Why do you hate MTD?

slowrev · Mar 30, 2005

But I can't keep or get the engine to run right so what good is that to me.
//
Any engine can either be fixed or trashed if it is mechanically unsound. The point is that I have never found a Briggs engine that I cannot either fix or trash because of trashed bore or something like that. I have been repairing them since I was 12 and am now 50. The mechanics that worked on your briggs were not good small engine mechanics, or they would have identified the problem and corrected it. The only other possibility is that something you were doing was causing the engine problems. ie bad gas, water in gas, low oil, etc... Not blaming it on you by any means, just covering the bases.
Ben

LBrown59 · Mar 30, 2005

( So what good is that if MTD don't stand behind their tractor??
 Who said that MTD doesn't stand behind their products????? /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif 
)

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I didn't think anybody had to tell me that when i've experenced it first hand!


LOL

slowrev · Mar 30, 2005

Just another point. I am currently build ing an old MTD rider out of various parts. The engine was given to me by someone that gave up on it. It is a cast iron bore IC 11 HP Briggs. The problem is intake valve clearance. The symptom is that it wants to spit out the carb. I will take the valve out tonight and grind it down to the correct clearance. I have fixed a couple of other old briggs IC engines this way. This might be the problem with yours.

I have replaced fron axle bushings, battery, belts, blades, ign switch, carb kit, spindles and new paint (rustoleum). I will wind up putting about $200 in this old MTD rider and should get about 5 years or so of use out of it. Cheap Mowing /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif
Ben

GerardC · Mar 30, 2005

I must have taken it back to the shop 8 to 10 times during the 3 years.
On top of that I took it to another repair shop another 3 or 4 times after the warranty period and it was the same deal the problem wasn't fixed there either.

Next I installed a new CARB and it ran fine for a month or 2 then right back to the same old problem.

This tells me It's a lemon and no amount of working on it by anybody no matter how good they are will ever fix it.

You can't blame a lemon on the mechanic.
You have to give him something decent to work with before he can do anything with it !

Sounds to me like you dropped the ball if you didn't request a FULL refund and move on.

Also, because of all the problems you were having with your lemon this makes you say/think that ALL MTD products are junk?? All sorts of things can happen to any brand/badge. You just don't make any sense to me /forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif.

P.S. A good mechanic would have told you to move on also.

GerardC · Mar 30, 2005

I didn't think anybody had to tell me that when i've experenced it first hand!

Refer to my prior post.

BRIGUY · Mar 31, 2005

( P.S. A good mechanic would have told you to move on also. )

Correct

I know several Small engine and equipment mechanics. They have a love-hate relationship with MTD products.

They hate to work on them

But MTD products keeps their repair business BOOMING.

LBrown59 · Apr 1, 2005

1* ( P.S. A good mechanic would have told you to move on also. )
Correct
***************
I know several Small engine and equipment mechanics. They have a love-hate relationship with MTD products.

They hate to work on them

2*But MTD products keeps their repair business BOOMING.
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1*Yeah Right!
The mechanic Is only going to tell you what his boss the Manufacturer or Dealer tells him to say.

2*How do you do this; with shoddy products of course.

BRIGUY · Apr 1, 2005

Half of the guys I know are independents the other half work for or own reputable dealerships. They all have the same opinion.

I don't want to bash any one who purchases a piece of lower end equipment to maintain there property. It is AMERICA. If it works for the intended purpose then great.

It Just seems odd to debate the quality of Hot Dogs VS. NY Strip steak.

You will never convince me that Hot dogs are better.

I promose not to try convince any one that NY strip is better.

Let's all go to the lube oil section there must be a good Synthetic vs. used Dino oil debate going on.

slowzuki · Apr 1, 2005

We had an old ford that slowly died and it got replaced by an 11 hp 1970ish pile o crud craftman mower.

I bought it for 50$ and cleaned the carb. It has been going 10 years since that. I used to use it to mow the swamp and in the woods so it always got stuck and sunk and beat on. Always stored outside.

My mother bought a 2 year old MTD from the neighbours when they moved, but unfortunatly 2 months after she bought it the transaxle fried. It was more for a new transaxle than what she paid for the thing so the old crapsman came back into service!

jd_gt225 · Apr 1, 2005

Now I'm a JD owner, and I DON'T care for MTD or Craftsman, but that just isn't fair. They sell hundreds of those mowers to every one of the more expensive names. So naturally the repair shops would have more of them. Besides, they keep part of the economy working! /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif