rusty i don't think it was luck, but well maintained equipment. Now if you would of won the Lottery I'd yea you were lucky.

For me I go ahead and prime them, I don't like grinding on the starter. Course my priming not your normal priming cause I am the oil changing and priming nerd!

when I prime any of my equipment I remove the spark plug or plugs, squirt some carb. cleaner down the spark plug hole spin (motor) the engine over. install the spark plug after squirt of carb cleaner, wire brushing, and gap check. Squirt down the carb. and Bang second or third rotation if fires off. I especially don't like pulling on something more than three times cause I'm little weakling or lazy what ever makes em feel better?

I agree with ya Rusty.
Winter storage is really just short term storage.
All the battery menders,periodic starting of the mowers during winter and Staybile are for equipment that you won't be using for years.
I just put a good charge on the batteries and put the mules away for the winter.

I used my JD over the Winter, so I know it didn't sit all Winter, but dumping all those gallons of waste gas from lawnmower repair into the JD tank has caught up with it. It only runs with the choke half closed and that will be one of my Spring projects.