Well, here is what happned; a nut that goes on one of the big drive gears some how fell off. Then one of the gears grabbed the nut and put it clear through the bottom of the case putting a dime sized hole in the bottom. The nut must have gone through most of the gears because 90% of the gears are all chewed up. And all this happened from me using the machine to simply go to end of the driveway one morning to get the paper. I was going no more than 20 kmh, I did not notice any sounds or anything. Once i parked the machine back in garage i noticed some oil leaking out, which leads to the piston and cylinder having groves in them from being driven without oil. Sucks to be me!!!!!

 

Had all the oil leaked out before you drove it? When was the last time it was serviced/changed/checked?

 

yes i did drive it with no oil for about 1 km. no lights are warnings of any kind came on. Oiled and serviced at begining of november 2006.

 

Yep there isn't a low or no oil pressure light or gauge.

 

Dang seem's as if you would have heard it that had to make a racket that's mass damage sorry to hear it any chance you have an extended warranty? because that shouldnt happen in a millon years....