[OldLawnMowerMan81]

Does anyone here know all about the next three numbers in a typical model # of an MTD LawnFlite mower from the '70s-'90s? I mean, any experts, so as to make a database of such models to help clue in for others?

http://www.ebay.com/itm/VINTAGE-198...471&pid=100040&prg=1011&rk=4&sd=171019739840&
(1983 MTD LawnFlite catalogs)

http://www.ebay.com/itm/VINTAGE-198...772?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item5d3d48770c
(1984 MTD LawnFlite catalogs)

One example is 120-335. The "120" signifies a power-propelled walk-behind mower for the calendar years 1970, 1980 or 1990, depending on which bodystyle was used in that decade. This example points to the year 1980.

The "335" is the deck style referring to a 20" wide cut, rear discharge, front-wheel cog-driven power drive, and 3.5 HP Briggs & Stratton 4-cycle engine (model 92988 or 93588). (Years 1977 to 1982 = example: 1980 model is 120-335)

"350" signifies a 4 HP Briggs & Stratton 4-cycle engine (model 110988) with the same features as the 335 but with a 22" wide cut. (Years 1977 to 1982 = example: 1980 model is 120-350)

"294" signifies a 22" wide cut, rear-wheel belt drive, side discharge, aluminum deck, single lever height adjustment, 4 HP B&S engine and blade brake clutch system. (Years 1981 to 1984 = example: 1983 model is 123-294)

~Ben

 

[Mad-Mike]

Hello,

I'm currently working on this actually as well, I've been compiling my database page/spreadsheet from manualsonline actually. Those catalogs are cool though, too bad I don't have the scratch for them ATM.

The first three, you are correct, is the year.

MTD actually used different model conventions....

In the 1970's, most MTD products only had 7 alphanumeric characters, for example, 121-345A for a 22" Self Propelled 3.5 HP rear-wheel-drive Self Propelled mower. In 1984, they stopped this and started using 3 digits AFTER the model # - like my personal 127-362-013, which is a 22" bog standard MTD rear discharge with rear wheel belt/chain drive system. I'm wondering if the last 3 indicate the engine or something like that as the manual for mine states "Standard Engine" (effectively, an 11000 series Briggs classic) and the "Deluxe Engine" (a Briggs Max 4.0HP 11000 series). THat's what I'm thinking the last 3 are.

In the 70's, I think the "A" was a revision#, some also have E at the end, which indicates Electric Start (ie 121-345E is an electric start 22" 3.5HP rear belt/chain drive rear discharge machine). Some have no extra letter.

Oddly, Montgomery Ward has their stuff model numbered differently sometimes, starting with TMO- and usually containing a similar number to it's standard MTD counterpart.

Also, in 1984/1985 they gave the machines a secondary model number on the deck. The 362 was the 8007 in deck number.

In 1990-1991ish, they started having a more bizarre model convention that I have yet to learn, like 121-356XP19R.

Also, I think the series tends to deal with certain styles of machine more than anything....
2nd set of digits per general style. This is very rough though.
100-199 = Side DIscharge, basic deck, the 110 is the smallest at 16" (and probably British only)
200-299 = Side Discharge, higher numbers are double-deck (like the 294 and 280)
300-399 = Rear Discharge
400-499 = Convertibles (similar in design to a Snapper)
500-599 = High Rear Wheel Designs
600-699 = Usually a convertible like the 400 series, except more deluxe features
700-799 = High Rear Wheel, some commercial yazoo-like designs
800-899 = Commercial Mowers

The 300 series is my favorite - particularly the 362 (1984-1987), 364 (1983-1987), and 366 (1984-1989).

 

[OldLawnMowerMan81]

Hello,

I'm currently working on this actually as well, I've been compiling my database page/spreadsheet from manualsonline actually. Those catalogs are cool though, too bad I don't have the scratch for them ATM.

The first three, you are correct, is the year.

MTD actually used different model conventions....

In the 1970's, most MTD products only had 7 alphanumeric characters, for example, 121-345A for a 22" Self Propelled 3.5 HP rear-wheel-drive Self Propelled mower. In 1984, they stopped this and started using 3 digits AFTER the model # - like my personal 127-362-013, which is a 22" bog standard MTD rear discharge with rear wheel belt/chain drive system. I'm wondering if the last 3 indicate the engine or something like that as the manual for mine states "Standard Engine" (effectively, an 11000 series Briggs classic) and the "Deluxe Engine" (a Briggs Max 4.0HP 11000 series). THat's what I'm thinking the last 3 are.

In the 70's, I think the "A" was a revision#, some also have E at the end, which indicates Electric Start (ie 121-345E is an electric start 22" 3.5HP rear belt/chain drive rear discharge machine). Some have no extra letter.

Oddly, Montgomery Ward has their stuff model numbered differently sometimes, starting with TMO- and usually containing a similar number to it's standard MTD counterpart.

Also, in 1984/1985 they gave the machines a secondary model number on the deck. The 362 was the 8007 in deck number.

In 1990-1991ish, they started having a more bizarre model convention that I have yet to learn, like 121-356XP19R.

Also, I think the series tends to deal with certain styles of machine more than anything....
2nd set of digits per general style. This is very rough though.
100-199 = Side DIscharge, basic deck, the 110 is the smallest at 16" (and probably British only)
200-299 = Side Discharge, higher numbers are double-deck (like the 294 and 280)
300-399 = Rear Discharge
400-499 = Convertibles (similar in design to a Snapper)
500-599 = High Rear Wheel Designs
600-699 = Usually a convertible like the 400 series, except more deluxe features
700-799 = High Rear Wheel, some commercial yazoo-like designs
800-899 = Commercial Mowers

The 300 series is my favorite - particularly the 362 (1984-1987), 364 (1983-1987), and 366 (1984-1989).

The last three numbers in the model # string on 1984 and later units identify which retailer/private label MTD sold the machine to (for example: 084=Fred Meyer, Portland, OR; so model 120-335A-084 indicates model 120-335A sold in 1980 to Fred Meyer, using that retailer's "Turf King" branding). The "A" you mention after the model # indicates any product made by MTD between model years 1974 and 1983.

I once had a 1993 Turf King 21" rear-drive self-propelled mower (single lever height adjustment) carrying model #123-478C084, so MTD did revise the model # system again around that time.

Wards, Sears and J.C. Penney all used their own respective catalog/model # systems like you said earlier, although MTD does list a mfr. code for all three retailers elsewhere (some later Sears Craftsman products also list the MTD equivalent model # alongside the standard Sears model #).

"18X" in the first string of numbers, regardless of year range, is for electric mowers.

~Ben

 

[OldLawnMowerMan81]

Here's a considerably long-running Wards commercial-duty, wide-area (26" wide cut; 5 HP B&S engine) mower made by MTD: the TMO-441.

It began life in 1968 as the Garden Mark (an older Wards brand for lawn & garden goods) model #TMO-433, being based on MTD's #128-570 which originally had a 25" wide cut. The blade/deck gained an extra inch in width for 1975 (MTD #125-570A), and Wards sold this revised product as their #TMO-441.

This example is a model #TMO-441G built on October 14, 1980 according to its date code. This mower continued being built well past 6/30/82 (the blade brake clutch lever on the left handle grip--that's your left--will remind you that this unit was still safe after that date), being discontinued after about 1988.

In the case of this Wards unit, the equivalent MTD model # should be #121-570A given that the date of mfg. would signify 1981 model year production.
http://www.hammerwall.com/Download_Manual/111420/
(link to owner's manual)

~Ben

 

[Mad-Mike]

Thanks for the info man, I've been wondering about this stuff. After my wedding I was planning to put up a website, and one of the sets of pages would be for various "vintage" MTD information + some other brands (Sycamore, Southland, Murray, Roper/Rally, etc... mostly the little off-brands that don't get much attention).

Is there any place where I can get information on the location/private label codes? Would almost be interesting to see if that old MTD 362 I have came from somewhere in Everett, WA (I bought it for $60 in near New Old Stock condition at a pawn shop there in 05').

 

[OldLawnMowerMan81]

Thanks for the info man, I've been wondering about this stuff. After my wedding I was planning to put up a website, and one of the sets of pages would be for various "vintage" MTD information + some other brands (Sycamore, Southland, Murray, Roper/Rally, etc... mostly the little off-brands that don't get much attention).

Is there any place where I can get information on the location/private label codes? Would almost be interesting to see if that old MTD 362 I have came from somewhere in Everett, WA (I bought it for $60 in near New Old Stock condition at a pawn shop there in 05').

http://www.oscar-wilson.com/dealdocs/SP2005 mtd customer list.pdf

This will take you to a document outlining number codes to retailers. "000" and "300" are for MTD itself.

~Ben

 

[OldLawnMowerMan81]

Mike,

I would like to find out the 1964 successors to these mower models, since the model #s are obviously pre-1964:
E82, E82-78 - LawnFlite Electric Rotary Mower

M492-3, M492-4B, M422-5, M422-6, M492-301, M422-501, M422-6B - LawnFlite Rotary Mower

M402-15, M402-16 - Aero-Jet Rotary Mower

SP402-17, SP422-7704 - LawnFlite Self-Propelled Rotary Mower

SP422-22 - LawnFlite Self-Propelled Rotary Mower

M492-7301, M492-7305, M422-7501, M422-7505, M492-7302, M492-7306, M422-7502, M422-7506 - Crusader Rotary Mower

M492-7303, M492-7307, M492-7403, M422-7503, M422-7507, M422-7604, M492-7304, M492-7308, M492-7404, M422-7504, M422-7508 - Crusader Rotary Mower

Some more Wizard (Western Auto) stuff for you:
2XC6218 (model MTD6218A57) - Rotary Mower (Tecumseh LAV35RM-40823K engine)

~Ben