Husqvarna Mowers Good or Bad?

fpappal

Member
I am considering a new Husqvarna mainly because I have a local dealer. I am not sure about their reliability however. I have always been a JD guy but my local dealer closed and the nearest one is 30 minutes away. I am looking at the middle quality machines, not the ones you can buy at the big box stores. Something like a YT48DXLS. The Deere I am looking at is the S240. Any thoughts? I like the fact that I can stop in to the local dealer and ask questions/pick up parts/warranty work.
 
Those are both glorified big box machines with the infamous Tuff Torq K46 transmission.
You'll be ok if you have a smaller lawn and it's flat and you don't mind replacing every few years.
 
I see that K46 is used in a lot of machines. How can you get around it? I have only owned mowers with an actual gear shift and they have lasted forever(my current JD LT133 is almost 20 years old). I see those days are now gone and my only option is hydrostatic. I am actually helping my cousin buy a new mower for her house. I will be the one doing all the maintenance so I am looking for a decent machine that will not require much. She has about 1.5 acres. What would you suggest? She tells me should would like to spend around $3500, does that even buy a decent machine now?
 
fpappal,
The S240 with the Accel deck & the FS600V is a nice machine for $3K.
I wouldn't sweat the K46. Keep it cleaned out with a leaf blower, compressed air....
Use the blower down into the engine too.

I've read complaints about the ClearCut deck on the MZ Series packing up.

A few years ago I added an LT-133 to the fleet to tow wagons & sprayer.
Great little tractor.
Small turning radius.
 
I have one. 46" cut with a 22Hp Briggs and Stratton engine. It does OK.
This is my sixth year on it. I mow an acre's worth about every week during the rainy season and once a month during the dry times.
Two years ago one ignition coil went out. Replaced it.
On my third set of blades. The cutting edge was OK but the turned up back side wears down. Doesn't throw the clippings out.
Bought it at the big box store in town.
 
I work for a Husqvarna dealer. (Service Tech.) I don't see a lot of problems with those K46 transaxles at all.

It was the plastic transaxles in the YTA models that I couldn't keep running. I was told they aren't going to be anymore made with that transmission and I am glad of it. When one did come into the shop, if it was still under warranty, Husqvarna made us jump through a lot of hoops before they would let us replace the transmission.
 
I have two Husqvarna machines. The smaller unit is a 46 inch with a transplanted 21hp Briggs and Stratton Vtwin. The original Kohler blew up. This past week I rebuilt the deck with new mandrels and idlers. Oil change and air filter, and gas filter too. Still running great with Hundreds of hours. The thing this engine needed was a new carburetor from Ebay. For around $30.oo it now runs fantastically. The big machine is the Husqvarna 2254 with a 6 speed manual tranny. This machine was VERY used when I bought it and spent several years tinkering with it till I got her fully rebuilt and repaired. What a BEAST of a machine. "ESTATE" machine. Make sure you buy one that is made by AYP. American Yard Products. These are the better upper end machines. For goodness sakes get a Briggs engine !!! If the machine you buy has the larger 24x10x12 wheels they unusually have the heavy duty hydrostatic rears. Ask a lot of questions !!!! Afew dollars more can make a big difference in the machine you end up with. I love my Husqvarna .machines. First picture is the 46 after I put her deck back on. The new carburator works fantastic. This is the 2254 at the Batsto show last year. Crud accidentally loaded photo of my Expedition after I finished putting LED bulbs in every fixture. Like "Daytime" now.
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By the way....if you have any up, down, or grades in your lawn, load the tires with windshield low temp washer stuff. Drops the center of gravity a good couple of inches on the machine. Makes them MUCH less tippy and the tires grip better. All of my mowers have loaded tires. Well worth the time to do it. We can tell you how if you want to do it.
 
The Husqvarna TS348XD has the K66 transaxle which is significantly better than the K46.
$3500 should buy one. Mowers Direct has them listed for $3200.

I am partial to the older John Deeres. She could buy a repowered John Deere 318 with a
deck for that kind of money, and it will still outlast the newer ones.
I also like the Toro/Wheel Horse models and the Jacobsen/Ford/etc models.

If time permits, walk down the line of display models at the dealer until you find a
tractor that has the wheel mounted with lug nuts. That tractor will have the better transaxle.
 
We have a 15- 42 hydrostatic Husqvarna lawn tractor that has been very good, bought it new in 01. Only routine maintenance, oil changes, a couple of belts, and blades. No deck bearing changes, and no grease zerks! It has a good bagger too. Our son had a 54 inch Husqvarna zero turn with a Kohler, it seems to be a good machine too.
 
I have two with 54 inch decks one has a kawasaki 26 horse twin the other a 25 horse briggs twin I have a 48 inch snow blower on the briggs unit weighted and chained for winter use the Kawasaki has a homemade loader on both have over 500 hours with no major issues on either one I mow between 3 and 5 acres of grass a week with each
 
I like the Big Box Store twin blade 46" deep discharge, stamped deck, because it doesn't clog on wet spring grass like every other machine I ever had. Originally it had the 20 hp Kohler Courage single and it was a junker. Replaced with a BS 20 hp from ebay and things are fine. Put neighbor onto a new one a couple of years ago and they now come with 22 hp V twins now, not Kohler. Really more power than the mower needs. Don't remember when I bought mine but it's been quite awhile and the engine was the only problem I had with it. I did change out the seat springs for a softer ride.
 
I sold several of the units just in Dixon blue paint, Husqvarna built. sold there products for over twelve years, still have shop full of new parts. I did not have much trouble with them. all mowers out there basically have the same trannies , engines etc under the sheet metal.let me know if I can help where are ya
 
Thanks for all the replies. I am still looking at my options but I think I am leaning towards the JD X350, which is $3300 right now. I like the Kawasaki engine and the 4 year warranty. I need to go to my Husqvarna dealer and look at their machines in person still. I will know more when I actually can sit on one and get a feel for it.
One thing that makes me a little nervous about the Husqvarana is the reviews on their own website. They are not all that great. Most people seem to complain about how the machine cuts, deck clogs up, does not throw grass very far, uneven, etc.
 
"Most people seem to complain about how the machine cuts, deck clogs up, does not throw grass very far, uneven, etc."

I have a JD L110, Hustler Fastrak 44 ZT, Husqvarna 20-46, and a Ferris S700ZT 61 for lawn mowers. I'll put my varied terrain up against anybody's. In the spring, when the grass is full of water, what do I use? The Husq. because it does all the things these people say they don't do! So much for reviews.
 
I've only been around to Husqvarna mowers. Both were junk and nothing but trouble from day one. I'll never buy one.
 
I have a 2-year old JD X-570 that I have been extremely happy with. My 1st JD purchase but I will say that overall it's a really impressive machine. The JD engineering approach isn't perfect in all areas but the parts quality is good and robust.

I mow about an acre and use a 44" snow blower on the machine to do my 1/4 mile driveway in the winter and I am at 99 hrs on the clock. I would definitely buy another JD mower after this experience. They are pricey but if you look at the resale numbers on them you see there's a large following and they hold value well.

Good luck with your decision.
 
I have a 52XLS. This is a dealer unit, higher quality mower than the big box store models. It has the 24hp Kawasaki engine, heavy fabricated deck and the Hydrogear transaxle which has an external oil filter. I have had it about 7 years and have 250 hours on it. So far decent mower. Two problems so far. The front wheel spindle bushing are plastic and lasted about 4 years. I replaced them with standard oil bronze bushings from a hardware store. The second problem was the mower drive belt tensioning spring broke. Dealer had it in stock.

With any mower, John Deere, Cub Cadet, Husqvarna, they make higher quality more expensive units sold at dealers. The big box store ones look nice but are not built the same.
 
I think one is Iowa and the other is S. Carolina but I wasn't sure so I inserted a general term. You can look it up.
 
I have a 15 hp 42" bought in 2002 with over 1000 hrs.Blades and belts have been the only parts replaced.Also have a 23 hp 42" three blade fabricated deck.It is 5 years old with 280 hrs with no problems at all.Both have Kawasaki engines that have not been touched other than oil and filter changes. Thanks
 

I had a LGT2554. Bought it used with 600-some hours on it. Had a Kohler Command 2 cyl. It ran well, always started. Did a nice job mowing. No issues for three seasons...until a rear axle broke. I was able to weld it and seemed to be fine, but sold it at a consignment auction. It was really too big for my yard. I'd buy another one.
 

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