The Lawn Mower Mark

I took a nap after getting home and then got up thinking I should mow the yard because of today's rain. With one strip left in the front yard and not even touching the back yard jungle, my lawn mower dies. I prime the engine, pull the cord, it starts and runs for 20 seconds before sputtering and dying. Like any idiot, I curse and continue to pull the cord thinking a different result will happen over and over. Nothing.

I can't let it go as my yard's appearance is important to me. So I check the oil, add oil, no effect. I clean the air filter, replace, no effect. I flush the fuel line as best I can, replace, no effect. By 9:30 PM, I've given up the yard and wheeled the mower back into the garage. Not finished yet, I check the internet for help to no avail.

After six years, the mower may just be done. I've not maintained it like I should (I only think about it when I need it), and have used it nearly every weekend during lawn seasons. Do I take it to the shop where a guy can charge me $25-30/hour for three hours to fix it or spend $30 more on top of that just getting a new one? Maybe an electric one is in order, my yard isn't that big and it would save me having to buy gasoline for it. Any thoughts?

The Lawn Ranger Rides Again

After work, I stopped and bought some carburator cleaner and a new gallon of gas. My boss gave me some suggestions to try to see if I could bring my lawn mower back to life. I changed into grubbies and spent two hours giving the mower a once over, draining old gas and replacing it, etc. If anything, I couldn't even get it to turn over, just sputterings and an occasional little burst of smoke.

I ran to KMart and a couple of other stops (yeah, Sam's Club was one of them). I was spying a Black & Decker electric lawn mower at $150, thinking about all of my other Black & Decker lawn tools and how they'd be very color coordinated. I spied something that made me think I should give the old mower one last try and would give me a bit of time to do some pro/con checking on the electric mower.

After buying the item in question, I drove home. I parked in the drive and opened the garage door, pulled the mower forward for tinkering, and in minutes the roar of my lawn mower echoed forth. I'm almost disappointed as the electric mower would have been cool, but having my old one running again is very good indeed. So how much is several hours of my time worth, time spent sweating and cursing, my arm tired from pulling the start cord, and multiple trips to the discount stores?

$1.98...

... the cost of a new spark plug...

I gladly and eagerly await any of the "I told you so..'s" you guys want to put forth. I certainly appreciate all y'all's input :)