I tried that Free-cycle thing. I had an old item i would give away if they came and picked it up. they came to look, but didn't want it. They asked if i had another item like it. I told them it wasn't free. So, they complained to Free-cycle, and my name is now "Mud"! Oh, well, i got along with out Freecycle, so i guess i'll make it without them ,still.

Have you tried the tractor forum? It seems like your TB tractor would still have been under warranty if you bought it new. I guess a 2-yr old tractor in good shape but needing an engine would be worth less than half price, maybe $350 or so. The real question is, was the engine shot or did it have a bad oil leak, like maybe a loose filter? If the engine was easily fixable, the value would go way up.

Pnbrown: by "big thickness" I'm assuming you mean a couple inches or more? no? Well, it's not that bad. I shook the foliage around and that helped some. Curious, the cut grass on the bed, is on top of about 3" of straw which is on top of 2" of pine needles which is atop about 1" of leaf mold. So, I'd think that surely it would dry before it rubs the soil of anything. Course, not a chance here of anything drying out! Poured again, today. Mid IL is now 10" above normal for year. Thank you everyone for taking an interest in my question. :)

I use one on my lawn (St. A)and I love it so much. It is quiet and so light weight. Much nicer to use than an electric or gas powered mower. The push mower seems to be some kind of weird novelty item for people passing by, though. I -always- get someone stopping and wondering how I could use such a freaklishly archaic item. Yet, in every way it is superior to the newer technologies. It cuts our grass but can come to a stop for something as small as a twig. I am sure that would annoy some people but I don't mind at all. Also, I keep my lawn a bit on the long side since it is mostly in dappled shade in the summer. I will say that it does not cut weeds well. I have to use a weed wacker for that.