By the way.....I thought that the MTD Pro was the commercial line, but evidently not. After all, it does have the 6.5hp Kawaskai.

Does anyone else out there use this mower?

 

By the way, anything that says MTD should not be used by a landscaper

 

I bought a 'nice' crapsmen 21" with a 5.5 HP Honda, BBC, etc., etc. at the start of this year (because I had store credit to be used at sears). This is also before I was fully aware of the POS that I was really buying. It was their best model of 21" they carried at the time - a $500+ mower. Engine was great, mower had lots of nice features, etc. Literally by the 4th or 5th lawn that I had used it on, the transmission started slipping in one of the wheels. Had to push the mother#*^%#% around within a couple of hours of use! Why do I bring this up? It uses the same transmisson as your mower (AYP crap I believe). I've seen the mower you have, and if it had a decent transmission, it would be a steal - the engine alone is worth about $250. Your mower is also rebadged as Cub Cadet Commercial, Troybuilt, and probably others. I have since become 'aquainted' with this particular transmission on several other mowers that I've seen on other mowers - Yardman, Sears, Husqavarna, etc. The easy way to spot mowers with these transmissions is the lever used to engage the transmission on the handles. My grandpa also bought a crapsmen with the same transmission, and had the same problems within a few mowings. My sister has a Yardman with this transmission, and the plastic gears in the wheels to engage the transmission have stripped out. Blah, blah, blah. Yeah, they are POS. I have since bought three mid 90's Toro Recyclers (aluminum deck), used homeowner models, for about $150 for the 3 of them. They are very good mowers for homeowner models, and they have a GOOD transmission in them. Find a couple of these used, or buy a Proline Toro.

 

chevyman, by the way, MTD Pro's walk behinds (36, 48) are excellent mowers. I have a Lesco 36 and it is a great mower - and MTD Pro is the same mower with different engines. I decided to go with Lesco for about $300 more because of the engine - Kawasaki 420V 14HP vs. Briggs 13HP on the MTD PRO. But they are the SAME MOWER otherwise.

 

those aren't available around the NE, sorry. Could be good walkbehinds, who knows

 

I believe my Cub Cadet 21" with casters is made by MTD.I've used it all season with no problems.
IMHO,mowers get damaged more by trailering than using,especially light 21" mowers.I strap it down tight,so that it can't move when I hit a bump and I always lock the casters while on the trailer.

 

I had heard good comments on the Cub Cadet 21", and I realized that the MTD was essentially the same mower......but evidently, the same piece of crap mower.

I just called Sam's club, and they'll refund me since it's only a couple of weeks old. I think that I'll buy a Lawnboy this time.

 

I have the same one, its a 2002 model. No problems so far, has about 150 hours. Take it to the dealer down the street every month and before winter. Just my two cents.

 

Why do you have to take it to the dealer every month?!! Is it because the self-propel handle gets out of whack? Here's a link to it, and yes, it is exactly the same as the Cub Cadet model

http://www.samsclub.com/eclub/main_shopping.jsp?mt=a&n=0&coe=0&oidPath=0:-23542:-30641:-36821:777983

Would you all suggest that I try to repair it or just get my money back?

 

get ur money back and get a JD or a toro something that you cant get at the local home inprovement store

 

I take it to the dealer ever month so I dont have to chage oil and he just give it a tune up basily. Its easyer then doing it myself.

 

Should have bought a ProLine 21".

I can't understand why commercial cutters buy homeowner mowers...

 

Originally posted by Rick Jones
Should have bought a ProLine 21".

I can't understand why commercial cutters buy homeowner mowers...

YES!!!

I dont understand the posts on here lately!

Why would any of you guys, mowing every day, all day, trust such crappy equipment!!

If you are going to make $$$ in this business you should know how to repair, maintain, and buy the good pieces of equipment!!

Sams Club, Home Depot, Lowes, ANY box store will not offer you the equipment to do this job!

 

YES!!!

I dont understand the posts on here lately!

Why would any of you guys, mowing every day, all day, trust such crappy equipment!!

If you are going to make $$$ in this business you should know how to repair, maintain, and buy the good pieces of equipment!!

Sams Club, Home Depot, Lowes, ANY box store will not offer you the equipment to do this job!

Funny, we use crapsman self propelled walk behinds and have been for years. We get about 3 years of daily use out of them and then throw them away. Buy new ones in the winter when they're on sale for under 300 bucks each.

Only issue we ever have with any of them is replacing the el-cheapo plastic wheels. Other than that it's just regular routine maintenance.

Guess I've just been lucky about 21 times..... we run 7 of them and have replaced them 3 times over 9 years.

A buddy of mine runs Honda commercial mowers (over a grand each) and he's getting 5yrs out of one but not with just "routine" maintenance, he also has to replace the wheels a time or two, has had transmission problems (out of warranty at that) and parts prices are sky high.

 

Buy COMMERCIAL! I run a snapper, which gives a great cut and has the vaccuum of a 10 dollar wh0re. Some don't like the drive parts cause they fail every now and then, but the parts are dirt cheap and quick n easy to replace. No high dollar 2 hour transmission jobs.

 

MTD is the parent line of Cub Cadet MTD is out of canada cub caset is out of cleveland ohio, there are a number of brands under the MTD parent company WHITE and Bolens are two that come to mind...i for one have an MTD PRO 48 walk behind with 35 hp kaw motor i have gone through 2 transmissions in 9 years that is the only prob i have had the second repair was on a rebuilt trans not one with factory warranty...to each there own we all have our favorites....one mans trash is another mans treasure

 

Buy COMMERCIAL! I run a snapper, which gives a great cut and has the vaccuum of a 10 dollar wh0re. Some don't like the drive parts cause they fail every now and then, but the parts are dirt cheap and quick n easy to replace. No high dollar 2 hour transmission jobs.

The transmissions on the snapper are easy to work on. There's a hugh difference in the High Vac and the Mulcher. Do your homework.

I had the Cub Cadet with casters and 21. The transmission on its a POS. It won't hold up. I sold mine for a $75 bucks. I sucked doing lush thick lawns becuase I had to push the damn thing becuase the self propelled is so weak. You can't get fooled by some of these 21" with the Kaw engine. I swithed to Snapper commecial and man, what a difference a commercial transmission makes. Do your research and make sure it has a good transmission. What good is it if you have to push a 100 pound mower around because the transmission keeps breaking. Go commecial from the start and you'll have alot less headaches.

 

The transmissions on the snapper are easy to work on. There's a hugh difference in the High Vac and the Mulcher. Do your homework.

I did. That's why I bought the Snapper Hi-Vac. Love it.

 

Funny, we use crapsman self propelled walk behinds and have been for years. We get about 3 years of daily use out of them and then throw them away. Buy new ones in the winter when they're on sale for under 300 bucks each.

Same here. I put maybe 2 or 3 hours a week on mine. I just picked up a new one and it replaced a Techumseh motored one that was close to 20 years old. The only thing the old one every had done to it was regular maintenace and blades. I really like the Honda engine on the new one. Other than the Honda engine the new one is pretty much just like the old one.

http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_12605_07137683000P?keyword=37683&sLevel=0

 

I like these ones, they are very light, durable(never had any problems),great cut, powerful with 6hp , and they are faster on lots than self propelled models(unless there is a lot of hills), and you can't beat the price.

http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_...7137114000P?vName=Lawn+&+Garden&cName=Walk-Behind+Lawn+Mowers&sName=Push+Mowers

 

i've had an kawasaki MTD Pro 6.5hp self propelled pushmower since 2004(?) and it still looks and runs like NEW. It all comes down to how you care/maintain your equipment...just sayin' :laugh:

 

I believe my Cub Cadet 21" with casters is made by MTD.I've used it all season with no problems.
IMHO,mowers get damaged more by trailering than using,especially light 21" mowers.I strap it down tight,so that it can't move when I hit a bump and I always lock the casters while on the trailer.

Exactly right. Strapping down the pushmowers and taking them on and off of the trailer is what destroys my 21" also. I just bought a Toro super recycler at my local dealer today. I am going to try to transport it in the pick up bed, since I don't use it on every lawn. I wanted the commercial 21" but could not justify the cost for a mower that will get tore up and abused by trailering it. I can strap down my Grandstand easier than my pushmower. If I could of found a commercial 21" with a couple tie down points I would of bought it.
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So what is this, the MTD "Pro" version of the Toro Timemaster 30 posts. Neither are really meant for commercial use. That is why many of you are not satisfied with them. What is next a post about how much the Craftsman mowers suck. Oh wait we already have those circulating this forum as well.

 

i have this mower and never had trans problems-just what exactually happened to yours?

 

years later and both mine are still on the job. great mowers