Don't expect your parts dealer, to do your measering

!n 2000, when I bought this farm, I went to Spanaway tractor sales, and bought a new 42" Howse bush hog mower. Over the years I have used 3 sets of blades, and one stump jumper center piece. I always go to STS to get parts, cause I know that Denny will have them on hand. As the yr's have gone by, it's harder to catch Denny at the place, so when I call, and he answers, I usually, ask him to stay right there, and I'll run in to get what I need. Always being in a hurry, causes me to not do the necessisary measuring. I ran into Spanaway, Thursday, and bought 2 blades for a 4 ft. mower, they appeared to be too long, but Denny assured me they were for a Howse 4 ft. mower, I put them on the mower, and they were way too long, but noticed that the center hub (stump jumper) needed to be replaced, due to worn splines, and wallowed out bolt holes. Back to STS, I go, the next day and buy a stump jumper, and 2 new bolts for the blades, for a 4 ft. mower. I bolt the blades, and the new stump jumper center togeather, and for the first time,I grab my steel tape, and measure the complete assembly.47", so it should work in a 4 ft. mower. Then I am starting to get cautious, so I crawl under the mower, and measure the inside of the housing, from right to left--44" WHAT THE HE77! I cut 1 1/2" off of each blade, put it back togeather, and it hit on the housing, when I engaged the pto. I craweled back under it and finially noticed the bright spots on the housing, where the blades had been hitting, front and rear. Measured the front to rear distance, and it was 42". I went in the house, and found my manual, I had put away 14 yrs ago, and LO and BEHOLD, I had bought a 42" mower, in the beginning. Learned a lesson? probably not!

Kind of like the fish I catch, Ralph- they grow in the telling!

Spanaway has always been sort of a mystery to me. Miles and miles of businesses (and traffic lights), kind of out in the middle of nowhere.

I wish it were an exaggeration Mike! I seem to blunder around more in the last 3 yrs, and then get exasperated with myself. Spanaway is right north, up 507 from me, in Roy area.

Ralph,you could of got a pair from me when you were here.Had one with a bad gearbox and deck,like new blades and stump jumper. Never know what I have lying around.