lawnboy - Not trying to bash you or anything, but why do you buy the machine first, than ask about it? If you have 8 hours on it, you obviously used it. What do you think about it? Its kind of late to get opinions on the machine after you buy it! Theres 1000 people here to help you, just ask! Plus use the search feature on the site and you would have came up with a lot of (negative) opinions on MTD's products. Hope its working out for you, even though I won't support that name brand!<p>----------<br>"guido"<br>David M. Famiglietti