MTD is off and running

USN_ED · Mar 22, 2005

Hi guys!! I asked Admin to put this MTD category in the Lawn and Garden Tractor section. I thought it would be appropriate for all tractors made by MTD - i.e., Cub Cadet, Cub Cadet Commercial, Troy-Bilt, Yard-Man, Ryobi, Yard Machines, Bolens, White Outdoor, Ranch King, and others.

Of course I expect the Cub Cadet guys to post under the Cub Cadet section whether they have the older International Harvester made Cub Cadets or the newer MTD made Cub Cadets. The same may apply to Bolens, White, and Troy-Bilt.

Anyway, I just thought this would be an appropriate category.

ED

sixchows · Mar 22, 2005

Well Ed us FMC Bolens guys try to get real far away from that MTD banner! Nothing personal just really light years apart. But of course we like ALL tractors!

I hope you can bring some life to the MTD forum. It was very quiet on the old site.

USN_ED · Mar 22, 2005

sixchows -

It may well be a bust but I thought I'd like to give it a shot. I saw in another post somewhere where you had discussed this very thing. If it doesn't work out, we can scrub the MTD category.

As you noticed, I did make a distinction between pre-MTD and post-MTD tractors.

I'd say, if thre is no mention of MTD or very little traffic by the end of June, we could scrub the category.

ED

Kid Muddy · Mar 22, 2005

I've got a mid-80's Montgomery Wards that was made by MTD. It came with the house. Nice little mower, but I want to change the pulleys to speed it up a bit, then I want to build some ramps and see if I can jump it over our pond. My wife thinks I'm crazy and says she won't watch, but I told her she has to at least hold the video camera.

DUCK · Mar 26, 2005

Ranch King trim mower

I have a 48 inch Ranch King I use to trim around the trees and other places the 6 footer and Ford tractor can't get to. Have had it for 7 years never a proble, Sits all Winter, fires on first crank in the Spring. All I do is change the oil and keep it gassed. It does use up sealed bearing belt drive pulleys but they are not too expensive or hard to replace.
I use the grass catcher (3 bin) to collect the cut grass for the horses and goats. They love it.
DUCK :trink40:

johndeere · Mar 26, 2005

There are a lot of MTD products out there.My parents have a Yardman that is still going after about 10 years.My neighbor has a White.You see MTD every place I guess there just not into discussing it?

slkpk · Mar 26, 2005

Older MTD's

With some of the junk MTD puts out today its hard to imagine that back in the 70's MTD made some good tractors. I had a MTD Farm King 16hp all cast iron BS, 3PH, shaft driven tiller. Metal hood cast iron front grill. Very sturdy and still going strong today. slkpk

kubotachick · Mar 26, 2005

I use an mtd pro 61" for cutting, and just watchout for sharp metal objects near the brake...i reached for the brake and slit my whole arm open on the side panel that spontaneously got ragged and sharp...i'll take pictures of the scar.

Carl · Apr 3, 2005

Old MTDs

I also have one of those old 70s vintage MTDs. 16 hp hydrostatic drive.

Last spring I decided to replace the transmission cooling fan that broke clearing brush. Somewhere in the process of getting access to the fan, I discovered metal particles in the transmission oil. So took it all apart. Found that a new transmission would cost $680. Thought that it is time for a new putt putt. Looked around and couldn't find anything comparable. Of course I didn't even think to look on the internet for real garden tractors. What I found was the crap that they put out today - - riding lawn mowers. So I fixed the one I have.

USN_ED · Apr 4, 2005

slkpk said:
With some of the junk MTD puts out today its hard to imagine that back in the 70's MTD made some good tractors. I had a MTD Farm King 16hp all cast iron BS, 3PH, shaft driven tiller. Metal hood cast iron front grill. Very sturdy and still going strong today. slkpk

Modern day MTDs may not be the best on the block but MTD puts out a decent tractor for the money they cost. I've got a Yard Machines "Gold" Lawn Tractor with a 42" deck and 17.5 B&S engine that just keeps going and going and going. It is used primarily by my wife to cut grass but it has done considerable Yeoman Duty hauling stuff and cutting some pretty rough terrain. Until I got my GT5000, I used it to cut the saw grass around my septic tank area.

It cuts that saw grass with no problem. I'd put it up against most of the tractors (Lawn or Garden) in this Forum.

ED

Carl · Apr 6, 2005

Let me appologize. I never even got a mower deck for my MTD. I built a FEL for it, and used it to plow and disk my garden. So My MTD has never been used as a riding mower.

So let me say this. MTD manufactures a good product for its price and intended use. They no longer make a machine that will compete with the model that I have. The new ones are not rugged enough to stand up to the work that I do with mine. But then MTD doesn't sell them as garden tractors either.

I hope that I didn't offend anyone with my hip shot.

lb59 · Oct 30, 2005

sixchows said:
Well Ed us FMC Bolens guys try to get real far away from that MTD banner! Nothing personal just really light years apart. But of course we like ALL tractors!

I hope you can bring some life to the MTD forum. It was very quiet on the old site.

So it was about as dead as the MTD tractors Eh.

john41 · Feb 1, 2006

hi new here but just couldnt resist replying my 2 teenagers have thier own mowing business and they own 3 mtd tractors ( 86 88 89 ) think highest price paid for any of them was 20 bucks but they have used them for 3 years doing semi commercial mowing with them and we have found that good maintenance i think is the key to even keeping the cheapo ones running anyways they have had real good luck with them even when the daughter thinks high gear is the only gear

Jim_WV · Feb 1, 2006

John41 :Welcome1: , glad you found us and we're pleased to have ya

.

DrBailey · Feb 1, 2006

john41 said:
hi new here but just couldnt resist replying my 2 teenagers have thier own mowing business and they own 3 mtd tractors ( 86 88 89 ) think highest price paid for any of them was 20 bucks but they have used them for 3 years doing semi commercial mowing with them and we have found that good maintenance i think is the key to even keeping the cheapo ones running anyways they have had real good luck with them even when the daughter thinks high gear is the only gear

:Welcome1: Welcome aboard John41
Happy to have you with us , It`s great to hear about the young folkes out there working , getting the feel of the real world. I`m proud of them :fing32:

also I had a 20 horse White for atleast 5 years , with no complaints , I replaced it with a JD for bigger tires and power steering . because of back problem at the time.MTD is new to me , I don`t even know what I`m talking about . ROF

jbgtb · Feb 2, 2006

My MTD product is a Troy Bilt "Horse" garden tractor. I'm at about 130 hrs with absolutely no complaints. Its got a 21 horse Briggs with a 46 inch mowing deck and 23 inch rear tires. I mow just under 2 acres of grass (minus the house and pool). The back 3/4 acre is a big hill that this machine handles with no problem. The auto drive trans that everyone trashes has caused me no problems at all. Its got a hi-lo range rear that comes in handy when pulling a cart up the hill. They don't make this tractor any more. Seems like MTD is putting a lot of their efforts into the Cub garden tractors. For the money (right around 2K), this was the perfect choice for me. I use it mainly for mowing duty, with some occasional hauling. It stays parked in the garage during the winter though. That should add to its longevity. I know that I don't own the cream of the crop when it comes to GTs, but so far, MTD has proven to be a halfway decent choice.

lb59 · Feb 2, 2006

I have a Wards Power craft MTD Lawn tractor

Worst tracto I've owned.

snyper438 · Feb 3, 2006

I've got an old Montgomery Ward garden tractor that is rough looking but will out work my two newer mowers anytime. Only problem is parts are getting hard to find.

lb59 · Feb 28, 2006

john41 said:
good maintenance i think is the key to even keeping the cheapo ones running

=========
This won't work on a lemon.

john41 · Mar 1, 2006

lb59 said:
=========
This won't work on a lemon.

Sorry to hear that u got a bad one, but they have been pretty lucky with theirs although they bought a new bigger tractor last year and going to buy another this year as the old mtds arnt really holding up as they r expanding all the time with even more to mow but they still have them as back ups. They served their purpose though as they made enough money with them to buy better equipment

MTD is off and running

USN_ED

sixchows

USN_ED

Kid Muddy

DUCK

johndeere

slkpk

kubotachick

Carl

USN_ED

Carl

lb59

john41

Jim_WV

DrBailey

jbgtb

lb59

snyper438

lb59

john41

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