New (9-06) Wally-World mower

[BTDT]

Father in law comes over this morning wanting me to take a look at his mower. He bought it last year, now mower deck is making a racket. I went to look, spindles are almost froze up--no way to grease. Can't hardly turn them by hand, they make an awful racket. I will be contacting MTD webpage for local repair shop. Should still be under warranty. Anybody else have this "opportunity"?

 

[MrJimi]

Should have 2 year warranty with proper papers, like receipt
best of luck. bring it back to wally world and get another one

 

[thingy]

Well,I wouldn't ever buy a riding mower off wally word,,or the cheap ones at lowes,,so,,he just went one step to far in this buy cheap stuff,,you can buy too cheap,,,if you are buying cheap,,you still gotta do a little homework[or just have some comman sense],,it generally works out if you buy not real cheap but middle of the road,,you sometimes get your moneys worth,,,take sears for an example,,all of their riding mowers are cheap according to some people,,but if you look a little,,they may have simular mowers,[hp,inches of cut same color,etc],but one might be 500-600 more than one that looks just like it,,pay the money,,,so,,generally speaking,if you don't get the cheapest or the most expensive you are generally getting a good bang for your buck,,,,its just when they want 6-7,00 for a riding mower that has same motor tires trans and many more sames as the 3,000 one,,that your choice should be a nobrainer as the yuppies say,,thingy

 

[BTDT]

Well,I wouldn't ever buy a riding mower off wally word,,or the cheap ones at lowes,,so,,he just went one step to far in this buy cheap stuff,,you can buy too cheap,,,if you are buying cheap,,you still gotta do a little homework[or just have some comman sense],,it generally works out if you buy not real cheap but middle of the road,,you sometimes get your moneys worth,,,take sears for an example,,all of their riding mowers are cheap according to some people,,but if you look a little,,they may have simular mowers,[hp,inches of cut same color,etc],but one might be 500-600 more than one that looks just like it,,pay the money,,,so,,generally speaking,if you don't get the cheapest or the most expensive you are generally getting a good bang for your buck,,,,its just when they want 6-7,00 for a riding mower that has same motor tires trans and many more sames as the 3,000 one,,that your choice should be a nobrainer as the yuppies say,,thingy

I agree. My fil is 78 yrs old, and I think he was mesmerized by the shiny new paint. Oh, well, live and learn and work on chinese junk. I just talked to MrJimi, he sent me the MTD link to look up parts. They want 103.00 for replacement spindle assembly (and that's the only way they sell it). I will be talking to repair shop, should be under warranty. We'll see.

 

[Fordlords]

Many lawn tractors have spindle brakes on the mower decks. Make sure this is not what is making the spindles feel like they are binding. A good spindle should have a little tightness to the feel then rotating it by hand. Yes, that should be under warranty if there is a problem, always take advantage of the warranty.

I also agree to not go too cheapo. The Craftsman our family has was actually purchased by my mother for her to use with her money, but she consulted me first, which I respected as I knew I would be the one maintaining the tractor. I advised her to spend a few hundred more to get a step above Craftsman's cheapest models, which had Briggs engines and those junk transaxles that are variable drive or whatever it's called. I told her the Kohler engine and hydro drive I felt would be the best buy in the small category of lawn tractor from Sears. (Old parents just LOVE Sears for whatever reason, it seems like my mom won't buy anything from any place else LOL!) She agreed with me as the sales person at Sears told her the same thing. Thus far, the little tractor has been bulletproof for the work it is used for, it's easily going to last 10-12 years.

 

[slowrev]

Was the deck kept clean ? Did it set out in the weather ?
This is not usual for the cheap MTD's based on my observations.
A good friend just bought a bottom end JD rider. Spindles are loose in the bushings and an awful deck roar awful on a new machine. He took it back and was told this is normal....
It is not just MTD's that are built cheap.

 

[thingy]

Well,probably those cheaper john deeres are mtd's,,but at least they got a name,[which you would think would mean a little],,I think many come out of same factory,but there are the cheap ones and than there are the junk ones,,but who knows,,maybe they are all the same,they just luck out every now and than and make a good one,,maybe they cull them before painting them and putting a name on them?? thingy

 

[BTDT]

Fordlords, you nailed this one. It was the brake dragging on the blade pulley. I went back out there today to check closer, took the belt loose, and the blade spins free, no noise. My fil was trying to spin the blade by hand. Thanks for pointing me in the right direction. Here is pic of spindle assembly. I am not impressed. I think the deck will crack and fall apart before too long.

Pic 3,4, are of spindle area. Pic 1 is old mower that new one replaced (threw a rod after about 10 yrs), pic 2 is new mower

 

[mfd480]

Well,probably those cheaper john deeres are mtd's,,but at least they got a name,[which you would think would mean a little],,I think many come out of same factory,but there are the cheap ones and than there are the junk ones,,but who knows,,maybe they are all the same,they just luck out every now and than and make a good one,,maybe they cull them before painting them and putting a name on them?? thingy

Deere Mowers are made by John Deere not MTD or anyone else. They are built at a John Deere factory in Tennessee. And yes even John Deere has some problems with the parts they put on thier mowers!

 

[swines]

Here is pic of spindle assembly. I am not impressed. I think the deck will crack and fall apart before too long.

That's why the best bet is to buy the garden tractor version of whatever manufacturer you like best. Generally, the tractor itself and matching components are built far better.