05-19-2010, 08:54 PM
Agree with Toro. My self-propelled is 16 years old, been through three blades (pine cones and small sticks galore here). I use it about 2 hours per week from May through October, then it sits in the garage for 6 months. Three weeks ago I got it out and dusted it off, checked the oil level (it was fine from an oil change last summer) and it fired up on the second pull as usual. My previous Toro lasted 20 years until the wheel drive mechanism (sealed gearbox) broke. My "new" one has a direct belt drive. The belt's been stretching a bit every year, probably time to replace it. I bought mine at an Ace Hardware, not sure the 2 "big box" home improvement chains carry Toro.