I had an earlier post regarding estimating runtime hours for a Craftsman LT2000, which I bought new in 2003. It has a 490cc 17HP Kohler engine and 6-speed transmission, and probably has 650-700 hours at least, but it has practically spent its entire cutting life on flat terrain, about 2/3 acre per cut. Last Fall we bought another house, that has a 50-50 split between flat and sloped terrain, about 1/2 acre cutting area. So, given its age and previous usage, I wasn't too sure the Craftsman would last very long, especially the transmission.
Last weekend I bought a used 2017 Cub Cadet XT1 42" with a 596cc 18 HP Kohler engine and hydrostatic transmission, that has around 440 hours. The seller was a retired guy who buys lawnmowers, cleans / reconditions them as needed, and then sells. He has excellent feedback in the area. According to the seller, the previous owner was cutting a 3 acre yard that was mostly flat, but had some sloped areas. The CC has been serviced and has new tires, belts, battery, oil and filters. He said he uses 15W-40 synthetic in the mowers he sells.
I cut the "new" yard yesterday, and aside from getting used to the hydro transmission (for me), the CC mower did fine. I need to get my mowing pattern worked out, so I traverse the slopes correctly and efficiently. I'll see how the hydro transmission acts over the next few cuts, and plan on a fluid change if it starts acting up, based on some other internet threads I have read.
Last weekend I bought a used 2017 Cub Cadet XT1 42" with a 596cc 18 HP Kohler engine and hydrostatic transmission, that has around 440 hours. The seller was a retired guy who buys lawnmowers, cleans / reconditions them as needed, and then sells. He has excellent feedback in the area. According to the seller, the previous owner was cutting a 3 acre yard that was mostly flat, but had some sloped areas. The CC has been serviced and has new tires, belts, battery, oil and filters. He said he uses 15W-40 synthetic in the mowers he sells.
I cut the "new" yard yesterday, and aside from getting used to the hydro transmission (for me), the CC mower did fine. I need to get my mowing pattern worked out, so I traverse the slopes correctly and efficiently. I'll see how the hydro transmission acts over the next few cuts, and plan on a fluid change if it starts acting up, based on some other internet threads I have read.