Yup, they made everything so much easier to work on in the old days. Like my '70 Nova. I could do everything myself, which I had to because fuel economy dropped from its normal 15 mpg (remember, this was a compact car) to 11 mpg in 8,000 miles so it was time for new plugs and points. Our Farmall M - pop the transmission cover and replace the transmission bearings easy, because it had to be done every year. I was too young to do that but I was well trained identifying tools because it was my job to pass them to dad. Listening to a conversation between my brother-in-law and a classmate of his last week - which of their 35 year old tractors had more uncomfortable controls to operate. When I bougt this place from my dad 18 years ago, it was littered with the carcasses of old garden tractors. If I remember right he could only get about 3 years out of one before it was time to replace. My first lawn tractor was a 2000 John Deere - I gave it to my niece a few years back because I wanted something flashier. She actually had a problem with it this year - had to replace the transmission drive belt which failed after 12 years. My replacement Deere has been going fine although I abuse it and know I will pay the price for that someday. They don't make them like they did in the old days, thank God.
