Solid Hardwood, Engineered and Laminate Flooring - What really is longest-wearing floor finish on oak & pine

We have a lawn tractor that we use to pull a trailer for the High School Band equipment and the transmission isn't working correctly (and Band season is here!). I assume it is hydrostatic drive, it has a belt that drives what looks like an electric motor that has a fan on one end and there is a small oil tank mounted above it.
It will work in reverse but seems to pulse or jerk as it backs up. Going forward it goes very slow even in the highest gear and won't pull any kind of grade or load. It worked fine last year when we shut it off. I checked the oil level in the tank and it looks OK, down just little (what kind of oil do you use in these?). The oil doesn't smell burned and the oil doesn't feel hot after you run the mower for several minutes. Anyone have any ideas?

I'm getting conflicting info on the longest-wearing floor finish for oak floors and pine floors. Some say moisture-cure urethane, some say oil-based polyurethane, some say Fabulon for the bowling alley finish. I saw another product, BonaTech Traffic which sounds good, but no one I've spoken to has heard of it. I'd like a non-yellowing, semi-gloss or satin finish as I don't want the floors to stand out as if they've just been 'done' while the rest of the house is in process.

I am especially concerned as the house is about 100 years old, has not been well-maintained and this will probably be the last sanding for these floors before the wood needs to be replaced. We've got a couple of active dogs and some heavily trafficked areas. In my current home, the finish is worn off in the heavily trafficked areas and looks quite a bit darker than the rest and is very scuffed, very much less than fine.

Also, how many coats is optimal? I've been asking for at least three coats from the re-finishing people, but they all back off of 'that many.' Frankly, I don't want to be calling them back in a few years to re-apply the finish with a screening.

We need to move in as soon as we can after the finish cures. I'm sure that allowing more time is better, but for each finish, can we move in say, three days after the last coat is applied? We know we will need to be very careful not to slide furniture or boxes.

Thanks much!

Go to www.finishingwoodfloors.com for helpful info.

Thanks, I had already looked at that site before I posted, and got information from it but not the comparison info I need.

We decided on moisture cure, but the floor finisher's schedule is off by many days which allows one and a half days before the moving trucks come after three coats of moisture cure over a sealant (we took his estimate and allowed for almost a week after the last coat of finish to allow for a good cure). I'm concerned we will not be happy with the floors if we have to move while the finish is still so fresh.

How will the finish be compromised by a move with little cure time?

What options do we have to speed along the process of a good cure without messing up the finish?

Thanks

Moisture wear is one of the most durable finishes available today. It is reported to be difficult to apply and produces toxic fumes and requires respirators for application. It cures by pulling moisture from the air whereas other polyurethane finishes dry and cure as solvents evaporate. Following manufacturer's instructions and discussing your situation with the floor finisher are important. Variables which may impact the curing time of your moisture wear finish are temperature and humidity conditions within the home. It is important that moisture wear be given proper curing time and that all fumes have dissipated before you move into your home. Moving into your home before the floor finish properly cures may have adverse effects on your finish.