I agree that mowing patterns depend on your specific layout and preferences. I have several different patterns and rotate through them. I do both clockwise and counter clockwise spirals. I sometimes begin with a diagonal and then do two spiral loops on the diagonal. The keys to a good pattern are: 1. No backing up needed 2. No going over already mowed areas (or minimal) 3. Minimal small radius turning (tight turns) Over course, every pattern isn't perfect. It's good to mix the patterns to avoid developing a "grain" in your lawn and ruts from your rider's tires. Mixing patterns helps to keep your grass growing vertically and minimizes damage caused by tires. -Deerslayer

Hey, Nino: Park the tractor with lots of room on the right side. (Right side as you sit on the tractor.) Lower the cutting deck as far as it will go. Disconnect the two rods that go to the front of the tractor. Disconnect the cross bar at rear of deck, has a clip pin. Lie down on left side, look for two large clip pins, one at front of side bar(flat), and one at rear. DO NOT unbolt the hook that holds the side bar onto the machine! Go to other side, do the same with that side flat bar. Then follow a thinner steel rod up to where it hooks into the lifting handle plate. Determine this by lifting up on the large lifting handle, and peering up under there. After you get it all unhooked, slide the deck forward, until you can slip the drive belt off the front lower engine pulley. Then, with care, slide the deck out to the right side. And, there you are! To reinstall it, do everything back wards. NOTE: These instructions are for the tractors in use at this time. Don't know about older, or new ones. A case of trial and error, in any case.

Must of been lucky. Bought an MTD at Ace hardware (Ace Special Edition) with a 42" cut and 16hp Tecumseh. Aside from the normal problems of your MTD of that era IE having the grille mounts break off after a few years) it's been great, and it was only replaced as it was really starting to not work well on hills, and in the last year has been a case of "What's going to break next when I mow?". A key to remember is any NEW tractor in that range is going to be light duty. If you have more an acre to mow with it, a newer, higher end, used model is a probably a better option. You'll get a lot of life out of one though if you keep it well maintained. Take care of it and there is no reason why you should not get a good, usable life of about 10-12 years. one other thing to keep in mind; the chief complaints of many people on a mower it seems is the motor. That is the most important part of a mower besides the transmission on a Hydro equipped tractor. The engine is going to what will go wrong 9 time out of 10 on a mower, and is often going to be to blame for issues with cutting (due to lack of power) and reliability.

Well, you could plan how and where to make your cuts, then where you can't mow, plant flowers or other things. I don't have many places where i can't use my rider to mow, and i only have to worry about a few spots that can be reached with a hand push mower. My Snapper rear engine riders were made long before dumb land owners got them-selves in trouble, by allowing their kids to sit and watch them mowing, right in front of them, or by backing over their kid, who "Wanted to watch Daddy mow", and sprang out behind the machine, to pick up a stick, so Daddy wouldn't back over it! The Snapper RERs' were much better at not hiding kids, because the close-in line of sight is much better. Another thing is a short turning radius, which allows you to mow around flower beds in a continuous path. Some complain about Snapper RER's--saying that they rear-up when starting. Well, yeah, sometimes they do--especially if you don't slow the engine speed, or start out by slipping yer foot off the clutch pedal! Or, if you have a full grass collection bag hanging on the back, and you start out heading up-hill! A positively thrilling feeling! I've had mine since 1983, and have experienced the thrill, but it has NEVER turned back over me! NEVER! And, i have several rather steep slopes that i must mow going up hill. Some complain that the clutch slips on wet days! Just who is the nit-wit who is out there mowing on a wet day? Lastly-there are folks out there who don't understand any other form of lawn mowing machines, except their favorite which they own. So, they diss the other, different machines. With no real knowlege of how they work, nor how well they do at grass mowing. You have no doubt seen that here in this column. Rant by: Rusty Jones, The Mower Man