[Shrewcub]

I almost burnt the 1864 up! I was 40 minutes into mowing the Xmas trees this morning and started to smell something. About 5 seconds later smoke came rolling out the front. I immediately shut it down and pulled the side panels. I didn't see any oil or signs of the source. I fired it back up and the smoke was flying again. It was coming from around the left spark plug. Pulled the wire off and could see some oily grass build up smoldering. I spit on it and blew out what I could. Waited 10 minutes and fired it back up, no smoke. Immediately drove to the shed and blew everything out with the air hose. I guess I have been slacking on my clean up. I think I will be pulling the side panels after every mow now! I also spotted a missing nut on the exhaust manifold right in front of where the fire started. I an a little embarrassed and almost didn't post this but I thought it is a good lesson. If it can happen to my OCD a$$, it could happen to anyone.