Husqvarna ride on mowers

[george mavridis]

Hi all

We are purchasing a block with 1.5 acres, mainly grass areawith a few trees and a medium slope. Iam looking at buying a ride on mower and the local dealer has suggested theHusqvarna LTH2142DR. Has anyone have one of these orused one. I am looking for any advice on this mower and what thoughts are as toit’s pros and cons.

[robbygard]

i don't have that particular model but i have an all wheel drive out front articulated model with a combi 112 deck (for 21/2 acres) .... it is about five years old now and apart from blades (which with the lift up deck are simple to change) it has gone through a couple of drive belts only (many fewer than my previous rideon) .. they are quite difficult to change and indeed i got the service agent to do it ... not in the instructions but i now lube the pulleys occasionally with a hi moly spray (same as i use on the tablesaw) as a non spinning idler pulley was what caused the last belt to go

i am very happy with the mower and the brand

regards david

[malb]

Not familiar with the model that you are quoting, but have seen one 17 series unit a couple of years ago which was then about 5 years old. The battery was mounted below the seat but above the input shaft and cooling fan for the transmission in a flimsy lightweight plastic frame. This machine had done it's share of kerb hopping etc and cracked the plastic frame allowing the battery to drop onto the shaft/fan assembly breaking the fan blades off. The shaft then wore a hole in the battery case which dumped the acid over the gearbox and started eating away the alloy transmission housing. There are a lot of similar configuration machines from a variety of makers using the same layout. A replacement transmission was between $1-2K. This machine operated permanently on a single site and was housed there, so didn't have a lot of travel in a trailer etc to cause the issue.

I would check if the machine used the same layout, and if it did, make sure that the machine was operated on smooth surfaces, and check the battery holder each time for cracks, and replace it when they show up.

Otherwise they seem to be fairly robust machines if well maintained.

[Xanthorrhoeas]

No experience with your brand, sorry. If you are also looking at other brands I have had a Viking and would not recommend them as it chewed through belts - but I may be being a bit harsh as it lasted 10 years! I have a John Deere X300 and it is a good, solid mower and pulls a trailer well. Hope this helps.

[shedbound]

I have the yth1848xp with the kawasaki motor, good unit, except for the three cutters, 2 would be better, in the longer grass the middle cutter seems to spend more time trying to to clear itself rather than cut. Been through a few belts, but otherwise it has had an absolute flogging on five acres. I like the hydrostatic drive, but is painfully slow in reverse. Its a few years old now, i am unfamiliar with the newer units.

My main gripe is the fuel tank under the seat is a 2 piece moulded tank, and it had to be plastic welded after the two halves separated down one side, now the other side has separated.