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[jzawacki]

You lost me here.. 3,000 and 2,000 hours!?!?!  I barely got over 500 hours on my cutting motor before needing new brushes!  If I got 2,000 hours, I'd be happy.. that would make the motor last almost 12 years for me..

[RoyMercer]

Yeah, that’s why I say lucky. I was not sure what other people are getting but I suspect Zucchetti's numbers come from paper and not real world test.

I think I got around 1,000 or so hours on my first LB3500. I got less than 500 on every replacement and it is my opinion it is because they are simply replacing the brushes and not properly rebuilding the motors. KA does not send you a new motor; or at least they have never sent me a factory new warranty replacement. Always a rebuild.

I also believe the number 2 reason next to the variable loading that causes the brushes to wear out so fast on these mowers is heat.  These motors have no ventilation and are running inside a sealed unit. Heat is a big contributor to premature brush wear. To add to my theory the LB3510 will shut the blade motor down if the temp reaches above a set threshold (if set in the service menu). 

The only way around all of this is to use brushless motors. In the mean time they should offer an economical rebuild service but with high part pricing that is going to be hard to do and do it right.