<font color="blue">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. </font>
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