You better find some wood to knock on ; )

LOL was doing that as I typed.... Knuckles are sore now :)

I bought my GT5000 in early summer of 2003. I mow about 3.5 acres with it. The only thing I've done to it besides maintenance, is replaced the belts and battery once.

In late July I was mowing, went inside to eat lunch. Came back out and started mowing. About ten minutes later, the mower didn't have any power. I shut it off and noticed oil all over the frame. I went back to where I had it parked and there was an oil slick. All the oil had drained out. Mine had a 25 HP Kohler with the drain valve that you twist and pull down on to drain the oil. Somehow it came loose.

I took it into a guy to look at and he said this is the second mower this year that he as seen that the same thing happened too. so, IF YOU HAVE THIS TYPE OF DRAIN PLUG, CHECK IT OFTEN.

he was going to charge me $1100 to rebuild the mower. I've been using my dad's mower for the last month, and just ordered a zero turn.

That was a really good mower and I was sick when I saw that oil slick.

Are you sure the engine is toast?... I've seized engines before.... Then I followed the steps below, to fix them up:

1. Say "oops"
2. Go inside, pop a shot of bourbon
3. Pop another shot
4. Go back outside, find the source of the leak, and fix it (in your case it's easy)
5. Add fresh oil
6. Wait for engine to cool (couple of hours - in that time, feel free to throw some more bourbon down-range)
7. Start engine and hope for the best.

Your engine may only last 1 more minute, or 1 more decade. So it's worth a try.

Otherwise, go to smallengines.com and get a new engine, for much less than $1100.

Good luck!

BTW: my wife once ran my "very rare and old 2 seater mid-engine european sports car" for 20 miles with zero oil pressure (I screwed up when installing a fresh oil filter) - I didn't restart the engine to test for leaks, and only told her that if she notices the "big red light" go on for a "second or two" after she starts the engine, to not worry about it. The oil left a nice greasy line out of our garage, all the way to town... There was no line on the way back - you can guess why. When I asked her if she noticed the "big red light", she said she did, but I told her not to worry about it. After hollering out several profanities, I followed my "magic" 7 step process above. At first, the metallic knocking I heard on step 7 almost made me throw up. 5 minutes later, all the lifters and valves were happy and quiet. Over the following 5,000 miles, starting with 1500RPM gear shifts, and working up to the last 3,000 miles of 7500RPM red-line gear shifts on almost every gear change - still no problems.

Bourbon fixes everything.

Hey murraygrowingmoss, after 5 years you mean to tell me you still have to ride that mower? Heck I just crank mine up and turn it lose and it mows the yard by itself.....Rains all gone for now huh?!? We got an inch over here bout 60 miles E of Dallas. Sure needed it though. In fact looks like I need to turn that mower loose again!!......DT

jtwtech:
I replaced that cheap drain valve the first year under warranty, When I changed the oil the first time it did not re-close fully, started dripping... they sent a replacement and so far its has sealed.

popcornhill:
LOL yep, I even have to shift my own gears on it too.
You got more rain than we did if you got an inch. We got one more shower after the first good for the grass but we need more.. Grass is nice and green now though. I should mow tomorrow but I think I will let it be a bit shaggy until I see if we will get more rain. I donÂt want to cut away its water supply if itÂs going to dry up. I have not been watering the last 2 years so the yard has to live on what mother nature supplies or die off yet, so far its seems to have adjusted to me not watering just fine. I was told it would and it did. It's the native Burmuda grass that was here when it was pasture and it does well in dry conditions if it's allowed to grow a bit long and shaggy.

Bob

Bob that's what I have also...pasture Burmuda. And I have never watered it yet in the five years since I built on my acre. I cut it on 3.5 setting most of the summer and raise that to 4 at the end of summer when it gets so hot and dry. Once a year I msma the yard for weeds. Have some folks tell me to spray round up in March to kill out all the weeds. So far I have not tried that. Sure takes a lot of time keeping that Burmuda out of the garden! Well after the heavy dew dries up guess I better made a round......DT

congratulations on the longevity!

I have my 2005 model GT5000 parked out by the road right now with a hole the size of a baby's fist in the block.

granted, I used that mower for things it was never intended, but after replacing two of the pulley housings, ten bazillion sets of blades, the entire front linkage for the deck, and a tire....she is finally at peace now. god rest her soul.

HAHA!

if anyone in east texas is looking for a very used GT5000, I'll sell it cheap!

I just sold mine on craigslist for $250. I probably could have gotten more, but I just wanted to get rid of it.

sounds like a regular turd on 4 wheels.

hey mgm, recognized a familiar name, i bought the same unit about the same time you did, added ag tires like you, also added hour meter, oil pressure gauge and temp gauge, up to 170 hours now, keep the air filter blown out every other use as well as the cooling fins, replaced filter once a year, oil and filter changed every 20-25 hours w/ dino and wallyworld filter. no belts yet or pulleys/bearings. glad to hear yours is still going, and not out at the curb. btw, this is the sixth season on our units, makes ya feel better. tjw.

Howdy Timothy

Nice to hear your machine is also holding up...

IÂm still one happy 2003 Craftsman GT-5000 owner....
It did a great job today on the yard, just fired right up and off it went with no issues, (I now have a Wood knock block next to the PC, LOL) 1 hour later I was done and back in the A/C cooling it, Sitting at the PC, training my hand-eye on the R/C Airplane-Helicopter simulator (real flight G3.5) With a cold soda at hand. From day one I have been running the Craftsman weed eater like my RC chopper engines, real rich on fuel with the idle set high and it just idles/powers right through the trimming needs with out the need to even touch the throttle lever.
Using, Craftsman 2 cycle oil (small bottles one per one gallon of gas) and Echo Cross fire .095 line in the OEM twin line bump spool.

Later....Bob

BTW, Timothy. Thanks for pointing out it is the 6th season LOL That's what I get for counting with my fingers. :)

Forgot to count the 03 season, I will have to chalk that one up to an simi-old mans brain !&%$, LOL.