irvingj]

Hey, Thomas. Yes, it's been a long winter...

I was talking to Larry Hart yesterday-- he pointed out, as I sometimes remind myself, that we're fortunate: Of course we whine about the weather--northern New England trait, I guess, but we don't have to deal with tornadoes, floods, wildfires, and earthquakes like many do. I hope they all make out OK, and I'll stay "up here" I guess! North Dakota looks terrible!

PS-- had the 360 out again yesterday for a bit....

 

[Thomas]

Indeed were are darn lucky compare to what a lot folks must deal with...yikes.

Sure Larry can recall some of those nasty ice jams at bridge below his home when town had to use tnt to break up the ice.

Heard some bikes in distance while doing some pre yard work...another month or so before the trike come out from hibernation.

Sure could use light steady rain to soften snowbanks also dry some of this muddy roads and lower tar heavens.

 

[irvingj]

With my usual alacrity, I got the mower out of the trailer last week. Man, those tractors do come in handy! And now, the grass is actually beginning to green up, too!

Next, we'll try to hook it up & see how it works!

Grandson took some pics... a bit rough, but they show what we did- a chain, a bolt, and it's done. Very pleasantly surprised at how easily it rolls on a concrete floor-- very easy to slide under boat for storage. Thanks, Rob!

 

[Ductape]

When you were younger, you'da just put your back into it and lifted that off the trailer by hand !

 

[Thomas]

Nice looking setup.

May th black flies show mercy as you try out the new mower.

 

[scott_vt]

Good Mornin Irving,
Nice lookin mower deck, that should keep up with that grass that you can almost growing ! \

Let us know how it works out, and maybe some pics too !

 

[Builder]

Are you a Corsair fan? I think they're the coolest plane. I go to a local airshow every year and stand out in the field and let the pilot buzz about 100' over my head, back and forth in awe of that plane. So intimidating-looking. Scared the he** out of the enemy in WWII. What did the japanese nickname it? Whistling Death?

Oh yeah...nice mower!

 

[irvingj]

Ductape-- Yeah, that's how Rob & I loaded it... I ain't dead yet, but sometimes like to think I ain't stoopid! (That only works sometimes, however....)

Scott-- yeah, some pics when I try it out for sure! (Keep telling myself, I've never had a riding mower before--ever; this could be cool!)

Builder-- Yep, Whistling Death. They must sound awesome. I've never heard one, but 2 yrs ago had an opportunity to spend some quality time buzzing NH from Nashua to Lyme & back in an AT-6, which I understand (from my neighbors) was QUITE loud in a dive & pull-out @ 800ft-- and that was only a single-row 650HP radial, not the 2000HP corn-cob the F4-U used!

Thomas: I was probably right over you, too, since I banked over Hardy Hill & Stevens looking for my house. For comparison-- here's the T-6 with a Cessna 182 nearby: the top of the Cessna's roof window came up to the middle of the spinner on the T-6 ....

Anybody know which NH Lake this is? Fairly near, as the crow flies, to 89, which we followed up; south & east of Mascoma & Crystal. (Canaan St?)

 

[woody49705]

Your welcome! I can't believe you guys are'nt mowing yet--My yard has been mowed 3 times already. I did'nt think a couple hours north would make that much difference. Anyway's I'm sure you are in for huge treat. You say you've never owned a riding mower before and you jumped to a lincoln town car of mowers, If you ever have to downgrade to a craftsmen riding mower you will be very dissappointed. That I promise you. Please keep in touch and let me know what you think when you get to try it out.

 

[Builder]

Builder-- Yep, Whistling Death. They must sound awesome. I've never heard one, but 2 yrs ago had an opportunity to spend some quality time buzzing NH from Nashua to Lyme & back in an AT-6, which I understand (from my neighbors) was QUITE loud in a dive & pull-out @ 800ft-- and that was only a single-row 650HP radial, not the 2000HP corn-cob the F4-U used!

OK, you must come down to my local air show in PA. Happens every summer. We get a Wildcat, a Corsair, and a TBF Avenger (to name a few). The guy that flies the Wildcat owns the airport. (DuPont family) and he must be ~80 years old.

This is a tiny airfield and they fill it up with warplanes. The guy in the Corsair and the other navy guys spend at least an hour of fuel buzzing right over your head. You can see the rivets in the wings!

The Corsair is Baaaaadddd!!!!!

 

[ChuckinNH]

If that lake is north of RT4 I would say that it might be Goose Pond, though it could be Canaan St. lake. I thought both were somewhat north of Crystal lake, but I could be wrong about that. You sure had a beautiful day for flying over that country. Did you take that trainer out of Lebanon? I had stick time in Cessna's in Vietnam,(not a pilot) but haven't flown much since, and I sure miss it at times still.

 

[Johndeere3720]

Have fun with your new MMM!

 

[irvingj]

Chuck, I really don't remember just where that lake was, though its silhouette ought to be identifiable. Wish I had taken more pics, but I was too busy (and having too good a time) moving the stick and the pedals around! On the way back, the owner did every maneuver the plane could do; we went from -1.9 to +2.5 Gs with that beast. What a blast!

Thanks to all with the good wishes; I'll let everyone know how it works when I use it. My ol' push mower has to go over the lawn forward AND backward to really get a decent cut (yeah, I'm a bit of a perfectionist)-- obviously, that meant I had to cover the whole lawn twice to get it to look decent.... I'm hoping for a LARGE reduction in time required for the job, similar to what my snowblower has done for me. (Shouldn't be too hard to improve on, huh!...)

Rob- the contracted guys at the school showed up for the first time to mow yesterday, but I don't think anyone up here "on the hill" has started yet- but it won't be long now. Every time we go south during April it's always a treat to see you guys out there sweating & mowing when we don't have to!

Builder-- any good quilt shops near where you live? Perhaps I could convince my mate to go down there but drop me off at the airfield while she does quilt stuff....