[Drachenfire]

This weekend I got out my now 25-year-old MTD riding lawn mower to do the first cut of the season.

When I got to the side of the yard with slopes, the mower struggled to navigate some of them and completely stalling on the steepest ones.

Most of the significant slopes vary from about 10-12 degrees with the steepest at about 15-25 degrees.

A replacement transmission is available and I have contemplated getting one but it costs $589 + shipping. The problem is other things on the mower are wearing out as well. So, I am at the point where repairing this mower is exceeding half the cost of a new mower more if I have to pay for any of the repairs I am unable to do.

So now I am giving serious consideration to outright replacement.

I am dead set on a 42" as it is easily maneuvered in my yard and fits through my shed doors. I need enough power to handle my husky frame and the aforementioned slopes.

I am considering the following the mowers as they are all available from local retailers.

Cub Cadet - XT1 Enduro LT 42 in. 547 cc
John Deere - E110 540 cc 19hp
John Deere - E130 724 cc 22-HP V-twin
Husqvarna - YTH18542 540 cc 18.5-HP

They all fall within my price range although the John Deere E130 is stretching it.

Does anyone have any of the mowers listed and what are your thoughts on it?

 

[SeniorSitizen]

I'm picturing the stalling because of the wheel on the upper side of the slope spinning because of lack of traction? If true, i doubt any of those mowers listed will solve that problem.

 

[joecaption]

What do you mean by stalling?
Is the motor cutting out, or is it not turning the wheels?
If it's not turning the wheels like the clutch on a car slipping, when's the last time the hydrolic belts been changed?

 

[3onthetree]

Also, depending on where the gas line exits the tank and how it connects, maybe on an incline water sitting at the bottom moved to the side and pooled up enough to get over the lip of the seal inside the tank.

 

[Drachenfire]

Perhaps I did not provide enough details.

The slopes I am referring to, the mower use to climb with no issue. Now it just stops on the steeper ones, no wheel spin, it just stops. On the shallower slopes there is also no wheel spin but the mower slows dramatically and struggles to climb. There is no RPM drop off or stalling on the engine. The mower acts similar to a car with a worn out clutch.

All the belts were replaced three years ago.

 

[3onthetree]

There is no RPM drop off or stalling on the engine.

Hmmm, so it won't even make it up with the blades disengaged?

 

[SeniorSitizen]

With no wheel spin i'll stick my neck out and guess this lawn tractor has a variable speed mechanism. On the dash or similar location it has speeds 1-7 to be selected with a small stick lever. On the left fender it has a gear selector that has Forward and Reverse. If this is all true and i win this bet the variable speed sheave system needs attention.

 

[Drachenfire]

Hmmm, so it won't even make it up with the blades disengaged?

Nope

With no wheel spin i'll stick my neck out and guess this lawn tractor has a variable speed mechanism. On the dash or similar location it has speeds 1-7 to be selected with a small stick lever. On the left fender it has a gear selector that has Forward and Reverse. If this is all true and i win this bet the variable speed sheave system needs attention.

Forward/reverse is on the floor just forward of the seat.

It has a 7 speed shifter is on the right and I normally ran it on 3 or 4 depending on what I was mowing.

Now even with a running takeoff on 7 it is bogging down.

 

[SeniorSitizen]

How it's supposed to function.

 

[SeniorSitizen]

This fellow has never read the operator's manual. Notice he depresses the clutch each time he changes speeds on the selector. That's completely un- necessary with this system that was designed to change speeds without using the clutch. The only time it's necessary to depress the clutch is to stop and or to stop and shift from F to R and vise versa or go to park and I'm not certain about Park, it's been a few years.


The central portion of this sheave must slide freely up and down the full designed distance to operate speeds 1-7.

 

[lenaitch]

Drachenfire: I don't own any of the machines listed, but have owned a John Deere 170 (14hp Kawasaki) since 1988 so am a big fan of green and yellow. We used the heck out of it when we had a farm and it's starting to show its age and I've been looking around a bit. In all those years I've only replaced the electric PTO clutch (not counting consumables). From what I've read, the E110 might be a little light if you have a lot of grades and are 'of a larger frame'. The E130 comes with their Easy Change oil filter/container but I don't know the cost/benefit of the 30-second oil change.
Around here JD seems the most popular; a few Cub Cadets whose owners seem happy with. No Huskies that I have seen.


Good luck!

 

[ron45]

Just my opinion.

Any 42" zero turn mower is better then any 42" rider.

Lower to ground and able to take slopes better.
Better turning radius
Easier to operate.
Drastically cuts the mowing time.
etc., etc..

 

[chandler48]

If you consider a ZTR be aware you do not go up and down hills. You transverse them sideways. The motor sits too far back on the frame and the unit will tilt backwards. Just for information.

 

[Drachenfire]

Just my opinion.

Any 42" zero turn mower is better then any 42" rider.

While a ZT would be nice to have, they are definitely way out of my price range.

 

[660catman]

I’d go with the JD E110. You did good getting 25 years out of an MTD. That said I still have my poor man’s Deere, a Sabre 17/42 hydro and bagger. Belts, blades and head gasket is all I have done in 20 years on my 2.2 acres.
It’s going to be hard riding a new one with all the quirks of a different brand. I hate my MIL’s Cub Cadet when I cut her yard once in a while.


Retired guy from Southern Manitoba, Canada.

 

[Porsche986S]

While a ZT would be nice to have, they are definitely way out of my price range.

If buying new probably true but don't rule out used . Do you have any REAL mower shops/small engine repair shops near you ? Go check them out they may have a trade in that has service history . Most decent yard/garden tractors and zero turns have hour meters . If they haven't been tampered with AND there is service history I would have no problem buying a machine with 500 hours on it as an example .

 

[ron45]

$ 1,329.30
https://www.mentarilawnandgarden.co...MItdmm27PU6AIVQ18NCh0sjwoxEAYYASABEgKTB_D_BwE

$ 1,709.99
https://www.mentarilawnandgarden.co...MItdmm27PU6AIVQ18NCh0sjwoxEAYYCCABEgLS5PD_BwE

 

[Bud9051]

My wife surprised me with a Husqvarna - YTH ??? 48" deck and it has been a PITA. 2 batteries, all 4 tires had to have tubes installed, ignition relay, and backfires when shut off. And difficult to start. I hate the dealer after the 4 tubes which I had to pay for, should have been warranty, so I'm not taking it back to them for the backfire issue. Can't complain too loud as the wife picked it out but would never buy that brand again.

And removing the deck is a jigsaw puzzle.

Bud

 

[DexterII]

Bud, on the backfire you might want to try shutting it off with about 1/3-1/2 throttle. Completely different engine I'm sure than the 20 HP Kohler Command in my 25 year old Toro, but mine backfired like that for years, and the dealer told me several times when I asked that it was "normal". Then I read an article someplace on it, tried shutting it off at 1/3 throttle, even though it went against everything I had ever heard, and it works. If I recall correctly, the increased speed causes the engine to continue spinning just enough longer to push the gas past the muffler. Again, it goes against the grain, for me anyway, but I suppose it's not hurting anything, and seems like it could prevent a blown muffler.

 

[Drachenfire]

I appreciate the recommendations. The Cub Cadet is defintely out of my price range when shipping is factored in. The Toro will need to be researched.

My wife surprised me with a Husqvarna - YTH ??? 48" deck and it has been a PITA.

That is really to bad.

I am fortunate in that my wife knows that when it comes to tools, electronics and large ticket items, I am very discriminating and will conduct in-depth research prior to making the purchase.

It is a bit frustrating for her because she would like to buy me things she knows I use, but she understands the reasoning.