Not a bad little machine there mate, I quite like the rear engine layout for ride on mowers!
However, there is one issue i had with out old rear engined MTD, if you are in a fairly dry area, watch out for clippings and leaves building up around the muffler. I remember being 13, and realising i was sitting on a chair on a fuel tank, with a nice fire behind me!
Maybe our old MTD was just poorly designed!
