MTD silver edition 18/46 lawn tractor, VERY RARE!

[@michaelandcolinspop]

My dad bought one of these in 1988 from Stambaugh’s in Wintersville, OH. The only difference was the color, as my dad’s was red with Turf Power decals. We used that thing to cut grass, cut paths in our woods, haul wood, and plow snow. It was a great tractor except for the stupid nylon starting gear that needed replaced on occasion. We got rid of it after my dad died because my mom couldn’t manage it, so she bought a John Deere STX46 with the 14hp Kohler.

[@johnturan524]

I just picked up a 1990 Hechinger 16/42. Mtd mowers are easy enough to work on. Needed a tune up and new belts....runs like a champ.

[@JodBronson]

+John Turan - Older MTD'S built a lot better than the one today!

[@ashleyshafer5854]

I've got an 86 Lowes 18/46 That is built pretty much exactly like it. Besides mine this is the only other MTD that I've ever seen with the 5 speed rear end with the shifter on the side.

[@jasonjeffery1845]

I have the exactly same one

[@76hotrodF250]

Wow. Well, to be fair, a running lawn tractor here with some age to it is worth about 300 to 400 dollars. People give away riders all the time around here, the grass is usually dried up about half way through summer so most don't need rider mowers.

[@104trucker]

Nice Cat! GREAT FIND

[@76hotrodF250]

I occasionally run in to people here that think the same thing. I tell them that by the time I am done replacing the battery, replacing or sharping blades and belts, cleaned carb, changed oil, and fixed whatever else is wrong, usually tires need replacing and steering repaired. That I won't make anything off it unless I get it for under 40 dollars.

[@CSAKvids]

Funny! That is off. Its almost identical to my 18/44, cept it has the front half of the hood the same as my mudding tractor. Never seen that with a big twin under it before! And a smaller rear end. Glad you finally found those MTD badges you were after, saves me sending you my ones. I really like all these MTD 'garden tractors' you're collecting. I have a soft spot for them, would love another one! I think that 5 speed was an after thought judging by the shifter location. Pretty weird

[@derbyman103]

That awesome. I just picked one up today. Its 99.5% complete, Just needs a coil and some paint.

[@CSAKvids]

Same with me. So far Im planning on only keeping 3, dunno how long that will last. though. Until Im done with Uni, Im planning on staying with my folks too. Right now its mostly about the money for me too!! Selling as many as I can for as much as possible. Just sold my Rally for a whopping £420.

[@76hotrodF250]

88, good year for tractors. I love my 88 MTD garden tractor. I have a 1980 Dayton(MTD) that had a well worn 16hp briggs twin. I got the tractor for free a few years ago, still use it today, but I did swap out the still running, but leaking oil and smoking engine for a 2000 model briggs 20hp twin a year ago. Going to rebuild the 16hp. Old tractors last forever, made with good steel, not that cheap impure china steel of today.

[@RamblinAround]

I catch a bunch of stuff on Craigslist myself. You're getting quite a collection going.

[@76hotrodF250]

Yeah, I know what you are talking about with the steering tie rods hitting the pulleys, I have seen it. The engineers that design these mowers must have never played with building blocks as kids. I always find it easy to find them on craigslist by scrolling through the farm and garden section with the price set to 50 minimum and 350 max. I don't use search words, because people misspell a lot. I may have to browse over the farming stuff, but I find old tractors all day.

[@elevatorman427]

I typically don't care a lot for MTD but, they practically build everything or almost everything. This here what you got was probably when they made good mowers. Todays MTDs aren't bad but, I hate the fact lots that I have seen don't have any antiscalping wheels. I prefer to have them. Lots older ones like this I have seen have them. I like too how this older one has a peerless and not the vari drive. Still they are not bad though. I have a 2004 Bolens its a veri drive but, it was given to me free. My main mower is husqvarna built craftsman 22 hP Kohler 7000 elite series

[@CSAKvids]

@76hotrodF250 that sucks. Hopefully he might still have it when you sell a couple of mowers? You could always ask him to hold onto it for a bit? I'd be interested in seeing it! They are indeed, im gonna restore mine mostly, just because I want to try and preserve older machines. I have no problem abusing and selling new mowers, but I just couldnt do it to the older ones!

[@76hotrodF250]

Very true, its just like the Big three auto manufatures, its the same thing for tractors. Husquvarna, MTD, and John Deere. Thats about it. I don't buy new mowers, in fact I never had to, and won't. I got enough cheap and free tractors and push mowers to last me a life time.

[@76hotrodF250]

My old MTDs are far superior to any new model for sure, but goes to say that they were built when people cared about quality. My favorite tractor to cut with is my 1988 MTD model 852 Garden Tractor, it has the same frame and deck as the silver edition in the video, but different grille, hydrostatic drive, bigger tires and its red. I have never found a better tractor since then.

[@76hotrodF250]

Yeah, you had a GT18, I just had that exact same tractor til recently. It had one bad flat rear tire, a bunch of frame rust, didn't steer great unless it was moving foward, smoked a bit and deck needed work. Paid 75 bucks for it, sold the side shaft briggs twin for 130 bucks, swapped the front axle onto my Dayton and scrapped the rest minus transaxle. There is another in my area for 150 with no deck. I have a video of that GT18 with me driving it.

[@76hotrodF250]

My own experience with older mowers, are that they are normally better at cutting grass and are built better than new ones. I went and looked at new MTD riders, plastic plastic plastic everywhere. Craftsmans are just as bad now, in fact Murray and MTD build some of the lower end models, and AYP(Husquvarna) builds the high end models. Fun fact, Murray is owned by Briggs and Stratton, Murray doesn't build there own riders anymore, MTD does. Saves on production by Briggs.

[@chestercountysites4128]

Hechinger's: one of the best and longest lasting mowers ever sold. I have a Hechinger's tractor and rear wheel drive push mower, about 24 years old and still running. They just don't make them like this any more.

[@76hotrodF250]

You got that right, they don't build them to last anymore

[@ClassicTVMan1981X]

This whole era seemed to bottom out after both The Home Depot and Lowe's went national in the mid 1990s and early 2000s, respectively. That put many smaller home improvement centers out of business, including Hechinger's as well as HomeBase (formerly HomeClub), Pay 'n Pak and Ernst (the last two both in Seattle, WA), leaving only True Value and Ace Hardware among the smaller mom-'n-pop home improvement stores to still exist today.

[@Ratchet-strap-Garage]

Would you happen to have a spare steering drag link for one of these old mtd riders ? I got a 1988 mtd 12hp 38in deck rider that's missing the drag link. I cant find one anywhere

[@suchfunstuff]

That is unusual. At first I thought is was a later 828 or something with the 2 speed/ Varidrive. I think they are pretty rare, seeing it's a 800 frame with a top drive 5 speed. Cool stuff.

[@ClassicTVMan1981X]

If the code number on the engine is anything after 87090112 (September 1, 1987), then it would most likely be a 1988 model. Especially if the engine is a "Twin II."

[@76hotrodF250]

Your most welcome.Yeah, I found a FF20 once, thats one of the biggest sears tractor ever made, it was listed as "small tractor" so yeah, you would have never found it by searching for craftsman. Let me know if you ever find one and Good Luck!!!

[@joeseiber5103]

I just got one just like yours with bigger tires on it I was gonna pull the motor for my current mower and scrap the rest is it worth anything

[@76hotrodF250]

Everything is worth something to someone. If its it good shape, sell what you don't want off it, keep old mowers from the scrap when possible. I only scrapped when they were rusted out and I had stripped them of all good parts.

[@jerrytrue4730]

I was wondering if u have a transaxle for sale for a 1980 dayton or know of which mower has my transaxles.

[@TheElgorr]

Dude I love your cat. Where are you looking for mowers? Is cragslist your main source or do you have others? I really like lawn tractors and have two but would like more and you seem to have an endless supply of cheap tractors. Help me if you can.

[@fordbroncodave]

nice haul! use model paint on the letters on the badges

[@durenknives]

nice find for $50, same as that agway mower that you built the mower blade brush guard for isnt it?

[@fordtruck39]

whats the engine look like on that mtd and could you tell me the bvelt pattern on a craftsman 2 its like a 99 ?

[@kevinisam]

I have a 69 mower, I know its a 69 because the only made it for 2 years, and they were both different, but the engine code says 68 so I think the engines were kept in stock for the next year, but hey its hard to say..

[@lobsterbox20]

maybe you could swap the panels from that silver edition onto the dayton.

[@104trucker]

found one today! not a silver edition tho. i will post it later

[@CSAKvids]

@76hotrodF250 Shame MTD is pretty much junk these days. Yeah, I hear you, Ive done that before. Sometimes I just have to let stuff go when I cant afford it. Just like my impulse buy of my 60's Mustang mower. Still not sure how Im gonna get it upto Scotland.

[@DakGuy05]

Any idea which trans is in this? Can't seem to find any info online.

[@76hotrodF250]

Its been a long time ago so I can't remember the model, but it is a peerless or tecumseh transaxle. Search for a website called smallpartswarehouse. There is a parts breakdown section, go to MTD and look for Mtd 700 series, that is the model series for this one. Best of luck.

[@Silverpup78]

nice video

[@76hotrodF250]

Yeah, there good tractors, built with American pride and heavy gauge steel. The new tractors are only nice until you bring it home and start it up for the first time. After that its disappointment, the starters make awful growling, everything is squeaky and clangy, they rattle, the decks are lousy, and they are tough to steer. It is a live and learn experience unfortunately.

[@MrSBChevy]

i come across them badges some times. if they that rare i can send em to ya if i run across.

[@LonnieMccracken-qr1rv]

I need a transaxle for one of these

[@edwardeichhorn996]

does anyone have mtd white 46" hydro vids or info?

[@CSAKvids]

Meant to say...that is odd**

[@joeemmerich6677]

do you want 1 more

[@76hotrodF250]

The newer they are, the worse they get. The add so much stupid electronics that are unnecessary and overpriced, over complicated unneeded engines. New tractors and mowers are gimmicks. Give me a 70s Sears suburban or Super 12 or an old wheelhorse or MTD from the 80s.