Huskee 38 inch rider opinions

[urrlord]

I was thinking about getting a new riding mower.I was looking at the Huskee 38 inch .I have read many horror stories about the 42 inch riders,I have seen few comments about the 38 inch.Most of the comments I have seen on the 38 inch riders have been positive.I talked with the people at the local TractorSupply and according to them they have had no complaints with this years models.They seemed to feel that MTD dropping the Briggs engines and going to a back engineered Honda clone as their proprietary engine has eliminated most of the problems with the Huskee line.

So the question is "Has any one here had any experience with this years model Huskees w/the new engines?"

 

[urrlord]

I forgot to add the mowers are selling for 799 dollars and I think the engine size is 12.5 hp.

 

[Donald]

I did not think the problem with MTDs was the engine but all the stuff made by MTD. I would still avoid MTD. Airens is sold at HD and I think is much better than anything made by MTD. Is this a geared mower or hydrostatic?

I would ask a few repair shops about Huskee rather than a salesman at TSC.

 

[Pop_Rivit]

Whenever I've gone into (insert name of store carrying an MTD variant) I've never been impressed when I see the lawn mower line up. I can't speak for then engines, but the rest of the mower has a flimsy look and feel to it.

It's also very rare that I see an older MTD variant still working, yet I see lots of older non-MTD lawn and garden tractors still used.

If your budget is less than $1000 there are better options, including a higher quality used unit.

 

[Donald]

I got a used Husqvarna for $400 or $500. That was last year. This year I am replacing the rear tires due to dry rot. But its a great mower. Even has a hour meter and amp-meter.

But I still do some mowing with a walk behind. Some of us can use the exercise.

 

[Bandito440]

I have had astoundingly bad experiences with everything MTD - both their products and customer service.

Ariens is a better choice, or better yet get a quality used item.

 

[HM12460]

I would not want that pile of junk as a gift. Seriously now, put on your thinking cap and find a good used older John Deere, Cub Cadet, or a Wheel Horse. Give it a freshening up and use it for the next 20+ plus years or so. Priced about what this "Huskee" is, and 5x the machine. Somewhere on this sub forum there is a thread on Pop Rivit's John Deere 210. Look at that machine and find one similar on your local craigslist and go look at it.

 

[65f100]

If you don't mind the smaller cutting deck, the Snapper rear-engine rider is very durable and capable.

 

[Tdbo]

I just looked at the TSC site and read the reviews on this tractor. I'm not sure where the positive reviews were, most of them focused on problems with the decks and the spindles. If i bought one, I think that I would frankly be depressed..

I inherited a new MTD tractor once, it had a Coast To Coast Hardware sticker. It mowed my 3/4 acre yard for 7 years, and required nothing more than oil changes until the day it died. Deciding that it would be pointless to put a $450 short block into a $700 tractor, I traded it off for a new Deere. I would say that it was a decent tractor, albeit a throw away one. I doubt that the new MTD offerings would come close to meeting that level of quality.

For your budget, I would look at the AYP offerings (Sears) or put a little more money into it and look at the Husqvarna or even put a little more money in and look at a big box Deere.

My choice in that price point would be to look for a nice,used older Deere. Service it yourself , or spend a few $$ to have it done and you will have a tractor that will outlast two of the TSC specials.

 

[Corvette Owner]

Originally Posted By: 65f100
If you don't mind the smaller cutting deck, the Snapper rear-engine rider is very durable and capable.


Yep, I have a 13 year old Snapper 28 inch riding mower and it is going strong! Had to put on a fuel cutoff last year (new ones come with one) to prevent gas getting into the oil. But has been good except for that. Has a large turning radius though.

 

[KD0AXS]

Home Depot has an Ariens 17.5 HP 42" for $999. Much more for your money IMO. Or as others have said, find a used John Deere, Cub Cadet, etc.

 

[urrlord]

Due to budgetary constraints I usually buy used items .

Right now I have an older Snapper that I am having to take to the shop in the next week or so.I have a Power king tractor that I am redoing the fuel system on ,carb is next.

I'm not fond of Deere products, I had one in the past that was such garbage that I did not mind when it was stolen.

I have been perusing craigslist for a used rider and see a couple that I may check out.

I was just considering getting something new for a change.Thanks for the Home Depot suggestion there is one about 40 miles away where I can look at the Ariens line up.I am not very familiar with Ariens,never seen a dealer in this area.I tend to avoid that Home Depot due to lousy customer service there.But I will check it out.

Thanks people

p.s. the good reviews on the 38 inch Huskee were not on Tractor Supply's website,they were on a mower site that i stumbled across.

 

[JTK]

Originally Posted By: urrlord

p.s. the good reviews on the 38 inch Huskee were not on Tractor Supply's website,they were on a mower site that i stumbled across.


The 38-42" twin-blade decks do leave a decent cut, it's just the machines are entry level, bottom of the barrel (thus the price).

The engines are the least of your worries. They're all good. I'd assume this Huskee uses a belt and variator pulley drive system. Stay away from those. Next step up would be a fender shift gear drive. Still light-duty, but better than a cheap-o variator system.

The low cost Ariens riders mentioned above are a step up and built by AYP/Electrolux (or whatever they're called these days).

 

[Donald]

I have an Airens walk behind mower with Kohler engine and an older Airens 36" snow blower that is a monster. OPE stores do sell Airens so its not only a big box item, although some only carry snow blowers. Airens also makes Sno-Trek (sp?) snow blowers.

On a lower priced model you will probably get a geared transmission.