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Get the mower out because it’s time for some lawn care. But when the thing starts up it revs like mad. That can’t be right. When you put it away for winter it worked fine, but every spring, the same problem. What can it be? Ask the Forum.

Original Post: A little humor

mowerdude Member

“How do I fix this??? Causes high rev.” Third year in a row for this repair. Do I tell customer to get a cat or poison?? Just thought I’d pass this on. Some days on here you read posts of high revs.

Highlights from the Thread

chandler Forum Topic Moderator

I think the pick-up is too close to the flywheel, not sure. Maybe that's the problem. Other than that, all is normal. Mouser, for sure!

marksr Forum Topic Moderator

Gotta love repeat customers. Is the mouse on commission?

People know that in order to make a plant grow it requires sunlight, water and tender loving care, but an often overlooked aspect is the soil. It’s not simply a place to stick your plants, but a delicate system of nutrients and pH that can make or break your plant’s growth.

Nitrogen

One of the building blocks of good plant growth is nitrogen. It’s what you put into the soil when you introduce fertilizer. Most soils don’t have enough nitrogen, thus the need to augment it. Without nitrogen, your plants won’t grow or will be weak.

Nitrogen is their food source, and like most living creatures, without food they can’t grow to be big and strong. The plants may survive, but will not have much strength to grow or combat natural hazards such as insects and disease. If there is too much, then you’re over-stuffing the plant and while the plant itself will grow lush, there will be little fruit or blooms.

Nitrogen Testing

How do you know how mush nitrogen is in your soil? There are tests available to determine your soil’s nitrogen levels. Different plants and vegetables grow best at different nitrogen levels, so compare your levels against the best levels for your plants. You can usually have this done for free or at a low cost from the local Extension office.

Adjusting Nitrogen Levels

what you'll need

Drill with Bit
Bungee Cords
Trash Can or Storage Bin

With dump sites filling up quickly, a compost bin is a great contribution to our planet to get rid of some of your waste naturally. Not only will it save space in landfills, but over time the compost creates a very rich soil that you can use in a garden or just put out in the yard to return nutrients to the earth. Compost bins are not difficult to make yourself and are quite affordable as well.

Trash Can Compost Bin

What you will need:

A large trash can of your choice with a lid; an inexpensive one will work just fine
An electric or cordless drill with a bit
One or two bungee cords
Once you have your trash can in hand, you can easily turn it into a compost bin. Take your drill and drill some holes all over the sides and bottom of the trash can. You need the holes to create ventilation in the can. At this point your trash can is ready to put compost items inside. You need to keep the lid on when you are letting the compost sit, and use the bungee cords to secure the lid.

what you'll need

5-gallon bucket
4 cups of soil
Kitchen and yard scraps
2 banana peels
3 cups coffee grounds
1-12 egg shells
1 cup cornmeal
1-3 tablespoons molasses
Burlap sack/laundry bag
Trash can
2 shovels aged compost

You don't have to spend money on expensive fertilizer and compost for all your yard and garden plants. Use simple recipes to make your own. Not only will you save on lawn expenses, you'll be able to brag that you've taken up green living. The simple secret is this: making fertilizer is really just like mixing up a cake.

Simple Fertilizer from Recycled Scraps

Turn kitchen trash into garden nourishment with a simple fertilizer recipe. Stop throwing away your scraps, and start putting them in your yard.

Ingredients:

5-gallon bucket
4 cups of soil
Small yard scraps
Kitchen and yard scraps
Water

what you'll need

Container
Bedding
Water
Worms
Non-fatty kitchen scraps

Have your kids ever asked for an ant farm? Get an indoor vermicomposter instead and turn your kitchen scraps into rich compost. Teach your kids all about biological life cycles and organic living with this fun family or classroom project!

Vermicomposters are small indoor compost bins that use live worms to turn kitchen scraps into your own healthy plant food. The worm castings, or vermicompost, is extremely rich in helpful microbes and bacteria, and acts as a nutrient-rich fertilizer. There are many different types of vermicomposters, some small and simple enough to be kept on a kitchen counter. Store bought compost can be expensive, and does not pack the same nutritious punch. Compared to normal potting soil, vermicompost contains 5 times more nitrogen, 7 times more phosphorus, and 11 times more potassium. They are full of humic acid and greatly improve soil structure. Vermicomposter prices range from $70-$100 and starter kits with worms cost around $25.

In the same way that children learn to raise caterpillars in elementary school, observing the life cycle of worms is an extremely interesting family project. Worms are one of the most important organisms in the world because of their ability to amend and condition soil to make it rich and fertile. Without them, agriculture would not be possible. Teach your children about the importance of organic living and watch your plants reap the benefits.

In every home, one can find a complex network of wires used to design the circuit and it is essential for the homeowner to have an understanding of the 220 wiring color code for safety purposes. The connections cannot be made haphazardly and have to follow the National Electrical Code (NEC) during all electrical wiring projects. The electrical wires are classified based on wire type, size and color. The plastic sheathed wire, also called NM wire, is the most widely used for home wiring circuits. The NM wires come with electrical markings on the outside sheath of the cable, indicating the size and type of the wire.

Black Wires

According to NEC, the black wires must be used as hot wires in any electrical circuit. Hot wires feed the electrical outlets or switches. Black colored wires are even used for switch legs in many circuits. However, remember to check that no black wire is used for establishing a ground or neutral connection.

Asbestos is a mineral made up of long thin fibers that look similar to fiberglass. Because of the strengthening, heat resistance and soundproofing qualities, asbestos was used to make pipe insulation, ceiling and floor tile, paints and coatings, caulking, fire resistant fabrics and clothing, and brake pads. It is a health hazard in over 840,000 homes, offices and schools. Asbestos exposure over a long period of time can cause lung cancer. An estimated 20,000 people will die each year for the next 30 years from asbestos exposure.

If uncoated, asbestos can become wet and turn to an oatmeal like consistency. After asbestos has been painted, water does not reach the fibers and so it can't be detected visually. Scraping and construction send asbestos particles into the air. Even covering the texture with a second layer of wall board shakes fibers loose. All removal should be left up to professionals. There are now coatings that can enhance the encapsulation of asbestos in walls and ceilings that are highly effective in sealing it in. Naturally, future renovations and construction may break up the surface and will still release asbestos fibers.

Home asbestos test kits typically include 2 sample collectors and require a $15 lab analysis fee. Popcorn and textured ceilings, ceiling tiles, floor tiles and pipe insulation should be checked. A simple to use laboratory test identifies asbestos fibers to as little as 1 percent content by weight and is more sensitive than EPA guidelines using Polarized Light Microscopy (PLM). Take the samples following the directions on the test kit and send them into the lab. Results are returned within 2 weeks.