Thanks for the reply, The kickback problem was my stupidity! Didn't tighten it down enough just like you said. Sheered the key in half. Thank god I reused the old one for testing - had the new one just waiting to be inserted, and torqued it down good. Lawn tractor runs better then before. Also adjusted the timing when it was apart earlier. Able to cut my lawn finally!!! And with the new flywheel gear no more aligning the flywheel to catch a few good teeth to start :) Also I haven't pulled apart the head, I installed a new oil dipstick seal - will see if it helps the old one was shot. Wasn't burning too much oil just little over time. I'm hoping it was just too much air getting past the old seal. Within a couple of weeks I'm going to revisit the one behind the shed. I need a new starter for it but I think I can resurrect it now. Thanks for the info Walt, may email you when I tackle the other one. Curtis Reno

That's how old mine is, I have 100 hr's on it. And I have just about 1/2-3/4 acre to mow. If you can get him down some on the $. or throw in some drive & deck belts, oil change/tuneup kit could be a good buy. change the oil right away what ever you do! I don't recall right now, but there is something with a poor spring and tension with an idler pulley(iirc) either on the deck or the drive. Ask for a warrenty. That problem was covered because of a factory defect. That was the first year I had it. thae bagger alone is around $100-150. for mowing & light towng a good deal. imho

The question was posed in 2009. It's now 2019. I expect most prolly everyone solved their problem by getting a new lawmower. But since you are here.... I have a hand-me-down Craftsman with a 16.5HP Kohler engine. After I changed the fuel filter the thing started stalling out on hills, etc. Same places. Same everything. It drove me nuts so I came to places like this for a clue. IF you are having the stalling problem after changing the filter...get the right filter. Heck, I went to a local mower shop to get the right filter and the owner refused to sell me one. Said I had the BEST filter already. Jeez. So I went elsewhere and got the right filter....same as the one I replaced and today...no problems. This is not all good bekez I had a new Cub Cadet all picked out. Dang! Listen...the right filter is on Amazon. So if you messed up like I did and got the one they said would work...the larger one...then go back to the smaller one: Kohler Engines 25 050 21-S Fuel Filter If you can't find it by the number...get one that looks like it and fits the Kohler. Just that simple. Good luck! My good deed for the day.

hello, my dad has that dys4500 in the 26 hp 54 inch version...the transmission is barely enough to get up small hills and the traction is way less than desirerable for plowing snow. also the steering is very loose and seems like it wouldnt take much to bend something. i would stay away from craftsman at all cost. now for the john deere lt. wow. i have an lt150 that gets used like a diesel compact and it absolutely amazes me. its hauled though mud, snow and ice as thought i were 4x4 every winter with tire chains, cuts 150 hours or grass every year and has hauled logs that some compact tractors would have struggled with. the only problem i have ever had is a leaking gutter that caused 3rd gear on the tractor to have a "shared key"....long story. go john deere...although husqvarna is not a bad choice i would go green.:(yth1542xp would be a great husqvarna choice) P.S my john deere could possible be for sale for about $1500 dollars with a bagger, a snow plow, tire chains, and a custom weight bracket(works just as well as wheel weights). the 3rd gear problem i have been told by my dealer is fine as long as i dont plow snow or haul in it(u could mow forever with it and it would get worse.) my email address is ccbwoodworker@yahoo.com if ur interested