Husqvarna YTA24V48 Tractor Riding Lawn Mower Review
The Husqvarna Yta24v48 Fast Tractor Riding Lawn Mower exemplifies the degree to which the internet has improved upon informed consumer decision-making. Reducing this model to a roll call of convenient features and impressive-sounding components inevitably falsely inflates its actual usefulness. Sadly, user impressions simply don’t back up Husqvarna’s glowing promises. It sounds like it should cut with fantastic precision and deliver years of quality performance. To be fair, when it actually manages to function without a hitch, it does just that.
At its given price point underwritten by a triumvirate of warranties bearing some lofty coverage guarantees, however, there’s simply no justifying its lack of reliability.
Key Features
- Maintenance-free automatic transmission
- Charge port, electric clutch and chokeless start
- Stamped 48-inch cutting deck reinforced with heavy flat-stock steel for improved trim and leading edge durability and strength
- Electric blade engagement
- Improved deck airflow enhanced by superior induction technology to guarantee smooth, consistent cutting with every pass
- Spring-assisted convenience of a fender-mounted deck lever
- Three-year limited warranty
- Five-year frame, chassis and front axle warranty
- 10-year consumer deck warranty
Performance
To give credit where it’s due, the Briggs & Stratton Intek V-Twin engine is capable of all the horsepower the Husqvarna Yta24v48 Fast Tractor should need to make fast work of an acre or more of turf. Combining a high-tech debris management system, full-pressure lubrication and a mechanical compression release should produce a reliable powerhouse mower that runs steadily as a clock with an easy, chokeless start and enough horsepower to accommodate an extensive range of compatible accessories in any given setting. In all fairness, this model’s cruise control and fast pedal-operated automatic transmission enable high, steady top speeds on par with the elite rival mowers in its class. Dual drag links tighten the turning radius and maneuverability to the agility of an All-Pro NFL wide receiver.
A word of advice: if you want to make the most of the Husqvarna Yta24v48 Fast Tractor’s hardware, keep it as far away from any substantial incline as possible. Yes, this riding mower fails miserably climbing up and across hills, one of the conditions that most convincingly compels investment in something with more muscle than a self-propelled walk-behind model. Despite Husqvarna touting the “superior balance and stability” offered by the Yta24v48 Fast Tractor’s heavy cast front axle even when towing a collector, the balance on steep ground can be nerve-wracking. Should the shaky handling not faze you, be forewarned that more than one customer has experienced a stalled engine shortly after beginning an ascent.
Ease Of Use
Despite its noted performance shortcomings, the Husqvarna Yta24v48 Fast Tractor certainly isn’t complicated to operate. A step-through ergonomic seat and starting mechanism with an effortless automatic choke make sitting down, firing it up and dismounting as comfortable and easy as slipping into the driver’s seat of a luxury sedan. Between the handy cup holder and armrests, this mower is actually an honest-to-goodness joy to drive. Adding a trailer, snow blade, brushes, multiple collection bins or a number of other accessories lends the Husqvarna Yta24v48 Fast Tractor valuable year-round versatility.
Cut Quality & Options
For the most part, the Husqvarna Yta24v48 Fast Tractor provides distinguished cutting quality. Sturdy flat-stock steel reinforces the 48-inch stamped cutting deck’s trim and leading edge for vastly improved strength and durability. Ingenious induction technology draws air into the deck from the top and bottom to create a current that maximizes grass lift for supremely clean, even slices with each pass. The spring-assisted convenience of the fender-mounted deck lever would only add to that overall precision, if not for the reality that its lowest height settings will virtually shred your lawn and negate the intended benefits of anti-scalping wheels intended to prevent turf damage when mowing over uneven ground. On a positive note, at least the Husqvarna Yta24v48 Fast Tractor side-discharges and collects clippings equally effectively and mulches wonderfully with the BioClip kit attached.
Maintenance
Sure, the Husqvarna Yta24v48 Fast Tractor’s trio of warranty packages looks astoundingly comprehensive at first glance. On top of its three-year limited warranty, a five-year coverage plan protects the front axle, frame and chassis. Most impressively of all, Husqvarna backs the deck with a 10-year consumer warranty. Here’s the catch: along with a disconcerting string of customers reporting various electrical and mechanical breakdowns within 20 hours to a year of use, a few minutes of online research turns up a disappointing pattern of Husqvarna dragging their feet when dealing with claims and shipping replacement mowers that continue to present similar problems.
Safety Features
A pressure-sensitive switch situated beneath the seat shuts down the engine and cutting deck once the driver leaves the saddle. Admirably bright headlights lend the mower valuable extra visibility and successfully extend realistic working hours well after the sun goes down. Reverse Operation System (ROS) technology also immediately stops the blades when backing up for additional safety.
Cost Effectiveness
As fantastically loaded as the Husqvarna Yta24v48 Fast Tractor’s overall package appears on paper, it’s a stretch to justify its value proposition upon examining the string of reported issues calling upon its initially impressive warranty. No riding mower priced in excess of $2,300 should be so apparently frustrating to have repaired or replaced when it breaks down as early as 20 hours or so into its working life. It cuts superbly when fully functional, with the exception of habitual stalling on hills. However, what’s the point if hands-on impressions continually speak to questionable dependability?
