New Husqvarna

[zimm]

Bought it today and pick it up tomorrow.
A GT2254, 6 speed hi/lo range, 22hp B&S ELS engine, 54" cut.

I would like to hear feedback on this 'garden tractor' or anything about Husq as far as quality and parts.

I have 12 acres with 5-6ac of grass I have been cutting with a Ford 8n & brush hog. I thought it might look better if I cut the grass a little better around the new house.

Got the manuel trans because I plan to pull small trailers of brush and rock, more than cut. Several dealers said this might be better than a hydro trans.

Thanks for the feedback,

zimm

[jdkubotamurray]

Hi Simm, happy you made it over from the newsgroups!! You may also want to post over on the Craftsman subgroup, a little more activity there. I have 2 Huskys and a GT5000 myself. :Welcome1:

[dirtybernie]

1st off. :Welcome1: zimm. i honestly cant comment because ive never even seen one but it sounds as if you have a great setup! im sure theres some guys here that know about them. one thing for sure. we want pics! :fing32: bernie.

[CatDaddy]

Hi Zimm! :Welcome1:

I've got a 2148 (it's an LT not a GT) w/ the Briggs 21hp ELS engine. It's a hydro though, not a manual. I wanted the 2548 (GT), but couldn't swing the extra dough at the time.

I bought it at my local big-box & I'm very happy with it. Well, I'm really happy with this one. The first one I took one home that had some sort of "problem", it would burn 1/2 qt. of oil for about every 3hrs. of mow time. I thought it might just need to break-in or the rings needed to seat at first, but it didn't get any better. The service tech said he couldn't find anything wrong with it. :fing20: I ended up exchanging it within the first 30 days. This one doesn't burn a drop. It mows my three acres without a single problem.

I haul my little trailer around with rock/sod/compost/wood/junk in it without any problems.

Hope you enjoy yours!
-=A=-

[Juggler]

Oddly enough... about 3-4 hours ago I was looking at this very same model at Lowes. I have been considering purchasing something new, so I can have a place to set my beer as I work/play on the old iron. I have to say, after just a *very* quick "once over", I didn't see anything totally disagreeable. I'm not very impressed with the "hitch area" of most of the new gt's (all brands). I can't give you an honest answer on any of the current gt's, as I usually walk on by, but for what it's worth, I do plan on giving the Husky 2254 6 speed a more in depth look. :eck34:

[zimm]

Thanks guys for the feedback!
I still have a knot in my stomach over this tractor. I called the warranty dealer for Lowes in this area, only one, and he badmouthed Husqvarna like it was the worst on the market. But, he had a nice Club Cadet for me.
Then I went to Husq's website and looked up four dealers and repair shops in other towns and called them. They all said these uper-end mowers were excelent but to stay away from any less then ~$1200.
They all got choked up when I asked about parts. Husq has a very big problem with parts supply.

Hey Juggler here's what I did at Lowes. You know how they like to play 'competative'?
They now have 1 year no interest if you take one of their cards.
So I went to the customer service desk and put it to them that I knew they compete with other dealers on price but do they compete with the financing. The woman went and got the store manager and I explaned that Conn's had the same tractor but they were offering 3 years with no interest.
He thought a while and said he could not match that BUT he would give me 10% off!
That's 200 bucks off!
BTW - I'm not a big fan of this but Lowes extended service policy can not be beat, price or features.

Thanks CAtDaddy, I will be sure to check the oil, and everything else by the hour, for the first 30 days. I think I read on the B&S web site these engines have chrome rings. They always took a long time to seat.

Speaking of service and maintaining the machine. The 2254 does not come with an hour meter !!!!!!! yet service is tied to hours of usage. The cheaper model did have an hour meter.
I found on Ebay a digital 'wireless' hour meter that picks up a spark plug firing up to 3' away. The meter counts as long as they is a signal. There is a hole in the dash behind the template but it might not be the size for the meter. If I have to I will mount it to the battery or somewhere else under the hood.

Thanks again.. :fing32:

[CatDaddy]

You might check for an hour meter from another model of Husqy. If there's a 'blank' for a gauge then there's a factory gauge to fit the cutout. Post a pic of your dash. Maybe we could find the right gauge/part number for you.

-=A=-

[zimm]

You might check for an hour meter from another model of Husqy. If there's a 'blank' for a gauge then there's a factory gauge to fit the cutout. Post a pic of your dash. Maybe we could find the right gauge/part number for you.

-=A=-
Will post pix later, picking up the tarctor this morning. The dash has the amp gauge a little to the right of center. I pressed on the dash and could feel a hole a little left of center. Couldn't tell if it was round or square.

The wireless one on Ebay was $18, can't imagin a Husq gauge being any cheaper. This isn't something I would stare at while driving so mounting it under the hood will work fine.

[dirtybernie]

Will post pix later, picking up the tarctor this morning. The dash has the amp gauge a little to the right of center. I pressed on the dash and could feel a hole a little left of center. Couldn't tell if it was round or square.

The wireless one on Ebay was $18, can't imagin a Husq gauge being any cheaper. This isn't something I would stare at while driving so mounting it under the hood will work fine.
zimm. not to intrude but i think cd is saying the wirless isnt as good. just remember the large chunk of cash you just dropped. a few extra bucks for the right gauge isnt to big of an expense. just my .02 bernie. :fing32:

[professor]

Zimm, nice of you to join us! :bannana:
A lot of input from the Craftsman GT applies to the Husky since they are the same basic machine. The manual trans is trouble free from what I have read on the net.

Mike

[Olds455]

I thought it came with an hour meter already? If so, I'd buy the tach that is referenced in the Craftsman forum to fill the other hole in the dash.

[Juggler]

Zimm, thanks for the heads up! Some of the other guys have mentioned the "Craftsman connection", and I have heard similar remarks. If so, there is a good source of parts/implements.

BTW, welcome to the site! :eck34:

[dirtybernie]

Oddly enough... about 3-4 hours ago I was looking at this very same model at Lowes. I have been considering purchasing something new, so I can have a place to set my beer as I work/play on the old iron. I have to say, after just a *very* quick "once over", I didn't see anything totally disagreeable. I'm not very impressed with the "hitch area" of most of the new gt's (all brands). I can't give you an honest answer on any of the current gt's, as I usually walk on by, but for what it's worth, I do plan on giving the Husky 2254 6 speed a more in depth look. :eck34:
juggler. your going to buy a new tractor just to set your beer on? wouldnt one of those dept store tables be a little cheaper? ROF ROF

[Greg]

Willie Nunez has a Husky and put in a tach and an hour meter, I believe Both round and matched the amp guage. He posted pics on the old TF. Maybe he's repost them here.

Greg

[zimm]

zimm. not to intrude but i think cd is saying the wirless isnt as good. just remember the large chunk of cash you just dropped. a few extra bucks for the right gauge isnt to big of an expense. just my .02 bernie. :fing32:

I got my tractor home just before the rain hit so I can vouch that it runs. I grabbed the camera and snaped a picture of the backside of the dash.
You can see the amp meter in the middle and a hole for the hour meter above it. All the round holes...who knows. Probably for a cell phone mount.

The parts breakdown shows the meter as optional but it isn't on a parts list.

Another dissapointment is that this model doesn't have rear hub caps! I wonder if I can find little spinners? You know, the ones that keep spinning when you stop.

[Greg]

zimm,

This link might help...you'll have to search for the right style, or call them and maybe they can help.

http://www.ajusa.com/cgi-bin/sunpro/start?tid=google-sunpro

I have not been able to find the web site for just SunPro meters....

Greg

[CatDaddy]

Zimm,

That looks like the same size opening I have for my hour meter & that ammeter sure appears to be the same as mine. The part number is 532 16 96-35 (Hourmeter Snap-In) & shows it needs a PN 532 16 96-39 (Bracket Snap-In Hourmeter).

HTH!
-=A=-

[Argee]

Here's a shot of mine in my GT5000...looks to be the same dash. All the round holes are for idiot lights in another application. The hour meter I have is a Hobbs.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v226/Argee/My%20Tractors/Picture001.jpg

[Argee]

Front view
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v226/Argee/My%20Tractors/Picture002.jpg

[Argee]

You can purchase one from Northern Tool (http://www.northerntool.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?storeId=6970&productId=41061&R=41061)

[jdkubotamurray]

Zimm, I used the Northern Tools electromechanical meter on my GT5000, fit and hooks perfectly, and I sliced just enough slot in the dash faceplate for the digits only, looks factory.

[USN_ED]

You can also get the Hobbs Hour Meter from NAPA. They call it "Mini Hour Meter" and the item number is "Balkamp 701-1235". It is a perfect fit in my GT5000 and as "jdkubotamurray" said, "I sliced just enough slot in the dash faceplate for the digits only, looks factory.

[docRx]

Good choice. i have a Husq 2148 and it is an excellent tractor. My dealer is about 8 miles from me and he is very good with parts and answering questions etc. Welcome to the orange club docRx

[docRx]

USN. Ed - Glad to see you'r around. doc Rx

[USN_ED]

USN. Ed - Glad to see you'r around. doc Rx

I'm always around. :fing20: They can try whatever they want but they just can't get rid of me. ROF :trink39:

[zimm]

I'm back - been out cutting grass.
Thanks guys I will eventually get around to installing one of the tacks you recomended.
I have about 4 hours on the tractor so far. With the deck hanging and bouncing squeeks and rattles are developing and I am having to get used to then so I can identify normal sounds.
Had a noticable metal to metal squeek up front and I oiled everything but it did not go away until I got some oil into what looked like a pivit point on the front axle. I think I will put some grease on each moving part.

I find the tractor a little hard to get on. Not sure of the right way to mount this beast.
Right now I go at it from the left side standing behind the deck and sliding my right leg through the opening, then scooting onto the seat. Reverse to get off. (I don't think the plastic cover for the blade spendels are intended to be stood on.)
Problem here is that the seat is loosely mounted onto its mounting bracked. When I scoot onto it there is a lot of movement. This is a major wear point. Will check to see if the bolts are tight. BTW - Northern wants $160 for a replacement seat like this one!!!!
WOOW! does this seat get red hot in the Texas sun...takes about 1 m minute. I think I see an upholstered seat cover coming.

I have to keep reminding myself this is not a brush hog and those sticks in the way need to be picked up or dodged.

I cut the 5 ac around my house in two days, about 1-1.5 hours each day. This 54" deck is only 6" smaller than the brush hog so it is fast. I just got tired of eating all of the dust. The grass was about 6" high and in 6th gear itmade perfect cuts and never slowed down.

I have loaded up my converted boat trailer with wood and other brush and pulled it to the tank to burn. No strain on the motor, even in 6th gear, but I ran it in 5th.. I put a 1 7/8" ball fit on the hitch and it looks strong, about 3/8-1/4" steel.

The motor puffed smoke the first three times I started it but no longer and it is not using oil. As a user of synthetic oil I am please synthetics are recomended for this engine.

This little tractor sure shows you where the pot holts are in the property. I need to fill them or get a kidney belt.

Zimm

[professor]

Zimm, lower tire pressure will help a lot to get a better ride. I went down to 7 psi in the rears - where you really are sitting over and it helped. I do not know how low you can go without possibly spinning a tire on the rim ( tires are really held by the outward pressure against the rim and going real low lessens the holding force). If I see a little bulge at the bottom of the tire when I push the tractor sideways, I know it is flexing some- taking up the shock a bit.
How about one of those ventilated covers for car seats?

Mike