Jim, I just stumbled across this thread and now gotta put in my 2 cents.
You have "uncovered" a great unknown secret(for the last few decades) for the average riding mower owner. An hourmeter. :laughing: So many folks have been blindly happy in the fact that they've gotten 10 or more years out of their mower while in fact, it only has maybe 400 hours on it.
My LT180 has a bit over 100 hours and I've had it for 7 seasons. I only mow about an acre with it. You have to throw out the average consumables (batteries, oil, filter, blades, etc.) to do an accurate pricing. This is because you would have to spend that on any brand of mower. You bought the 3 blade electric PTO deck, which is naturally higher maintenance and costs. The other major cost on these is the rear transmission which there is an awesome thread to rebuild these yourself here on TBN. My dealer encouraged me to move up to the LT180 due to the Kawasaki engine and simple belt engaged mower. I have rebuilt my own spindle with 2 bearings bought at the parts house for about $10. Don't ask me about blades as I have rocks. Some that my children "sneak" into the yard. I wanted a rear bagger and the dealer said I needed to stay with the 42" deck unless I wanted the expensive powered bagger. The bagger I got fits on the rear and uses the mower deck's air to push the stuff to the bags. It works great but fills up fast. I only use it now for leaves in the fall. With the bagger, I paid a bit over $3000 for it. So, I guess I'm still at about $30/hour...Ouch! I knew I should of kept my old Snapper RER...:laughing:
