Are you a professional lawn care owner/operator? If you're in the market for a walk behind mower you may find that the Husqvarna mower is the right option for you.
Husqvarna has a condensed commercial walk behind line up compared to most other manufactures. However, they do have quality built mowers. We expect for this line up to expand over time.
Speaking of line-up, there are three different units here: W436, W548 and W552. Check out our comparison chart below.
Mower: | W436 | W548 | W552 |
Engine: | 18 hp Briggs & Stratton Vanguard | 18.5 hp Kawasaki FS Series | 18.5 hp Kawasaki FS Series |
Deck: | 36″ 7-gauge fabricated | 48″ 7-gauge fabricated | 52″ 7-gauge fabricated |
Transmission: | 5-Speed Gear | Pump/Wheel Motor | Pump/Wheel Motor |
Fuel Capacity: | 5.8 gal | 5.8 gal | 5.8 gal |
Speed: | 5.4 mph forward | 7 mph forward | 7 mph forward |
Warranty: | 2 yr unlimited hours or 3 yr 500 hours | 2 yr unlimited hours or 3 yr 500 hours | 2 yr unlimited hours or 3 yr 500 hours |
Price*: | Starting at $3,800 | Starting at $6,500 | Starting at $6,800 |
* prices only an estimate that may vary based upon a particular dealer.
Comparison
In terms of power, build and design, the commercial walk behind mower line-up from Husqvarna is very similar to some of Toro's walk-behinds. The major difference between these two is that they have different decks styles.
The controls of the 48″ and 52″ models is very similar to that of Toro. They are also the same type of controls seem on stand on mowers.
Features
Across all the three models, Husqvarna has done a great job in keeping a lot of the features the same. Those similarities can be found in:
Power – Even though there is a difference in the engines used across these models, there is the same 18.5 horsepower for all of them. This allows the machine reach as much as 7mph on forward drive, allowing you cover larger expanses of land in little time, no matter how difficult the terrain is.
Versatility – It is true that the commercial lawnmowers in this series can be operated anywhere. That gives lawn care professionals a wider range of use for their unit.
Flat-free tires – Don’t worry about getting a flat and having to change tires anymore. All units have now been fitted with 9 inch, flat-free tires that can hold their own well in any situation
Adjustable cutting height – Even though the cutting widths are fixed, you get to adjust your cutting heights in small increments of up to 5 inches
Easy maneuverability – The learning curve with this unit is one that won’t have you reaching for the user manual anytime soon.
Power
Depending on which of the units you pick, you have different power ratings waiting for you.
Opting for the W436 model, you get an 18.5hhp Briggs & Stratton Vanguard V-twin engine under the hood. This is a solid engine option for a 36″ walk behind mower.
The W548 and W552 models offer a 18.5 hp Kawasaki FS engine. This should be enough power but we would like to see a larger engine… especially on the 52″ model.
Cut Quality
The Husqvarna walk-behinds offer an above-average cut quality. They have a flat-nose deck design. These are typical across the industry of commercial walk-behinds.
The base model (W436) is set at 36 inches, while the middle model (W548) will cut across a 48-inch width. The topmost model in the series (W552) allows for a 52-inch cutting width instead.
Durability
These walk behinds are well-built machines that should last a long time. They are made with all commercial components and have grease fittings to ensure lubrication.
Comfort
Overall, these mowers are decently comfortable. The controls are intuitive and have good response. Since the 36″ model is belt driven it can have a little bit of a learning curve.
The 48″ and 52″ have stand on like controls. This is great but can be a little awkward on a sulky when turning. On sharp turns it can be a little difficult to keep both hands on the controls.
Aesthetics
The Husqvarna walk behind models are as beautiful as mowers come. Available in only one-color option of orange and black detailing, so much is to be said of how its components are arranged too.
All factored into the final design, everything is placed just right to make this an eye candy. To put things in context, watching you mow the lawn with this beauty will be a sight to behold.
Price
Depending on where you are getting your units from, the base model in this series starts at $3,800 for the 36″ model. The 48″ model starts at $6,500 and 52″ starts at $6,800. These are very good prices for walk behinds. The 36″ is definitely at a great price even though it is a belt driven mower.
Our Rating
Performance: | (3.5 / 5) |
Cut Quality: | (3.5 / 5) |
Durability: | (4.0 / 5) |
Comfort: | (3.5 / 5) |
Price: | (4.5 / 5) |
Overall: | (3.8 / 5) |
Wrapping it up
The Husqvarna commercial walk behind is a quality mower with some good features. There may be some better options out there but for the price, Husqvarna has one of the best.
What do you think?
Have you used a Husqvarna commercial walk behind? What do you think of this mower? Leave us a comment below!
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For more information on this mower check out Husqvarna's official site. To find a dealer near you check out their dealer locator.
Images are from Husqvarna.