The truth is the MTD tillers are not a sealed unit and will leak like a sieve, and allow water intrusion through every opening it can find. I have pulled apart more than my fair share of the rear tine tillers to find them full of water and rust. Seized shift forks are an everyday event with those The shaft where the shift collar moves will look like it has been soaked in acid.looks like it got really wet is what he was saying. That kind of rust doesn't form in a dry environment.