Very true very true.
I'm not into sub par machines guy. I would get a Cub Cadet before a Dixie. And that's stooping pretty low.
Are you still struggling with what a bypass filter is? Have you changed your filters out yet?
It's a mixed bag..... My first zero turn is the Cub Cadet... I normally do NOT buy from box stores...but...Tractor supply was selling this new 3800$ CC zero for "see the manager" I looked it over and it was missing the voltage regulator on the side of the motor... The manager sold me the zero...and the mini bike and damaged 3point plow for 1000$!!! I jumped at this NOT because I knew if I threw a reg on it ...it would work...I got it cuz it was the same as the dealer Cub!! The reserve, pump, hydro filters, all individual and very reliable! Yes this matters..box store crap has that in "all in one" and there's many issues still today with them! I still have and use this 2007 Cub Zero turn! I've only done belts, blades and hydro and engine oil changes!! My original tires are starting to show they hate me....AGAIN...I still own this...and low and behold it has a Kohler motor on it!(no bypass) just that normal motor oil filter, no mini radiator either. I've not been a fan of Kohler motors...I like the Kawa's...but...due to my care...this Kohler has got me to change my mind a little....I guess with some oil change luv......Kohler's not so bad....(except for using a rubber part inside the carb-stupid azzes with our corn made gas...the rubber part goes WTF is this crap that's eatin' me up!)
I now have this Dixie I just got....I had one before it and someone begged me to sell them my other one, so I did. This as mentioned has the Kohler motor...but looks like the Dixie told Kohler to provide them with a "custom" motor...for the extra goodies?...My other Dixie was not a Kohler ...it was a Generac27hp. Lot's of negative talk about that motor....most Dixie owners ended up scrappin' the Generac motors...
My struggle....don't normally have any...but when I saw the price of the filter for this bypass filter...I was like WTHeck!... and I saw that the bypass filter was it's own...and the motor still had it's own filter...I was like..my Jimmy vehicle was bypassed at the engine oil filter so there was not an engine oil filter...but Dixie wants both for protection I guess....and who to argue? Motor runs great at 23yrs old......and I see what someone did...they dated the bypass filter...so they probably changed that every 2rd or 4th regular oil change due to how darn much money the filter is!? it's date is 2014...looks like I'm gonna have to bite and do both oil filters...
I was just hopin' to connect with some Dixie die hard.....who may have encountered these things.....and just get a take of their thoughts