Scotts L1742 3.50 star(s) (2)

Scotts 1742 w/42'' 2 stage snowblower
Model Year: 2001

Its a gear drive tractor with a 42" deck and a 42" 2 stage snow blower. 17 horsepower Briggs single cylinder. I bought it for a friend. I paid $200. It needed a solenoid, battery, wheel weights and chains. And the main drive pulley off the engine failed. Got it welded back together for $20. I spent $140 in parts--some of which came from Craigslist. Altogether, it cost me less than $400. I know it says Scotts by John Deere, but its an MTD. It seems a little flimsy for operating what appears to be a very well built 2 stage snow blower, with zerk fittings everywhere. It became the L series John Deere. Does anyone have experience with these as snow blowers? My friend is not very handy and lives a distance from me. He has a 1000 foot gravel driveway to clear. Some of the grade is 15, or degrees, or more. Its a winding driveway on the side of a mountain. Do you think this will this work? I don't want them to have a batch of headaches.

Pros: The price--$400 seems very inexpensive.
Cons: Questionable durability.

Photo Uploads:

Overall Good Machine, Has a Weak Part
Model Year: 2000

I bought this new in 2000 and used it for my own yard only. Overall it was a good tractor, unfortunately I lost it in the flood here on Long Island last October. The original battery only lasted about a year. I replaced it with a Die Hard that I still had when it went under water. My only complaint is the grass catching attachment was horrible. It needed constant adjusting to keep it on the tractor and was always leaving clippings on the lawn. It did not seat correctly and always looked like it was falling off the machine from the rear. At the discharge chute it was always falling out of its proper place. This also caused it to slip into the blade and get mangled. I had to replace it at a price of $83.00 a few times. Although built by John Deere, it is definitely not the same quality.

Pros: Dependable.
Cons: Grass collection system.