Both compact · same LS Tractor lineup
LS MT232 vs LS MT242
| Spec | LS MT232 | LS MT242 |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $29,635–$33,397 | $32,056–$35,757 |
| What that price is | dealer list, not MSRP, spread across dealers | dealer list, not MSRP, spread across dealers |
| Size class | Compact | Compact |
| Transmission | Hydrostatic | Hydrostatic |
| Engine hp | 31.7 hp | 42.5 hp |
| PTO hp | 26.2 hp | 34.8 hp |
| Loader lift | 2,506 lbsmeasuring point not recorded | 2,506 lbsmeasuring point not recorded |
| Three-point lift | 1,808 lbsat the ball ends | 1,808 lbsat the ball ends |
| Hydraulic flow | 11.7 GPM | 11.7 GPM |
| Drive | 4WD | 4WD |
| Engine | Yanmar | Yanmar |
| Weight | 3,210 lbs | 3,294 lbs |
| Fuel tank | 10.6 gal | 10.6 gal |
| 4WD | Yes | Yes |
| Front loader | Yes | Yes |
| Cab available | No | No |
| Hydrostatic | Yes | Yes |
| Power steering | Yes | Yes |
| Cruise control | No | No |
| Warranty | 6 yr powertrain | 6 yr powertrain |
A highlighted cell wins its row on the rule named above the table: more power, lift, capacity or flow, or a lower price. A lift row is left unwon whenever the two makers measured in different places, or where either of them did not say — a figure quoted at the pivot pin and one quoted 500 mm ahead of it describe the same loader and differ by roughly a third, so ranking them against each other would invent a result. Prices are typical list and move with dealer packages.
From owner discussion and long-term write-ups
What owners of each one say
LS MT232
What they like
- 2,506 lb loader lift is the headline over the 226 - a 27 percent jump for roughly 7 more engine horsepower
- 26.2 hp at the PTO from 31.7 gross is an unusually small loss for a hydrostatic in this class
- Naturally aspirated Yanmar three-cylinder with no turbocharger and nothing exotic to service
- Three-range hydrostatic rather than two, so there is a genuine working range between crawl and road speed
- Factory cab versions are catalogued on the same frame
What they complain about
- LS publishes no price, and the three dealer figures found for the open-station build spanned $29,635 to $33,397 - a real 13 percent disagreement, shown here as a range
- 3-point lift stays at 1,808 lb, unchanged from the 24.6 hp MT226, so the extra power does nothing for the hitch
- Past 25 gross hp the machine is into the emissions band where LS does not publish its aftertreatment, so DPF presence is not something the maker states
- Hydraulic flow is identical to the MT226's 11.7 GPM, which limits how much the bigger loader can actually speed up a cycle
- 10.6-gallon tank is unchanged from the smaller model despite the higher fuel burn
- No loader measuring point published, as on every LS model page
LS MT242
What they like
- Four-cylinder 133.6 cu in naturally aspirated common-rail engine, so it runs smoother than the three-cylinders below it without adding a turbocharger
- 34.8 hp at the PTO is enough for a six-foot rotary cutter or a mid-sized tiller with margin left
- Only 84 lb heavier than the 31.7 hp MT232, so the extra power does not cost ground clearance or turning circle
- A factory cab is catalogued on the same frame at this hp point
- 6-year limited powertrain cover with parts and labour and no deductible
What they complain about
- No published LS price, and the dealer spread for the open-station build ran from $32,056 to $35,757 - shown as a range because 12 percent is a real disagreement, not rounding
- Loader lift and 3-point lift are both unchanged from the MT232 at 2,506 lb and 1,808 lb, so 11 extra horsepower buys nothing in capacity
- 11.7 GPM total flow is the same as every other MT2, so hydraulic cycle times do not improve with the bigger engine
- 1,808 lb of rear lift is thin for 42.5 hp - LS's own MT3 series doubles it for the same power band
- LS publishes no loader measuring point and no emissions aftertreatment detail at this hp