Leaking Lawn Mower - Repair or Replace?

In My Humble Opinion
1

My lawn mower is leaking oil from many places and I can’t identify exactly where it’s coming from. The muffler is very black and the two bolts that hold it in place are covered in soot, which, for all I know, is normal. Smoke is coming from the exhaust frequently. When I shut it off, smoke wafts out from all sides and the top. I know nothing about small engine repair. The only person I know who might be able to fix it is my brother who, if I take it to him, will get it back to me in a year or two. (In his defense, this is a family trait that I share as well.)

I have never paid to get a lawn mower repaired, so I have no idea what I’m looking at for a price. I can replace it for around $300. Those of you who know about these things, is it worth trying to get it repaired, or should I just chuck it and buy new?

Thanks in advance.

2

Presumably it’s old and hasn’t been very well maintained, or it wouldn’t be in the state it’s in. The smoke is likely a sign of fundamental engine problems that would not be easily repaired. That said, you might be better off just replacing it with a new one. It has been my experience that new models have become easier to start and simpler and safer to operate in recent years, and while they’re still environmentally unfriendly, I would assume at least some advances have been made in that area as well.

Rather than just scrap the old one, you might offer it up to a local small engine repair place. They might fix it up as time permits and sell it for cheap, or perhaps cannibalize it for parts.