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I have a GT48DXLS, with 63 hrs on it, purchased 11 months ago for the specific purpose I'm using it for. I had been very happy with my GT. I now deeply regret this purchase.
On 17 JULY 2017 I purchased my GT from our local Dealer. Our Dealer claimed it was an actual "Garden Tractor" capable of all the accessories ("Ground Engagement Work") that were represented by Husqvarna in their ads. These officially include things like a front scoop (bucket), snow blower attachment, etc. This tractor came with a ground engagement transaxle (Tuff Torq K66), 23" rear wheels, upgraded engine (Kawasaki FR730V), and allegedly a “heavy duty” chassis.
On 07 JUNE 2018, less than a year after purchase, while moving sand in my yard, and using it well within the design parameters, the frame BUCKLED in the area between the scoop support bracket and the steering support plate. I had used it multiple times before, in the exact same way, with no problems at all.
Since I was using it within it’s advertised design specs, AND still had 4 years and 1 month left on the “5 year FRAME warranty” that came with the tractor, I presumed they would stand by their product, and HONOR their warranty. Silly me.
According to the service writer at our local Husqvarna Dealer (who was very hostile to my wife) Husqvarna will “NEVER pay to replace that frame”. “Never” was the word they spat at my wife. The Dealer justified it, by saying that any and ALL “frame” defects in it would have been evident on the VERY FIRST day we bought it, otherwise it is not a “frame defect” and will NOT be covered under warranty. WHAT?? (So then, WHAT would the point of a “5 year FRAME warranty” be?)
So, according to the HUSQVARNA dealer here, the 5 year chassis/frame warranty has been reduced to a ONE DAY warranty. To add insult to injury, my wife was told that they would fix it for $518, and included in that was a special “freight charge” for the FRAME, from Husqvarna, of $95. Upon checking on the ordering of the frame myself, I found out that this expensive “freight charge” was a lie, no surprise at this point. I picked up the tractor the very next business day from that Dealer. I will no longer use that Dealer, and will go out of my way to not recommend this dealer, and/or the Husqvarna products, any chance I can, NOW THAT I KNOW THAT THEIR “WARRANTY”, AND THEIR ADVERTISING, ARE MOSTLY LIES.
I have since learned, that current manufacturers of ACTUAL Garden Tractors that claim their product capable of ground engagement work have at minimum, a channel steel or “c” channel steel frame.
My frustration with this product is mainly that their STATED warranty (at least for the frame) is worthless, and their published advertisements for this tractor’s capabilities for accessories are FALSE. It didn’t help that their licensed Dealer knew less than a box store employee about his Husqvarna product, OR, that he did know, but he had no difficulty directly deceiving me.
If you plan on using it to cut grass, odds are you’ll probably be OK. I’m thankful at least that Husqvarna did NOT build the transaxle or the engine.
I’ve also since found out that the style of frame on this Husqvarna “Garden Tractor” is actually identical to my older Ariens basic riding mower (HD $900.00 special, 2011) that I originally bought to mow grass a few years ago. I pulled that out of storage and am relying on it again to at least keep my grass cut and to pull my small yard trailer. It’s nothing to look at, but it runs as was represented in advertising, no false claims, so no regrets with that one.
If my Husqvarna GT had not been falsely represented to me, as a True Garden Tractor fully capable of residential level “ground engagement” work, I would have moved right on past it, and paid more money to buy what I needed, since I was already aware of just what I needed it for. I fell for the deception, but hopefully I can share enough to help steer someone else away so they won’t make the same expensive mistake.

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What were the 'design parameters' that you were well within?

Forget the dealers and contact Husqvarna directly. Don’t use the same voice as you did in your post, just explain your situation and how the dealer dealt with you. I’ve seen dealers who have less sympathy for customers than the big box stores. They know this would take some time and effort on their part to help you, but just want your $$$. If you registered your unit and have a copy of the warranty, you do have other recourses if needed. This website may be of some help, as it has phone numbers. If you don’t get help at the support phone number, don’t be scared to try the corporate number second. Start documenting each conversation, making sure you have persons names and titles. Don’t be scared to give them dealer info also. Finally, remember that you want to work with them and not get them mad at you. It may take a couple of phone calls to get to the right person.

http://www.husqvarnagroup.com/en/contact

I know exactly what I'd do. Instead of screwing around replacing the frame, even if under a warranty. I'd tie that rascal down right in the middle of the flex area, them place a jack equal distances from the flexed area. Jack it back into place and while going past center at least 5 degrees and release to make sure the frame is straight or at least where you want it. I'd then marry a plate both inside and outside the frame channel by welding it at least a foot long.

Six inches of plate on either side will make that sucker a "real garden tractor" or more so than what you believed was a real garden tractor.

Good luck with whatever you end up doing.

Max

Doubling up on Rivets post.
What gets said in the first few moments will make a very big difference to how your claim is handled, so it is "can you please" & "I don't understand why"

Next frame warranties cover defects in materials & workmanship.
That means exactly what it says, bad welds, faulty pressing or flaws in the steel itself, not failure in use.
For all Husqvarna know you may have been trying to shift a D9 dozer with it, push a 10' high rock or other uses way above the capacity of the tractor

And not trying to be insulting but the tractor was obviously too light for what you wanted to do with it.
Unfortunately you have now done the "due dilligance" that should have been done before your wallet was opened.
Garden tractors are mostly slightly uprated lawn mowers , you only get what you pay for and in the case of this tractor that was not much.

The Husqvarna's are just their lawnmowers sitting on a frame exactly the same as the lawn mowers but pressed from a heavier section steel so you are quite right, they are not up to the job of doing a lot of heavy shoving.
Thus you very well could have a ligitimate complaint to take up with your consumer protection authority in so far as "fit for purpose" and "deceptive advertising" but don't mention those till substantially latter on.
Unfortunately it is up to you to prove that the tractor can not do what you were TOLD IN WRITING it could do.

If it were me I would be angling for a full refund based on a "fit for purpose" claim and go looking for a better machine more likely in the sub-compact tractor class which as you probably have noticed is substantially more expensive.

As a Husqvarna Consumer Products service center I would have to deny your warranty on the grounds that the mower had been abused. Like Bert said, warranty covers defects in workmanship like cracks, broken welds,. It doesn't cover bending the frame. My first thought without hearing your story would be that you backed into it with something or dropped if off of a truck. If you have the scoop that I think you have it has a 200 pound working limit. How do I know that you didn't have 250 pounds in the scoop, or maybe was hauling something much heavier, and just said you were hauling sand. Possible to be within the weight guidelines but hit a bump in the yard that shock loaded the frame causing it to bend.

As far as the $95 freight charge to ship the frame, I could say that to be true. The distributor could be charging the dealer around that amount to ship the oversize/overweight frame LTL on a tractor trailer. Most parts distributors have a additional freight allowance that they charge the dealers for certain oversize items.

I wish you the best on your frame issues, but I can see where Husqvarna has the avenues within the warranty guidelines to deny your bent frame as being a manufacturer defect. Not trying to be a pain, but just trying to show that things can go wrong that are beyond the scope of the warranty, and even though you did everything right, could still go south due to outside forces beyond your control that result in non warrant failure.

Deciding what level of equipment you need to do a job. is always difficult.
Way too many people go with the minimum spec that will do the job at hand.
It was always a big problem for me trying to get gear for the foundry that was rated above what was needed to give us some wriggle room.
In so far as SWL (Safe working load ) on consummer grade products it has to be 1.5 x the rated load.
So if husqvarna said it was good for 200 lbs it has to be capable of handleing 300 lbs without catastrophic failure that could cause injury to the operator or by standers.
Simple little things like moisture can make a massive difference in weight.
A lot of sharks in the landscaping supply industry will spray down their sand , soil, gravel to "prevent dust"
Fine if they ae selling by volume but naughty if selling by weight as water can double the weight of sand, soil & particularly mulch.

Now as you have already bent the frame using the tractor, if you get an exact replacement and continue to do the same thing then you will end up in the same place.
Those square holes in the frame are stress concentrators as well as cross section reducers and I would imagine are there so the frame fails before the load arms in the case overload.
Strengthening the side rails as per the previous thread will most likely prevent further frame bending but could cause the anchor points to rip out.

Seriously you will be much better off with a substantially heavier machine if you intend doing the same work with it.
And pulling a plough for instance puts a lot less load on the tractor than pushing as wrought steel is a lot lot lot stronger in tension than compression.

Am I mistaken or is there a rack on the rear for suitcase weights? From the looks of the wheel weights, there may have been a problem with the rear of the tractor coming off the ground and some measures were taken to keep that from happening.

my wife was told that they would fix it for $518

Click to expand...

$518 may be the price for a lesson about counterweights. It doesn't sound unreasonable to me, considering how much work there is in replacing a frame. But, if you can butter up some Husqvarna customer service employee who is giving away someone else's money, maybe they'll foot the bill. If it was me, I wouldn't. From what has been presented so far, this looks like a case of abuse.

I appreciate all your responses, and so many I will try and answer some of the top responses.

My tone in the warning to other would be buyers is angry. Can anyone blame me?

My wife is a Professional Property Manager, I let her deal with administration issues in the house because, well she is just better at it. Those that commented on how you approach this kind of issue using diplomacy, I believe is correct, and for those that might learn from this experience at my expense I think it good to cover this.

My wife handled all conversations except the latest which I will share later. As a Property Manager she is used to dealing with contracts, warranties, uncooperative people and businesses, to include lawyers and that whole world of posturing and deceptive practices. She talked with 2 people at the dealer, one who was in charge of warranty claims and one of the owners of the business. Please understand that the owner knew who we were, and why I bought the tractor, I did at his recommendation. The Dealer also was the one to install the tires on the extra set of wheels I bought from him, the 6 Kawasaki oil filters from, my Shindaiwa trimmer, and the Tuff Torque Trans K66 filter he tried to talk me out of, all in 10 months time.

My requirement for this tractor was very specific to using it for "ground engagement work" with a front scoop (not hydraulic, just something to help in moving the sand on my property), a rear tiller, garden trailer, and such. I was only looking at the Husqvarna because I had just looked at the Craftsman GT6000 that had advertised all this and more to include a Johnny Bucket if I could afford one in the future (I do have the uni sleeve). When making my next move to look at the JD X500, Cub Cadet XT3, and Simplicity I was told to look at the Husqvarna equivalent to the Craftsman GT6000 (the Husqvarna GT/TS series tractors). I had my wife there while I put the owner on the spot and he assured me that as long as the scoop was no more than 42" (he claimed Husqvarna sold a 42" and 32" scoop), 200lb max, no hydraulics, and did not not exceed the height of the frame (13 or 14" approx) I would be fine, and that in assuring me, if Husqvarna or Craftsman for Husqvarna (including the Agri Fab accessories built for Husqvarna) built it for this tractor that they would warranty it also with a 5 year warranty. The Dealer also informed me of another customer that had one with the scoop with no issues. Please keep in mind that My acre is actually sand. I have to buy dirt at $225 a dump truck load for gardening and rock is very expensive. I live within 6 miles of the beach in a development that is elevated at approximately 30 to 50 feet above sea level and I don't have a shallow water table (my well is 700'sh ft). The sand here drains very quickly and that presents unique challenges to growing gardens and trees, and the efforts to keep the yard from going into my neighbors yard during storms, but grass and palms do very well.

I went back and confirmed that the GT6000 is the same tractor as the GT48DXLS and it was $200 more than mine with a Kawasaki engine and with these assurances, including a 5 year chassis warranty (I live in a small town in Florida Agriculture, not cities or tourism) and the same K66 with manual locking diff (minus hydraulic power steering ports on the jdx500) I purchased it. I also had been using my front scoop for approximately 9 months and on this morning the sand I was scooping was already a loose pile (I had rented a mini excavator to dig holes for my project earlier).

The Dealer registered my tractor the day I bought it and I have 63 hrs on it in the 11 months I've used it. I had been very happy with the purchase until I found out how little support there is from Husqvarna, including the authorized Dealer. The authorized Dealer represents Husqvarna as being a part of a network like any other dealer network. If this is not true than that would be another good thing to voice.

I will be adding the update that I said I would later today, but for now I will be using my old Ariens gear tractor ($900 HD special) to try and finish the sand project. With my shovel and small trailer, and a lot of sweat, that's were I'll be. The the old Ariens has countless hrs on it, every piece of the body and hood have dents, scratches, and paint fade (even though I keep my tractors on my covered porch). It also has lost its stickers. I resealed the Tuff Torq 6 speed last year and am running mobile one synthetic in it, painted it black with texture (there was very little wear on the gears). Its not pretty to look at but it is the one still getting the job done!

I don't want to believe that Husqvarna is this bad for customer service after the purchase, It is what is is, but if the tractor had been properly represented I would not have purchased it but would have purchased the JD X500 as I had been leaning toward and after time learned why the only true Garden Tractors (being capable of actual ground engagement work) have c-channel frames, sufficient hp, & a transmission rated for ground engagement work with a minimum of 1" axles (for light duty), as a minimum. What I have is a very comfortable, efficient riding lawn mower.

A good panel beater should be able to put that back into shape.

cpurvis said:

Am I mistaken or is there a rack on the rear for suitcase weights? From the looks of the wheel weights, there may have been a problem with the rear of the tractor coming off the ground and some measures were taken to keep that from happening.



$518 may be the price for a lesson about counterweights. It doesn't sound unreasonable to me, considering how much work there is in replacing a frame. But, if you can butter up some Husqvarna customer service employee who is giving away someone else's money, maybe they'll foot the bill. If it was me, I wouldn't. From what has been presented so far, this looks like a case of abuse.

Click to expand...

I would say they are going to repair the frame and not replace it. The flat rate time is 8 hours to replace the frame plus the cost of the frame. the labor alone should be in the $480-640 range.

Are those tractor tread tires factory or did you add them yourself.

ILENGINE, I would like to address a couple things you said;

"As a Husqvarna Consumer Products service center I would have to deny your warranty on the grounds that the mower had been abused."

I want to point out that the very first go-to for Husqvarna is to fall back on one of the more abused "outs" for a company to categorically deny their responsibility in warranting their product should it be a burden for them, by saying their product was abused.

This is what I believe to be "abuse" of the customer.

According to the University of Law School in Miami;

"a definition of terms should prove helpful. Express
warranty is an affirmation of fact, promise, description or model trans-
mitted from the seller to the buyer and made "part of the basis of the
bargain." ' Implied warranty is divided into two categories-merchant-
ability and fitness for a particular purpose. In the former, the law implies
a warranty by a seller who deals in goods of that kind to the buyer that
such goods are "fit for the ordinary purposes for which such goods are
used." 2 The latter division, fitness for a particular purpose, is applicable
when the seller "knows the particular purpose for which the goods are
required" and the buyer relies on the "seller's skill or judgment.

I relied on the seller's skill and judgment in part and in part was able to verify what he claimed. The seller knew what I wanted and what I needed to do with it, and the expressed warranty was part of the reason I took a chance on the Husqvarna GT.

From the Florida Bar;

“When a purchaser answers the inducements made in the tremendous advertising campaigns carried on by the automobile industry and purchases a new automobile, he has the right to expect the automobile to perform properly and as represented. If it does not, through no fault of his, it appears to us that he should be allowed to seek redress.”
"Id. at 456. These cases take the philosophy of Henningsen v. Bloomfield Motors, Inc.,15 and expand it to validate actions for damages which a purchaser suffers when he is induced to buy the manufacturer’s product and the product turns out to be worthless."

"Conclusion;"

"It is difficult to imagine that a national vehicle manufacturer or any manufacturer can issue an express warranty to a first purchaser but not honor its terms. But under current Florida law, there is no predicting how a particular judge might rule on that question in a case like the hypothetical presented above. As it stands, privity remains a concept with almost magical allure. Until the Florida Supreme Court or legislature clarifies its meaning and its importance in the context of warranty law, manufacturers can attempt to hide behind the curtain of their dealers and retailers and pull a dismissal out of a hat. Presto, chango, and the bargained-for express warranty disappears."

I meet that definition on privity, and I am not seeking a legal recourse, just trying to offer up an actual definition for terms being used that are rarely understood, except the for the attorneys on hand at Husqvarna, whom wrote the warranty, as an example.

The reality to the rest of us is that Husqvarna has no intention of honoring their warranty if you buy a "Garden Tractor" from them that is rated for "Ground Engagement Work" by them for the purpose of using it for "Ground Engagement Work", but they "May" honor their warranty for grass cutting, at their convenience. I know some out their have possibly not experienced this and for that I’m thankful. I do know that the frame when used with the front attachments that are advertised does bend in the exact same place since at least 2012 and they are quietly addressing this issue with a bolt on bracket for the purpose of reinforcing this area but of course they are quiet about it. Think about the signs of a quality engineered part able to live up to the claims of the manufacturer. I’m sure 3 frame changes in less than 2 years would not be a sign of that kind of confidence. Yet the GT frame has.

My point in this from the beginning, is to warn people who might make the same decision I did, or are considering the Husqvarna model GT's.

Please consider the lengths this company will make their customers go through, to find a way out, when it comes to their Garden Tractor's.

ILEGINE, I would like to address this next comment;

"As far as the $95 freight charge to ship the frame, I could say that to be true. The distributor could be charging the dealer around that amount to ship the oversize/overweight frame LTL on a tractor trailer. Most parts distributors have a additional freight allowance that they charge the dealers for certain oversize items."

The $95 freight charge was a lie, flat out! I proved it wrong when I ordered from Husqvarna, a replacement frame for $148, plus $13, for ground UPS, and according to email notification will be arriving from Miami within 5 more business days.

My Dealer will not get any business from me and I will, any chance I can, try and discourage someone from buying there. I have found that Husqvarna has been quick to accuse, and quick to defend their Dealers at their customers expense. What I ask of Husqvarna, if you don’t want to honor a warranties on your GT/TS lines then at least represent them appropriately!

I'm holding on to the proof of my claim for now in order that Husqvarna might do the right thing in this. Won't people be surprised to see this play out and when it's over, the dust settles, ego's and reputations are put on the line in their answers, conclusions, or judgments, and I show the video of the whole thing. I suspect I will here crickets from some.

The update I mentioned yesterday is this;

I called Husqvarna customer service, 20JUN2018.

16:18-on hold

16:22-Customer Service Rep at Husqvarna answered, her name is Lynett. I asked who and or what department would be best to talk to about a warranty complaint and dealer complaint after a brief description of my story.

16:24-on hold

16:26-Transferred to the warranty claims department with a rep named TK. I told him a brief description of my story and he said he would submit my claim to management for review.

16:40-on hold

16:53-TK was back on the line with a claim reference number (Incident: 180620-004017-Bent Frame). I asked him a question about warranty claim policy, "could my dealer have received a decision on my claim from Husqvarna without having a claim reference number?"
TK said no. when the dealer called Husqvarna about my claim, they would have given him a claim reference number then and it would be logged into the system according to my tractor's serial number. I asked TK, "is there a claim in the system or any reference or activity logged by Husqvarna or my dealer according to my tractor's serial number?"
TK looked in the system and put me on hold.

17:02-TK answered with no to my question above. I told him then there is another complaint, the dealer lied by saying he got a response from "Allen" at Husqvarna that they would never cover my frame under warranty. If that can't happen without a log under my serial number as you say then my dealer clearly didn't call, and clearly had no authority on behalf of Husqvarna to tell me "they" said my frame would never be covered.
TK expressed concern and sent me an email to have me verify on the phone that I had received it. The instructions was to send pictures of the tractor and the damaged area. TK also explained that management would contact me in 24 to 48 hours on my claim.
Approximately 18:30-I sent 22 pictures.

This is the last time I will respond to your thread, as I have little more to offer that would be of any use to you & anyone else who reads this post.

Firstly I am very happy you are making progress on your claim.
I believe you have a valid claim against the dealer who has supplied you with equipment that is not fit for the job required.
You really do not have a claim against Husqvarna who will only take up your claim in order to protect their reputation & the integrity of their dealer network.

You then have the problem of what to do with the tractor as if you get a replacement, you will only get it once.
Obviously the tractor is not up to purpose so in the long run you will need a stronger machine and would be better off with a stronger replacement ( If Husqvarna make one ) or a refund to put towards a full sub compact tractor.

Once again good luck & please keep us posted.

bertsmobile1,

I sincerely thank you, and many on this site, for the encouragement, and opinions, good, bad, or indifferent. It is my hope that I have been properly respectful to the members in return. I'm usually one of the quiet one's. I have not been quiet about this because of the personal nature to me.

I agree with most of what you said, and by the way, I see you are from Australia, and I have the deepest respect for the Australian Special Forces, and I will leave it at that.

I want to believe the part, "protect their reputation & the integrity of their dealer network" that would make what I have committed to do much easier.

I have been working on a proper platform to release the response I received from Husqvarna that would be productive and hopefully enlightening to the forum, and to my commitment to warn potential customers of Husqvarna Garden Tractors. When it comes to Husqvarna the manufacturer, my biggest complaint is that they induce the sale of Garden Tractors with supporting material (at least here in the USA/ and Canada) claiming to build a Garden Tractor, for Ground Engagement Work, in their GT/TS line, and accessories built for them. They back it up with a supporting warranty (contract), they don't intend to honor, when a customer uses it for ground engagement work. Instead they use the legal outs they have created and placed into the warranty, to hide behind, that reputation we all know.

Because of the warnings from others that have been down this road with no care from Husqvarna (dozer blade, snow blower, front scoop all cause the same identical bend in the Husqvarna Kits TEX Bolted Chassis 445559 582033101) and my own experience in the absurd I committed myself to them and anyone who will at least consider my story that unless Husqvarna keeps their word and commitments I will do what ever I can to warn people about their GT that isn't a GT.

I keep my commitments.

This is the reason behind choosing "Beware of Husqvarna Garden Tractors"

Where to go now? I did purchase the new $148 frame approximately 5 days ago, from Husqvarna parts. It should be delivered by the end of the week. I have a Bekaert horse fence to finish installing, a storage building to finish (12x24), a Volvo to repair for my wife (minor), and holes to fill after the removal of stumps with an excavator I rented (once I got the hang of it it was fun). Somewhere in there I will be taking apart and installing the tractor pieces to a new frame with some expert fabrication to the frame. When the new frame is ready first, then I will dismantle the old and put on the new side by side, at least that's the plan, flexible to reasonable improvements or working around obstacles.

I will still continue to talk to Husqvarna until all leads for ideas run out, including corporate leads and update all interested in what happens.

Sincerely,

You have never explained how you bent the frame.

What were you doing when this happened?

How much were you trying to pick up and with what?

Why the big wheel weights? Were other rear weights in use at the time? Were the rear tires filled with fluid? How many pounds of rear ballast were you using, i.e., all weights and fluid, if used?

You need to answer this and maybe more before you issue a "Beware of Husky tractors" public service announcement.

cpurvis,

Because of video evidence, the weight is completely mute, you can't get a full or close to full bucket load when scooping with the recommended extra weight, 100lbs in bucket, 100lbs offset etc. even with this set up I can slip in diff lock to the axle with very little progress, quickly, it's sand, very loose.

I have an acre of Florida beach sand. very easy to move. have you ever tried to drive on dry sand? Now please try and put yourself here in the unique conditions of Florida gulf coast near the beach, if you have turf tires you will spin them mowing grass on a slope.

the chevron/ lugs are not filled. I had concerns about rusting my wheels on the inside. Also consider how I could have removed all the accessories and the tires in an hr to make the kind of false claim of someone without integrity might be tempted to do but did not. I let Husqvarna and the Dealer see it like it is. I don't have anything to hide but Husqvarna is trying hard not to answer.

I have my turf tires on there own wheels like having snow tires on there own wheels, so that changing them out for the job could be done easily.

I was using 2 42lbs JD suit case weights in order to achieve a balance to the potential load in my scoop and traction. They are designed for the jd 100 series (grass cutters). The rear wheel weights are for the Craftsman GT6000, my tractor, (x-reference the part number on the same tex chassis even and surprise...it's the same).

Total rear weight is not an accurate picture. The axle weights are a different load then the jd weights, besides, if you really want to question this, lets ask Husqvarna why their GT has the same ga steel as my old 2011 Ariens ($900 HD special) built for cutting grass and it's dimensionally the same except the Husqvarna is a few inches longer? Let's ask why the Craftsman GT6000 can handle the Garden Tractor work and handle the johnny bucket jr, plus chevrons, plus 42 pound jd suit case weights on the front for rear attachments and on the back for front attachments and the wheel weights?

The bottom line with the weights, these are the right weights for the job, on ground that has very poor traction, when using the front scoop. If the tractor can't handle the front scoop, or snow blower or dozer blade, then Husqvarna shouldn't recommend that it can!


The GT/TS on the tex chassis are said to be able to handle ground engagement work, and the dozer blade, scoop, snowblower-including the 52" snowblower attachment from Husqvarna (these attachments are made by Agri-fab and for and under the craftsman name also). They claim they are built for ALL GT series tractors 2006 and above (tex chassis). They also don't stipulate the exclusion of real life use of these implements, I'm guessing the abuse clause in the warranty combined with the low dollar figure (making a legal action unreasonable for the common person, like me) of the parts to be replaced are great Corporate tools to not have to acknowledge their GT misrepresentations.

The guy with the 52" snowblower, wow, imagine the dynamic and static loads on the frame with this out there bolted to a 12ga, 26lb, 12.5" wide lawn mower frame (as I've come to learn in this process, and yes I call deception on Husqvarna). There is far more force to be applied potentially on the frame in the snow that can weigh more than my sand and if you catch the edge of something you can't see beneath the snow then Husqvarna's solution is to call it abuse. I sympathize greatly with that guy, I know what its like to shovel snow! I chose my sand over anyones dirt or clay or rock or a mixture of those, what a pain. Imagine if you are the guy that purchased a TS with the quick fix chassis reinforcement for their weak frame, the support for the snowblower doesn't look like it can bolt onto the frame with the reinforcement in place, so you will have to remove it to support the snowblower? Think Husqvarna will have your back when your frame bends, and it will. But the loose sand I was scooping (not digging) buckled the frame in a second (there was less than half a bucket load, and that's generous). Stunning.

I have let all know that after this is over and the accusations from Husqvarna are over, I have the proof in video (we are in that age and it's handy) but not until every option has been exhausted first! Yes, I know, and am counting on Husqvarna to be watching this, trying to comment as someone else, possibly. I would be a fool not to.

Please, Husqvarna, comment on this out in the open just like I have, so we can have a conversation about the legitimacy of your GT's and what you claim, in a forum and way to preserve the credibility of my complaint. I don't think they will, but I do call them out...

The Dealer and Husqvarna misrepresented their product.

The Dealer claimed $95 extra special freight charge on the chassis.

Husqvarna will do nothing about this kind of deception on the low end, fraud on the high end. How many people pay for the extra freight charge claims that are completely false? There is more, but thats enough. What has happened to customer service?

Update!

The Chassis came in. Ahead of schedule, thank you to the Miami Dealer that is 6 hrs south of me.

The Chassis;

delivered by UPS Ground and easily.

26lbs actual.

12.5" wide

3" tall

57" long

of 12ga steel (that includes the powder coat)

Pure pan style chassis. The kind used in grass cutters like my 2011 Ariens ($900 HD special, the same ga that Husqvarna says is "robust") and the like. Wow again, I wish I knew.

I maintain that I would double up the frame rails. What the heck, you already have one that can't be hurt any further. Cut it up, slide the rails from it inside the new one, line up all the holes, weld it with a full penetration, put it all back together and now you can do whatever traction you can put to the ground.

Have fun with it from here.

Good luck,

Max

Total rear weight is not an accurate picture. The axle weights are a different load then the jd weights, besides, if you really want to question this, lets ask Husqvarna why their GT has the same ga steel as my old 2011 Ariens ($900 HD special) built for cutting grass and it's dimensionally the same except the Husqvarna is a few inches longer? Let's ask why the Craftsman GT6000 can handle the Garden Tractor work and handle the johnny bucket jr, plus chevrons, plus 42 pound jd suit case weights on the front for rear attachments and on the back for front attachments and the wheel weights?

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I guess you found out the hard way that rear weights and overloading the front DOES matter. Don't forget to look at your front wheel spindles; they're probably bent, too.

Put the new frame in and repeat what you did to bend frame #1 and you'll bend frame #2 just like it.

cpurvis,

Take a look,

"Mower deck does not have to be removed. • 200 lb. load capacity. • Bucket raises 5" to 7" from ground. Can use bottom of bucket for leveling. • Tire chains / wheel weights recommended for better performance. • Fits all 2006 & newer model year tractors.• 2 YEAR WARRANTY"



"Easily hauls loose dirt, mulch, or rock for small or large jobs

Great for spreading sand or moving heavy rocks or bags of potting soil for bedding plants

Lift, lower, and dump all from the tractor seat with easy to reach ergonomic handles"


This set up is almost 3' in front of the front axle. 200lbs 2' in front of the axle is in effect close to 400lbs tipping the front and losing the weight on the rear wheels for stability. I says it is rated for 200lbs and it weighs 100lbs that's 300lbs, but you believe that Husqvarna is not misrepresenting their product?

Where are you going to add that extra weight for stability then?

If I add 2 JD 42lbs weights 2 ft behind the rear axle, that is 84lbs or counter effect of 168lbs, then what for securing the load they say the GT is capable of safely working? I'm not even going into the 15 percent grade yet that the GT is also rated for.

The rear wheel weights that are recommended are a good step toward this total counter balance but are still not enough, not really. Just because I got the wheel weights from sears for less, does this mean they can't be recommended anymore? Why do you think the extra weight and traction is recommended?

What about slippery conditions? Can you find in their literature anything on this?

The tractor is 6" off the ground, what about countering the weight properly with 200lbs 7" off the ground or 1" above the front axle while on a slope that it is all rated for?

Using the bucket for leveling is also drag in reverse, what about countering this weight?

What do you think the better performance is all about? It's not for making the tractor go faster.

You see, if Husqvarna did represent their product properly then I would be still working with it fine or they would have honored their warranty, but they didn't. If you say that may be it shouldn't have a front scoop on it because of the extra weight needed to make it safe for that scoop then again, Husqvarna misrepresented their product.

What I did was well within the abilities that was represented and with Tuff Torq k66 (max rear axle static load 697lbs, the whole tractor resting on the rear axle!).

Beware of Husqvarna Garden Tractors!

That is fine, if you know what 200 lbs of sand looks like.
About 1/2 to 3/4 of a builder wheel barrow.
Close our eyes and visualise a bag of cement in a std barrow.
Over here the bags are 120lbs so 2 bags is the limit for your tractor,
Not familiar with the actual items but I would guess that would be about 1/3 to 1/2 the bucket capacity volume wise.
Next time you are in a landscape or building supply store, wander around to the bagged materials section and have a look at the weights of the bags.
Sand is about the same weight / volume as gravel cement is lighter and of course mulch & garden mix is lighter still.
The sort of work it out volume wise what 200 lbs of the different materials are.
1 to 1.5 bags of sand
2 to 2.5 bags of cement
4 to 6 bags of top dressing
Assuming USA bags are around the same size as Aust bags.
Then take into account that all those bags are bone dry and bulk material is always heavier due to water content.

The machine will be capable of doing what it says it can do.
It was just not the machine you needed to do the job at hand.

I have an old Rover 8 Hp, narrrow tyred ride on that came with a blade.
It will push 2 times the height of the blade working with sticks & small branches ( heaping to burn off ) all day long without problems
But when it comes to earth ( crusher dust ) 4" in the blade was it

EngineMan said:

A good panel beater should be able to put that back into shape.

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IMO the Husq YD's are rather flimsy as small Tractors go. It is a decent MOWER only.