Why do you hate MTD?

[slowrev]

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]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( <font color="blue">So what good is that if MTD don't stand behind their tractor??</font>
<font color="red"> Who said that MTD doesn't stand behind their products????? /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif </font>
)</font>

=============
<font color="red">I didn't think anybody had to tell me that when i've experenced it first hand!
</font>

<font color="brown">LOL </font>

 

[slowrev]

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]

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

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]

<font color="blue">I didn't think anybody had to tell me that when i've experenced it first hand!</font>

Refer to my prior post.

 

[BRIGUY]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( P.S. A good mechanic would have told you to move on also. )</font>

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]

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.
```````````````````````````````

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]

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]

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]

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

 

[slowrev]

Well Said Jd. Also some people cannot afford the premium mowers. Which are without a doubt better machines. Of course some of the low end models of the premium brands are pretty much MTD types of machines anyway.

I am just glad that everyone does not have the same tastes and desires in life. Think about it.... there would only be one man and woman that anyone would want to marry, all cars the same brand/color, and maybe only one fastfood chain, etc....sorta scarey...

Ben

 

[GerardC]

<font color="blue"> I am just glad that everyone does not have the same tastes and desires in life. Think about it.... there would only be one man and woman that anyone would want to marry, all cars the same brand/color, and maybe only one fastfood chain, etc....sorta scarey... </font>

You forgot your P.S. ....and MTD! /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

 

[GerardC]

<font color="blue">....a piece of lower end equipment to maintain there property.</font>

So I guess middle class society has to settle for low end? /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif That's the class that usually buys them.

<font color="blue"> If it works for the intended purpose then great. </font>

They were built for (intended purpose/mowing lawns) and serve their intended purpose very well.

 

[BRIGUY]

Mow 1/2 acre of Bahia with a MTD LT. It will take 5 hours and be wore out in 6 months. All turf is not created equal.

 

[GerardC]

I mowed over 2 acres of 3' high grass, weeds, brush, vines, saplings that were 1" in diameter, ant mounds 1' high etc. when we first bought our land to clear it. It took some time, but it got the job done. That was with my 10HP Agway (MTD) lawn tractor.

 

[BRIGUY]

O/K here goes.

There is a tremendous difference in turf from region to region.

Species of grass. Irrigation, and fertilization greatly affect the type of equipment necessary to do the job in a timely fashion.

Case and point

My dad (South Carolina) mows a little over 2 acres of mostly Bahia and a little fescue (I forget which variety). He was using his 20 HP WheelHorse garden tractor. Once his turf filled in, even keeping the machine in top condition and sharpening the blades monthly It was taking him 6 hours +or- twice a week. He ended up purchasing a Commercial Toro ZTR and can do it in 2 to 3 hours. Dad still hated going on vacation because if he is gone for a week or so he is in for a all day job even with the new machine.

Dad and I used to get a big chuckle out of his two neighbors. One had a nice $2500 LT from lowes the other had a Huge 72 inch ZTR. Every weekend the whole neighborhood felt sorry for the poor guy with the LT. He would start early on saturday morning and would not even have his front lawn done by lunch. The guy with the big ZTR would start mowing after lunch, mow his entire lawn front and back and then mow the other guys back lawn before the poor guy got the front done.

My dad bought one of the first houses in his development 2-4 acre lots. As the rest of he neighbors all moved in (Most from up north) most all purchased new Lawn or garden tractors. Most did not make it a year. and needed constant repair. One guy had and returned 3 in a 2 month peroid. Most everyone has a Commercial ZRT now, and a one or two have compact tractors.

I hate to play devils advocate but when we make blanket recommendations that machine a to b or c can cut x amount of land in Y amount of time we are doing others a great disservice.

My dad and I felt bad for the families in his neighborhood that ended up buying two machines with in a year of buying a new house, because they were sold the wrong piece of equipment.

Notice I did not say junk but wrong for the job.

Even fertilizing three or four times annually and irrigating: due to the species of grass normally planted up here. Most of the mowing we have is a piece of cake compared to where I used to live in FL and in SC where my dad lives.

Summary:

I have seen Lawns that a 1000$ MTD will make short work of and last for many years.

I have seen lawns that would wear it out in 6 months.

6 plus hours of mowing in the lowest gear taking half passes twice a week after working 65+ hours is not my idea of fun.

 

[gamble77]

I think we are loosing sight of what is considered an MTD. Like I said in my post ealier on this subject I think this whole subject is set up to make MTD look like a mass producer of cheap inferior products and this is just not the case. They do make some cheaper, lower quality, mass produced, box store equipment. But they also make some of the finest lawn equipment on the market today. Lets not loose sight of they fact that MTD makes hundred of models of machines and lets stray away from plugging MTD as making nothing but cheap equipment.

 

[LBrown59]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( I mowed over 2 acres of 3' high grass, weeds, brush, vines, saplings that were 1" in diameter, ant mounds 1' high etc. when we first bought our land to clear it. It took some time, but it got the job done. That was with my 10HP Agway (MTD) lawn tractor. )</font>

<font color="purple"> I don't doubt this but on the other hand it don't mean that the one I got wasn't a lemon. </font>

 

[Dargo]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( But they also make some of the finest lawn equipment on the market today. Lets not loose sight of they fact that MTD makes hundred of models of machines and lets stray away from plugging MTD as making nothing but cheap equipment. )</font>

Sorry, but from experience, I'm firmly convinced that MTD does exactly that; make cheap equipment. I've never seen anything from MTD that I would confuse with a quality item. I don't mean to upset you, but I have to call it like I have seen it. It's sort of like Harbor Freight tools or Big Lots stuff. It is simply an inexpensive alternative. For the price paid, it may look like a bargain, but I have no desire to work on something every time I use it. To me, it isn't worth anything if I have to work on it and fix it constantly.

 

[gamble77]

Pound for pound, dollar for dollar the Cub Cadet 2000, 2500, and 3000 series mowers are stand outs in the market. Also, Cub's ZTR's are some of the best built out there today. You won't upset me if you don't like MTD, thats your right...just understand that I sell these things every day and make a living off of them and I REFUSE to sell junk I can't stand behind because that puts my reputation on the line. Thanks.

-Nate