Strengths None

Weaknesses Kohler engine leaks gas at carburator. Bolt broke inside engine and leaks gas. It could have blown up my house had my wife not smelled it coming from the gargage from inside the house. PTO handle slides off. Can back up with the blades running. The parking brake is hard to engage and you can't get off the mower with it idling without it being engaged. I have replaced 4 blades in my first year of cutting grass. The blades bend like they are made ot tin foil. The seat is too shallow to cut on a side grade, you slide off. The tires have no grip. If you run through a shallow wet depression in your yard you are sure to get stuck. To get unstuck you have to cut the mower off (due to the problems mentioned previously) and drag it out.

Overall Very, very poor. It is a terrible mower.

Strengths None really.

Weaknesses Blades are weak and cut terribly. Deck is terrible, won't maintain adjustment. Battery runs dead VERY easily. Every time I go to use my mower, there is something wrong with it and 9 times out of 10 I have to resort to using my walk behind mower to finish the job. I have had to replace the blades about 5 times, 3 of the tires and the battery in 2 years of normal suburban use. It does not cut evenly and leaves streaks on level ground. The owners manual is not easy to use either. The Kohler motor is nice, but that is about it. If you are thinking about buying a mower DO NOT BUY THIS ONE!

Overall When this one wears out, I will NOT be purchasing another, nor any MTD lawn tractor for that matter as not many folks I know who own them have had any better luck with theirs.

Strengths Adequate power, easy to use. GREAT PRICE

Weaknesses CVT makes hills a bit tough when you are pulling a load.

Overall Great tractor, I have used it two seasons no problems and have routinely hauled nearly 500 pound behind it up moderate hills.

Strengths Not many. Pressurized lube oil system. Fairly easy mower deck removal. Nice grass bagging system.

Weaknesses Carburetor float sticks filling cylinder with gas not allowing engine to crank. Cheap fix was to install a shutoff valve in the gas line. Seat cracked. Engine side panels do not lift with the hood. Steering bearing broke which was a cheap $3.50 part but hard to get at! Variable speed pulley ceased after 4 years. MTD no longer makes an exact replacement for this part. Had to use a template to punch and drill new holes for the variable speed pulley housing. No need for all that extra work. Would not cut in reverse, a safety feature I can do without, just disconnect the wire under the seat near the rear axle that the reverse lever touches.

Overall Bought new in 2004. Will never by another MTD product!! Lowe's still sells this junk machine in 2009. If you have no mechanical skills this riding mower will be very expensive to maintain and repair. Not user friendly to work on either. I thought Troy Bilt was independently made and was a good riding mower. I was wrong!!!

Strengths

Weaknesses Have to take deck off to install new blades and belt. After two years needed many repairs.

Overall Worst riding mower I have ever owned. NEVER AGAIN.

Strengths When it worked it was fast and strong.

Weaknesses The motor exploded after three years. I think it threw a rod but it cracked the crankcase wide open. I a very disappointed in Kohler engines. I guess I will have to go back to my 10 year old Briggs and Stratton, Murray mower. I have to replace it but it wont be a TroyBilt.

Overall Disappointed in only three years of service. It was bought June 2006. Died April 2009

Strengths It has a cup holder.

Weaknesses The mower deck is crap. The thing broke 4 deck belts in the first year. At $40 a pop, that gets expensive. I had to have a bracket rewelded on the deck because of their cheap welding. The voltage regulator died in the second season, another $60. The cheap linkage for the forward/reverse went out of adjustment and it started slipping going forward.

Overall I will never buy another Troy bilt piece of garbage again. Do yourself a favor and pass on these; they used to be a quality machine; but, not now.

Strengths NONE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Weaknesses The deck is crap!!!! I got on here to see if others were having the same problems. This thing eats belts. Average of 2 per summer and I only mow maybe 3-4 acres a week. Deck is flimsy I wish I would invested more research before I bought one. Now I'm stuck for a few years.

Overall Hate It. Don't buy one. Lowes is fair though. I bought one and returned it after 3 months because the paint was falling off. They didnt care gave me another. Now looking back I wish I would have just gotten my money back.

Strengths Dumb luck! I've had no major problems so far. I use it for the .5 acre around the house and the 3.5 acres in back. I drive over small limbs, gopher mounds, etc. The seat is cracking, the suspension rubber is giving out after six years of use. No problems with engine or transmission; belt still looks good.

Weaknesses For the price, none.

Overall

Strengths Price,ease of use.

Weaknesses Headlights-dim.

Overall Overall I've been happy with my 2004 SuperBronco. It's done what's required--mowing my 1/2 acre lawn yearround. People complain about the blades failing--I've replaced mine three times but I think nothing of grinding up tree branches with the mower. I tend to find half-buried rocks from time to time so that'll screw up your blades. I've replaced the battery three times but I chalk that up to letting it sit too long with no use. Mine came with a free dump trailer and broadcast spreader. I think I paid $12-1300 at Lowes in 2004