[Vtx531]

I built some shelves in the shed today. Worked out really well and only cost about $50. So much more useable storage space now!!!

 

[Chris LI]

:thumbup:

 

[Vtx531]

I cleaned the carb on the push mower and upped the RPM - got it running really nice now.

I mowed to try and mulch more of the clippings and even everything out. Didn't do the back behind/under the trees - too dry. It always seems like you need to go twice in both directions when changing the HOC and I only went one direction earlier this week when I went down to 2.25". Still lots of clippings, I don't have a side discharge chute for my push mower so I may need to get one.

Not looking the greatest with the mulch clippings sitting on top and in direct midday sunlight.

 

[Vtx531]

I might be a walk mower convert. Today, I picked up a 1996 Super Recycler for $20. The ad said it was not running and won't start. I got home and added gas to the tank (that was bone dry) and it fired right up! Looks like it will need a drive belt but otherwise everything seems to be in order.

I did side by side comparison with the MTD and the difference was night and day but it doesn't show up well in the photo. No clumps with the Super Recycler. MTD stripes on the left half and Toro on the right half.

Mowed on setting D.

Only bad thing is it doesn't have a bag.

 

[Vtx531]

My time with the old Super Recycler was short lived - I liked it so much that I bought a newer version today. The big differences are taller max cutting height (4" vs 3"), OHV engine, personal pace, and a bagger.

The lawn still looks terrible from dethatching but it is recovering. Lots of rain last night should help. Mowed on setting E.

 

[ionicatoms]

Which Super Recycler did you get?

 

[Vtx531]

Which Super Recycler did you get?

20381 - 2012 model year. With 159cc Toro engine and no extra features. It wouldn't start when I bought it. I had to clean the carb, sharpen the blade, and change the oil. (wow - oil changes are easy on this mower)

Most importantly, I added an inline fuel shutoff to keep fuel from running into the engine during storage. I do this to all my engines that have gravity feed. If not, gas will leak past the carb, into the crankcase, dilute the engine oil, and ruin your engine over time. This one had a slight gasoline odor to the oil and it was thinner than it should have been when I drained it. Why no fuel shutoff as a standard feature?! I highly recommend this to anyone reading and remember to use it every time.

 

[ionicatoms]

Interesting suggestion! I'm assuming it's not needed if the tank is dry?

But assuming tank isn't dry, would that suggestion apply to the upright stowing model?

 

[Vtx531]

Interesting suggestion! I'm assuming it's not needed if the tank is dry?

But assuming tank isn't dry, would that suggestion apply to the upright stowing model?

If the gas tank is dry you are fine. I'm not familiar with that particular engine but look carefully and check that the gas tank is physically lower than the carb when tilted/stored. Just make sure the fuel can't gravity drain into the carb. That smartstow feature looks pretty handy.

 

[Vtx531]

Mowed a notch lower on setting D which is 2-3/4" according to the manual.

 

[ionicatoms]

Grass is looking good!

For the sake of completeness, I found that the 2020 SmartStow isn't shipped with a fuel cutoff. The Briggs & Stratton manual shows where one would be if it were included (see call-out A):



Unfortunately, it's missing from my model 21386 mower.



Hope you don't mind my following up in your journal.

 

[Vtx531]

Yes, that is where it would go. They are very easy to install if you want. Wait until the gas runs out, cut the line with scissors, cut off about 1/4"-1/2" of the fuel line, stick in the valve. I bought a 10 pack of straight valves and a 10 pack of 90 degree valves on ebay for cheap so I always have them on hand and I never had problems with even the cheap ones.

Im out back now watching the sprinklers on a beautiful morning. Grass is looking somewhat patchy in color. I think the striper on my zeroturn was able to hide the grass variations better. I like the wider stripes but not the cut quality of the zero turn and not the stress damage caused by the tires. I can already see areas starting to recover where I had thin, brown, layed over grass in my outer trim pass areas.

 

[Vtx531]

I got the walking sprinkler going under/behind the pine trees. The long rectangular shape is perfect for this type of sprinkler.

I have never watered back here before so I think this will be helpful, especially when I overseed this fall. It is always dry and sparse in this area - not an enjoyable mow but I am hoping to change that.

 

[Vtx531]

Another perfect morning- nothing like the early sun shining through the trees and lighting up the mist. Currently watering at 150% of what I was doing.

 

[Vtx531]

Picked up 20lbs of KBG for fall overseed. I would have gotten a 3rd bag but it was cut open and leaking seed out. The manager at Menards offered me $1 off...Um no thanks.

With their 11% rebate it comes out to about $2.80/ pound. This would give me just over one pound per thousand sq ft.

Not really sure if this is a good blend or if I should return and get something else from a seed store or sod farm?

Looks like a large portion of the blend is Impact and not evenly split between the three types. .20% weed seed is higher than others I have seen on this forum. Not sure what the 6% inert matter is. Maybe it has some seed coating.

 

[synergy0852]

I personally wouldn't use anything with other crop or weed seed percentages over 0.00% but everyone is different.

I've used the big box stores seed in the past and ended up fighting undesirables and vowed to never use them again. If you don't mind having to spend some money on chems to remove weeds then it looks like a fairly decent blend, but keep in mind there will inevitably be stuff other than grass germinating along with the grass.

 

[Wolverine]

I personally wouldn't use anything with other crop or weed seed percentages over 0.00% but everyone is different.

I've used the big box stores seed in the past and ended up fighting undesirables and vowed to never use them again. If you don't mind having to spend some money on chems to remove weeds then it looks like a fairly decent blend, but keep in mind there will inevitably be stuff other than grass germinating along with the grass.

Agree. Use gold tag elite varieties if you want superior results.

 

[OnTheLawn]

0.20% weed seed and 0.10% other crop seed doesn't sound like a lot. A total of 0.30%, but think about in pure numbers...

In one pound of KBG seed there are roughly 1,300,000 seeds of grass. (1.3-1.5). We'll stay in the lower end here. That means in one ten pound bag there are about 13 million seeds of grass. 0.30% of 13 million seeds equates to 39,000 seeds, so if you put out two bags you'll be putting out just under 80,000 seeds of undesirable grass. Now germination rates and seasonal germination play a massive factor in how many of those seeds will actually germinate and when, but it's just not something I would want to deal with based on experience. The amount you'll spend in pre and post emergent weed control to take care of it will be more expensive than just paying for weed free elite cultivars.

 

[Vtx531]

Appreciate the advice. I'm going to visit some other Menards stores and see if they have any more bags of this stuff with some better weed and other crop numbers on the seed tag.

I'm really afraid of spending hundreds of dollars on premium seed and not having it go well since I don't know if a KBG overseed will work out. If it was a full reno instead of overseed then I would be more confident.

Hoping to get results that are better than nothing but not expecting much compared to a full reno.

Front lawn is looking pretty even (not in the photo though weird) considering this the third day after mowing and healthier. I think this is because the combination of walk mowing, lower temps, and extra water.

 

[synergy0852]

@Vtx531 Out of curiosity why do you want to overseed a turf with that density during the worst time of the year for us cool season folk? It's only going to get better as the temps drop into fall and you follow the N blitz.

I think what you have looks great and unless you want to make a drastic change why waste money on some big box seed. Your yard looks like mine used to a couple years ago and I quit overseeding 3 years ago when the density wasn't even what you have now and followed the N blitz to fill it in the rest of the way.

At the end of the day it's your property and you do whatever you feel will make you happy, but I like what you've got going on now!