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hustler raptor sd 54"

Jun 25, 2016#1

E

engraver1

just signed papers for this mower
first zero turn and need advice.
is this a good mower? i can get out
of this contract. mower doesnt come until
next fri. also are the flex forks worth it?
thanks
Howard

Jun 25, 2016#2

K

kraky

Read the posts below and see what you think.... plenty of information talking about that machine..... try it without the flex flex and if you want them later theyre an easy add on.

Jun 25, 2016#3

L454S

2 and a half years with mine now. Only some adjustments needed in the beginning, no problems to talk about. Still only have about 60 hours so far. Lots of cutting so far this season though.

What engine does the new model come with?

Jun 25, 2016#4

T

turboawd

did you buy a machine with kawasaki engine? they switched to kohler this year.
i personally think kawasaki is a better engine.

Jun 26, 2016#5

E

engraver1

L454S said:
2 and a half years with mine now. Only some adjustments needed in the beginning, no problems to talk about. Still only have about 60 hours so far. Lots of cutting so far this season though.

What engine does the new model come with?

I got the the only kawasaki engine in 8 dealerships. thanks for the feedback
would you treat the underside of the deck with anything?
thanks

Jun 26, 2016#6

E

engraver1

turboawd said:
did you buy a machine with kawasaki engine? they switched to kohler this year.
i personally think kawasaki is a better engine.

thanks for the feedback, yes a kawasaki

Jun 26, 2016#7

5

577jersey

I love my RSD 54 so far,,using it commercially with 40 hours on it so far and its awesome!!
Just take it easy over rough terrain and treat it with TLC,,it will last you a long time,,oh yeah...you might want to flip around the bolts on the back of the hydros so the shank is going through the frame,,and upgrade those to grade 8 lock nut...there is a thread around here on that somewhere...I just flipped my grade 5 around and keep an eye on them once a week...I also added a belt cover mod and a pre filter but thats at your own risk,oh yeah and I took one of the 3 springs out from under the seat and added felt too the other two,,such a nicer ride,,quiet also..no more squeak

Jun 27, 2016#8

L454S

engraver1 said:
I got the the only kawasaki engine in 8 dealerships. thanks for the feedback
would you treat the underside of the deck with anything?
thanks

No, did not treat the underside of the deck. Got a set of ramps and knock off some big chunks after a damp cut so as not to stink up my garage too much. I don't cut wet.

Neighbor has a base Hustler 52", he is a morning cutter. He puts out a cloud of water when cutting.

Jun 27, 2016#9

M

michigan_Rapter sd

L454S said:
No, did not treat the underside of the deck. Got a set of ramps and knock off some big chunks after a damp cut so as not to stink up my garage too much. I don't cut wet.

Neighbor has a base Hustler 52", he is a morning cutter. He puts out a cloud of water when cutting.

Just for added insurance before I ever turned my mower on (last 3 I owned) I coat the underside of the deck with ez slide - if you have ever tired to stand in a gravity wagon painted with this stuff you will understand it is very slick

http://www.tractorsupply.com/tsc/product/ez-slide-graphite-based-coating-1-gal?cm_vc=-10005

Jun 27, 2016#10

T

turboawd

michigan_Rapter sd said:
Just for added insurance before I ever turned my mower on (last 3 I owned) I coat the underside of the deck with ez slide - if you have ever tired to stand in a gravity wagon painted with this stuff you will understand it is very slick

http://www.tractorsupply.com/tsc/product/ez-slide-graphite-based-coating-1-gal?cm_vc=-10005

I find it hard to believe any spray coating will last, when the original paint wears off to bare metal.

Jun 30, 2016#11

5

577jersey

turboawd said:
I find it hard to believe any spray coating will last, when the original paint wears off to bare metal.

Yeah right,,some of my lawns are like sandblasting my deck,,i would never waste my time $$ or energy putting anything on the underside of the deck here..lol

Jun 30, 2016#12

M

michigan_Rapter sd

turboawd said:
I find it hard to believe any spray coating will last, when the original paint wears off to bare metal.

I reapply every spring when I get the deck cleaned up - so it will wear off - it wears off of gravity wagons with corn and wheat rubbing on it - it is a helpful step not the forever answer in one shot. another item is the spray is water based where the can is oil based and last longer - again this isn't for everyone but with my heavy grass with clay based yard it works great. If one item fitted every need there wouldn't be dozens of mower manufacturers and styles -

Jun 30, 2016#13

M

michigan_Rapter sd

577jersey said:
Yeah right,,some of my lawns are like sandblasting my deck,,i would never waste my time $$ or energy putting anything on the underside of the deck here..lol

that would be like our other house - the yard is all sand and it blast everything - I don't bother there as you never have to worry about anything sticking it is so thin and dry over there and that is just across town.

Jun 30, 2016#14

K

kraky

We used to sell a fair amount of that stuff in our John Deere dealership. It was called slip plate. Farmers like it just as you say... and we had a few lawn and garden people that did the same thing you are doing. We too are heavy clay with wet grass in Spring. Go 40 miles north of here and it's sand Country... no need to bother with slip plate there.... low lift blades work fine and the decks stay pretty darn spotless. People have to adjust for THEIR particular mowing conditions... sometimes not a whole lot of miles between areas bring on a whole new set of problems or Solutions!

Jul 8, 2016#15

Datadave

577jersey said:
I love my RSD 54 so far,,using it commercially with 40 hours on it so far and its awesome!!
Just take it easy over rough terrain and treat it with TLC,,it will last you a long time,,oh yeah...you might want to flip around the bolts on the back of the hydros so the shank is going through the frame,,and upgrade those to grade 8 lock nut...there is a thread around here on that somewhere...I just flipped my grade 5 around and keep an eye on them once a week...I also added a belt cover mod and a pre filter but thats at your own risk,oh yeah and I took one of the 3 springs out from under the seat and added felt too the other two,,such a nicer ride,,quiet also..no more squeak

Hi 577jersey
Do you have pictures/links and or more detail about how to make these mods?
I seen some on the Hydro drive bolts yesterday but the belt cover, pre-filter & seat mods have me lost.
I just bought a hustler raptor SD 54" and want to know anything & everything that could make my life easier
and my mowing experience better :thumbsup:
Thanks
Dave

Jul 8, 2016#16

5

577jersey

Datadave said:
Hi 577jersey
Do you have pictures/links and or more detail about how to make these mods?
I seen some on the Hydro drive bolts yesterday but the belt cover, pre-filter & seat mods have me lost.
I just bought a hustler raptor SD 54" and want to know anything & everything that could make my life easier
and my mowing experience better :thumbsup:
Thanks
Dave

I have a few videos on my youtube channel if you want to browse there you will find the seat mod,belt cover,and pre filter mods.
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCnukK0Xsvf4rjnfgYYmHP1Q

Jul 8, 2016#17

RhettWS

Datadave said:
I just bought a hustler raptor SD 54" and want to know anything & everything that could make my life easier
and my mowing experience better :thumbsup:
Thanks
Dave

The best thing on the mower is the cup holder. Here is how to use it. Go to fridge, grab a tall boy, open and take a good swig, walk to mower, take another swing, get on the mower, take another swig and place the tall boy in the cup holder, start the mower, take a few swigs while warming it up, starting mowing and remember to swig regularly. I guarantee your mowing experience will be better. :drink:

Jul 8, 2016#18

5

577jersey

Too much alcohol and power equipment never ends well from my experience..lol

Jul 9, 2016#19

Datadave

577jersey said:
I have a few videos on my youtube channel if you want to browse there you will find the seat mod,belt cover,and pre filter mods.
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCnukK0Xsvf4rjnfgYYmHP1Q

Thanks 577jersey
I guess the factory or the dealer stole your seat mod idea already (the bean counters would be so proud)
The seat mod is done before I took delivery. Mine only has two seat springs, one on each side, none in the middle.
They saved way more on a spring & bolt than the 2 inches of cheap oil drain hose they shorted me

The belt cover mod is very clever - I may try that soon. I have not see the pre-filter mod yet, will look for it later.

Expanding the deck discharge shoot opening as turboawd showed may be good if mowing wet areas but no problem here yet-
so far my problem is dust, not wet grass. Almost drought conditions in this summer heat, but when it rains it rains...

Thanks RhettWS - the cup holder is a fantastic piece of standard equipment.
I filled a big gulp cup with ice & Gatorade and knocked it over the first bush I went under
so I guess your tall boy advice will be taken next time

Aug 2, 2016#20

1slow5point0h

RhettWS said:
The best thing on the mower is the cup holder. Here is how to use it. Go to fridge, grab a tall boy, open and take a good swig, walk to mower, take another swing, get on the mower, take another swig and place the tall boy in the cup holder, start the mower, take a few swigs while warming it up, starting mowing and remember to swig regularly. I guarantee your mowing experience will be better. :drink:

Too dusty around here. It's gotta have a lid or a cap on it for me. I don't like drinking dust/dirt/grass lol

Aug 3, 2016#21

RhettWS

Jcook78 said:
Too dusty around here. It's gotta have a lid or a cap on it for me. I don't like drinking dust/dirt/grass lol

If you would go ahead and drink the dirt and grass you could quit taking vitamins. Good stuff!!

Aug 3, 2016#22

1slow5point0h

RhettWS said:
If you would go ahead and drink the dirt and grass you could quit taking vitamins. Good stuff!!

Lol. I've had my share of it from Iraq and Kuwait. Probably still have dirt and dust in my lungs. Nothing like blowing your nose and mud comes out :laughing:

Aug 3, 2016#23

5

577jersey

Jcook78 said:
Lol. I've had my share of it from Iraq and Kuwait. Probably still have dirt and dust in my lungs. Nothing like blowing your nose and mud comes out :laughing:

I hear that..lol..I hit a cat on a dirt bike years ago on the street and went down hard..it was a freshly graveled road,,and I was doing about 45 mph..I still have gravel and dirt in my you know what to this day...I was 17 and now Im 45..lol..I saw the cat crawl away dragging its rear legs..

Aug 4, 2016#24

mhavanti

Jcook, thank you for your service. Glad you're home safely.

Max

Aug 5, 2016#25

RhettWS

mhavanti said:
Jcook, thank you for your service. Glad you're home safely.QUOTE]

I second that sentiment!! Thank you very much!

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hustler raptor sd 54"

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