1990 YARD-MAN

[R422b]

Cub Cadet has always been made by MTD. Like Toyota making Lexus. Its their "premium" line.

Things may have changed in the last 20+ years since I was in that field, but I imagine not a whole lot. The main difference between a good mower, and a cheap one, is the gauge of metal used on the frame. There's only a few different engine manufacturers, and at one point only two transaxle manufactures. Theyre all the same in a lot of ways.

Yeah and they use cheaper models of motors and if the transmissions are hydrostatic they are usually sealed for life with no changeable filter.

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[454cid]

Cub Cadet has not always been MTD. It was International Harvester.

 

[R422b]

Cub Cadet has not always been MTD. It was International Harvester.

A looooooong time ago. [emoji16]

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[R422b]

A looooooong time ago. [emoji16]

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Ok maybe not so long. Cub cadet was sold to MTD in 1981. 15 years before I was born. [emoji16]

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[Stumpy]

Cub Cadet has not always been MTD. It was International Harvester.

Haha, I knew when I posted that it would burn me, but didn't take the time to confirm it.

 

[Erik the Awful]

The main difference between a good mower, and a cheap one, is the gauge of metal used on the frame.

This. When I bought my property I bought a nearly new Monkey Ward built by MTD lawnmower. There were concrete blocks in the yard, railroad ties lining the ditch in front, and in ten years I destroyed that mower. All the mounting points in the frame had been ripped out and re-welded several times. I bought a ragged out John Deere to replace it, but the J-D is rebuildable. The cast front axle was its biggest selling point. I've had it ten years now and it's in better shape than when I bought it. I up-armored it by welding a 2"x.125" steel strip along the front side of the mower deck and rebuilt the hydrostatic drive. I modified the tie rods for replaceable ends, and that alone has saved me over $100. Spend the money up front or you'll be spending it down the road.

 

[drewcrew]

Cub Cadet has always been made by MTD. Like Toyota making Lexus. Its their "premium" line.

Things may have changed in the last 20+ years since I was in that field, but I imagine not a whole lot. The main difference between a good mower, and a cheap one, is the gauge of metal used on the frame. There's only a few different engine manufacturers, and at one point only two transaxle manufactures. Theyre all the same in a lot of ways.

 

[drewcrew]

This. When I bought my property I bought a nearly new Monkey Ward built by MTD lawnmower. There were concrete blocks in the yard, railroad ties lining the ditch in front, and in ten years I destroyed that mower. All the mounting points in the frame had been ripped out and re-welded several times. I bought a ragged out John Deere to replace it, but the J-D is rebuildable. The cast front axle was its biggest selling point. I've had it ten years now and it's in better shape than when I bought it. I up-armored it by welding a 2"x.125" steel strip along the front side of the mower deck and rebuilt the hydrostatic drive. I modified the tie rods for replaceable ends, and that alone has saved me over $100. Spend the money up front or you'll be spending it down the road.

 

[drewcrew]

I bought a John Deere LX-178 new in 1994. It cost around $3400. Guys I worked with thought I was crazy. Up until last year it only cost me about $50 for repair parts not counting oil, filters and grease. So 27 years later it still works like a champ. I don't know if new J-D's are still built this well.

 

[1ton-o-fun]

I bought a John Deere LX-178 new in 1994. It cost around $3400. Guys I worked with thought I was crazy. Up until last year it only cost me about $50 for repair parts not counting oil, filters and grease. So 27 years later it still works like a champ. I don't know if new J-D's are still built this well.

I'm gonna say "No". It seems that industrywide, worldwide, the standard is to try to get things to last about 5 years or less. You have to replace things sooner, so the company makes more money.