[psj12]

I bought a V809H, 22hp 46" cut garden tractor a few years ago and will never buy another. MTD destroyed the good name of an upstanding company they bought out.

I am presently looking for metal replacements for the plastic steer rod bushings on the steering bellcrank (PN 741-0475). Who but MTD would make this part out of plastic. If anyone knows where to obtain such an item please reply.

I also had a front wheel fall off as it is only held on by a lousy cotter key. I threaded the end of the axle stubs and installed a castle nut with cotter key lock. During this repair I discovered the wheels don't have beaings but, again, plastic bushings! What junk!!

 

[H-D]

Since B&S absorbed Simplicity & Snapper, two more respected quality names have headed in that direction. It's hard to keep up with the acquisitions & companies riding an old quality name to death. That's part of what makes these forums worthwhile!

 

[badbart]

As far as I know Poulan is still a solid builder of riding mowers. I know they build for Weedeater and Craftsman as well. Probably others too. Mine lasted a long time.

 

[mkfarnam]

As far as I know Poulan is still a solid builder of riding mowers. I know they build for Weedeater and Craftsman as well. Probably others too. Mine lasted a long time.

Poulan and Weedeater are divisions of (owned by)Cratsman .

 

[grapeknutz]

Poulan and Weedeater are divisions of (owned by)Cratsman .

Not quite, it is owned by Husquvarna out door products

 

[jerryh20]

i had a troy-bilt for 7 years - paid $900 on fall clearance - used it hard for 7 years - mowed great but changing drive belt difficult - sold it for $750 and the 25hp bs running strong. doesn't like rocks though so had to change a couple of spindles and blades. most mowers if maintained will give years of service - had 2 murrays over the years and sold all of them still running strong. couldn't resist the deal i got on this jd400 so sold the troy-bilt to buy it. i just love craigs list shopping

 

[ME2]

MTD has wrecked so many good names its sad , cub,JD, and now simplicity its a crying shame ..why couldn't they just leave them alone

 

[SonnyT]

MTD has wrecked so many good names its sad , cub,JD, and now simplicity its a crying shame ..why couldn't they just leave them alone

MTD doesn't make John Deere.

 

[ME2]

MTD doesn't make John Deere.

Did they not make a box store JD or am i mistaken ..So hard to keep up with what they build and what they dont anymore gets confusing at times ...If i am mistaken i apologize

 

[remarkb9vkq]

I will not try to stick up for MTD as I have seen some junk with their name on it but aren't they one of the largest manufactures in this area? I mean at least for the big box stores.

 

[ME2]

Did they not make a box store JD or am i mistaken ..So hard to keep up with what they build and what they dont anymore gets confusing at times ...If i am mistaken i apologize

I just searched the web and found a few different posts about it a few say yes the cheap deer is made by them and then i found 3 that said no they are not made by them ...Very confusing and i can see where a mistake can be made on this topic

 

[Gorillarms]

Steering on Troy Bilt

Anyone had problems with this. Looks like a basic repair of gear replacement. Thanks

 

[tackit]

I thought the same thing about plastic bushings but todays plastics are pretty tough. When I had to replace the tail wheel bushings on my JD bush hog the new kit came with plastic bushings and a new bolt that was smaller than the original.... The platic bushings are doing good for two years now..

look to the right column, they have comparison info between their plastic and bronze bushimgs.

Also I bought a Hornady shotgun shell reloader way back in the mid nineties. The die platform's operating arms were made of plastic. I called Hornady and asked whats up with the plastic arms...Hornady said the plastic they use was stronger than steel.... and they are still good today.

igus® Self-Lubricating, Maintenance-Free iglide® Plastic Plain Bearings

 

[scocope]

Plastic bushings are used in extremely heavy duty applications such as excavator track rollers instead of metal bearings; they certainly can be used in mower applications. http://www.igus.com/wpck/4565/app_vehicleconstruction

 

[Tom Burns]

This guy posted this 7 years ago. It's the only thing he posted. It was also pointless. He did expose his casual approach to maintenance. I liked the part where the stupid cotter pin let the wheel fall off.

 

[Mark / Ohio]

..I liked the part where the stupid cotter pin let the wheel fall off.

Wonder if he knows that one of those little pins might be the only thing keeping the bearing nut from unscrewing and the front wheel falling off his car?

 

[scocope]

Stop picking on the guy; a lot of us depend on fools like that to turn $5 repairs into our house payments ;-)!

 

[Mark / Ohio]

We all had to start somewhere. :tango_face_wink: By showing up here means they are at least trying to learn and have to give them credit for that. Some do drop posts in the forums if they have a beef with a manufacture if for no other reason then to try and stir up a brand bashing thread. We try to keep them from getting out of hand. I personally don't think there is a brand out there that has not dropped any duds off the assembly line over their history. uno:

It is interesting the variety of members we have from the very novice (perhaps grown up in a city apartment and now moved to a house with a postage stamp yard or even out to the country) to others that have made a life long hobby of bringing tractors and lawnmowers back to life to even those that have worked in the business for years. Also you never know but what the guy that is lost about why his spark plug is not firing might be the same guy that could save your life on the operating table.

We all have both our talents and incompetency's. :Thumb up: