The deck is coming apart for the third time. Last time I was having a hard time welding as it would just burn thru it is so corroded. Decks are not that available and a crazy price, engine is not available, etc. Just on its last legs with the last fix coming apart again. Given I can't find one in the short term I will likely pull the deck again but I know any fix I make will be dodgy at best. It was a great machine that I got used from dad, we both got our money's worth out of it long ago.
Finally got one on the way. If it is not shipped by them I am going up to TN to get it Saturday. X390 48" with electronic mulch kit and ram bar. First cut it going to really test it
Old mower story...way back in '75 when Sears was still a going concern, I ordered a end-of-year 14 horse Craftsman mower from the catalog (you remember those???). Anyways, I wanted this one cause it had the cast iron engine and the new ones went to aluminum. For 6 months they kept delaying delivery and I kept hounding them. Finally I got "the call" went in to the store, paid the bill, told to go to the barn out back to pick it up. Damn it, it was the version with the Al engine! Went back in to the store to complain. The manager comes out and says what do I need to be happy? Behind me sat last year's 18 horse model "That one will do". They delivered it the next, all set up and even filled with gas. I never bitched about Sears and that craftsman lasted 40 years and was still running when I sold it.
Sears was great. When the they merged with a failing Kmart I was like WTF and the expected happened. They had been declining but that put the knife in all the way.
Temporary thread jack for my own edification........since we have JD specialists here, is there any way to bypass the "push button to reverse mow" every time? My Cub Cadet had it if you did it once during the mow, you were good for the rest of the mow..... pushing the button every time on a John Deere is lame. I am an American. I should get what I want!!
Gotta save the stupid ones from themselves. I remember when people were smarter. A lawn mower had one lever - throttle.
Picking mine up Saturday morning.... next up finding a 2032R for the newly acquired 'farm'. That is what my sister in law calls it and reminds me of a Frodo the Sheltie book title so it is stuck in my brain.
All is right in the world (almost). First cuts made at 4" as it was crazy long. Going to go back in a couple of days to lower it to 3". Oh and my mulch kit was boxed wrong so still waiting on it. But lawn......