Well it isn't a diesel but it does burn a ton of oil. To cut our grass at the garage i go through about a quart an hour of oil! When it quits smoking then I know it is time to fill the oil back up! I think it actually burns more oil than it does gas! It still runs good though!

 

Its burning more oil in the pic than gas...LOL

 

I swear it almost does! I think its days are numbered. Cant see the motor lasting much longer.

 

Keeps the skeeters off ya

 

Gonna say that the engine is either a Kohler K301,K321 or a K341. I have a K341 in my tractor, had about 30 years of service, and it needs the cylinder honed or bored, and an over sized piston installed. But for how much oil it burned, it still ran great. It would be better just to have that motor rebuilt, new tractors just don't hold up.

 

Look, it's made a bed of oil fog on the ground!

 

You need to go buy a new John Deere 3 cly diesel engine lawn mower so that you have a true oil burner instead of the gas oil burner you have now.

 

i wish we could get a diesel lawn mower. i know the newer tractors don't hold up but the motor will need rebuilt on this one and the deck is starting to go and has some holes. my dad is more or less looking at a craftsmen one that a friend has and wants rid of just as a throw away tractor. it does have a kohler and i am thinking that it is a 12 horse. i love that it is a hydrostat. i can do burnouts with it and almost make the front wheels come off the gound if i get on it just right!

 

I'm just the kinda person that thinks it makes more sense to spend $300 to freshen up the engine, and patch the holes in the deck, rather then a bunch of money on a new throw a way tractor.

Although, in the event that you do decide to get rid of the cub cadet, parting it out may actually get you quite a bit of money, those old cub cadet parts are getting harder to find.

 

I have the same tractor. Cub Cadet 125. It is a Kohler 12 horse engine and you won't find another one like it. Mine has been cutting grass and when it was in Jersey plowing snow for about 40 years. In '93 when my Dad gave it to me I had a piston rings and exhaust valve put in it. It runs like new now and doesn't burn a drop of oil. I have been patching and fixing things on mine as they break. I'll put this thing up against and 20+HP mower out there.