Don't want to get my head chopped off - but....
My old iron tractors, be it an IHCC or other color tractor frequently need attention. I guess it's just an old age thing. It's getting the same way with me too...
But I bought an MTD Cub Cadet lawn tractor, LTX1042, and it is one fine machine. I bought it for my Wife and kids to use about 3 yrs ago. I can't have Momma chopping off my head everytime she walks out and the tractor won't start, got itself flooded, have to check the oil, change gears or hand on the hydro lever, set in a ragged seat, air up a tire and on and on and on. For me - it's all part of the deal with these old tractors. Some go longer without any tinkering, others are as frequent as a deadbeat milking the free lunch. The other thing is safety. This MTD CC has a ton of safety stuff and I'm feel better about them tooling around on it. It also has foot controlled hydro which is crazy easy to use.
My view is - after having it for 3 yrs now - is it's a very high quality tractor. Is it heavy duty like the IHCC - not even close. I think it will last at least 10 years or more. I tell everyone, don't mow rocks and don't snag the deck on a tree root or sidewalk and the tractor will last.
However...
I think that if you can learn (which I'm trying to do with these IHCC's), you can definatly make a $$$'s case for buying a $300 IHCC, spending some $$$'s in refurb - even to the point of paying as much for the MTD CC's and having a tractor that will last another 30 or 40 years, even if you mow rocks or snag rocks with the deck...