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Post by wvengineer on Feb 6, 2022 22:17:25 GMT
Spark plug sockets. I replaced the plugs in my wife's Traverse. Job wasn't too bad, even if it was just over freezing.
The biggest pain, was after I got the old plug out and put the new one in, getting the dang spark plug socket off the the plug that is down in the head. Since it's a good 5 inches down in the hole, you can't get it with your finder, Can't get enough of a grip to pull it out with pliers because of the rugger gripper on the spark plug.
Anyone have any good ways to take out the socket?
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Post by the light works on Feb 6, 2022 23:52:22 GMT
Spark plug sockets. I replaced the plugs in my wife's Traverse. Job wasn't too bad, even if it was just over freezing. The biggest pain, was after I got the old plug out and put the new one in, getting the dang spark plug socket off the the plug that is down in the head. Since it's a good 5 inches down in the hole, you can't get it with your finder, Can't get enough of a grip to pull it out with pliers because of the rugger gripper on the spark plug. Anyone have any good ways to take out the socket? if the hole has enough diameter, you could tie a clove hitch around the socket and tape it on with electrical tape, and then pull on the string along with the ratchet. (the goal being to keep the extension from pulling out of the socket) if the top of the socket is thin enough there's a fishhook remover available that might be able to grip better than pliers at that distance.  |
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Post by GTCGreg on Feb 7, 2022 0:47:22 GMT
Spark plug sockets. I replaced the plugs in my wife's Traverse. Job wasn't too bad, even if it was just over freezing. The biggest pain, was after I got the old plug out and put the new one in, getting the dang spark plug socket off the the plug that is down in the head. Since it's a good 5 inches down in the hole, you can't get it with your finder, Can't get enough of a grip to pull it out with pliers because of the rugger gripper on the spark plug. Anyone have any good ways to take out the socket? There is a locking type socket extender that once the socket is in place, it will not release until you slide the locking collar down. Home Depot sells them. www.homedepot.com/p/6-in-Locking-Socket-Adapter-Set-TIT15214/302060196Amazon also has a similar product. www.amazon.com/Neiko-00295A-Extension-Removing-Sparkplugs/dp/B001JGTFAA |
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Post by wvengineer on Feb 7, 2022 1:27:57 GMT
TSL, the rubber insert in my spark plug socket keeps a real tight grip on the plug. I don't think something like that would be able to grip enough to pull the socket out.
However, GTC, I'm gonna have to look at that.
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Post by wvengineer on Apr 23, 2023 19:37:49 GMT
At work, for our office staff Christmas Party, they do a giveaway of several gift cards. I got a card for Home Depot and used it to get a new lawn mower.
My old one is a Husquvarha self propelled setup. The first startup in the spring is always a REAL pain. It's going on 9 years old and the self propelled drive is starting to slip.
My new mower is yet another Ryobi battery power tool. Yesterday was the first mowing of the spring and I tried out the new mower.
Pros:
1. Battery powered. Pop in the battery and go. No fighting with gas, carburetors, and pull cords.
2. Very light weight. Around half the weight of the old one. This makes it much easier to push around and much more maneuverable.
3. Motor self adjusts power to compensate for changing grass density.
4. The self propelled drive and blade motor are controlled independently. So you can drive it around with out the blade running.
5. It took about 30 minutes to cut the front yard. I was able to do it on one battery charge with enough power left over to string trim and use the leaf blower to clean up the yard.
6. Comes with grass catcher, mulching plug, and side discharge.
7. Super quite. You can barely hear it running.
Cons:
1. Not much traction. The light weight is a double edged sword. It doesn't have enough weight for the drive wheels to work well. It struggles to pull itself up my hills.
2. Lots of plastic gives the controls a cheap feel.
Other notes.
I got the tool only version without additional battery or charger since I already have those. I have a 4 AH battery from previous tools. They normally come with a 6.0 AH battery so I think a 40-45 minute run time wold be reasonable.
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Post by the light works on Apr 23, 2023 21:50:03 GMT
At work, for our office staff Christmas Party, they do a giveaway of several gift cards. I got a card for Home Depot and used it to get a new lawn mower. My old one is a Husquvarha self propelled setup. The first startup in the spring is always a REAL pain. It's going on 9 years old and the self propelled drive is starting to slip. My new mower is yet another Ryobi battery power tool. Yesterday was the first mowing of the spring and I tried out the new mower. Pros: 1. Battery powered. Pop in the battery and go. No fighting with gas, carburetors, and pull cords. 2. Very light weight. Around half the weight of the old one. This makes it much easier to push around and much more maneuverable. 3. Motor self adjusts power to compensate for changing grass density. 4. The self propelled drive and blade motor are controlled independently. So you can drive it around with out the blade running. 5. It took about 30 minutes to cut the front yard. I was able to do it on one battery charge with enough power left over to string trim and use the leaf blower to clean up the yard. 6. Comes with grass catcher, mulching plug, and side discharge. 7. Super quite. You can barely hear it running. Cons: 1. Not much traction. The light weight is a double edged sword. It doesn't have enough weight for the drive wheels to work well. It struggles to pull itself up my hills. 2. Lots of plastic gives the controls a cheap feel. Other notes. I got the tool only version without additional battery or charger since I already have those. I have a 4 AH battery from previous tools. They normally come with a 6.0 AH battery so I think a 40-45 minute run time wold be reasonable. my parents volunteer for a community garden and IIRC, they got an E-Go brand battery mower with the idea they would be getting other tools of the same brand as need, availability, and budget overlapped. they seems to be a good brand, but of course, they are a garden tool brand, so there isn't the battery exchange between construction tools and gardening tools, like you get with ryobi, DeWalt, and Milwaukee. |
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Post by WhutScreenName on Apr 24, 2023 13:32:32 GMT
Last spring I debated with myself over getting a new battery powered mower, or just keeping the old gas mower and cleaning the motor again... After chatting with the wife, she supported me in spending the money to get the new mower. I got a Toro as that matches my string trimmer. I am very happy that the wife encouraged me to spend the money, it's worth it! I agree with all the pro's mentioned above. Mine, however, does not have any traction troubles. That said, I have a pretty level yard, and therefore don't have to worry about it slipping on a hill.
I did accidentally put the trimmer's smaller battery in the mower, and it irreparably damaged the battery. It worked, but it drained it too far and ran out of juice in a much shorter time, and now the battery is worthless. I would still recommend a battery powered mower to anyone who uses a push mower. In my opinion, they are superior to the gas mowers.
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Post by the light works on Apr 24, 2023 13:42:28 GMT
I am wondering if part of the traction problem might be from the actual tires being poorly designed. the two mowers my property came with both had drive issues. the worse one being one-wheel-drive with a drive system that worked more as a speed governor than as a drive. the other had hard tires, that were okay, but not great. it was also a front wheel drive, which meant that if you were pushing on the handle to assist, it transferred weight from the drive wheels to the undriven wheels.
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Post by wvengineer on Apr 24, 2023 15:09:49 GMT
My yard tools are all Ryobi 40V setup. So the same battery works for my mower, string trimmer, hedge clippers, leaf blower, leaf vacuum, and chain saw. I even have a small generator that cam put out about 300W of 120VDC from the same battery. I can use the small battery from my string trimmer in the mower, it just doesn't last as long. If Toro can't use small batteries in their larger tools, there is some serious design issues there. Too easy for consumer to mix that stuff up and cause problems like WSN had. Either the smaller battery physically should not be able to be used in the battery cradle, or it would be unable to run on the mower.
With this mower, I think I am ready to let my son start mowing. He should be able to handle this one safely.
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