The Lawn Mower Mystery
 

Max, at about age 65, still likes to mow his own lawn with a gasoline push
mower. It's not self-propelled, but it does have an engine. He's has the same
mower for like 20 years, and it's been great. Well, a few years ago, he noticed
that the mower was not getting very good gas mileage. In other words, the mower
was using more gas per lawn cut than it used to. This seemed to be getting
worse. So, for example, if one tank of gas used to get him through two lawn
cuttings, now a whole tank would only get him to mow the lawn one and a half
times. He would have to fill it up in the middle of the second cut. So, he knew
something was wrong. He took it to the neighborhood small engine repair shop
and for about $100, they replaced the spark plug, the spark plug wire. They
gave him a new air filter. And they probably did a few other things like clean
the carburetor. Of course, for $4 more, he could have gotten a whole new lawn
mower. But, anyway, after all the repairs, he notices that the gas mileage is
still lousy. He's bummed out, and he wondered whether there's something else
they should have replaced. Of course, there isn't. Now, I will add here the
engine and lawn mower are in perfect working order, the same as they were
perhaps the day he bought the thing. The lawn isn't thicker than it used to be.
The lawn density is the same as it has always been. And the question is, what's
wrong?

The Lawn Mower Mystery
 

"TOM KAN PA" wrote in message
...
Max, at about age 65, still likes to mow his own lawn with a gasoline push
mower. It's not self-propelled, but it does have an engine. He's has the
same
mower for like 20 years, and it's been great. Well, a few years ago, he
noticed
that the mower was not getting very good gas mileage. In other words, the
mower
was using more gas per lawn cut than it used to. This seemed to be getting
worse. So, for example, if one tank of gas used to get him through two
lawn
cuttings, now a whole tank would only get him to mow the lawn one and a
half
times. He would have to fill it up in the middle of the second cut. So, he
knew
something was wrong. He took it to the neighborhood small engine repair
shop
and for about $100, they replaced the spark plug, the spark plug wire.
They
gave him a new air filter. And they probably did a few other things like
clean
the carburetor. Of course, for $4 more, he could have gotten a whole new
lawn
mower. But, anyway, after all the repairs, he notices that the gas mileage
is
still lousy. He's bummed out, and he wondered whether there's something
else
they should have replaced. Of course, there isn't. Now, I will add here
the
engine and lawn mower are in perfect working order, the same as they were
perhaps the day he bought the thing. The lawn isn't thicker than it used
to be.
The lawn density is the same as it has always been. And the question is,
what's
wrong?

A) Old guy is pushing it slower ...

or

B) The engine shop wouldn't have touched the blade, and it needs
sharpening...

Close?

The Lawn Mower Mystery
 

On Tue, 09 Sep 2003 17:13:28 GMT, "Phrederik"
wrote:


"TOM KAN PA" wrote in message
...
Max, at about age 65, still likes to mow his own lawn with a gasoline push
mower. It's not self-propelled, but it does have an engine. He's has the
same
mower for like 20 years, and it's been great. Well, a few years ago, he
noticed
that the mower was not getting very good gas mileage. In other words, the
mower
was using more gas per lawn cut than it used to. This seemed to be getting
worse. So, for example, if one tank of gas used to get him through two
lawn
cuttings, now a whole tank would only get him to mow the lawn one and a
half
times. He would have to fill it up in the middle of the second cut. So, he
knew
something was wrong. He took it to the neighborhood small engine repair
shop
and for about $100, they replaced the spark plug, the spark plug wire.
They
gave him a new air filter. And they probably did a few other things like
clean
the carburetor. Of course, for $4 more, he could have gotten a whole new
lawn
mower. But, anyway, after all the repairs, he notices that the gas mileage
is
still lousy. He's bummed out, and he wondered whether there's something
else
they should have replaced. Of course, there isn't. Now, I will add here
the
engine and lawn mower are in perfect working order, the same as they were
perhaps the day he bought the thing. The lawn isn't thicker than it used
to be.
The lawn density is the same as it has always been. And the question is,
what's
wrong?

A) Old guy is pushing it slower ...

or

B) The engine shop wouldn't have touched the blade, and it needs
sharpening...

Close?


The gas does not have the same BTU's as it had 20 years ago. The
ethanol and MT or what ever its called doesn't have the same BTU's as
pure Gasoline. I noted my truck gets much less milage then it used
too.
Jerry

The Lawn Mower Mystery
 

an extra $4 might not have bought him the quality mower this one once
was.

but i would say he is using more gas because he and the mower are
working longer to cut the grass with blades that are badly in need of
replacement, in other words there is barely enough blade left to
effect an afficient cut.

len

snipped
--
happy gardening
'it works for me it could work for you,'

"in the end ya' gotta do what ya' gotta do" but consider others and the environment
http://hub.dataline.net.au/~gardnlen/

The Lawn Mower Mystery
 

somebody siphoning gas???


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~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
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The Lawn Mower Mystery
 

At 65 Max will have slowed down to such an extent that the 'mowing hours'
will have increased to account for the extra fuel consumed.
"TOM KAN PA" wrote in message
...
Max, at about age 65, still likes to mow his own lawn with a gasoline push
mower. It's not self-propelled, but it does have an engine. He's has the
same
mower for like 20 years, and it's been great. Well, a few years ago, he
noticed
that the mower was not getting very good gas mileage. In other words, the
mower
was using more gas per lawn cut than it used to. This seemed to be getting
worse. So, for example, if one tank of gas used to get him through two
lawn
cuttings, now a whole tank would only get him to mow the lawn one and a
half
times. He would have to fill it up in the middle of the second cut. So, he
knew
something was wrong. He took it to the neighborhood small engine repair
shop
and for about $100, they replaced the spark plug, the spark plug wire.
They
gave him a new air filter. And they probably did a few other things like
clean
the carburetor. Of course, for $4 more, he could have gotten a whole new
lawn
mower. But, anyway, after all the repairs, he notices that the gas mileage
is
still lousy. He's bummed out, and he wondered whether there's something
else
they should have replaced. Of course, there isn't. Now, I will add here
the
engine and lawn mower are in perfect working order, the same as they were
perhaps the day he bought the thing. The lawn isn't thicker than it used
to be.
The lawn density is the same as it has always been. And the question is,
what's
wrong?

The Lawn Mower Mystery
 

The Lawn Mower Mystery
 

Subject: The Lawn Mower Mystery
From:
somebody siphoning gas???
____Reply Separator_____
No, that's not it. But about 30 years ago I did the opposite of sipnoning gas.
My neighbor bought a brand 1970 something Plymouth 6 cylinder automatic
tranny. He was constantly checking his mpg every couple of days and telling me
about it. So, I'd go over at night and ADD gasoline to his tank.
Had a hell of a time keeping a straight face when he was thrilled getting 40
some mpg.

The Lawn Mower Mystery
 

Salty Thumb wrote in news:Nls7b.16875$98.1204
@nwrddc03.gnilink.net:

9) someone secretly replaced Max's engine with new better tasting
Folger's engine

or 10) Max had a neighbour who in previous years used to fill up Max's
mower at nightime, just to have laughs, and stopped doing so a few years
ago.

Ursa..



--
==================================
Ursa (Major)/ \ *-*-* *
___________/====================================\_______*-*______

The Lawn Mower Mystery
 

"TOM KAN PA" wrote in message
...
Subject: The Lawn Mower Mystery
From:
somebody siphoning gas???
____Reply Separator_____
No, that's not it. But about 30 years ago I did the opposite of sipnoning
gas.
My neighbor bought a brand 1970 something Plymouth 6 cylinder automatic
tranny. He was constantly checking his mpg every couple of days and
telling me
about it. So, I'd go over at night and ADD gasoline to his tank.
Had a hell of a time keeping a straight face when he was thrilled getting
40
some mpg.

So, WHEN do we get the answer???? he asked, flipping out like a squirrel

The Lawn Mower Mystery
 

So, WHEN do we get the answer???? he asked, flipping out like a squirrel


____Reply Separator_____

Max was older and walking slower than when he first got the mower and was
getting "better mpg".

The Lawn Mower Mystery
 

In article YSn7b.1998$oa1.395@pd7tw2no,
"Phrederik" wrote:

"TOM KAN PA" wrote in message
...
Max, at about age 65, still likes to mow his own lawn with a gasoline push
mower. It's not self-propelled, but it does have an engine. He's has the
same
mower for like 20 years, and it's been great. Well, a few years ago, he
noticed
that the mower was not getting very good gas mileage. In other words, the
mower
was using more gas per lawn cut than it used to. This seemed to be getting
worse. So, for example, if one tank of gas used to get him through two
lawn
cuttings, now a whole tank would only get him to mow the lawn one and a
half
times. He would have to fill it up in the middle of the second cut. So, he
knew
something was wrong. He took it to the neighborhood small engine repair
shop
and for about $100, they replaced the spark plug, the spark plug wire.
They
gave him a new air filter. And they probably did a few other things like
clean
the carburetor. Of course, for $4 more, he could have gotten a whole new
lawn
mower. But, anyway, after all the repairs, he notices that the gas mileage
is
still lousy. He's bummed out, and he wondered whether there's something
else
they should have replaced. Of course, there isn't. Now, I will add here
the
engine and lawn mower are in perfect working order, the same as they were
perhaps the day he bought the thing. The lawn isn't thicker than it used
to be.
The lawn density is the same as it has always been. And the question is,
what's
wrong?

A) Old guy is pushing it slower ...


This was on Car Talk -- it now takes the guy longer to mow his lawn,
hence it is using more gas per lawn cut.