Lawnmowing, Season 2

I've mostly been writing brief updates about lawnmowing on the book of the face this spring, but this one is too long for that venue, and it involves some links, so here I am.

This happened this morning:


It was only a matter of time, after the first side broke. While the hose clamp was adequate for the first side, it won't work to clamp both sides.

Also, I'm getting tired of the plastic wingnuts. One of the wingnuts that holds the roller in place apparently fell off sometime this morning, while I was in the middle of mowing. I've already had to replace another one with a regular nut and bolt. The roller also has some plastic sections chipped out.

So, what to do. I could look up the manufacturer and see about ordering replacement parts. Probably the cheapest option. Replace the crappy, broken stuff with more crappy stuff that will break, too.

The spring Lehman's catalog showed up recently, and featured a full-page spread of push mowers. I suspect all of these are better-built than the cheap push mower model I bought in Arizona - even the cheapest model. Mr. Pushy was cheap and convenient at the time, and grass in Arizona doesn't get as ridiculously crazy as grass out here, so it was reasonable for the time and place.

Or I could switch to a scythe, although I suspect it would be even more work and take even longer than push-mowing.

Or I could suck it up and get a gas or electric whack-machine.

Sigh. Inasmuch as I was happy/excited to get the Dutch Oven, I cannot work up enthusiasm about lawnmower replacement or repair.