Yes this is rather typical - to varying degrees ... many years ago I saw an old mechanic friend take a used up can of rustoleum paint and he dumped in a little raw gas and thinned it out quite a bit ... (much thinner than standard rustoleum but slightly thicker than water)... He then pulled the plug and turned over the motor while holding a wire brush against the fly wheel - he also cleaned the fins and the coil up a bit too. He used compressed air to blow of the dust and he then painted up the fly wheel with the thinned out red paint... this was many years ago ... but if I'm not mistaken I think i remember him painting up the metal legs of the coil which is adjacent to the flywheel. Ive used this trick many times on rusted parts - even on fly wheels - and it looks nice. I used a black restoleum - very thin ... and it left a nice "film" on the flywheel - not nearly thick enough to get in the way of the coil ... but definitely stopped the rusting problem... By the way - i do not prime the parts before I use the thinned out rustoleum. If you thin out the paint too much no problem - just apply a 2nd coat ... good luck

Not to be too snarky but... A pivot point is a shaft with something attached that can pivot one way or the other. In the service section it will say "lubricate all pivot points every x hours". Usually there are 1 or 2 as part of the steering system, one for each front axle, one where the front axle assembly attaches to the frame, etc. In the service section it *should* have a list with illustrations as to where each is, but maybe that is not listed. Look for grease "zerks" and lubricate then all at the interval listed. Look everywhere, but in particular the places grass master mentions. Good luck.

Most all of my ground work is done with an '04 4210 loader backhoe & 60" finish mower. For in & out of the woods to haul brush & cord wood, I'll occasionally (once/mo.) need a lawn/garden tractor. Aside from mowing mostly flat once/week, or less in summer, I'll also use it to haul manure/compost, stone, etc. with a small trailer, 36" x 60" x 14" deep on 18" dia balloon type tires. Heaviest load on steepest grade is a full bed of 60" logs on a 30% grade.....maybe once or twice per year. I'm sure with a new X300 Deere I'll be more forgiving than I was with my1996 Power Kraft $125 s@#$ box lawn tractor. (God bless her) Still looking, Dave

2008 service price's for X300 on JD website Base product list price reflects all "in base price" options. Select other options as desired for a different configuration and price. Taxes, freight, set-up and delivery are not included in these prices. See your dealer for details. SELECT SERIES X300 - 42 Select Series X300 Tractor with 42 In. Edge Mulch Deck SKU21846 $2,999.00 Optional - Select as desired SERVICE CONTRACTS - RESIDENTIAL OWNERS/USE Visit http://www.JohnDeere.com/ServicePlans for more information on John Deere Service Contracts. May not be Available in Parts of the U.S., Not Available in Canada. John Deere Break-in Maintenance Plan (Break-in Service Only) 1 break-in maintenance service; transportation for break-in service included. $129.99 John Deere Maintenance Plan (Standard) Without Break-in (1 Maintenance Service) 11 Month Term Maintenance Plan: 1 maintenance service; transportation for covered maintenance service included. $249.99 John Deere Maintenance Plan (Standard) With Break-in (1 Maintenance Service) 11 Month Term Maintenance Plan: 1 break-in service; 1 maintenance service; transportation for break-in & covered maintenance service included. $379.99 John Deere Maintenance Plan (Standard) Without Break-in (2 Maintenance Services) 36 Month Term Maintenance Plan: 2 maintenance services; transportation for covered maintenance service included. $489.99 John Deere Maintenance Plan (Standard) With Break-in (2 Maintenance Services) 36 Month Term Maintenance Plan: 1 break-in service; 2 maintenance services; transportation for break-in & covered maintenance service included. $619.99 John Deere Maintenance Plan (Standard) Without Break-in (4 Maintenance Services) 48 Month Term Maintenance Plan: 4 maintenance services; transportation for covered maintenance service included. $979.99 John Deere Maintenance Plan (Standard) With Break-in (4 Maintenance Services) 48 Month Term Maintenance Plan: 1 break-in service; 4 maintenance services; transportation for break-in & covered maintenance service included. $1,109.99