Why do you hate MTD?

[billbill1]

I have an older C175 Wheelhorse garden tractor and it is as tough as any I've seen. Making equipment and selling equipment like it are a "one time deal" they just don't break or wear out. There is money to be made from lesser quality equipment breaking down in parts and labor. The old Cub Cadets, John Deere, and other major brands were indestructable, many still in use 30 years later. This doesn't make money for the manufactures and they probably couldn't sell a machine for what it would cost to manufacture that quality of a machine these days. The average homeowner probably mows a 75' X 150' lot at most and the cheaper machines will last them several years and they lose it in a divorce, move and sell it, or simply upgrade to another new machine. The American way has become faster turnover means more income and cheaper becomes less quality. Sad but true. We have lost several John Deere dealers in NE Kansas, the small farms have went under and large farms have replaced them. They hire a mechanic to work for them full time so warranty work is all the dealers get to help keep the doors open. We all want the most for our money and the dealers aren't making enough to keep them going.

 

[Dutch445]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( We sell the same units that Lowes does (1000 series) and I am sure they steal some sales from us but that part of doing business.
)</font>

I can vouch for the fact that having L series tractors in Home Depot has increased JD's market share numbers much better than expected. They have seen increases way above projections, and the dealers have also seen their share.... not to mention the parts/service/warranty/setup that is done. I know at first I was very skeptical of the idea,, we had Sabre/Scotts, but to sell "John Deere" machines in Home Depot was a threat that dealers were soon going to be a thing of the past. It has become obvious that the "premium" buyers are still there, and this "new" market for the dealers has added volume that wasn't there. And as much as it is a challenge explaining why an LX mower is over 4 grand compared the the L series around 2, (to the mtd/sears/murray customer), it is also a challenge explaining to the existing JD 212, or 316/318 customer that an L series just isn't bred from the same stock as the machine he has had for 20 years.
I have found that demographics don't seem direct sales like I would have thought they would... many upper income folks would just as soon have the L series, all it's going to do is cut the grass for a few years, so why invest over 4K for a mower. But on the other hand, we get the first time Deere customer that buys one and thinks he's now finally got the status symbol of just having a real John Deere tractor. gotta keep up with the Joneses!!

It sure is an interesting topic.

/forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif

 

[JINMA224XR]

<font color="blue"> Am I missing something? MTD products are not all that bad in my opinion. I have several different pieces of their machinery that have served me very well. General maintenance is all I've done. I just don't get it . Gerard </font>

Hey Gerrard,

I am totally displeased with my MTD 12hp/38" cut riding mower that I purchased new from Lowe's back in "1988". And have been mowing about 1 1/2 acres with it from the getgo. /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

All my neighbors pointed and laughed at me when I was unloading my new mower and smirked and joked, saying that it was not any good and wouldn't last very long. Just a piece of Junk. /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

There is definitely something wrong with mine. I have had to spend at least 5 or 10 dollars on it every season. I wore out the spindles and even had to replace them, and while I was at it,, I even had to sand, prime and repaint the deck! /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif I've even had to put grease the front axle zerk fittings and had to labor myself to put grease in the Rear Axle once a year! /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif I've even gone so far as to change out the oil, air filter once a year also! /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif The seat only lasted 15 years, and I had to go to Lowes to get a NEW SEAT FOR 40 DOLLARS!!!!! /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif

I've had to replace the belts at least once, and have lost count on the # of new batteries that I have had to install.!!! /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif

Oh I almost forgot,, I even had to adjust the Front Wheel ToeEnd after only 16 years of Use. And that took me at least 15 minutes of my valuable time!!!! /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

I am totally displeased with My MTD.... All my neighbors now have nice shiney new ones, since I got mine back in "1988", and here I am still having to use my old "17 YEAR OLD MTD", That now has a fresh coat of "2 SPRAY CANS OF $2.00 PAINT", THAT I had to go and buy from WalMarts!!!

My MTD, IS A TERRIBLE MACHINE, BECAUSE IT JUST WON'T DIE. And I am totally Displeased with it!!!! /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

Does anybody know how long these MTD'S are supposed to last and how much longer that I will have to keep using it, before I will be able to buy me a nice shiney new mower??? /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

I AM TOTALLY DISPLEASED /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

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

 

[1962]

in my opinion MTD the company put the consumer in its wallet. alot of the fellow tbn members went the xtra mile and bought first class machines, and these heavy duty tractors can mow,load,dig and a whole lot more depending on which attachments you have.. all this at a lot more cost also.. mtd marketed the consumer who heads to the local home improvement chain, and sees the nice shiney new tractors. this is a big chunk of their sales.. just take a saturday drive thru a suburban neighborhood on a sunny spring morning. the lawns you see are smaller than the house, and nicer than a golf course. a CUT wouldnt be a good match for those situations. have i ever owned a mtd, yep. would i purchase one for myself now, absolutely not. but i did assembled one for my father last year from three used units.
for what he is going to do with it,(mow a small lawn) it's perfect. and the three tractors were purchased very cheap. so good old mtd is raking in the $$$. they got a nice chunk of the market, and i cant hate them for that. i just dislike the fact that all that money is going into their pockets and not mine.
as far as their lawn & garden tractors, and their intended play, i will take my old wheel horse anyday..... /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[DaMadman]

My MTD could have lasted longer but I have to admit I did use it quite rough.

I had a 20 HP MTD Yard Man (or Machine??) 800 series GARDEN tractor. I watched my Dad and I tear up some LAWN tractors over the years and figured the heavier, better built GARDEN tractor would suit my needs better. I had the plow and box blade and disc that hooked up with the sleeve hitch and the manual lift arm that I used to put in a 1/4 acre garden every year. The MTD 800 series last me about 7 years or so working both summer and winter, used it in the winter to push snow and pull the kids around the yard on thier sleds, used it in the spring to plow and disc the garden, used it in the summer to cut the grass and in the fall, with the boxblade to smoth the gravel driveway. It didn't work great for anything but cutting the grass and pulling the kids around. The plowing and grading it was really too light of a machine, but it did work, just not real well. Anyway I made it through 7-8 years all year round with my MTD and last summer at the end of the season the rings locked up in the motor (nothing to do with it being an MTD) but that was the Briggs and Stratton motor not the machine itself. I had to replace belts and there are a couple pulleys on the mower deck that could have been replaced but they still turned and it still cut grass up until the engine went.

All in all it was a good machine and I am having my brother-in-law replace the rings in the engine and when he gets it back together I am going to sell it to someone that needs a good used machine to cut their grass or plow thier garden for a few more years, I paid around $2 grand for it and plan on selling it for a little less than half of that with one or two of the implements I have to go with it.

I'd say I am pleased with my MTD, BUT and this is a BIG BUT, I purchased a Kubota BX23 to replace it and I could never go back to a "GARDEN" Tractor ever again.

 

[CUMMINS]

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

 

[GerardC]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( 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 )</font>

Not sure of the exact cause, but a friend of mine bought a CUB CADET for over $3,000.00 and it blew a belt off the unit within the first week of ownership. Had it fixed and within the next two weeks blew another one off. Should I take this as a poor quality brand or just a fluke?? Gerard

 

[johndeere2210]

Geez, new seat, grease front axle, replace spindles? Maybe you should take better care of your machine. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[JINMA224XR]

<font color="blue"> Geez, new seat, grease front axle, replace spindles? Maybe you should take better care of your machine. </font>

Hey JohnDeere,

I'm sure doing something wrong, cause it's lasting much too long! /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

Maybe I should stop greasing the rear transaxle, and changing the oil and air filter, once a year, and just park it outside all year long, so the rain, cold, heat and dust might help with it's demise! I've seen others doing that, so maybe I should follow their lead. /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

One of my Neigbors bought a brand new 42" Murray. Mowed with it one season and left it parked where he finished mowing, out in the weather. Next Spring when he went out to crank it, he was surprised that it wouldn't crank. Then he put the jumper cables on it and spun the motor really fast, UNTIL THEY PUMPED THE ENGINE WITH PLENTY OF THE RAIN WATER THAT HAD ACCUMULATED IN THE GAS TANK. They wound up having to take it to a technician, that tore the engine down, but the engine never did run well again and blew oil out the exhaust.

So I suppose that would be a really good mower, because they now can go out and purchase themselves a NICE SHINEY NEW ONE AGAIN. /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

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

 

[Kaliburz]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( </font><font color="blueclass=small">( I agree with indy.

I think JD should give up the Frontier line, Thier is nobody out there trying to make up thier mind between a frontier and a KK BB. )</font>

Not entirely what I was implying....The Frontier line WAS intended for marketing some lesser priced AG equipment. (Such as grain carts, haying equipment, ect.) Frontier ended up being a "catch-all" for a lot of homeowner level turf/landscape impliments too. I'm not sure where Deere intends to go with Frontier. /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif

What I was actually refering to is the "Home Depot"/low end mowers abd accesories. /forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif

There's inexpensive, and then there's CHEAP! /forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif

The decision to manufacture and sell low budget lawn care equipment MIGHT pad the bottom line NOW, but what happens 10 years down the road when the Deere name isn't what it once was? /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif

We've farmed with Deere equipment for almost 50 years. I've come to respect the quality and reliability in their products. Will the NEXT generation have the same opinion? After growing up around throw-away lawn mowers, instead of 4020's, 4440's, or any of the tractors that "MADE" John Deere the AG powerhouse they are now, I doubt it....
/forums/images/graemlins/mad.gif /forums/images/graemlins/ooo.gif /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif

I'll NEVER question Deere's entering the "consumer products race" back in the early 60's. It was a natural fit. I do however, question their showing up at Home Depot with 3rd rate toys with their green and yellow "trademark" plastered all over them. /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif

It's been said there is no such thing as BAD publicity.... That may not be so accurate in this case.
/forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif /forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif )</font>

Yup..... I too have BIG JD ag equipment (3020, 2030, 2640, 2240) and they last. I'm not sure if the 5000, 6000 and so on series tractors will last 25+ years.... I told my dealer I'd rather buy a used 2355N 4x4 and spend 10K fixing it then buy a newer 5520N.

The average home owner (I say suberbia) wants something cheap and to last a "few years". By a few years, I mean maybe 5-7 years. After that, I think they will get something flashy again. I feel the majority of American society is a throw away society. If it breaks, get a new one. Example, look at VCR's now (well, being phased out to DVD's). When one paid 300+ for a VCR, yes they get it fixed, but when a new one is less then $50.00.....

Lawn/Garen tractors is my "hobby". I'm a farmer, so why would I need to use a lawn/garden tractor when I have a bigger "real" tractor available???? (LOL) /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif The Lawn/Garden tractors that I am "in" to is made by Jacobsen...from 1963 to late 80's. Jacobsen made the Ford LGT series from 64 until 83/84 (and for a few others: Oliver, Minniapolis Moline etc). I've seen how the Jac's changed over time..... and how others have changed. Heck, right now, I'm making a Cat 1 Limited 3pt for my Jac GT16H and my Ford LGT100...why, because I want to and I can /forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif

The free enterprise market is ruled by $$$$$. The 'bean' counters at any company do marketing analysis to see where they can make $$$$. Currently, the big wiggs see some ag in trouble.... some farmers are not buying "new" or they can't make payments. So, they have to turn their attention else where...... (All the JD tractors at Home Depot are assembled and tested by the local JD AG tractor dealer....and I personally know the mechanic that does that.)

I look at the Sears stuff, and see the "cast iron" cast into the front axle and chuckle. I look at my 1963 Jac and it has a cast iron axle..... and so does my GT12H and LGT100...

You get what you pay for.....

 

[deere755]

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]

<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

 

[deere755]

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]

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

 

[fractal]

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]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( 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 )</font>

===========
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]

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

 

[LBrown59]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( 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 !!! )</font>

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]

<font color="blue">Did you use special grease or just regular gun grease? Would this be the same on a hydro model? </font>

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]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( 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>

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