Sounds as though you did find something cheap that will last into the future. Hard to go wrong with a JD 316. Here are a couple of links that you might find helpful. http://www.deere.com/en_US/homeowners/products_non_current/316.html The Onan is a very good engine but you need to take care of it. Change the oil every 50 hours and check it often. Keep the oil level at the full mark all the time. Parts for Onans are expensive because they are now discontinued. However, if that tractor is in excellent condition, it is worth repowering. Small Engine Warehouse has been known to offer a 20 hp Honda engine that is spec'd correctly for your application. Here is a link that might be useful: 316

1*I am at a loss as why so many people on this forum are so anti MTD. 2* My experience has been that dollar for dollar MTD is as good as JD. 3* It is unfair to compare a $1,800 MTD machine to a $4,500 JD machine as many of you do. 4*Compare a MTD to an equally priced fake JD. 5*MTD is the bottom of the barrel dollar for dollar. 6* I'd take an L series Deere or AYP machine over any Yardsman or other el cheapo MTD machine any day of the week. 7*If you want to compare apples to apples, compare the Jon Dear to the Cub Cadet. Dollar for dollar, the Cub Cadet is equal or better value than a Jon Dear. 8*As for the Toro unit, yes it is built by MTD because Toro ran wheel horse out of business as they have most of the companies they have acquired. 9*The XL Lawn tractors series and 315-8,400XT and 5Xi series Garden tractors are still made by Toro. ********************************* 1*I can't speak for others but my gripe is MTDs deceptive marketing by using well known brand name labels on their products thus implying they are the same quality of those of old when in fact MTD has cheapened them down to practically nothing to what they were. 2*This only applies to The low end entry level box store tractors. Get into the upper level tractors and it's a whole other ball game. In fact MTD isn't even into this market because they don't build anything to compete with in that market. 3* 4*This would be a Box store MTD VS a Box store JD. A box store tractor is a box store tractor is a box store tractor. Both pretty much the same thing. One's about as good or bad as the other. 5*Same goes for the other brands at the box store. They're all the low end entry level stuff. 6*And you'd still be getting a low end bottom rung of the ladder. tractor. 7* You can't beat the Bang for the buck of a Cub Cadet 2500 or 3000 series with a JD. 8* Wheel horse is built by Toro-That's why they are called Toro/Wheel Horse. MTD is the one doing that not Toro. Toro is still in business building all the Toro models as well as the New Holland garden tractors. (The 1 exception is the Toros sold at the box stores are the only Toros produced by MTD. ) 9* All Toros and New Holland garden tractors are built by Toro except the tractors labeled Toros found at the box stores are built by MTD.

gypsmjim wrote: "No one answered my original question, i.e., don't you think that if Toro is licensing their equipment manufacturer to a subcontractor they would be having it made to their specs? I say that becasue the HD JD sitting right next to the HD Toro looked to be of equivalent "quality" (whatever that means), while the Yardman clearly looked a cut below." ********************************************************** MTD is in the business of manufacturing tractors to the specifications agreed upon between themselves and the party ordering the tractors. So, in my opinion, Toro calls the shots when it comes to choosing the quality of the components selected for tractors bearing the Toro name. When it comes to OPE, the selling price increases as the quality, size and features of the tractor increases. Better hydros, larger hp, larger deck sizes, larger tires are the obvious differences that salespeople point out to the consumer. Whether the blade spindles are stronger or the idler pulleys use larger bearings in them are things that the consumer can't be shown nor would many of them even understand. If all three tractors you looked at are within 100 dollars of each other, then you would expect them to be built to roughly the same quality and offer the same features. If the Yardman is several hundred dollars less expensive, then it will certainly be lacking in features and quality. If you are considering all three, then look up the specs and do a detailed comparison. Start with the hydro unit because, aside from the engine, that is the second most expensive repair part on the tractor.

Well, I looked at a Cub Cadet GT1554 today, along side of a Husqvarna YTH 2454 Lawn tractor. 'Not the GTs that I plan to buy, but close enough to get a feel for each brands finer details and overall quality. Prior to that, I looked at a JD X500 just for an ultimate reference (The xenoy hood and the operator controls seemed equal to $3000 GTs; everything else seemed appropriate for a $5600 GT). The Cub's 54" mower deck looked pretty sturdy and had a full width trailing edge roller system on the back of the deck. The Husqvarna seem to be more carefully detailed/finished and the grease-zerks for the mower deck spindles were on top poking through the plastic guard nacelles; I couldn't see the Cub's mower spindle grease-zerks but the guard nacelles were sturdy metal. The wide front tires on the Cub (7.5") seems like a good idea for rolling over rough pasture. The Cub's hood had better ventilation for the engine, and I think the all plastic hood might muffle the engine slightly more than the Husky's half metal/half plastic hood. Decisions, decisions... If anyone reading my descriptions have purchased either the Cub Cadet GT2544 or Husqvarna 2748GLS tractors, or near equivalent to recent models Cub or Husky GTs, please chime in with your experience. Thanks.