Thanks for the reply. I agree about the gauge. My turf tiger has one and the only time I'm confident in using it is when it is in my garden shed (level floor). My old john deere didn't have one either and I really didn't need it. Temps here in Nashville have warmed into the 60's. I mowed a small area of annual rye yesterday with my tt. Still have mulching plate with oregon mulching blades on and will keep them on through the first mowing then change to new set of blades and remove the mulching plate. This will be my third season to mow with it. Seems like just yesterday I bought it. Still learning about it.
I'm still confused as to what grease(s) to use. Finally settled on o'reilly's red grease that is used by Faxon's in Bowling Green KY. I still believe the main thing is to grease everything periodically.
-bobby