Why do you hate MTD?

deere755 · Mar 26, 2005

I just got off my Dad's MTD and back on my John Deere that was like getting out of a Volkswagon Beetle and climbing in a Lincoln Town Car, but I have to say he has had good luck with his. I had one a few years but the trans axle didn't hold up pulling a roller and pushing snow. Then the deck started going thru bearings all the time. Seemed like the deck warped or something because it wouldn't mow level. I may have just got a bad one.

JINMA224XR · Mar 26, 2005

I just got off my Dad's MTD and back on my John Deere that was like getting out of a Volkswagon Beetle and climbing in a Lincoln Town Car, but I have to say he has had good luck with his. I had one a few years but the trans axle didn't hold up pulling a roller and pushing snow. Then the deck started going thru bearings all the time. Seemed like the deck warped or something because it wouldn't mow level. I may have just got a bad one. 

Hey Deere755,

My little 12hp/38" MTD, has served me well. But one thing that I do is keep it lubed well. The transaxle on mine, doesn't have zert fittings for the rear transaxle, but it does have 2 tiny small holes on each side, underneath the axle housing. It takes a special grease fitting to force grease in through those little holes. That is the first thing that I did, when I got mine. Went down to NAPA, and got the grease fitting and then filled the axle full, until the grease came out. The first time I greased the rear axle, it took about 5 full size cannisters of grease. They don't put much grease in at the factory. I wonder why? /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif And I have continued doing that once a year since I got mine back in 1988.

Changing the oil and air filter/or cleaning every 6 months, greasing front and rear axles, and then replaceing parts when they wear out(belts, deck spindles, batteries, seat, one pulley that was frozen(I think that it was the idler pully, too long ago to remember), That's been about it for mine, over the 17 years.

On mine, there is an adjustment under the cover where the gear shift is to level the deck, and I have done that from time to time. It is real easy to do.

MTD's aren't the best mowers, but I have managed to make mine last, until I got a bigger place and a 4wd 20/22 hp Jinma Tractor, with a pto and 3pt hitch.

I guess I'm one of the lucky ones, but there are other MTD owners also getting good use out of their machines.

I'll keep the MTD a while longer for the small chores, like seeding and such, but will probably sell it, and put that money's on a finishing mower or Rotary Mower, for the Jinma.

When I do sell the MTD, I will miss seeing it go, as it has done a lot of work for me. It's like a part of my family now.

I'm sorry that others have not had good luck with their MTD's, but Lubrication, rinseing the grass off the deck(but be careful not to spray cold water onto the warm/hot engine, because it might crack the head/block), and keeping it in out of the weather are 3 key factors for keeping it durable.

Have a nice day,
Joe /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

deere755 · Mar 26, 2005

Did you use special grease or just regular gun grease? Would this be the same on a hydro model? I didn't have any problem with the Briggs motor I had but I kept the oil changed every 25 hours and the air filter cleaned.

Go Illini !!!

LBrown59 · Mar 26, 2005

but i did assembled one for my father last year from three used units.
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Takes 3 in a vain attempt to make one; sounds like mtd.

fractal · Mar 26, 2005

I have a mtd push mower, a mtd walk behind tiller and a mtd chipper shredder. All have 5hp briggs and stratton motors. All three motors were built in 1990 according to their date codes.

The deck of the push mower is rotting away on me and I need to rebuild the carb on it. The other two do just fine on those rare occasions I use them. I dunno, but 15 years off a push mower is pretty durned good if you ask me.

Now, the new stuff may be junque. I don't know. I am seriously considering a honda when the old mower finally gives up. But for now, it just keeps on going. All I do is change the oil and sharpen the blade once a year..

LBrown59 · Mar 26, 2005

( we got a troy bilt 22or 23 hp and it is an absolute piece of **** the **** idler belt on the mower never stays on and when it does it snaps the blades on the deck have broken not to mention it is extremely underpowered )

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That's MTD for you, buy out a reputable manufacturer and convert a good brand product to junk.

I bought a new 1966 Bolens .It was one of the best values I've ever spent my money on.
In 1995 I purchased a new MTD wards power craft Lawn and Garden Tractor, soon found out it was one of the worst itens i ever waisted money on.

Would I buy a bolens or huskey today .
Not on your life because it is the same butchered tractor as the troy built you got.

LBrown59 · Mar 26, 2005

Lubrication, rinseing the grass off the deck, and keeping it in out of the weather are 3 key factors for keeping it durable.
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Didn't help a bit with mine.

LBrown59 · Mar 26, 2005

( I didn't have any problem with the Briggs motor I had but I kept the oil changed every 25 hours and the air filter cleaned.

Go Illini !!! )

That didn't help mine one bit.
Neither did taking it to 2 different shops 8 or 10 times for the same problem.

Yeah I just love MTD /forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif

JINMA224XR · Mar 26, 2005

Did you use special grease or just regular gun grease? Would this be the same on a hydro model? 

Hey Deere755,

My book just says Transmatic. My tractor has shift selector on the fender for 6 forward speeds, and a Gear shift lever infront of the seat for Foward, Reverse, and neutral.

Over the years, I have used a couple of different greases, that I got from a Chevron supplier. One was a green colored grease, that was supposed to be compatible with other greases. Once I used that case of grease up, I went to the Chevron Red Grease, which is supposed to be water resistant. To tell you the truth, I really don't think that it really matters, as long as you keep it greased, and not let it run dry. Running Dry, IMHO, is what will do the rear transaxle and front wheels in. The main thing is just keep it lubricated good.

The grease that came with the mower, in the rear transaxle was whitist in color. Every year, I put grease in, until I see grease come out somewhere, and on occasion, I still see some of the White grease come out first. After I grease the rear axle, I wrap electrical tape around the axle at the place where the grease holes are. I do this, because some of the grease will ooz back out the little grease fill holes.

The special grease fitting is a cuplike fitting that fitts over the oval shaped inlet hole. A needle won't work, because the grease has to be forced into the axle cavity. I have to jack the rear end up with a small floor jack to have enough room to operate my grease gun. The first time will be the hardest, because it will take so much grease to fill the rear end up. After the first time,, it will only take about 1 cannister of grease, each year.

Have a nice day,
Joe /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

LBrown59 · Mar 26, 2005

( I just got off my Dad's MTD and back on my John Deere that was like getting out of a Volkswagon Beetle and climbing in a Lincoln Town Car, but I have to say he has had good luck with his. I had one a few years but the trans axle didn't hold up pulling a roller and pushing snow. Then the deck started going thru bearings all the time. Seemed like the deck warped or something because it wouldn't mow level. I may have just got a bad one. )

I may have just got a bad one.
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With MTD the odds very much favor that.