I bought a diesel lawn tractor in the fall of 1997, paid over $7,000 for it. Used it the spring and summer of 1998 until I became ill and put it up in the barn. That winter during a freeze, the block cracked. Apparently I had let the coolant level drop and not checked it before winter set in, as I had not used it for about 6 months. (Overheating is a very common occurance on this tractor) When I tried to start it in late spring of 1999, it would not start. I ordered and replaced the starter and battery but of course that did not resolve the problem. I took it to the dealer. The shop manager informed me of the situation and they replaced the motor ($3,700!!!!!) and I brought it home and tried it. There was an apparent loss of power. I mowed with it and it seemed to bog down. I replaced the blades and checked what I could. I mowed 3 or 4 times that summer and finally called the dealer and complained. Their comment was that they had replaced the motor and it was fixed, not their problem. Did not have any explantion. With winter appraoching, I parked it again until spring (2000). When I tried to start it that year, the battery was shot, so I put in a new one, something I have now done 6 times since then! When I run the mower, the motor makes a terrible noise / clatter and when I engage the blade, the power drops suubstantially, to the point that I have to mow 4 - 6 " grass with the deck all the way up and then go back over the area twice again with the deck lowered. I am exasperated,as I can not afford any more repairs to be made by the dealer andI know nothing about diesel engines. Does anyone have any ideas as to what the problem could be & if and how it can be repaired? Thanks for this forum and any replies. I am desperate, as it is now spring and the (8 acres yard of) grass is now about 2 foot tall and all I have is a push mower ! SH