Doc Sprocket
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I made an impulse buy. Scored a '89 Lawn Boy LT-12 lawn tractor for $45. No battery, no key, no start. Thought I was gonna get killed.
About a year ago, I traded off the old Crapsman lawn tractor that my kids used to goof off on while I built their go kart. Then, a little while later, I bought the '80 Sears that I'm building into the Weed Warrior racer. My wife couldn't understand why I'd get rid of a tractor (saying I wasn't going to use it) then turn around and buy another one. She pretended to buy my explanation.
Couple months after buying the Sears, I saw a tractor for sale at the side of the road. "No more tractors!" she says...
So, being an opportunist, I dragged home this Lawn Boy today. She gave me a look that could scorch grass.
I locked myself in the garage for a couple hours. I had an old key that fit the ignition switch. I popped in the battery I bought for the Warrior. Turned the key- nothing. Not even a click. After spending a few minutes with a DMM and test light, I tore out the safety switches and related wiring. I turned the key again. The starter spun, but did not turn the flywheel. I yanked the starter- The pinion gear and Bendix drive were destroyed. I hoped the spare starter for the Warrior would fit, but alas- the mounting was different. I tore the pinion and drive off the spare starter and swapped it on. A twist of the key, and I was away to the races! I took it for a drive, and aside from it requiring a bit of carb work and a brake adjustment, it's great! So, I mopped some of the birdspit and tree sap off the body, and called it good for the moment.
My wife comes into the garage, and she asks me what I'm planning for it. How much money do I have into it? How much would I have to put into it to be able to flip it for a significant profit? As she's talking, she's looking it over. The clean, undamaged, rust-free bodywork. The Turf Master tires that look like they have 100% tread. The stance. Everything. I actually think I caught her wiping up a bit of drool, but she'd never admit it. Then she says (are you ready for this?)
"I want to keep it."
Nice. She said she would think it to be useful for puttering around on, hauling stuff, whatever. So- to recap. "No more tractors!!!" followed by, "I want to keep it". She's a good wife... 
About a year ago, I traded off the old Crapsman lawn tractor that my kids used to goof off on while I built their go kart. Then, a little while later, I bought the '80 Sears that I'm building into the Weed Warrior racer. My wife couldn't understand why I'd get rid of a tractor (saying I wasn't going to use it) then turn around and buy another one. She pretended to buy my explanation.
Couple months after buying the Sears, I saw a tractor for sale at the side of the road. "No more tractors!" she says...
So, being an opportunist, I dragged home this Lawn Boy today. She gave me a look that could scorch grass.
I locked myself in the garage for a couple hours. I had an old key that fit the ignition switch. I popped in the battery I bought for the Warrior. Turned the key- nothing. Not even a click. After spending a few minutes with a DMM and test light, I tore out the safety switches and related wiring. I turned the key again. The starter spun, but did not turn the flywheel. I yanked the starter- The pinion gear and Bendix drive were destroyed. I hoped the spare starter for the Warrior would fit, but alas- the mounting was different. I tore the pinion and drive off the spare starter and swapped it on. A twist of the key, and I was away to the races! I took it for a drive, and aside from it requiring a bit of carb work and a brake adjustment, it's great! So, I mopped some of the birdspit and tree sap off the body, and called it good for the moment.
My wife comes into the garage, and she asks me what I'm planning for it. How much money do I have into it? How much would I have to put into it to be able to flip it for a significant profit? As she's talking, she's looking it over. The clean, undamaged, rust-free bodywork. The Turf Master tires that look like they have 100% tread. The stance. Everything. I actually think I caught her wiping up a bit of drool, but she'd never admit it. Then she says (are you ready for this?)
"I want to keep it."
Nice. She said she would think it to be useful for puttering around on, hauling stuff, whatever. So- to recap. "No more tractors!!!" followed by, "I want to keep it". She's a good wife... Attachments
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; technical expertise knows no gender. If they aren't afraid to roll up their sleeves and 
It's great when you can say to the missus "can you hold the hoozie while I do up the whatsit" (in those words) & she knows exactly what you'r talking about!