"The MTD Toro rider isn't death,..." I agree about MTD. Too many people shoot holes in MTD riders and don't give them the respect they deserve. Let me say that I bought a 12.5 HP, 46" cut MTD back in '91 (17 yrs. ago) for $949. After over 475 hrs. and oils changes every other year, all I ever replaced was a nylon gear in the starter ($1.00), 1 spark plug, 1 battery and the blades last season after 16 years use. I sharpen the blades 2x a season with a corse buffer wheel on an angle grinder. The reason the blades went was because one of the turned up pig ears on the blades wore thin from use and they broke off, if that didn't happen, the blades would still be good for several more years. 3 1/4" wide blades, 3/16" thick steel, very heavy duty. The engine is B&S I/O, one lung splash lube, always started and never misses. Two mowings ago the rider encountered a cement stepping stone (which my wife insisted she had to have). To my surprise, it didn't damage the 1 year old blades. One mow ago I got a "clunk" when I shifted the lever to forward. Yesterday while mowing I went up an small incline, the clunk turned into grinding; the transaxle had decided to call it quits. Today I went to Lowes and bought a JD LA105 which will take the place of the MTD in my shed. It will be delivered this Tuesday. I know that things aren't made the way they use to be made but, I hope to have this JD LA105 for the next 17 years. Bottom line, high end machines or low end machines can last equally as long given the proper care, matched to the circumstance and not abused. So, enough open season on MTD's and entry level John Deere's. Buy a mower to suit the end use and pay no attention to the chest beaters who opt to own the more expensive machines for nothing more than a trophy display.

"Big looking brute" --------------------- yeah it is rather substantial for lawn mowing ... But I didnt buy it solely for lawn mowing purposes... I will say the guy had quiet a few of these things stashed away and if I had the choice I might have gotten the 22x model instead. Mostly because I felt I didnt really need to climb up onto a big @ss brute GT (just a brute GT would have sufficed) . For the first couple of days afterward - I felt a little bit like Arnold Schwarzenegger driving around on the Humvee of garden tractors. I think that the 22x probably would have done me nicely. However the size of the machine wouldnt have changed, just the height - So I went forward with the purchase on the 444. They sure are a rugged machine - this morning I was out there and started it up to move it. Letting it warm up a bit - I was amazed at that cast iron Kohler motor and how it idles so lowww - you can almost count the revolutions as it fires. (they dont make em like that anymore). "GT engineering for granted" ------------------------------- I do believe that as well... I dont think the engineers are designing tractors so much as they are designing something with a predetermined life time... Instead of selling quality product, parts and services - they sell junk that needs to be replaced every few years. Its almost as if these guys should be taken to a tractor junkyard and shown what heavy duty really looks like, as opposed to making Sears tractors with plastic bumpers (to add automotive styling). Its a shame we (USA) cant build cars of this quality. Id be willing to pay a bit more for a truck that didnt have to have its tranny changed out 3 times over the course of a 119k miles. (and it didnt even get worked hard ). Let us prey that the bankruptcy procedures remove the chaff from the wheat within GM and Chrysler. Dave

andy IMO you need to start your own thread on your problems. you will get more responses (alot, most all, and some won't read my posts), you will get better results by posting your own topic and giving feedback on the results). do this by filing out the subject of posting (your topic) and asking the question in the block below, then click on preview message, if you like it, then hit submit message. Now you got your own topic and they will respond directly to you and you will get more ideas and opinions of your problems. As for your starter problems the starter gear can be easily replaced. Look in your owners manual (or goggle your engine for a parts manual) for the flywheel ring gear. If it's plastic I sure it can be replaced if you can find the part number and part. As for the charging system most likely it's the regulator that controls the charging, but you need to clean the battery posts and inspect the wiring and make sure chafing (rubber protective coating worn away by rubbing against something causing bare wires and shortinghasn't caused a problem.

My experience with this MTD variable speed drive is that the drives don't slip until the belts are real bad or you have a loose mount. It is best to replace both belts at once, but as the rear belt wears much more quickly, you typically can just change that belt. If the front belt is noticeably worn or is chunking, then it gets replaced obviously. If the front belt gets replaced, for sure do the rear or you may have a low speed issue. You absolutely have to use the OEM belts. The linkage was set up properly when it was new and should not typically need adjustment unless it has been fiddled with or damage occurred. The adjustment is an adjustable end like a tie rod where you pull the pin, unlock the jam nut to make the adjustment. Look for binding linkages and that the transaxle mounts front and rear are secure. The VS pulley should both turn freely and the center sheave should move up and down freely as well.