Have had my new GT52XLS for about a month, going well. Mows my 2 acres very nicely. Has 27hp B&S and Hydrogear 730 tranny. Seems quite a bit thirstier on gas than my previous JD285 18HP Kawasaki, but it is more HP I suppose. Only issue has been a hard metallic knock just above idle. Very annoying when running around yard. Did not happen at full throttle. Finally found the problem - it was the U shaped heavy wire belt guard/bracket that surrounds the transmission drive pulley under the engine knocking against the frame at certain rpm's. The drive belt vibrates furiously at mid throttle and causes the guard's unattached end to contact the frame. This particular bracket had the end about 1/8" away from the frame so any vibration it contacted the frame. Solution was to cut off about 1/2".
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