I've been rasslin' with my 15+year old ZTR, a Snapper Pro.
I've got almost $800 in parts in it, me doing the work, and it ain't right yet. Mrs wants to go buy a new one, but I nixed that.
It's personal now. I will fix it.
Or I will burn it.
HaHa! Reminds me of a buddy and his push mower. It was at the end of its useful existence but he was try to wring out the last ounce of it.
Said he got it going with starting fluid, it backfired and wouldn’t start. Hot summer afternoon. I figured the backfire sheared the crankshaft key, so got a puller and headed his way.
Getting at his place, he had a 16lb sledge in hand with a pile of mangled metal at his feet.
No need to work on that one!