LS MT242HC

The LS MT242HC pairs a 42.5 HP Yanmar diesel with a premium enclosed cab, so the work keeps moving when Pacific Northwest weather doesn't cooperate. Add the front-end loader and you have one machine for storm cleanup, moving gravel, and hauling feed, all from a dry seat.

The four-cylinder Yanmar diesel delivers 34.8 PTO horsepower. PTO (power take-off) horsepower is what reaches the rear shaft that drives rotary cutters, tillers, and other implements, and it's the number that matters when you're cutting tall grass or climbing a hill with a load.

At 3,805 lbs before ballast, the MT242HC also carries real weight. Weight is what gives you traction and stability on wet ground and slopes. Horsepower alone won't keep your tires from spinning.

The loader lifts 2,506 lbs at the bucket pivot pin about 59 inches up, and 2,063 lbs at its full 94.3-inch height. With 3,723 lbs of breakout force, it can dig into compacted gravel and old manure piles.

The engine RPM interlocking switch on the joystick gives you a quick burst of engine speed for faster loader lifts, so you don't have to run the throttle high all day. The three-pair loader valve gives you a third hydraulic function (the extra circuit that opens and closes a grapple) for downed limbs, brush piles, and blackberry cleanup.

The hydrostatic transmission (HST) drives like an automatic: press the forward pedal to go and the reverse pedal to back up, with no clutching. Linked pedal control raises engine RPM as you press down, and cruise control holds a steady speed for mowing.

The cab includes air conditioning, a suspension seat with armrest, Bluetooth radio, front and rear wipers, and full LED lighting for short winter afternoons. The digital instrument panel tracks maintenance items like oil change intervals.

At 90 inches tall, the MT242HC needs clearance. Measure your barn doors and shop entry before you buy. Getting it right the first time is cheaper than fixing mistakes.