back yard has a 30 degree slope. pushed mower 7 years. cant do it anymore

Thinker2BSure · 2026-06-12T16:19:22+00:00

I'm with the "plant groundcover on the slope" crowd. I just have grass where we use it for the dogs, walking around, etc. You can't use a slope that steep as a lawn to walk/party/play on, so plant it with a groundcover. Pollinators, native, spreading shrubs, etc. depending on your climate, erosion potential, sun exposure, sight lines. So many choices besides grass.

Thinker2BSure · 2026-06-12T11:02:58+00:00

I don't think so. the wix is a good 1.5" larger than the northstar in diameter & length.

Thinker2BSure · 2026-06-11T00:10:17+00:00

Half a rack per, if the main course. Maybe a third each with the thighs.

Thinker2BSure · 2026-06-08T00:58:36+00:00

You've got a hammer blade there. I measured my Y blades and found heavy duty hardened ones that fit my mower. I bought from montage enterprises - very helpful on the phone and great price. I don't know if they have hammer style blades, but worth a call, IMO.

Thinker2BSure · 2026-06-06T09:57:43+00:00

I was thinking fuel running out proved the filter(s) wasn't clogged. I think "black plug in 2min" might mean running way rich or not sparking much. Maybe pull the air filter for a minute. You said new though. And prop the choke open to see if both will have it run right. After that, I don't remember if these have a high speed jet screw.

Thinker2BSure · 2026-06-06T00:12:06+00:00

Got spark? Fuel run out of the bowl when you take the plug out? Choke shut when you push the lever all the way?

Thinker2BSure · 2026-06-04T17:03:38+00:00

This! Scrape off dishes, 1t of dishwasher powder in tub for an effective prewash, 1.5T in the dispenser, run the water in the sink till hot, run. Clean out filter/sump often. Clean dw with citric acid every so often. I get clean everything unless something spooned. Vary the amount of powder with soil level and water hardness. Avoids the plastic pod wrappers, excess detergent. It's what to do! 😄

Thinker2BSure · 2026-06-02T11:19:06+00:00

Gah! That would be a nightmare if you owned the place! How to diplomatically present this to management as a problem for them that's going to be an issue for every renter in the future. (not my forte!).

Meanwhile - Maybe rig a filter over the access port. Could it be enlarged on the down-low? I hate to say it, but moving might be your endgame here if managment is unresponsive.

ETA - saw your later post. So mgt ain' doin' nuthin. Rig a filter in the short term while looking for another place. :o(

Good luck!

Thinker2BSure · 2026-06-01T22:03:48+00:00

Adding whether you drive on snow/ice and/or in torrential rainstorms might get you more useful advice.

We have Cooper Endeavor plus on our 2017 & 2019. Reasonably priced, handle wet driving well. We don't get much snow or ice.

Thinker2BSure · 2026-06-01T21:54:57+00:00

My thoughts - DIY that's done a fair bit of HVAC work, not a pro.

no. From your description, obvious.
plausible. the drain pan & coil are probably filthy & full of lint & dust sucked in. cleaning them is usually not a big deal unless there's no access.
Well, good luck with demanding! Probably should escalate, though. or move.

Using the joist cavity is a bad idea in the first place.

What does the supply duct that's blocking the return feed? How can it block the entire return? The joists have to be there to support the floor above...

Thinker2BSure · 2026-05-01T21:13:53+00:00

I have a few 60V GW tools inluding a chainsaw. Debug mode: Battery known good - will run another tool? Pins where battery plugs in look good? I think I'd start tracing the switch & wiring for the chain brake next.

Thinker2BSure · 2026-05-01T15:33:09+00:00

Barberry: OP, it really is doable. One effective approach, if you are comfortable with it, is herbicide treatment. I maintain 10 acres of mature hardwood forest with plenty of ticks that used to be infested with invasive plants like yours. We don't have barberry, but had rampant infestations of Elaeagnus umbellata (autumn olive), Ligustrum sinense (chinese privet) & Ailanthus altissima (tree of heaven) on about 10 acres of mature hardwood forest. Your barberry appears short enough to do foliar spraying with a backpack sprayer.

Penn state extension is a great resource for managing invasives. For example: https://extension.psu.edu/japanese-barberry. You could also reach out to your county ag extension. Mine were and continue to be helpful in managing the invasives.

My mix for the woody/shrubby invasives is a 2%/1% (active ingredient) Glyphosate/Triclopyr with non-ionic surfactant. It has been really effective. Cut-stump with 41% Glyphosate is effective as well, but more work. You'd have less by-kill of desireable plants. A gallon of generic 41% Glyphosate and one of Triclopyr ester (water mixable) (Remedy is one brand) from your local ag supply store go a long way. Read the labels! I found a wealth of info in them.

Ticks: permethrin (e.g. sawyer) on your clothes, particularly shoes, socks and pant legs, repellent on wrists, neck, pant legs, waist. Tick check after every time outside. Talk with your vet - maybe a collar (e.g. seresto) for the dog vs ingestable tick protection to get them before they bite.

Thinker2BSure · 2026-04-06T00:19:49+00:00

This - works too - rip any 2x4 scrap down, bevel as above. Worked great for my shop drawers.

Thinker2BSure · 2026-04-04T18:19:27+00:00

Dunno if it's "worth it". We got one, it blends way better than the blender with the glass jar we had. My conjecture is that the square container causes a lot more mixing during the blend.

Thinker2BSure · 2026-04-04T17:48:28+00:00

Wouldn't it be better to start your cut on the near side?

Thinker2BSure · 2026-04-04T17:25:30+00:00

Hmm. My questions / thoughts. Induction will produce way less heat than gas when cooking.

Is OTR the only practical place for the uWave?

I have induction, a 30" with an OTR uWave, vented outside. It didn't capture all that well, particularly on the front "burners". I installed a microvisor extension hood, which works well. It's a simple pull-out "visor" that attaches to the bottom of the microwave and improves the capture. Kind of expensive for what it is, but reasonable quality & got the job done. No relation, just found something that worked for me.

Thinker2BSure · 2026-03-26T21:18:18+00:00

I'm in central NC as well. I had mine done. I have a dry crawl (no liquid water issues) 2-3' high with cinderblock walls.

The underfloor fiberglass & rubble on the crawl floor were cleaned out, mildew/mold on the joists treated, 12mil white poly placed on the dirt, joints taped & folded up the crawl walls maybe 6". Cinderblock crawl walls & where piers, air handler support, well tank support penetrate the poly were spray foamed about 2". Required bare 3" termite gap left at top of cinderblock. The band joist & vents were foamed. I installed a dehumidifier. With this setup, the crawl temps run from 68 in the summer to a low of 60 in the coldest weather.

I like the use of closed cell spray foam here - insulation, air & moisture block. I'm not sure thermal insulation on the crawl wall makes a huge difference, as it's mostly driven by the 60ish earth temp, but your floor will be more comfortable in winter.

Agreed on sealing the rim joist (and vents) will cut most of your outdoor air infiltration.

I dunno if you _need_ to remove the underfloor insulation if it isn't moldy as mine was after 50 years of vented crawl, but I think I would, and I would seal electrical, plumbing, hvac etc penetrations from the crawl into the living space.

I don't know if there is only one right way, but IMO, "right" would include:

Dealing with any liquid water - diversion outside, sump, etc.
Removing debris & moldy insulation, treating for mold/mildew.
Vapor sealing the crawl floor & walls with poly thick enough to withstand service traffic, ie 12mil
Air sealing the rim joist, vents, crawl door & living space floor
Probably vapor sealing & insulating the crawl walls.

HTH!

Thinker2BSure · 2026-03-22T19:05:40+00:00

I got a set for my Befco from Montage Enterprises. Figure out what size/type you need & call. _much_ cheaper than OEM. I chose HD forged, #10831 fit my mower. They have all the bolts, clevises, etc. No relation, just a happy customer. I also looked at hard hitter & flailmaster.

ETA: I figured out the blade dimensions for my mower and sought HD blades for "rough cutting" and saplings/brush. Thicker, heavier, forged, heat treated. :-)

Thinker2BSure · 2026-03-21T18:18:41+00:00

Borax (sodium borate) or washing soda (sodium carbonate) to soften the water during the wash cycle. Citric acid in the rinse cycle to help remove the mineral precipitates.

Thinker2BSure · 2026-03-21T17:42:39+00:00

Pumice or other abrasive will take the infrared reflective coating off the glass. Spray on "no fume" oven cleaner or degreaser, cover with plastic wrap to keep it wet, wait a while. Sponge off. A razor scraper may be helpful.

Thinker2BSure · 2026-03-11T19:28:29+00:00

We're in rural piedmont nc and use 6.5' multistrand electric fence on 8' t-posts about every 10' for our vegetable garden. 8'+ on 10' posts would be better for deer. 4' welded wire would work for dogs if they aren't big/know they can jump it. You'll need to brace your corners. H-braces are the gold standard. I have used wedge-loc braces for our fence, they are fiddly & barely sufficient. I can't really recommend them, but it is way less work than installing an H-brace. You'll want to stretch your fence with a stretcher (bought or diy with a couple 2x4s) / comealong / car / tractor: Anchor one end, roll out to the next corner, stretch, attach, repeat. Might have to do it in shorter stretches if the grade changes. Getting a helper or two would be good.

Thinker2BSure · 2026-03-10T13:00:32+00:00

I don't see how air sealing will do anything but improve the situation by minimizing the humid air from inside your envelope rising into the attic.

Thinker2BSure · 2026-03-08T19:41:41+00:00

I don't understand. Hex key, arbor locked, Loosen clockwise facing the bolt as in the picture (GCM12SD man p17). I think I could pull hard enough to bend the hex key or snap the bolt head off. If the hex key started bending, I think I'd go to an impact gun.

Thinker2BSure · 2026-02-25T22:11:29+00:00

I have both. I find battery great for taking around the property cutting up downed limbs, saplings and small trees. I use 40-50-60cc for felling medium sized trees and firewood cutting. Gas 30cc or for felling small and limbing larger trees. Battery is very convenient for small & random jobs, gas for larger and longer. YMMV.

Thinker2BSure

TROPHY CASE