# I left my Lawn mower outside under the porch. Will it be ok in this Rain? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [May 18, 2007, 4:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-left-my-lawn-mower-outside-under-the-porch-will-it-be-ok-in-this-rain/404614 "2007-05-18T16:25:51Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 19\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Phlosphr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/c68b51/32.png) [@Phlosphr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Phlosphr)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2007, 4:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-left-my-lawn-mower-outside-under-the-porch-will-it-be-ok-in-this-rain/404614/1 "2007-05-18T16:25:51Z")
I’m asking for opinions because I’m not sure there is a factual answer to this. I left my Crapsman lawn mower under our porch outside. I put a large piece of Plywood over it, so any water getting through the cracks will be deflected on the ply. Will it be OK? Or should I leave work and put it back in the Shed? WHY DIDN’T I BUY THAT JOHN DEER THAT WENT ON SALE!!! ??? ---
**Author:** ![An\_Arky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/87869e/32.png) [@An\_Arky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/An_Arky)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2007, 4:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-left-my-lawn-mower-outside-under-the-porch-will-it-be-ok-in-this-rain/404614/2 "2007-05-18T16:35:28Z")
I’ve left my mower out in the rain a few times, no problem. I believe they make them to be able to withstand that. ---
**Author:** ![Kalhoun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/3bc359/32.png) [@Kalhoun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kalhoun)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2007, 4:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-left-my-lawn-mower-outside-under-the-porch-will-it-be-ok-in-this-rain/404614/3 "2007-05-18T16:36:56Z")
I’ve done it and my mower is like 17 years old. It should be ok. ---
**Author:** ![lieu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c2a13f/32.png) [@lieu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lieu)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2007, 4:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-left-my-lawn-mower-outside-under-the-porch-will-it-be-ok-in-this-rain/404614/4 "2007-05-18T16:41:27Z")
I can’t see how one rain would hurt it, especially if it’s double covered. I’ve mowed in the rain before with no ill effects (although having donned a large cowboy hat to keep the rain off my face I did look like the village idiot). Rust might becoma an issue if you did this habitually, but it doesn’t sound like you do. Don’t sweat it and just wipe 'er down when you get home. ---
**Author:** ![enipla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/54ee81/32.png) [@enipla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/enipla)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2007, 4:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-left-my-lawn-mower-outside-under-the-porch-will-it-be-ok-in-this-rain/404614/5 "2007-05-18T16:59:57Z")
IT"S FRIDAY. The weekend is upon us, of course you MUST leave work early to rescue your lawn morwer. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Shagnasty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9dc877/32.png) [@Shagnasty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shagnasty)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2007, 5:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-left-my-lawn-mower-outside-under-the-porch-will-it-be-ok-in-this-rain/404614/6 "2007-05-18T17:05:28Z")
I did buy that John Deere last fall. It was a dream of mine and I love it. However, I put it in the shed over the winter and mice chewed holes in the $70 cover that I bought with it. My John Deere is probably getting wet now too with just a mice chewed cover but it should be Ok. Yours should too. Lawn tractors are tough (John Deere’s are way cool BTW). ---
**Author:** ![Uvula\_Donor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/e19adc/32.png) [@Uvula\_Donor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Uvula_Donor)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2007, 5:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-left-my-lawn-mower-outside-under-the-porch-will-it-be-ok-in-this-rain/404614/7 "2007-05-18T17:08:05Z")
I just drove by the Tractor Supply store and all of their mowers, tractors, go-karts, and minibikes are standing out in the rain, as usual. A few days isn’t gonna hurt it. ---
**Author:** ![Phlosphr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/c68b51/32.png) [@Phlosphr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Phlosphr)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2007, 5:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-left-my-lawn-mower-outside-under-the-porch-will-it-be-ok-in-this-rain/404614/8 "2007-05-18T17:09:09Z")
[QUOTE=Shagnasty] I did buy that John Deere last fall. It was a dream of mine and I love it. However, I put it in the shed over the winter and mice chewed holes in the $70 cover that I bought with it. My John Deere is probably getting wet now too with just a mice chewed cover but it should be Ok. Yours should too. Lawn tractors are tough (John Deere’s are way cool BTW). [/QUOTE] UHHG - GRUMBLE, GRUMBLE, I’m emailing my wife that remark. I wanted one bad. Sounds like she’ll be fine in the rain though…[the mower not my wife :)] ---
**Author:** ![Uvula\_Donor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/e19adc/32.png) [@Uvula\_Donor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Uvula_Donor)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2007, 5:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-left-my-lawn-mower-outside-under-the-porch-will-it-be-ok-in-this-rain/404614/9 "2007-05-18T17:11:24Z")
[QUOTE=Phlosphr] UHHG - GRUMBLE, GRUMBLE, I’m emailing my wife that remark. I wanted one bad. Sounds like she’ll be fine in the rain though…[the mower not my wife :)] [/QUOTE] The wife’ll be fine in the rain, too. I’ve left mine out a few times - no harm done. 🆒 ---
**Author:** ![lieu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c2a13f/32.png) [@lieu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lieu)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2007, 5:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-left-my-lawn-mower-outside-under-the-porch-will-it-be-ok-in-this-rain/404614/10 "2007-05-18T17:16:09Z")
[QUOTE=Phlosphr] I wanted one bad. [/QUOTE] In the 11 years I’ve had my JD, it’s never not started on the 1st pull. ---
**Author:** ![Phlosphr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/c68b51/32.png) [@Phlosphr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Phlosphr)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2007, 5:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-left-my-lawn-mower-outside-under-the-porch-will-it-be-ok-in-this-rain/404614/11 "2007-05-18T17:21:58Z")
[QUOTE=lieu] In the 11 years I’ve had my JD, it’s never not started on the 1st pull. [/QUOTE] OH THATS IT! ---
**Author:** ![Annie-Xmas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecc23a/32.png) [@Annie-Xmas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annie-Xmas)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2007, 5:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-left-my-lawn-mower-outside-under-the-porch-will-it-be-ok-in-this-rain/404614/12 "2007-05-18T17:46:25Z")
Lawnmower, yes. Cake, no ---
**Author:** ![FordPrefect](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e99b99/32.png) [@FordPrefect](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FordPrefect)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2007, 5:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-left-my-lawn-mower-outside-under-the-porch-will-it-be-ok-in-this-rain/404614/13 "2007-05-18T17:55:58Z")
[QUOTE=Annie-Xmas] Lawnmower, yes. Cake, no [/QUOTE] Nice. ---
**Author:** ![Darryl\_Lict](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/7cd45c/32.png) [@Darryl\_Lict](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darryl_Lict)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2007, 6:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-left-my-lawn-mower-outside-under-the-porch-will-it-be-ok-in-this-rain/404614/14 "2007-05-18T18:06:51Z")
If you leave your Craftsman lawnmower outside in the rain for 8 years, it may cease to work. Do not ask me how I know this. ---
**Author:** ![An\_Arky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/87869e/32.png) [@An\_Arky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/An_Arky)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2007, 6:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-left-my-lawn-mower-outside-under-the-porch-will-it-be-ok-in-this-rain/404614/15 "2007-05-18T18:51:06Z")
If you attempt to mow your dang yard with a Craftsman mower, it may cease to work, anyway. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Phlosphr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/c68b51/32.png) [@Phlosphr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Phlosphr)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2007, 7:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-left-my-lawn-mower-outside-under-the-porch-will-it-be-ok-in-this-rain/404614/16 "2007-05-18T19:16:50Z")
[QUOTE=An Arky] If you attempt to mow your dang yard with a Craftsman mower, it may cease to work, anyway. 😃 [/QUOTE] I know 😃 If I buy a JD this weekend, I’ll post pics 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Leonard](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/a6a055/32.png) [@Leonard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leonard)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2007, 12:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-left-my-lawn-mower-outside-under-the-porch-will-it-be-ok-in-this-rain/404614/17 "2007-05-19T00:52:13Z")
I don’t even have a shed. The hurricane that came through a year and a half ago didn’t even bother my mower sitting right out in the open. ---
**Author:** ![muldoonthief](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/muldoonthief/32/3188_2.png) [@muldoonthief](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/muldoonthief)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2007, 3:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-left-my-lawn-mower-outside-under-the-porch-will-it-be-ok-in-this-rain/404614/18 "2007-05-21T15:53:22Z")
If the air filter is one of those cylindrical corrugated paper tubes, make sure it’s dry before you try to start it. Other than that, no problem. ---
**Author:** ![TroubleAgain](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e480ec/32.png) [@TroubleAgain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TroubleAgain)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2007, 4:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-left-my-lawn-mower-outside-under-the-porch-will-it-be-ok-in-this-rain/404614/19 "2007-05-21T16:23:50Z")
May I just say how much I love my John Deere? My husband thought he was buying it for himself. Hah! Keep your filthy mits off my Deere!