My "new" curbsider LawnBoy

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Back in the 1960s, the instructions on these mowers suggested that we mix SAE30 oil in the gas in a 16:1 ratio. The instruction manual from my father's former 1975 19" solid state ignition mower suggested to use OMC 2 stroke oil in 32:1 ratio or other brands in 16:1 ratio. I'm wondering if they lowered the mix ratio because of improvements in the engine lubrication or because of the new two stroke engine oil? Older "C" and "D" motors had 3 piston rings instead of two until somewhere in the early seventies and I don't know exactly when they switched from crank bushings used in all the "C" engines I have seen to needle crankshaft bearings but I'm guessing it's in the "D" engines. I really like the older motors with the recoil on top (or no recoil at all!) and a choke instead of a carb primer as they are usually easier to start but even the 1976 mower (with a primer bulb) I got from Roger is easy to start.

 

Tim, was your's featured on this ad? The guy who sold me my 1957 Control Tower washer/dryer set had sold a green 18" Lawn Boy "special" mower just like the one with a green handle in this ad to someone else I know just a week before I got my washer/dryer set.

philr++9-11-2012-21-00-17.jpg
 
Tim here but

I dont know if you are refering to me, as there are lots of Tim's here. My families Lawn Boy died in the 70's and went somewhere I did not have a clue and was replaced with a cheap thing that you could wind up the top and let go and it never started, no matter how many times you did it. Ours looked more like the one they guy is pulling the cord in the bottom left side of this ad. I do remember a switch on the top that went left, right that shut it off/on. But I will try to keep my JD going as long as I can. Closest I could get to a real Lawn Boy and its green! Its getting to the point here that mowing season is pretty much done and we better get ready for the upcoming cold season and the dreaded snowblower.
 
Wayupnorth, 

 

Yes I was referring to you!

 

I can't tell if there was a model with an off/on/pull choke switch on top and no recoil as models without a recoil usually have a metal tab that grounds the plug to stop the engine and their choke lever is below the gas tank but I guess it's also possible that the recoil was just removed from yours if it had a "brick top".  When the recoil broke on my '62 LB many years ago  (well not the recoil itself, but two small springs under it), I started it with a rope until I got the replacement parts to repair it.
 
@ Wayupnorth

For Snowblower season all you need is a good 2 stage Toro machine.  I have a 1999 824-XL and a 1980 421.  Both start on the 1st pull and never need elctric start.   The Toros are designed and built  here in Minnesota where we know a thing or two about winter and snow clearance.

Nick  WK78
 
PhilR

Glad you like our Granny's old '76 Lawn Boy, I know it's in good hands! My Dad always had Lawn Boys also, but those are long gone. Remind me to give you some unopened cans of LB oil, still have a couple. Notice the magnesium deck model's deck design changed very little from the mid 'to '76 and maybe later, the '76 was still an OMC model... I happen to collect a few late '50s to late '60s Johnsons and Evinrudes, from 5 1/2 to 60 hp, and a later 80s Johnson 3 cyl is on our "daily driver" boat, as Phil has seen at our place in VT... I'm glad VT is close to Canada so my CA friends can visit!
 

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