[rwairforce]

CCGUY,
Thanks for the information. You may have inspired me to at the minimum redo my plastic. I felt the same as you related. I had been using a 149 (I still have it) and I went to the dealer for new blades.....well I looked at the new units on the floor and told the dealer that none of them could hold a candle to my 149. He said that he had a great update for me that wasn't a lawn tractor and he introduced my to the 1440.
It was a brute sitting next to all the new lawn tractors and it looked good. You know the look, sitting on a showroom floor just inviting you to look it over and to sit on it and imagine all the use for the many years to come. I mentioned at that very instant that I was a little concerned about all the plastic but after all these years the plastic is still in one piece.
Anyway, my visit to the dealer for a new set of blades ended up costing me nearly $4,000 for a new 1440. As much as I like the way your 1440 looks, I'm not sure I want to wash away all the history that I have on mine.....