Bert, what do you think about these Chinese 22 hp vertical shaft diesel engines?
https://www.alibaba.com/product-detail/22HP-Diesel-Engine-of-Lawn-Mower_206759365.html
I can't find it at the moment but I have seen these on another website for US $800 + shipping but you have to buy three of them.
I think it would be cool to own a diesel powered lawnmower.
Kubota 3 cylinder diesel lawnmowers over here have an incredible resale value. I don't know if the owner's just think they are gold and want to recoup most of what they paid for it new or that is what they actually sell for. A good used Snapper sells for about $200.
My question is, if the mower is good why buy a new one? Unless of course you own a lawn mowing service and you just want to update your equipment every few years to avoid maintenance. I'd think Kubota would be one of the best mowers on the market as much as they cost.
I've had my Husquvarna for about 10 years and the only problems I've had have been with the deck. Once to weld one of the deck hanger brackets and the other time to weld the wheel bracket. That was probably my fault trying to squeeze a 46" deck through a 48" hole (my yard barn). The other time was when my daughter threw a shepherds hook out in the yard and I ran over it before it was too late and had to replace the blades and eventually a spindle.
In other words, I don't replace cars and mowers like most people do just for the heck of it. My 20 year old Chevrolet van still runs fine (despite using a liter of oil every 2000 miles) and even if I blow the motor or transmission, I'm going to replace it instead of buying a new (or newer) van. Then I have a 2003 Subaru among other old cars.
The problem with diesels (anything diesel) in the United States is they are not cost effective. Diesel costs more than gasoline. I think the oil companies have it figured out.
Dad used to brag that his VW Jetta TDI got 45 mpg (US). But I did the math and found out my Subaru 2.5 liter got a maximum of 28 MPG (US) and the cost between the two fuels averaged out the same.
Unless you plan on pulling something heavy there is not really a cost advantage of owning a diesel in the United States.
I've heard you can thin down diesel fuel with used motor oil to make it go further but I've never owned a diesel to know how well it would run on it.