New gt3100...first thoughts

Grasswhacker · May 26, 2006

Just took delivery of a new gt3100, and mowed about 2 acres today. I knew of MTDs failings in the QC department, but I have to say my feelings about it now border on disgust....
The hood will not close squarely. Apparently a mechanic at the dealer discovered (or caused) this, and attempted to use some type of tool to shim the hood up under the dash plastic squarely. Both edges of the hood under the dash are scratched, and most of the leading edge of the paint is missing. The deck stop control will not turn in either direction, and the decal on the left side of the hood is already peeling off about an inch. The decal peeling I was prepared for....the other things are inexcusable on a $6k mower.

I realized that these things could perhaps be a result of poor setup, rather than being exclusively the fault of MTD, but I'm suffering a HUGE case of buyer's remorse. I'm certain the dealer will remedy the problems, but I hate the fact that it has already come to that. I'm in agriculture - it's farming season - and the dealer is 25 miles away. I didn't pay for top quality, I know. But I feel I DID pay for something.... /forums/images/graemlins/mad.gif

Grasswhacker · May 26, 2006

Just took delivery of a new gt3100, and mowed about 2 acres today. I knew of MTDs failings in the QC department, but I have to say my feelings about it now border on disgust....
The hood will not close squarely. Apparently a mechanic at the dealer discovered (or caused) this, and attempted to use some type of tool to shim the hood up under the dash plastic squarely. Both edges of the hood under the dash are scratched, and most of the leading edge of the paint is missing. The deck stop control will not turn in either direction, and the decal on the left side of the hood is already peeling off about an inch. The decal peeling I was prepared for....the other things are inexcusable on a $6k mower.

I realized that these things could perhaps be a result of poor setup, rather than being exclusively the fault of MTD, but I'm suffering a HUGE case of buyer's remorse. I'm certain the dealer will remedy the problems, but I hate the fact that it has already come to that. I'm in agriculture - it's farming season - and the dealer is 25 miles away. I didn't pay for top quality, I know. But I feel I DID pay for something.... /forums/images/graemlins/mad.gif

JTKub · May 26, 2006

Yep. I hear ya. If you can overlook the cosmetic stuff, the 2 & 3K series are still a heavy-duty machine for the money. I know there are lots of opinions on it, but I hate the fit and attachment points of the hood and side panels on the sheet metal hooded 2 & 3K series. Too many floating metal to metal or metal to plastic contact points. The spring pins and plastic wing nuts on my 2544 side panels are a joke. Thankfully they dont have to messed with too often. The stickers eventually stayed stuck on after mashing them back in place 100x.

Joel

JTKub · May 26, 2006

Yep. I hear ya. If you can overlook the cosmetic stuff, the 2 & 3K series are still a heavy-duty machine for the money. I know there are lots of opinions on it, but I hate the fit and attachment points of the hood and side panels on the sheet metal hooded 2 & 3K series. Too many floating metal to metal or metal to plastic contact points. The spring pins and plastic wing nuts on my 2544 side panels are a joke. Thankfully they dont have to messed with too often. The stickers eventually stayed stuck on after mashing them back in place 100x.

Joel

Grasswhacker · May 26, 2006

( ....I hate the fit and attachment points of the hood and side panels on the sheet metal hooded 2 & 3K series. Too many floating metal to metal or metal to plastic contact points. The spring pins and plastic wing nuts on my 2544 side panels are a joke. )

EXACTLY! When I picked my tractor up, I was looking it over before the mechanic got there to do the run-through of operation instructions. I had taken the side panel off, and ended up needing to borrow some pliers from the mechanic to get the spring pin to pull through the panel....I think I spent so much time doing this, that I missed the hood scratches, etc. until I got home.

In reality, I'm sure it will be a fine tractor. I probably came off as a little too whiny, but needed to do a little venting /forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif. I probably take purchasing decisions a little TOO seriously. I didn't NEED a 3100....but I was willing to pay the money to get to the 2k/3k series in order to get a seriously durable 15 yr+ machine. The little quality quirks of MTD (and perhaps some careless mechanics) can't help but put questions in the customers minds that durability was in fact bought. I realize most of my concerns were cosmetic, but perception of quality is much of what makes a nice machine enjoyable for me. Perceptions are easily changed by the little things.....

At any rate, tomorrow I'll finish mowing, and I plan on a little aerating/fertilizing as well. A little more seat time might be wise before I complain too much more. /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Grasswhacker · May 26, 2006

( ....I hate the fit and attachment points of the hood and side panels on the sheet metal hooded 2 & 3K series. Too many floating metal to metal or metal to plastic contact points. The spring pins and plastic wing nuts on my 2544 side panels are a joke. )

EXACTLY! When I picked my tractor up, I was looking it over before the mechanic got there to do the run-through of operation instructions. I had taken the side panel off, and ended up needing to borrow some pliers from the mechanic to get the spring pin to pull through the panel....I think I spent so much time doing this, that I missed the hood scratches, etc. until I got home.

In reality, I'm sure it will be a fine tractor. I probably came off as a little too whiny, but needed to do a little venting /forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif. I probably take purchasing decisions a little TOO seriously. I didn't NEED a 3100....but I was willing to pay the money to get to the 2k/3k series in order to get a seriously durable 15 yr+ machine. The little quality quirks of MTD (and perhaps some careless mechanics) can't help but put questions in the customers minds that durability was in fact bought. I realize most of my concerns were cosmetic, but perception of quality is much of what makes a nice machine enjoyable for me. Perceptions are easily changed by the little things.....

At any rate, tomorrow I'll finish mowing, and I plan on a little aerating/fertilizing as well. A little more seat time might be wise before I complain too much more. /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

KJO · May 30, 2006

Welcome to the club! I have one of those tractors also. I am still undecided as to what I bought there. In other words...the jury is still out. I like the Kohler Command 23 HP engine and the hydro seems to be ok. The problem with the hood is that it is more complicated than it needed to be. There isn't any reason why they needed to put a complicated hood hinge system on there like that. The side panels are actually an improvement over our CC 682 where you need to remove wing nuts to remove the panels then fight with the brake pedal to get one of them back on again. The decals on this tractor are just crap. The LH hood decal has never stayed stuck since new and I am going to contact CC about it and get a new decal. I just hope I can get the old one to let go so I can put the replacement on without buggering up the paint.
I think the problem here is...you and I got spoiled with the older, nearly bulletproof equipment we had been running. I have old John Deeres, Cub Cadets and other 30 year old tractors and there were occasionally poor designs, but nothing that stood out as just plain cheap made. The other thing about the old equipment was that it was generally simple made and easily repaired...definitely not so with the new stuff.
The value of the dollar means something different for everyone I realize, but for me...$5 -$6 thousand dollars is still a lot of money for a little tractor for mowing the yard.

KJO · May 30, 2006

Welcome to the club! I have one of those tractors also. I am still undecided as to what I bought there. In other words...the jury is still out. I like the Kohler Command 23 HP engine and the hydro seems to be ok. The problem with the hood is that it is more complicated than it needed to be. There isn't any reason why they needed to put a complicated hood hinge system on there like that. The side panels are actually an improvement over our CC 682 where you need to remove wing nuts to remove the panels then fight with the brake pedal to get one of them back on again. The decals on this tractor are just crap. The LH hood decal has never stayed stuck since new and I am going to contact CC about it and get a new decal. I just hope I can get the old one to let go so I can put the replacement on without buggering up the paint.
I think the problem here is...you and I got spoiled with the older, nearly bulletproof equipment we had been running. I have old John Deeres, Cub Cadets and other 30 year old tractors and there were occasionally poor designs, but nothing that stood out as just plain cheap made. The other thing about the old equipment was that it was generally simple made and easily repaired...definitely not so with the new stuff.
The value of the dollar means something different for everyone I realize, but for me...$5 -$6 thousand dollars is still a lot of money for a little tractor for mowing the yard.

DmansPadge · May 30, 2006

Just a comment about the decals. I've always taken off all my decals. I've done this with my trucks, tractor, and lawn mowers. I think it gives it a cleaner look. I also wax all my stuff and it is easier if there is just smooth paint to care for that having stickers and decals to go around. That is just my opinion... and if stickers were trying to come off on their own... I'd be really happy about it! /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

DmansPadge · May 30, 2006

Just a comment about the decals. I've always taken off all my decals. I've done this with my trucks, tractor, and lawn mowers. I think it gives it a cleaner look. I also wax all my stuff and it is easier if there is just smooth paint to care for that having stickers and decals to go around. That is just my opinion... and if stickers were trying to come off on their own... I'd be really happy about it! /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif