With the constant rain/sun we're having lately the grass is growing like gangbusters. While doing some painting last night on the Mack, I took a break and hopped on the 127.
I checked the oil, as I know it smokes, and it needed a couple gulps to get it to the full mark. I put some gas and MMO in it and went to town. It mows really nice, the deck bearings seem to be quieting down just a touch now as it doesn't "roar" so bad. The hydro control is getting looser feeling, thought still could use a bit of adjustment as you have to really stomp on the brake pedal if you want to stop it that way(typically don't). It steers so nice, and rides much better then the 149(I'm getting new tires on it soon!!).
Going to check into a cheapo freshen up on the rings as long as the bore isn't too bad. I don't want to pour a ton of money into it. Just make it burn a bit cleaner. I checked the oil level after mowing and it was hardly down anything noticeable. That's a good sign, I was expecting worse. Just running along it looks okay, but once it hits a load it starts fogging. My 149 hasn't burned a drop of oil in all the years I've owned it.
In all, I'm pretty happy with it. I like projects that aren't money pits and torn down for years.