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Have you dug out..

Well, you see it's like this..

A coupla days ago I fueled up and fired up the Olde Deere to make sure it was functional. At that time the Olde Deere started up with it's usual murmuring and complaining (assorted pops and sputters before final ignition are the norm and let me know it will start after a few more tugs on the rope.) I repaired a minor issue with the discharge chute (minor in that it was falling off - one of the three clamping devices would not retain its screws.) Being secure on only two points created an insecure attachment so I took the clamping device with the stripped out threads and clearanced the hole with my trusty drillthing to allow putting the 8-32 screwthing through it and putting a nut on the back side. So I was ready for the bigstorm. Or so I thought.. Last night as the snow was winding down and the weather radar image assured me that any further snow fall would be minimal, I ventured out to my trusty shed with the new skin and - wait a minute, background info needed..

I did mention that I reskinned my shed? After six years the original skin was somewhat compromised by UV from that glowing gasorb in the sky and beyond the ability of Gorilla Tape to mend so I procured a newskin from the ShelterLogic folks. Unfortunately between the removing of the oldskin and the installation of the newskin several days passed in which the RedRidingthing and the Olde Deere sat out in the weather. And it rained. The equipment was under a tarp so that should not have been a problem. But for the wind. It blew the tarp off the handle of the Olde Deere - and nothing else. In the handle of the Olde Deere are various thingies that happen to have a bit to do with allowing the Briggs-Stratton to start. Or more exactly to protect you from your own stupidity if you were started and did something stupid. There's the ignition on-off switch, the auger control lever with a switch, the throttle control with a switch that shuts it off if moved to a hair below minimum rpm, and the paddle switches that bypass the auger control switch when you are actually blowing snow. If any of these switches does not make up, it kills the magneto and you die (if running) or you don't start (if not running.) The other day when I started the beast the temp was close to 40° F and it started. I noted at the time that it was 'missing' and that jostling the auger engagement lever or holding one of the paddle switches made it quit missing. So I filed that info for action at a future time along with the suspicion that the auger control switch was in need of contact burnishing or something along those lines. But since it started, I figured it was something that could wait until the round tuit arrived. Now back to the story.

So I open the 'door' of my shedthing and tie it up with the ball-cord. I maneuver the Olde Deere to a position that affords room to yank on the starter rope, turn the fuel valve on, push the prime button the recommended five times and yank on the rope. And yank on the rope. And yank on the rope. No murmurings. No complainings. No pops. No sputters. Nada. My suspicion is that one or more of those switches that kill the magneto are doing just that courtesy of moisture from the rain that is now solidified due to outdoor temps being in the 29° range.. ;-) So.. I didn't manage to clear my drive using the Olde Deere.

But wait..

This morning, as I was showering for Church, Dearwife stuck her head in the door and informed me that "Bill and George are plowing the drive.." It's nice to live in the country with real country folk as neighbors (instead of transplanted Gothamites and their criminal offspring who wouldn't give a rats rump.. ;-)

So to the original question, No, I have not dug out. But I have been dug out..