So I had to transport a leaky mower to the repair shop...

[Baitball Blogger]

How much time do I have to live?

It was leaking gas (don't buy a Toro) and I did drive with the windows open, but the odor lingered as I continued to do my errands. Nasty stuff. Just saying, if those lawn mowers were cars, they would be recalled. Can't leave gas in them for two weeks straight or they won't start; Even when you drain them before you store them, it's not a given.

[Sherman A1]

1. Sorry to hear that

I have had my Snapper since 1979. Take it in every year for a tune up and blade sharpening. Still hanging in there.

[sharp_stick]

2. I'd drain the gas before transporting a mower inside a vehicle

if it's leaking, an empty tank and a day or two on cardboard in the garage should clear it out especially if it's just a fuel line. If it's leaking internally it's probably not worth fixing.

[dr.strangelove]

3. Sorry to hear it

That gas smell lingers. Leave the car open if you can and let it air out, try to put an open box of baking soda, or go to a home store and buy an odor eating compound. Best to you.

I have had my Honda for 10 years now, still starts on one or two pulls, never leaks and even after winter storage when I drain it and run a fuel stablizer through it, it starts up the spring one one or two pulls once I fill it. I might switch brands.

[Baitball Blogger]

6. While the repair guy was writing up my ticket I had a conversation

with another customer. He said he didn't put up with his Toro's problem and returned it while it was still in warranty and bought a Honda. Hasn't experienced any problems with the Honda. I think I might buy hubby a Honda for his birthday, though it will kill him since this mower is not two years old.

[Tobin S.]

4. Mowers? We're talking snow blowers this time of year where I'm from.

You don't know how lucky you are.

[Hotler]

5. It's not the mower it's the gas itself.

Todays gas goes to shit in about 30-days, do not leave it in your power equipment for long periods of time unless you add some stabilizer to the fuel. (Stabil) Do not use any gas that is more than 10% methanol, it is hard on rubber fuel lines and rubber/plastic parts. Have a look at this website and see if there is a supplier in your area that has ethanol free gas and use it in your power equipment. I race motorcycles and I'm able to buy street legal 100 octane unleaded race fuel. I use the term fuel because race fuel is not gas and is far better quality than the stuff they sell us at the pumps for our cars and trucks. You can let race fuel sit for a year or so and it doesn't turn to shit. I use the race fuel in my lawn mower and weed eater.

http://pure-gas.org/

[Baitball Blogger]

7. Yes, we learned all about that, and the mower is still acting up.

Just too much work to maintain a mower that we purchased to handle just one yard. The system worked if we used it once a week, which is fine for summer. But even when the tank was emptied, it didn't work for the summer months where we can go two or three weeks between yard cuts.

[Hotler]

8. Does the mower have one of those primer blubs on the front

that you push three or four times to prime the engine? If it does push it in slowly about five times (or more) and see if it will start. Most mower have a handle at the push bar that you have to squeeze so the mower will start and if you let go it stops, sometimes the cable that is attached there gets loose and it doesn't release the kill switch. The kill switch is nothing more than an electrical ground at the ignition wire.