I am at a loss. I inherited an '09 Yard-Man riding mower (non-zero turn) in 2011 with a B&S 12.5hp single cylinder. I am almost at my wit's end. This mower has major issues doing its job - cutting grass. I always have to run at ~90-95% throttle. Out of 6 "speeds" (6 being fast) I have to drive at 3 or less, which is literally a walking pace. While doing that, I can only utilize 50-60% of my deck width (meaning I have to overlap like crazy to prevent it from choking itself). All of this, and it still struggles to cut grass ~6" high (I cut at a 3" setting.)
I maintain this mower to the best of my ability. Oil changes every year (~60 hours, I use synthetic 5W-30), air filter yearly (I live in a sometimes dusty area), new plug yearly, fuel filter every other year, new blades yearly, belts as needed (basically yearly). Always E-0 gasoline. I even took this mower to a pro earlier this year to do "anything beneficial/tune-up" and told him cost was no object (he is honest). He did a valve adjustment, and chiseled/cleaned the underside of the deck. He said everything else looked not good, but great.
It takes me 3-4 hours to cut a lot that is .91 acres, smaller when you subtract a 2,000 sq. ft. house and a 4-car detached garage. My neighbors do their 1.5 acre lot in 1 hour or less with their JD zero-turn (yes, I am jealous). I know, why not just go buy a zero-turn? I don't have $4-5k laying around, or I would.
Is there anything I can do to improve performance? Anything maintenance-wise I am forgetting? Basically is there anything to help out my under-powered pos?
Or do I need to go buy some lipstick? (Will that add hp?
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I maintain this mower to the best of my ability. Oil changes every year (~60 hours, I use synthetic 5W-30), air filter yearly (I live in a sometimes dusty area), new plug yearly, fuel filter every other year, new blades yearly, belts as needed (basically yearly). Always E-0 gasoline. I even took this mower to a pro earlier this year to do "anything beneficial/tune-up" and told him cost was no object (he is honest). He did a valve adjustment, and chiseled/cleaned the underside of the deck. He said everything else looked not good, but great.
It takes me 3-4 hours to cut a lot that is .91 acres, smaller when you subtract a 2,000 sq. ft. house and a 4-car detached garage. My neighbors do their 1.5 acre lot in 1 hour or less with their JD zero-turn (yes, I am jealous). I know, why not just go buy a zero-turn? I don't have $4-5k laying around, or I would.
Is there anything I can do to improve performance? Anything maintenance-wise I am forgetting? Basically is there anything to help out my under-powered pos?