Mtd makes the lowest price products that the market demands and still manages to maintain some quality. That being said....it takes shorcuts and cost cutting to get there. Thinner, weaker, cheaper, and less well designed goes into every part in order to make it down to the price level target they're shooting for. They can make some decent products but overall they are shooting for the disposable market. Lawn-Boy on the other hand is aiming a little higher and wants a customer who is willing to pay a little more for a longer lasting product. Their dealer line of mowers will be even a notch higher. You get what you pay for.

ditto johnny grow

i bought a MTD edger and its the worst lawn equipment i ever purchase. thx goodness they don't make engines. the briggs and stration engine, as always, is great but the frame fell apart like a chinese suit

All of the preceding being said, MTD makes a lot of equipment to the name brands' specifications!
I have seen some MTD lawn tractors that are not new, and they still run good and do the job for which they are intended, which is to mow grass, haul a cart, and a few other things.
Parts and belts, mower deck parts, pulleys, etc. are still available at parts stores. Engines are good, made by either Briggs or Tecumseh.
It all boils down to this: An MTD machine, with reasonable care, will work as good as machines costing much more! A lot of times, you pay for the name, but get the same engines, etc. as on the MTD machines! And, color plays a part, too!
Rustyj

As an owner of a Cub Cadet CC-500, I can say that thereÂs nothing wrong with MTD! IÂve been using the mower for four months, and it has performed perfectly. I went through the same decision process when shopping for a mower, and was all set to buy a LB, but could not pass up the opportunity to get 90% of what I was looking for in a mower for less than half the cost of the LB model I was considering (canÂt recall the model  it was the push model with the Honda engine).

The Chinese-made OHV engine has performed flawlessly - quiet, plenty of power, and always starts on the first pull. The mulching performance is perfect - never a clump even through tall, damp grass.

Will this last as long as a LB? Probably not. But, since I got 10+ years out of my previous mower (a $90 Murray), I expect to get my money's worth out of the CC. I have a small yard (bit over quarter acre) so IÂm not putting many hours on the machine per year.

One area youÂd want to look into carefully is the drive mechanism on the 550. Not sure what type of system is used or how well it is built (my 500 is owner-propelled, so as long as I can walk, the mower will move!)

While MTD products canÂt stand up to the rigors of commercial or even heavy-duty homeowner use, they do have a niche for people such as myself. For example, I have a Troy-Bilt string trimmer. Fits my needs perfectly since it gets used -- at most -- about 30 minutes total per month. It has performed like a champ for the past three years. It will probably die well before something from Echo or another higher quality brand would, but considering that I could buy three and a half of them for the price of an Echo, IÂm happy to keep the cash in my pocket.

The wildcard in this equation is the pleasure one can get from using a well-crafted tool. ThatÂs an issue that differs from person to person. I have some woodworking tools that cost more than IÂd like to remember, but they are such a joy to use. Some tools just put a smile on your face when you use them. If so, it was money well spent.

Sax, By "Dealer Line" I was speaking of models like the Insight Platinum series with 5 year warranties ranging from $459 to $659. They are not stocked at big box stores around here.

"I can say that there�s nothing wrong with MTD! I�ve been using the mower for four months, and it has performed perfectly. "

Lets hear back in a few years:-)

short answer "Nothing" any equipment is only as good as the
operater who owns and uses it takes care of it Period!!!!!!

It all depends what you needs our. If you only need a push mower (aka no self propel) I agree MTD or AYP (aka Craftsman) will do the job fine. Mowing performance may vary a little bit model to model but you can shop around to find the best mower for your needs. Toro has a Super Recycler push only that will perform well but it is more expensive than a Cub or Troy-Bilt.

Once you get into self propel mower the entry level tends to be front wheel drive single speed. They help - but on hills the weight shifts off the drive wheel and you will be pushing the mower, ESPECIALLY if you bag.

Also these drives tend to fail early and often I would not recommend them unless you have a small flat lawn to mow and will mulch almost exclusively.

The RWD market has many good choices - including Toro and LB models that are carried in Home Depot. If you want a self propel spend the $$ to get a RWD - and don't get an MTD or AYP - the trannys are cheap and will fail long before the rest of the mower. Snapper, LB, Toro, Honda, Ariens and John Deere all have good products many under $400 that will last, perform well and be a pleasure to mow with.

Hope that helps - and yes longevity = maintenance. One last tip - don't mow over objects that can break the engine or deck. If you let it grow so tall you can't see the objects you might want to hire a lawn service.

EOM

Jim

'Sax, By "Dealer Line" I was speaking of models like the Insight Platinum series with 5 year warranties ranging from $459 to $659. They are not stocked at big box stores around here'

You're right - I don't ever expect to see a 'Platinum' at HD. It would be great to see one up close, but even the Toro dealers don't have them.

Thanks everyone for this valuable input. I was able to return the unused Cub Cadet 550 to Home Depot last night. I ordered a Lawnboy 10682 for $217 from Amazon afterwards. It will be here in a week. I'll let you know of my impressions.