Executive Summary: Would I want a lawn tractor that goes 8 mph? Yes!!! My lawn is 400 ft long. The compost bins and nursery beds are all the way in the back. Most of my wife’s landscape beds are at the other end of the property! When moving dirt and hauling plants for her it seems I spend half my time just riding the tractor. If mine would go 8 mph it would seem like I am getting a lot more done!
I wonder how many of these you will see at the Lowes Motor Speedway this year?
It even comes with armrests to keep me in the seat. If I bagged my lawn and composted my yard waste I would want this tractor. When my bagger is full I can run over to the compost bin quickly.
If I cut my own firewood “out in the back 40″ I could use a tractor like this. I know, many of you reading this review already have an ATV, but for those of us who don’t this is a great alternative. You should buy a better yard cart because you will run the wheels off the cheap ones!
Brand/Manufacture: Husqvarna / Husqvarna
Model/Series: Yard Tractor
Item Number: YTH24K48FR
Where to buy: Husqvarna 24-HP V-Twin Hydrostatic 48″ Riding Mower YTH24K48FR This is a Lowes.com exclusive. You can’t get this one at your local Husqvarna Dealer.
Store Pickup: Husqvarna 24-HP V-Twin Hydrostatic 48″ Riding Mower YTH24K48FR
Delivery: Husqvarna 24-HP V-Twin Hydrostatic 48″ Riding Mower YTH24K48FR
Ship: NA
Street Price: $1899.99
Basic Quality: (Cheap, Good, Best, Premium, Don’t Buy) This is Husqvarna’s Best Quality.
Type: (Riding Mower, Lawn Tractor, Yard Tractor, Garden Tractor, Estate Tractor, Sub-Compact, Zero Turn, Stand-On) Yard Tractor Handles most attachments.
Compare it to: Craftsman Model 28861 (The Craftsman is the only other tractor that will go this fast)
Jimmie Johnson's Husqvarna Fast Tractor
Pros:
Fast, Fast, Fast!
Jimmy Johnson Endorsed
Great 48 inch deck
Has Armrests!
Cons:
Won’t cut as fast as it goes.
Only Sold At Lowes
Retail Price: $1899.99 Check The Best Sale Price Here: Husqvarna 24-HP V-Twin Hydrostatic 48″ Riding Mower YTH24K48FR
My Review:
This tractor is going to be fun to drive! There is one other Garden Tractor on the market that will also go as fast. The Craftsman Model 28861 has a high speed tranny also but is priced $1000 more. If you have a normal lawn buy this Husqvarna, if you have 3 acres or more and want to haul heavy loads buy the Craftsman. (see my review here)
This tractor is new, but not really. The basic tractor itself has been around for a few years. The 48 inch deck is a proven, reliable unit. It comes off the tractor easily. Last year the Husqvarna yard tractors got a restyled fully enclosed hood, this year this model has the high speed tranny. I really like the new muffler guard shown on Husqvarna.com. It really cleans up the front of the tractor and makes the tractor more aerodynamic for high speed use. 
You know I have no real issues with Husqvarna tractors and zero-turns. You just need to pick the right one for your yard. They are all good machines that have good service records.
This lawn tractor will mow in reverse.
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, armrests, comfortable steering wheel, angled for optimal driver’s position. Easy to use operator controls, good field of view. This tractor is about as comfortable as you can get in a lawn mower.
Power For Mowing: This tractor has plenty of power for side discharge mowing, bagging, and mulching every week.
Reliability – New to 3 yrs: This tractor is serviced by a Lowes authorized service center. Read The Reviews Here The store where you picked it up from or the delivery team does not repair the tractor. I am going to suggest you purchase the Extended Protection Plan from Lowes. This will cover repairs, trip charges or hauling you tractor to the servicing dealer for 4 years. For less than $6 a month your tractor is covered for parts, labor and trip charges. (I don’t make a commission off the extended warranties. I do feel they are a good value if you don’t know how to or you don’t have time to work on your own mower)
Handling – Traction/Steering: This tractor has average traction and handling and is similar to all the other lawn tractors from the other retailers. It will work on moderate slopes and hills. I recommend you never use a mower like this on wet or drought-dry slopes.
Mow – Mulch- Bag: This tractor gets high marks by owners for mowing, mulching and bagging. The 48 inch air induction deck is one of the best cutting 3 blades decks out there. But, be aware this is not a “high-speed” deck like you will find on a commercial lawn mower. It mows perfectly at 4-5 MPH but don’t expect it to mow as fast as the tractor will go (7.9MPH) and give you the same results. 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: Lawn Tractor
Maximum mowing area per hour (acres): 2 acres at 5 MPH
Recommended for moderate slopes? Yes, does not have traction control or diff lock
Excels in mowing around obstacles? No, but with the 48 inch deck it will trim well.
Will Mow In Reverse? Yes
Manufacturer: Husqvarna
Brand: Husqvarna
Engine Power: 24 hp*
Displacement: 725 cc. (I think the Lowes.com description is wrong)
Manufacturer: Kohler
Cylinders: v-Twin, cast-iron liners
Type: Kohler Courage OHV, oil filter, Pressurized
Charging System: 16 amp regulated
Battery: 12 v 28 amp
Choke/Speed Control: Integrated One Lever
Fuel Tank Capacity: 3 U.S. gal.
Transmission: Tuff Torq Hi-speed
Transmission Control: Direction, speed – pedal
Cruise Control: Yes
Forward Speed: 0-7.4 mph
Reverse Speed: 0-2.9 mph
Chassis: Don’t know for sure but probably 12 ga.
Front Tires: 15×6-6
Rear Tires: 20×8-8
Front Axle: Cast Iron
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, replaceable
Seat Back Height: Deluxe Hi back with arm rests
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., 6 position
Cut Height Increments: ? in.
Preset Cut Height: No
PTO clutch: Electric
Mower Deck
Type: Side discharge
Mower Cutting Width: 48 in.
Blades: 3
Mower Deck Material: 14 ga.
Mower Wheel Adjustment: Yes
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: 69.3-in.
Width without mower: ?-in.
Width with mower: 59.8-in.
Width with mower: (deflector raised for storage) 50.8-in.
Height: 41.4-in.
Weight: 458 lb with mower, no fuel
U.S. Warranty: 3 year limited, 5 year frame and axle. 4 year optional protection plan
Optional Attachments
Mowers: 48X (standard)
Material Collection System: yes
Mulching System: yes
Front Thatcher: NA
Front Blade: Yes
Tractor Shovel: No
Snow Blower: yes
Front Bumper: bumper option ?
Brush Guard: yes ?
Bucket Holder: No
Tow-Behind Tools: Most tow-behind attachments from Lowes, Sears, and Northern Tool
I have seen first hand that the tranny is indeed a TTK57R. I will be picking up my new mower on 5/10/12. I will update rating when I live with it for a couple weeks(prob. sleep on it the first night). This is just like waiting for Xmass when I was a kid. I scored the tractor with a free dump cart for $1623.00. Beat that!
Husq is selling this also at independent dealers – YTH24K48 (minus the FR that you see at Lowes). Looks like a great value – the 48″ deck looks so much stronger than the 46″ Craftsman turn tight you recommend, but otherwise they are comparable (other than speed). Decisions….decisions….
@Bob, I am not going to agree with you or disagree with you. The two mowers are meant for two different types of owners. If you normally side discharge and mow a “normal” lawn buy the 48 inch. If you are a little “rough” on your equipment buy the 48 inch. If you also want to bag and you are very meticulous about your lawn buy the 46 inch. If you have a lot of trees and other landscaping to go around buy the Craftsman 46 inch with the 6 inch turning radius.
The YTH24K48 tends to be $200 more than the YT 4000.
Decks, The 48 inch deck is basically the same as the 54 inch decks. As far as I know both the 46 and 48 decks have the same thickness of steel.
The 2 blade 46 inch deck lifts the grass better and it also throws it into a bagger better than the 3 blade 48 inch.
The YT 4000 has a mechanical blade engage, the YTH has an electric clutch.
http://www.husqvarna.com/ddoc/HUSI/HUSI2011_NAen/HUSI2011_NAen_YTH24K48_532446324.pdf
This Husqvarna parts diagram indicates a K57R transmission. Don’t know if this is the new model 24K48 or the old, however. The K57 is supposed to be a longer life version of the K46. I stuck my iPhone camera under the 24K48 that I saw at Lowes, and it did appear to say it was a TT K57R…
Could you comment on why there is no Husqvarna repair manual available for those buyers of their product such as the one I just purchased (YTH24K48). I, like many buyer’s of their products, have mechanical abilities as a DIY person and a good instruction guide never hurts those who want to do their own repairs. If there is a repair manual, where can one be located?
Thanks.
Mike
@Mike, There are parts listings. These exploded diagrams show every part and how it all goes together. They are usually located in the back of your owners manual or you can get them from Husqvarna.
There is a
Small Engine Repair for Dummies (For Dummies (Math & Science))
coming out next month that should help out most of us with the engine.I learned through a night course at a local high school and by tearing apart dozens of mowers over the years. The high-end mowers like the Toro Groundsmasters have repair manuals available but they are EXPENSIVE! I bought a manual for one in the early 90′s and it cost me over $150.
Most transmissions today are throw-aways. The manufactures build them to last a certain number of hours and then replace them with a new one. The old one is recycled for the aluminum just like a beer can. If you do try to work on one you need “clean room” conditions because any dirt or dust inside will greatly reduce it’s life. Most of the trans don’t even require an oil change because of this.
In reality, most of the repairs on today’s tractors is just replacing parts when they go bad. Except for rebuilding an engine, there is no measurements or adjustments to make. It will get to the point where you need specialized equipment to work on the carb and ignition.
Last, but not least. There is a guy on youtube. donyboy73 has over 525 videos going through and repairing lawn & garden tractors, snowblowers, string trimmers, chainsaws, etc. I have a subscription set up and watch every video he produces.
Paul’ what model tuff torq trans is in this ? thanks nick
Husqvarna is not saying, but I’ll guess it is a modified K46. (Based on the weight of the tractor)