Buying Advice Deere VS Husqvarna

[peaksjam]

New guy here... looking for some advice since I've run myself silly with research and night after night of "sleeping on it"... I'm actually thinking I'll just keep cutting this acre lot with my 21" push mower if it keeps me from having to read anything more about lawn tractors...

So, I've narrowed down my search to the John Deere X300 and the Husqvarna YTH24V48LS. Like I said, I've got about an acre of sort of level yard with a few bumps and small rises. I want something that will leave a really nice cut and also allow me to pull a wagon loaded with mulch, firewood, rocks, whatever needs moving that day. Also, I want to aerate my yard and have the ability to do some other stuff should the need arise. It may never arise, but that's beside the point.

So, I thought that the X300 was going to be the deal. Really nice machine. Well built, good name, Kawasaki engine at 18 hp, good warranty, super color scheme. Sitting right at 3k.

But then I came across the Husky. 24 hp Kawasaki, locking differential, bigger deck, three bills cheaper.

My initial response was to go with the Husky because I hate the idea of spending more on less, but I couldn't find a single customer review of this specific machine while the x300 had page after page of positive reviews. I made up my mind to go buy the X300 today and chickened out when I got to the store.

I guess what I'm looking for is someone with some personal experience with the Husky to ease my mind that it's going to be a good machine for the long term. My needs aren't huge, but I do have to run up and down a pretty good grade to access the grass at the bottom of my driveway and I don't want to be spinning halfway up. Especially if I'm trying to carry a cart of sticks.

It comes down to this, for me. Is 18 hp enough to do everything that I want and is the John Deere name worth the extra? Or should I trust in the husky that offers more machine for a lot less? The equivalent machines at JD were in the 5k range.

Super long post for the new guy, I know... I'm very appreciative of any advice you guys might have!

Thanks,
Jason

 

[beenthere]

:welcome:

Deere...they make tractors, not sewing machines and chainsaws.

 

[peaksjam]

I'm assuming the winkie means you're kidding, but this is a dire situation


see, now you've got me doing it.


So, what you're saying is that I should buy the machine that's 3 hundred dollars more, lacks 6 horsepower, is missing the locking differential, and has a smaller deck?

I keep trying to drink the Kool Aid, but it just hasn't taken effect yet

 

[buckshot721]

You answered your own question, get the Deere and you won't be sorry. How many times would you use a locker? I got them on all four Deeres and rarely use them if at all. And I doubt you will notice the 6 more HP. Bigger is not always better, unless your using it for a tractor puller! And warranties, I don't really see to many Husky dealers around, might be some but I have not seen any. Good luck with whatever you get!

 

[Gale Hawkins]

Before we bought our Swisher Zero turn I ran into to some used Husqvarna models that had not held up too well but had no use history.

 

[mjncad]

From what I've heard, the X300 uses the same Tuff-Torq K46 transaxle as the box store Deere lawn tractors, and that tranny is not so good. Most people suggest an X320 as the starting point because it has a better tranny.

Remember, parts and service should also be factored into the equation. What happens if that Husqy pukes and parts and/or service aren't close?

 

[James Loehr]

In my area we have a great Husqvarna dealer with a full line repair shop. I see lots of Deere tractors in his shop for repair. If you have a Husqvarna dealer like that then it's not even a close call.

 

[Spindifferent]

I have a Deere 3520 tractor and a Husqvarna YTH2348 lawn tractor. The Husqvarna is used for mowing 1.5 acres of grass around the house, and the Deere is for everything else - rotary cutting pasture, discing, plowing, loader work.

I spent lots of time comparing the Deere and Husqvarna lawn tractors, and in the end, the Husqvarna had more features for less money than the low-end Deere units.

The Husqvarna only has 63 hours on it and it's worked great so far. Maintenance is easy, the 23hp engine is strong, the k46 tranny has done well pulling dump carts and chicken tractors along with mowing mostly flat land. The unit also has grease zerks for front wheels and blade mandrels.

Time will certainly tell how it holds up, but so far, so good.

The Deere has been a great machine as well.

- Spindifferent

 

[jenkinsph]

I would recommend the Deere x320 with the better K58 transmission. I think this would be ideal for what you want to do. I have an L130 with the K46 transmission and have about 240 hrs on it, I have lost about 30-40% of the top speed allready. I will have to rebuild the tranny soon at a cost of several hundred dollars.

Don't know any thing about the Husqvarna but if it has the same K46 tranny as the x300 I would pass on it also. Might want to inquire about a Husky with a better tranny too.

 

[stevess]

ot, the new snapper models look pretty nice but i have not looked closely enough at them to make a judgement. consumer reports rated them highly as well as the deere.i'm going on 12 years on my ariens gear drive series but i doubt the new ones are as robust. other than a flat tire i have not had a single issue with this machine.
steve
bx25

 

[PoorMansCat]

I have almost that same Husqvarna.. except its got the briggs engine. I have REALLY worked that one hard and it has been flawless. It currently has 200+ hours on it.
Mine is approx. 4-5 years old and back then, Husqvarna was building them in-house. I'm not sure if they still do, or if, like many of the John Deere, they have been farmed out to MTD.
Very few riding mowers are actually built by the company named on the sticker anymore..

 

[MrFoPow]

I'd go with a JD over a Husq.

I've just heard too many horror stories surrounding Husq tractors.

So far my CC GT has been good to me.

 

[Code54]

May want to do a quick search on here for the Husq. as there was a recent thread about how many people were having problems with theirs. We had one, for about 3 months, after the forth breakdown I was done with it. I personally will NEVER buy another Husq. again after my exp. with them.

 

[BleedGreen]

4-5 years old and back then, Husqvarna was building them in-house. I'm not sure if they still do, or if, like many of the John Deere, they have been farmed out to MTD.
Very few riding mowers are actually built by the company named on the sticker anymore..

??? Where do you get your information? You are correct that most do not build thier own, but that is certainly not the case with Deere.

AYP currently builds the Husky and I am almost positive that they did not build thier own machines 4-5 years ago, not that it really matters now.

All of the Select Series (X300, X500, X700) are built by John Deere in Horicon Wisconsin. The big box 100 Series are built by John Deere in Greenville Tennessee.

 

[peaksjam]

Just wanted to thank everyone for the input.

I'm off to purchase a new JD X300 this morning. I've talked to a buddy who has had one for a couple of years and loves it. Sounds like his does all I'm going to need mine to do.

I would love to step up to the x320, but I just can't justify the extra thousand dollars. From what I've read, that'll buy me 2 more transmissions if I need 'em

Thanks again for all of the help. Feel free to keep the discussion going, I love to see a good debate. Give me a couple years and I might be able to join in with some real world experience in the lawn tractor field.

Have a great weekend!

Jason

 

[mdelmarcelle]

I haven't driven either one of those machines, but I do own a JD F725 mower. It is a bit different than those machines, but what I like about JD is their parts availability. Not sure what Husky has to offer, but I believe JD has the best website out there. You can look up parts schematics for any model, order parts online to be delivered or picked up at the dealer, and with my local dealers, I can see the parts inventory right on the JD website. That has come in handy even for basic parts like blades and filters and such. And when I need to repair something not so basic, the parts schematics help to identify exactly what parts are needed and the cost.

I don't agree with the post that said the locking diff isn't all that necessary. I use it all the time on slopes. These machines don't have R1 tractor tires and they will be prone to spin their tires on slopes. A locking diff makes a big difference.

 

[bicarey]

I'm in a similar place. Trying to decide between the Craftsman YT4000 (which is made by Husqvarna) vs. John Deer D130/140.

Both have B&S engines but otherwise they are pretty comparable. The price differance is about $400 and not sure if it's worth the extra money for JD.

Anyone have a strong opnion/recommendation?

 

[BleedGreen]

The specs I see show that the Craftsman YT4000 has a 6 Speed gear transmission, 13 ga mower deck with 6 mowing positions (between 1.5 and 4") and a 24hp B&S v-twin engine. The frame is a bolted rail style made of 11-gauge steel. I believe it has a steel hood.

The Deere D130 has a twin pedal Hydrostatic transmission, 12-gauge mower deck with 13 positions (between 1" and 4") and a 22hp B&S v-twin engine. The hood is made of injection-molded, UV-resistant "JD Loy" polymer. The solid one-piece frame is constructed of 12-gauge steel and is Full-length robotically welded with high-strength steel rails for added strength and long life.

 

[LBrown59]

I came across the Husky. 24 hp Kawasaki, locking differential, bigger deck, three bills cheaper.

You have me a bit :confused2: here.
You titled this thread
Buying Advice Deere VS Husqvarna
But here you are talking about a Huskie.
Husqvarna and Huskie are 2 different brands built by 2 different companies.
Husqvarna is built by AYP.
Huskie is built by MTD.
So what tractor are you talking about?