Strengths NONE

Weaknesses ITSELF

Overall P.O.S.- PRETTY MUCH SUMS IT UP!! the first time i used it after getting it home it broke a pulley guard and lowes didnt wanna help me at all. front tires started pointing out. second year found that exhaust pipe to block was not tight and gasket was gone. and now the whole front end is falling apart. i have checked the new ones at lowes because they have stoped selling this model and are selling the horse which has a completely different front end. it has blown a fuse, the battery is crap, have had problems with some wiring coming loose. overall i have to do something every time i use it. P.O.S.

Strengths -none noteable

Weaknesses -belts have to be replaced often -Battery had to replaced after one year -tires do not have good traction

Overall I would never buy a Troy-Bilt product again. I have replaced the belts (3) times now at approximately $90 each time. I had to charge the battery constantly in order to start it. The tires are terrible for any type of incline and I had to add the external wheel weights in order to gain traction. The deck has to be removed in order to change the belts. I contacted Lowes about these issues and I was told there was nothing that could be done and I should contact the manfacturer.

Strengths

Weaknesses Whatever you do never buy a Troy bilt Super bronco tractor, they don't last. We bought one 3 years ago and the engine cracked on it and leaks oil and now it doesn't start. If and when we buy another one it will be a John Deere.

Overall

Strengths have had this machine over 3 years now. original belt still in use. original blades still in use. have only resharpened them once. engine is awesome! cutting 1 1/3 acre every week during the season. great going uphill. tough machine! would definitely buy another but wont have to because this will last me years of use. and I love the safety reverse cutting feature. easy to use.

Weaknesses manufactures wheels have poor grip on slightly wet uphill slopes. need to replace with better terrain wheels.

Overall excellent machine! easy to maintain.

Strengths I don't see many, other then its red, which makes it an easier target to hit. Functionality is marginal at best.

Weaknesses From the start I had issues. Got the mower home "Super Bronco 42' cut SV530 motor. Supposedly 19 HP, realistically 14.2, but seems less powerful then the Craftsmen 12 hp I previously owned. Front left tire going down. Took wheel back to Lowe's where I bought it and 1st they gave me the wrong size. Additional trip to get replacement yielded another wheel w/ bad bead or poorly constructed rim. Wheel leaked air again. Been filling up every other cut. Next, second year of use, engine smoking, oil on frame. Upon pulling cover and investigating, found most of the head bolts loose. Third year of use, paint starts flaking and rust begins. Mind you, I ponied up for the 3 year warranty. Finally, this year, 4th year of ownership, warranty up, first cut of the year, engine smokes right when fired up, once warm, no more smoke. I think good. BTW, I check and change the fluids & filters every season. Well, after cutting, notice oil on frame again. Think, maybe head bolts loose again. Upon investigation, find large crack in block. Very disappointed w/ Kohler and Troy Built. As a note, my old Craftsmen was second hand w/ 10 years on it. It ran for me another 10 years and I passed it on to a friend for the motor, which ran another 2 years. W/ warranty I spent $1600.00 on this thing. I could still have a kid cutting my yard today and come out ahead. I cut approx. 1 acre of grass w/ a few steep hills but nothing out of the ordinary. I'm going to Lowe's and see how they or Kohler or Troy built will work w/ me? From what I've read from others, I don't feel good about the possible outcome.

Overall Overall, I find this mower to be sub-par at best and a price that should reflect a better mower. My suggestion to Lowe's, is to drop the Troy Built line all together. They're giving them a black eye and if I don't get satisfaction, I will no longer purchase anything from Lowe's. Unfortunately, the blame will lie w/ Lowe's if I don't get reasonable resolve.

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.