They sure are built tough squizzy, everything is 3mm (1/8th) plate or thicker, and they weigh about the same as two Rover Ranchers judging by how much the lift strained getting it up to work on. They have a neat feature where the grease nipples for the three spindles are extended to the front of the cutter deck for easy access but I'm not so sure about the bike chain suspension system for the deck although it looks to have stood the test of time okay. The machine looks reasonably well maintained with near new belts and everything appearing to work as far as I can tell without the engine running so I guess it was probably working right up to the point the B&S dropped the conrod. That is only an assumption at the moment but the engine rotates and the piston stays up top so I'm guessing more likely than not it's the rod gone.
I guess the cheap mass produced Asian machines knocked out the small manufacturers regardless of the quality.
