Originally Posted by barry123400

Now that the poster has gotten somewhere hopefully. I hope this year backs off a little moisture wise as already I have to cut the lawns almost twice a week. Usually the wife cuts one lawn but is too busy recienly. It was kind of hilarious what she managed to break and her experiences that occured during her first year of doing it long ago. We should have had a sale on twisted blades alone.

To top it off both our lawn tractors are about the same age and one was a little more dicey than usual to get running this spring.

Also needs a battery and the charging circuit is too active. The rear tires are seeping air at an unaceptable rate.

On the the other one all is well except the deck and drive belts need replacement. On the first one it is probably getting close to replacement time.

One change I had to make this year was using straight 30 grade base oil. I could not buy 40 grade oil anywhere locally. They no longer stock it but I seem to have good luck with air cooled engines using 40-50 weight base oils. Both these lawn tractors are more than fifteen years old now and the lawns are hilly.

My lawn tractors engines seem to last well and I really do not know if the thicker oils are really helping but suspect so. Could as easily be my imagination though.

Still not as comforatable using 30 weight. If I source some 40 weight soon will probably change oil again. Any thoughts? Neither engine burns any more oil than when new. Both seem to still have excellent compression.

Have not priced lawn tractors reciently. They used to be substantially cheaper in the USA than Canada. About half price.

I though I saw chinese engines in one mall display of lawn tractors but not certain. Some with a briggs and stratton label maybe. Personally I would not want one but feel there may be no choice a few years down the road. Of course by then they may be good. Curently to me just an unknown.

I really am starting to be concerned by all the stuff in the marketplace that is of chinese origin. It seems to be rapidly accelerating into areas they were not particularily active in before. Last week is a good example of my concern. Everything we purchased except food and gas and a few yard sale items I got to was made in china.

This to me is a serious disaster still underway if it continues. You can no longer buy many things of an equivelant nature made in north america. There is no choice left.

As we are due for a larger canadian incoming duty excemption. We may slip south of the border and buy from an american vendor making a weekend of it at the same time.