Dont be a cry baby, since its not your board dont go around telling others what they should or shouldnt be doing. Since I cant edit or delete it because your crying about it, there really isnt much that can be done, other than sticking your nose where it dont belong. Its funny I do see ebay links and similar on here at times, so you can pound salt if you like I dont mind

garydewater: That's about 1/2 the price as a new one and 135 hours is about 3 years of average homeowner use (about 40 - 50 hours/year). If it is in good condition and not been abused it sounds like a pretty good deal. You did not mention what year model it is. I have an acre and 1/4 myself and usually rack up about 40 - 50 hours/year depending on what projects I'm working on. I mow, dethatch, aerate, overseed, pull a cart loaded with rocks, firewood, etc... and mulch my leaves in the fall pulling a lawn sweeper to collect them. You can usually save a bunch of $$$ buying a good used quality tractor. Just make sure it has been well taken care of by the previous owner. If it looks rough it probably is rough. An engine coated in oil, grass clippings, etc..., faded paint, cracked seat and weathered plastic components typically indicate that it was left outside in the elements and not well cared for. Good luck!

Credit reporting agency contera.com lists American Yard Products as an existing entity, and shows the same address as Husqvarna (172 Old Elloree Rd, Orangeburg SC 29115). Dun & Bradstreet does not list American Yard Products (or AYP). Does it or doesn't it aside, here's an accurate timeline of the company(ies) that is a newspaper report from about 4 years ago: Electrolux now Husqvarna (Times and Democrat, The (Orangeburg, SC) (KRT) Via Thomson Dialog NewsEdge) Jun. 15--Orangeburg's largest employer, Electrolux Home Products, will officially see its name change to Husqvarna Home Products Inc. today. The name change is part of a company spin-off of its outdoor products subsidiary, Husqvarna AB, after fourth-quarter 2005 company net income fell by 37 percent. Beyond the company name change, there will be no significant impact on the 2,200-employee base at the Orangeburg plant, said Gregg Robinson, Orangeburg County Development Commission executive director. "They are constantly an impact on our community," Robinson said, noting the OCDC is always ready to work with Husqvarna to "add to the overall process" in order to ensure the company is a success. "They are this region's BMW." Electrolux decided to sell its outdoor products business and to focus on its indoor line of household appliances i The Orangeburg plant's name change is nothing new. The company began in the Orangeburg area in the early 1970s under the name of Roper Corp. In 1989, shortly after Roper was purchased by General Electric Co., the outdoor products unit was acquired by AB Electrolux and named American Yard Products. In 1997, by uniting three sister companies, American Yard Products, Frigidaire Co. and Poulan/Weed Eater, Frigidaire Home Products was formed. The year 2000 saw the plant undergo another name change when the Electrolux Group, the world's largest producer of products for kitchen, cleaning and outdoor use, signed an agreement to reacquire the trademark and company name Electrolux from Electrolux LLC, an American direct sales floor care products company. Beyond outdoor products, Electrolux is the world's leading producer of powered appliances for the kitchen such as refrigerators, washing machines, cookers and vacuum cleaners. Husqvarnas consumer products in North America are made at three other U.S. plants. There are two in Arkansas for portable equipment and one in Georgia for lawn mowers. The U.S. headquarters for Husqvarna is in Augusta, Ga.; its home office is in Jonkoping, Sweden. Husqvarna now owns the lawn and garden division of Electrolux with the US AYP (American Yard Products) name also using FHP model numbers for Frigidare Mowers. They manufacture tractors under several brand names such as Husqvarna, Craftsman and Poulan, Puolan Pro, Weedeater and Wizard for the now defunct Western Auto chain'

My 18 year old JD170 finally 'died'. Or so I told myself and my wife. :-) Actually, one of the spindles broke and everyone knows that a broken spindle can't be fixed. Right? So what's a guy to do (sob). What any guy would do -- I went and bought a brand new X300 which will be delivered in 2 days. I only cut a mostly flat 1/2 acre so the X300 is overkill but who cares! I do want to buy the snow blower attachment and figured the X300 will be excellent for that purpose. I really can't wait. By the way Jaws, the spec sheet says the X300 has the K46 transmission, not the T46. I didn't read this post until last night, so I didn't get down to look at the sticker. All the posts though just confirmed that I bought one great machine. I might bypass the RIO switch though as I didn't buy the 4WS and do back up quite a bit. My 170 still has a perfectly running Kawasaki 14HP engine and tranny. What a workhorse! I gave pause to look at the HuskVys and Cub Cadets, but my 170 made me a JD loyalist. It really gave me outstanding service and I wasn't one to take care of it much. Lacking a shed and garage space, I often left it out all year, including severe upstate NY winters. It always started right up in the spring. But rust (wonder how that happened), deteriorating bags (hmmmm), and faded paint (go figure) convinced me that it was time. Actually, the fact that my 10yo son will want to be cutting the lawn in a couple years had something to do with it. Figured I want a some time where it's just MY machine. Don't worry guys -- I promise to take care of my new machine. I'm 53, and want this machine to last me 20 years or more -- or until I get the itch for a new model, whichever comes first. JD did give me $250 for a trade-in on the 170. I might had got more for it if I wanted to fix the spindle, clean it up and put up for sale -- but that would take time away from my X300. I'll let you guys know how I like it. Who am I kidding... I'm going to Love it!