Yeah Rusty, it is a mystery to me...

the only thing I can think of is that the manufacturers have done such a good job making them seem like little cars that people think of them that way.

Then again, I don't think the same people would leave their car doors and hood open to the elements!

I am waiting for the snow to start. I don't have a garage, and the shed is in the back yard. So the tractor spent the night in the driveway. Even for one night I covered it!

A classic case of a loose nut behind the steering wheel. Same phenomenon seen in consumer electronics... loose nut in front of the volume knob or in the computer industry... loose nut in front of the keyboard.

Such neglect keeps me in OPE.

Preventative maintenance and sensitivity to machines is not the American way. We do not learn to use anything and we do not read manuals. As a society we Americans demand that manufacturers make machines that accommodate us and sell for less than it costs to make them and that is why we get Mr. Coffees that meltdown in a couple months while Europeans get Krupps and Braun that last decades.

We do not do PM nor do we stop using anything when it makes a hideous noise... but we cry like babies when stuff breaks and costs us more (than we paid) to fix the junk we bought in the first place.

We used to be pretty smart about this stuff...

Correct me if I'm wrong, but this "problem" we have a society is relatively new. I don't think people acted that way 30 years ago.

It was true 30 years ago too. Alot depends on the culture of an area. This part of PA is predominantly PA German and we never actually throw anything away that can be reused, so it's natural to have spare parts in a barn and equipment is usually repaired numerous times before it is recycled to someone else.

In this day and age, a DIYer, need never buy any OPE. He can just repair his neighbor's cast offs. May not bode well for the society as a whole, but I'm doing fine. I also repair my house and cars as needed. I was raised by people who endured the Depression and WWII, dont waste nothin ! Fix it. make do or go without

Andy: You were as was I taught the value of a Buck ! If equipment is maintained it will give reasonable service if not then you learn the Hard Way lol . Unfortunately many of today's consumers believe in the Easy Come , Easy Go Philosophy .

I too, am descended from old time Pennsylvania/ German folks. My father's family was mainly English, and my mother's family was German.
Both sides knew how to fix things, no matter what.
My Paternal Grand-father came from a line of river boat builders, on the inland rivers. He built steam boats for the river trade, and other uses. Had a boat yard in Marietta, Ohio.
My Mother's folks were German, farmers mostly, so i have genes that help me in my endeavors! Made me a fixer of stuff! And gave me the knowlege that maintenance is the best way to keep your lawn equipment in good condition!