Beware of Husqvarna Garden Tractors, Front Scoop "Capable"?

[ning]

Did you not do your homework before buying the scoop? Seems like manufacturer knew all along. I also wonder if the metal thickness is sufficient for this type of GTH.

Ideally, equipment sold with options should properly support those options, and the "homework" should be walking into the store and buying the thing.
Given how modern companies act, though, I understand the comment, the negativity should be directed to the company that builds the tractor that won't support what they sell for it.

Regardless, this is a well-written write-up which will serve future people as a good source of "homework", not that they should have to depend on such stuff.

 

[RandyT]

Sundstrand transaxles are technically still around just not made the way they were years ago. Sundstrand partnered with Agri-Fab in a 60/40 split and formed Hydro-Gear.

 

[Rock Crawler]

While I don't personally know anyone who has, I know OF many on other websites who make a practice of it. Many of the 70s and 80s models Simplicities, JDs and quite a few sold by Sears were made with that capability in mind. I've read that the Sundstrand transaxles were just about the best of the kind and many are still running strong today. If I could have found a reliable machine of that era in good condition for a reasonable price, I might have gone that way instead of the SCUT.

This is a JD 318 with a 44 FEL and I'm not sure, but the BH may be an aftermarket add-on. Sold from '83 -'92 they had an 18HP gas engine, but there was a diiesel version also (332). The 400 series had factory FELs available too I believe.

Dude, you just totally made my point! The tractors you desire.... Are still on the market brand new today! Go pick out whatever color of SCUT you prefer and be happy. I bet price wise.... Same/same. What was retail on an entry level late 80's yard mower, and what was it on a loader/backhoe JD in the late 80's?

I bet if you look at that and factor in 35 years of inflating, you'll explain your own confusion to yourself. You are silly to think that a 2019 GT that is only $3500-$4000 is a match to the machines that your talking about.

I don't want to be rude, so I'll stop there. But I look at it this way.... My LG OLED TV cost more than my little GT. My ProRock axles in my Wrangler each cost more than that little GT. Heck, my winter beater 04 Grand Prix GT cost more than my little GT. That thing, priced at $3700.... It's an inexpensive product in today's market yet offers great value for that very low cost.

I think your head/mindset is stuck in the 80's!

 

[Rock Crawler]

$3700 today is $1750 in 1986.

Did that JD you show in the photo roll off of the dealers lot for $1750? I'm very very doubtful.

 

[Diggin It]

I'm not confused. I'm saying yesterday's garden tractors are today's SCUTs. Today's 'garden tractors' that the OP is on about are nothing but yesterday's lawn tractors with different transmissions and tires, but NOT framed properly for loaders.

 

[Rock Crawler]

Re: Beware of Husqvarna Garden Tractors, Front Scoop "Capable"?

That JD 318? $4999 MSRP bare naked, no deck, nothing. Your totally making my point! In today's money that thing is $12,870 bare. No deck. No loader. No backhoe. Gas engine.

These people want to compare a value leader in today's market that is a fraction of the price that they want to compare against. The OP is the one I'm really frustrated with.

 

[CalG]

When I read threads such as this one, it makes me appreciate the Bolens HT-23 more. ;-)

That is a "real" garden tractor that continues to serve me well after more than 20 years service and it came to me "beat and broken".

Good iron and steel!

 

[cdaigle430]

Ideally, equipment sold with options should properly support those options, and the "homework" should be walking into the store and buying the thing.
Given how modern companies act, though, I understand the comment, the negativity should be directed to the company that builds the tractor that won't support what they sell for it.

Regardless, this is a well-written write-up which will serve future people as a good source of "homework", not that they should have to depend on such stuff.

There is nothing negative about my comment-just a question. Do you folks not research comparability and recommendations on all implements you buy for your investment? Where is personal responsibility here? Never assume...

The OP indicated he\she assumed it would work because it worked for other brands that are supposedly cheaper.

I bought a huge 60 inch heavy Woodmax Snowblower for my little GC2410. I researched weight, 3pt hitch compatibility and HP rating. No one else had one of these monsters on a GC2410 so I couldn't ask. Based on my home work I just closed my eyes and ordered it, hope for the best. Turned out to be a blessing....however if it didnt work out and I broke my GC2410 I knew it was all on me.

Key thing is "personal responsibility"


That being said - if Husvarna stated in its sales literature that it will support a front scoop then its all on Husvarna

But as the OP stated the frame bends even with a front mount snowblower as well then yes I side with the OP-WTF Husvarna Engineers-you know better.

 

[ruffdog]

Garden tractors??? I'm seeing pictures of lawn tractors from big box stores. Who would think hanging a bunch of weight off the front of these mowers is a good idea? Do any of these examples have a cast iron front axle, or do they have one of those stamped steel units?

 

[Rock Crawler]

Garden tractors??? I'm seeing pictures of lawn tractors from big box stores. Who would think hanging a bunch of weight off the front of these mowers is a good idea? Do any of these examples have a cast iron front axle, or do they have one of those stamped steel units?

The Husqvarna TS348/TS354 have the cast iron front axle, but the frames are not intended for bearing additional weight of buckets. They are not the older style C channel similar to your trailer frames, instead they are now stamped plate that is bolted together. My assumption is that they followed the thinking of car manufacturers with unibody construction... lighter, cheaper and still reasonably strong for the intended function. That said, the lighter/cheaper frame on the Husqvarna has been shown in rare cases to fracture at the rear axle mounting points. This is where the plate is bent at a 90° angle to make horizontal pads thet rest on the top of the rear axle casting. It appears that if overly stressed, that bend radius fatigues and fractures along the long axis of the bend. It is not a widespread failure, but it does exist. If an older C channel type frame were still employed, I would not expect to ever hear of this type of cyclic fatigue failure.

All of the products we buy today are being "engineered" to minimize material use and push the envelope of ultimate reliability downward. It's the modern way of doing business. How cheaply can you produce a product and remain within an acceptable failure/warranty percentage. These companies calculate, track and trend failures, warranty claim costs and life spans of products and manage those facts as they are deciding what and where to cut material costs to enhance the bottom line.

But I do think it is unreasonable to compare an inexpensive modern box store or dealer sold garden tractor to a unit like the John Deere referenced a few posts above that had a corrected price of 3 times that of the modern GT. These folks did not buy a brand new 1985 JD for $1,750 and toss a loader and hoe on it. To compare a modern $3700 unit to a 30+ year old $5,000 (bare base tractor only) is totally unrealistic. The issue less about the product, and more about unreasonable expectations. Go buy a SCUT at similar inflation corrected money to that JD yesterday and the argument dies really fast.