This fall my XW2300 Dixie Chopper 23hp Honda give it up. My dealer got me this within 24 hours from the factory, 2 days later I was back to work. 36hp Briggs Vanguard big block. Amazing re-power.
Have done several of them myself awesome engine for repower. Put one on a xxwd2500 72 inch cut a couple of years ago. It had a 25 hp Kohler EFI. Guy came back a couple days later and wanted to take me to lunch at the best barbecue place in town. By the way you have your left rear tire mounted backward on the rim it needs to look like the right side tire with the tread in the same direction. The tires are directional like tractor tires. Just looks funny to me.
Yea I know what you mean I get them in all the time like that won't really matter. It just looks kinda funny. Nice looking old mower enjoy they are tuff as nails. Have a friend that has a 1999 XW2500 that I just did a service replaced pivot post triangle plate belts one idler. And a few other things. He swears it has over 8,000 hours on it. Would not doubt it he use to mow Vol State Community College and a 5 acre lot for Eaton Corporation. Still runs good wonder how long it will go.