welcome to the new world. I have an early 90s briggs push mower, better bet your damn assi fix it when it breaks and have takn that motor through about 5 decks now. I really, REALLY do not want to buy an electric, or modern IC push mower again. Ive owned several and keep going back and fixing the old (designed in late 80s) briggs when the newbies inevitably dont even make it a season on the yards we have out here...
I retired my kholer command craftsman rider from the 90s, and got a like new condition Husq zero turn (total gimmick on tractor types btw, even ty and they just go straight dragging the front wheel sideways), under 100 hrs, ran like new, shaft drive, had the bougie hydrostat transmission..... the bougie transmission didnt last the season on my moms yard. Thing barely belongs on a golf course let a real yard around here. Woulda cost about a grand to fix the damn thing.
Went back to fixing the craftsman when it breaks, and replacing drive belts. That rider probably has 3000 hours on it at least. the bougie husq i payed 2k for didnt make it to 500. I only got 200 back on that piece of s***. Im pretty sure my dad payed like $150 for that craftsman like 15 years ago and it was already old. The kholer command craft rider, and that early 90s briggs pushy.... still alive and kicking strong. just did piston rings on the briggs this season, replaced the springs, cost like $10, like f**kin new again just beat all to hell and back lookin'.
My moms yard alone has killed like half a dozen modern push mowers and a couple modern riders, im just glad these days she has a service handle it.