Mine is a 1996 Steiner 525 bought used by a friend who went to an auction with a pocketfull of my cash. I sent him after a tractor, and 15 minutes later the auction ended. I asked him "via phone" if we got a tractor and he said no, but we did get a lawnmower.
He said it was listed as a "non running" item and he paid $503 for it. Me, thinking Craftsman lawnmower, said you paid $503 for a non running lawnmower? He said, yeah, but it is hydrostatic drive. (but it doesn't run!). He said it was 4 wheel drive (but it doesn't run!). He said it had a Kubota diesel engine (but it doesn't run!). He said it has an extra deck AND a leaf blower! (but it doesn't run!). He said "I can get it running!
I grabbed a trailer and went to pick it up, and he was out driving around on it when I got there. He was right, he got it running, as somebody had just left the key on and drained the battery. I went by his house the next day to pick up the manuals and he told me it was a shame I didn't have an extra $500 at the auction. Seems everyone that wanted a tractor got one, but one JD2555 didn't sell because it didn't make reserve. (reserve was trade in value by a local company) I asked him if it could still be bought and Monday he checked, and I became the proud owner of a JD2555 which is how i ended up on Tractorbynet.
The Kubota diesel engines have increased in horsepower over the years. I think mine is listed at 23.5hp. I have two of the 60" decks of the newer style and a pto blower. I later purchased a pto 10KW generator that was built exactly like the 10KW generator that Steiner offers, just without the pricetag.
From what I see on ebay, I could probably recoup my money just by selling one of the decks, but with 5 years of mowing under my ownership, it doesn't owe me anything!
David from jax