Executive Summary: Sears, Lowes and Northern Tool all have this garden tractor from Husqvarna. It features a good Kawasaki motor and Husqvarna’s best hi-flow deck. . The “automatic” is easier to drive than a shift-on-the-go trans and the motor is the B&S Gold series with an oil filter. It doesn’t have Craftsman’s Turn Tight 6 inch turning radius but if you want a good lawn tractor JUST to mow lawn and pull a small cart this is a good choice! Even though it is listed as a Garden Tractor it is not as heavy as the Craftsman, Cub Cadet or John Deere Garden Tractors
Brand/Manufacture: Husqvarna
Model/Series: Garden Tractor / LGT24K54 or LGT26K54
Item Number: Item Number Varies By Retailer
Where To Buy:
Sears:Husqvarna 24 HP 54″ Yard Tractor Model# 24047
Lowes: Husqvarna 26-HP V-Twin Dual Hydrostatic 54″ Garden Tractor LGT26K54
Northern Tool: Husqvarna Garden Tractor Model# LGT24K54
Store Pickup: Lowes, Sears, and Northern Tool has buy online, pickup in store Delivery: Sears and Lowes have buy online, have it delivered to your home Ship: Northern Tool will ship to your door for a very reasonable fee.
Street Price: $2299.99- $2599
Basic Quality: (Cheap, Good, Best, Premium, Don’t Buy) This is Husqvarna’s Best Quality. There is a better quality sold at your local Husqvrana Dealer. Husqvarna does not make a tractor styled mower in the premium quality but they do have a series of riding mowers that are premium quality.
Type: (Riding Mower, Lawn Tractor, Yard Tractor, Garden Tractor, Estate Tractor, Sub-Compact, Zero Turn, Stand-On) Lawn Tractor. See the recommended attachments at the end of this article.
Compare it to: Cub Cadet GTX1054, John Deere D170, Craftsman YT-4500
Husqvarna LGT24K54
Pros:
Great Deck
Good Price for the size!
Step-through Platform
Large tires, rides well!
Cons:
Makes a mess when mulching
18 inch Turning Radius!
Retail Price: $2999.99 Check The Best Sale Price Here: Sears usually has the best price: Husqvarna 24 HP 54″ Yard Tractor Model# 24047
My Review:
If you are looking for a light duty Garden Tractor but you don’t need the Craftsman Turn Tight Steering or an 8 mph ground speed this is the one! This garden tractor uses the same hi-flow 54 inch deck as the Craftsman YT-4500 . It is a good cutting deck and great for side discharge and bagging.
I can’t compare this tractor to the Craftsman GT-6000 because it has smaller tires, no arm rests, a regular transmission, and does not have the Craftsman Turn-Tight front end. The Craftsman is easily worth the extra money if you want a heavy-duty tractor.
You will hear a lot of comments in the tractor forums about the idea that you need a fabricated deck when you get to this size (54 inch). This deck has superior air flow over a fabricated deck. It lifts the grass well and cuts it evenly, it throws the grass out the side discharge well and spreads it evenly. You can use a bagger with this deck and not have to spend the extra $400 to $500 on a discharge blower. (a fabricated deck does not have the airflow this on has and you need to add a grass blower to it to use a bagger)
This deck is reinforced compared to a lawn tractor deck but a fabricated Husqvarna deck is stronger. It is also stronger than the comparable John Deere and Cub Cadet decks. So if you have a habit of banging into everything you try to go around (tree, foundations, landscape beds) a fabricated deck will last you longer. A fabricated Husqvarna deck will mulch better. Because of the reduced airflow the fabricated deck keeps the grass under the deck longer and chews it up more than this deck does.
You can get a fabricated deck on the dealer only model garden tractor: GTH26V52LS and GTH27V48LS. My Dealer is Eau Claire Lawn Equipment
I don’t have a lot of negative things to say about this mower. It has a good Kawasaki motor, with oil filter and if you are unfamiliar with the brand the commercial operators love their Kawasaki’s. It has five anti-scalp wheels and if your lawn is smooth it will mow just fine. It has a cast iron front axle and decent transmission so you can mount all the attachments Husqvarana sells and pull all the attachments Sears sells (Sears has more attachments than Lowes.) From my research this tractor is not as heavy-duty as the Craftsman GT6000 so I would not recommend using it a lot for ground engaging equipment. It has a normal turning radius for a garden tractor.
This lawn tractor will mow in reverse.
People who buy this lawn tractor know what they are buying and this is just what they want. That is why you will find so many good reviews on Husvarana and Sears.com. No frills, they just want to mow their large surburban lawn and pull things and blow snow and …..
This article was first published at TodaysMower.com
I’m not going to go into a lot of detail on this review. If you have specific questions leave a comment below and myself or the readers will be glad to answer them. This is a great tractor and if you want one to last this should be at the top of your list.
Comfort – Ease of Use: Deluxe seat, easy to use operator controls, good field of view. With large tires this tractor is comfortable to ride for this price range.
Power For Mowing: This tractor has plenty of power for side discharge mowing and/or bagging every week. It has plenty of power for mulching.
Reliability – New to 3 yrs: This tractor is serviced by your local Husqvarna dealer if you buy it from Lowes or Northern Tool. It is serviced by Sears if you bought it from Sears.com. There have been no issues with the build quality. Read The Reviews Here You can also go to Husqvarna.com and read the many reviews there. (Sears offers the best Optional Protection Plan)
Handling – Traction/Steering: This tractor has average traction and handling and is similar to all the other garden tractors. I recommend you never use a mower like this on wet or drought-dry slopes.
Mow – Mulch- Bag: This tractor get high marks by owners for mowing and bagging but not for mulching. This deck is a high-air-flow deck and cuts very evenly for a 54 inch deck. But when you plug the discharge with a mulch plug the air still has to go somewhere. The air comes out the right front and if you are mowing dry grass the clippings fly out there and usually right into your lap. If you want to mulch all the time buy a Husqvarna with a fabricated deck. With this tractor/deck you set the height of cut using a lever on the tractor.
Specifications, Features, Benefits
The rest of this article is taken from the retailers website. Specs subject to change.
Type: Garden Tractor
Maximum mowing area per hour (acres): 2.5 acres at 5 MPH
Recommended for moderate slopes? Yes
Excels in mowing around obstacles? Average
Will Mow In Reverse? Yes
Manufacturer: Husqvarna
Brand: Husqvarna
Engine Power: 24 hp*
Displacement: 726 cc.
Manufacturer: Kawasaki
Cylinders: Twin, cast-iron liners
Type: OHV, oil filter, Pressurized
Charging System: 15 amp regulated
Battery: Yes
Choke/Speed Control: Separate lever
Fuel Tank Capacity: 4 U.S. gal.
Transmission: Foot with cruise
Transmission Control: Direction -foot speed – pedal
Cruise Control: Yes
Forward Speed: 0-5.2mph
Reverse Speed: 0-2.9 mph
Chassis: 13 ga.
Front Tires: 15×6
Rear Tires: 20×8
Front Axle: Steel Tube
Hood Material: Steel
Hourmeter: No
Tool Tray: NA
Cupholder: Yes
Headlights: Yes
Translucent fuel tank or Fuel gauge: Yes, Under hood
Deck washout port: No
12-volt outlet: No
Steering: Type 2-wheel steer
Turning Radius: 18 in.
Uncut Circle Radius: ? in.
Spindle Bushings: Metal, greaseable
Seat Back Height: Deluxe high back
Fore-aft Adjustment: 5 in. while seated
Seat Suspension: Two coil springs
Deck Lift System: Fender
Mower Cut Height: 1.5 in. to 4 in., 7 position
Cut Height Increments: ? in.
Preset Cut Height: No
PTO clutch: Electric
Mower Deck
Type: Side discharge
Mower Cutting Width: 54 in.
Blades: 3
Mower Deck Material: 0.105 in.
Mower Wheel Adjustment: NA
Mower Level Adjustment: Exact
Mower Drive System: In-line belt, Electric PTO
Mower Attachment: 4 point Not EZ-Off
Mower Drive: Belt Tension Spring
Mower Wheels Rotate For Deck Removal: No
Dimensions
Wheelbase: ?-in.
Overall Length: 70.5-in.
Width without mower: ?-in.
Width with mower: 67.5-in.
Width with mower: (deflector raised for storage) 57-in.
Height: 3-in.
Weight: 540 lb with mower, no fuel
U.S. Warranty: 3 year limited, 3 and 5 year optional protection plan Sears, Optional 2 and 4 extended warranty Lowes
Hey Paul, the YT4500 and the LGT26k54. They are confussing. I have been dealing with these tractors this week. The black color of the YT4500′s lead a person to think they are GT’s. The rest of the YT’s are red in color. Sears does not sell the LGT26K54. They sell other Husqvarna’s, but for some reason, they do not sell this particualr one.
There are two YT4500′s. One is with the Briggs and Stration 26 HP and the other is with the Kohler 26 HP. Transmissions on both are Hydrostatic pedal with curse.
The LGT26K54 has the 26 HP Kohler with a handleaver hydrostatic. Being able to hold a tractor in a lower gear range durring towing and such can make a tractor last longer in demanding situations and terrains just like towing package on a pick-up.
To further confuss things, there is the LGT24K54. This is the unit you are describing with the 24 HP Kawasaki engine.
I too would pay a little more for a Craftsman GT5000 compared to the Husqavarna LGT26K54. But, I would not pay much more. They are basically equal tractors. The only real advantage is the 6″ thight turn of the CT5000.
As far as Sears being the best priced, my experience today is that they are not. They will not meet, beat or even try get close to the price on that particular tractor. They try to convince the customer that the YT4500 is its equal.
At first they will say the YT4500 with the Briggs and Stration is equal. Not true. They they will say the YT4500 with the Kohler engine is equal. That is also not true. In the first case, you do not get a reinforced cutting deck. Your told the hydro pedal is equal to a 6 speed hydro pedal or tow package so to speak, and from the weight difference, I think your also being asked to accept lighter frame. Your being asked to think of a yard tractor as being in a garden tractor class. I didn’t buy it literally. I bought the Husqvarna at Lowes for 2299.00 – 5% with a free 10cu dump trailer.
I did buy the extended warranty (protection plan). Sears providing the best protection plan, that is one thing we agree upon. Lowes protection plan is really nothing more than an extended warranty not exceeding the manufactors warranty and really not taking effect till the manufactors warranty has expired; thus, selling a one year extended warranty calling it a 4 year protection plan. I will likely cancel the Lowes protection plan. A manufactors warranty is usually not worth the paper it is printed on.
I certainly would have preffered to have bought from Sears. I wish they would have tried to get close with the CT5000 or sold the LGT26K54. Any time it is a small amount more for an equal product from Sears, especailly if it is something I would perferred covered by a protection plan, that sell would go to Sears hands down.
But, I know where to draw the line. I’m not going to pay through the teeth or settle for less than meets my needs to be a Sears customer.
@Timothy, Yes, this is about as confusing as trying to figure out if a Ford, Chevy, Dodge or Toyota pickup is the “best” All you can do is go through all the specs, look at the tractors you like and then pick the tractor best for you. There is no tractor that is the “best”. It’s only the tractor that is best for you.
Yes, Lowes has strategically placed the LGT26K54 to confuse you into thinking it is a Garden Tractor that is better than the YT 4500 and as good as the GT 6000 for a lot less money. Husqvarna clarified it by giving it the L designation meaning “light” garden tractor. I don’t know if the frame is heavier than the YT4500 or lighter than the GT6000. No one is stating the exact frame thickness in their literature and the closest Lowes to me is 105 miles away.
Husqvarna doesn’t state in their specs what transmission is in it but the rumor is it’s a K46 (the same as in the YT4500) If you could look under your new tractor and send me the model and serial number of the trans and I can verify what it is. Lowes and Husqvarna do not specifically state that you can use ground engaging equipment with this tractor.
Fender or foot control is again a personal choice. All the foot control hydros on the Husqvarana and Husqvarana built Craftsman’s have a lever to lock the foot control for slow speed or mowing large areas (they call it cruise control) The fender controls work like you explained though I find they have to be adjusted after a few years because they wear and will creep back to neutral if you don’t hold your hand on them. (I prefer the hand control myself)
Sears used to use the gray, red, black designation to differentiate the Lawn, Yard and Garden Tractors but with MTD making the LT’s they changed this. gray, red, black now means good, better, best within each class. So in the YT class the YT 4500 is the best of the class. (It does have a heavier trans than the other YT’s) In the GT class there is no good or better tractors. Both the GT5000 and GT6000 tractors are identical except for the trans. (The GT5000 has a 6 speed manual)
Thanks for clarifying the deck. The Lowes literature doesn’t specify that it has the extra tubing around the left side of the deck to reinforce it. (The YT 4500 does not have this, the GT5000 and GT 6000 does)
Engines: Kohler has two. The Courage and the Command. Briggs has 5 for the residential market alone. And then there is Kawasaki. Briggs will tell you that the Briggs in the YT4500 is as good or better than the Kohler Courage. Myself, it’s a Ford/Chevy thing………Both motors have oil pumps, polished cranks and other features that will make them last 25% longer than motors made 20 years ago.
Finally, Lowes got the LGT26K54. Everyone else got the LGT24K54. All the retailers want something “exclusive” so they can advertise it as “best in class” Sales copy and advertising is a whole ‘nother book to write.