Doug---
It's run 7250 hours so-far.... I took it out of service just to put an new engine and genhead on line at the same time.
The first Door Stop genhead had a badly machined shaft and the brush holder looked like cast iron styrofoam but the original bearings are still in it and it's only on the third set of brushes. I screwed up one set with a 'hope it'll do' repair that didn't.
I consider even an old, 'first run' ST a REAL bargain..... as compared to the Genrac 4kw 2pole that lasted almost exactly as many hours as new 'MT-II' engine and head has run so-far, 818 hours this morning, in just 53 days.
It's good if it last as long time...it's excellent if it'll last a long time, and I can FIX IT.
Doug-- There is a saying popular with Southern coon hunters, "Never keep the first mail order puppy."
It just means that when shipping is a major part of the price the guy selling in India KNOWS whatever he sends will stay here....so they send some junk.
It's like the cricket bats...some get one and some don't.
Welcome to the Indian Engine Roulette game.