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New Hustler Raptor SD Owner

#1

B

BoylermanCT

After doing months of research, and looking at Husqvarna, Scag, Hustler, Ferris, Cub Cadet, Simplicity and Bad Boy, I bought a Raptor SD 54" from the only dealer in CT I could find that had them with the Kawasaki engine (They have 2-3 left in anyone is interested). Took it home yesterday, waiting for the grass to grow a bit so I can see how it performs. It'll be in the 90's this week, so my 4 acres of lawn won't be growing too much!

I have ordered the flex forks, engine guard, muffler shield and Oregon G5 blades to upgrade the mower, they should all be here within a week.

I have been reading about the deck modification of cutting out the triangle at the back of the discharge area, and am considering doing that, as the grass gets really thick in the spring. Will see if the deck clogs up and decide from there.

Any other upgrades or modifications I should consider? This is my first zero turn, I've been a tractor guy for too long. Hoping the SD will be a good, reliable mower for many years to come.


#2

RhettWS

RhettWS

Good luck with your new mower. I think you hit all the high points for upgrades/modifications. I've not cut out that corner yet on the deck. Still considering it.

I'm going to build my own muffler shield when I get around to it. Having one really is needed unless you have a convenient place to park on concrete or dirt. I have that available to me but I have to remember to do it. Sort of in the habit now but I will still make the shield. I want to not only take care of the grass but I want to reflect the heat away from the engine and the hydro units.


#3

5

577jersey

Congrats on the RSD,
I would also take the belt covers off or notch them out on the ends so you can blow the grass out after use,,grass likes to get clogged in there and burn things up once in a while...great mower I use one commercially for 60 hours now and only had a tension spring snap...easy fix though.

Tom


#4

B

BoylermanCT

Thanks Tom. Will look at making a way to easily blow them out or remove them.

Did you ever cut away the bar going across the discharge chute? That was the one thing I didn't like on the mower was a fabricated deck with a stamped deck design.


#5

5

577jersey

No but I plan too if I keep it longer than 300 hours after warranty is up...you will or should add/weld a piece of round bar to the top of the opening for added support if you do cut it off.
I cut 15" wet grass with mine,,it blows big chunks once in a while but after a double cut the lawn looks perfect so its not really an issue for me.

I did notch out the ends of my belt covers so I could blow the grass out every day though.

Great mower for the price so far!!!

Tom


#6

B

BoylermanCT

Tom, can you post a pic of your belt cover modification? The video on your original post from last month is not working. I want to see how you cut the covers. I would like to leave them on, and have an easy way to blow them out each time. Thanks!


#7

5

577jersey

Ok,,will do a little later when I get in...I deleted some of my videos from youtube cause I got sick of all the negative bullcrap.

Tom


#8

5

577jersey

Sorry the pic is flip phone quality all I had...just make sure you cut it below the bend on the top so you keep the strength of the cover.
I used a 4-1/2" angle grinder with cut off wheel works great,,alot of guys just take them off but I like the way it looks with the covers on it so I figured out this mod...you can even file the edges on the cut and make it look alot nicer than mine :)

BTW-Hardly any grass at all gets stuck in there any more,,even if you don’t blow it out,the deck stays clean with this mod,just the turbulence from the belt and pulleys spinning is enough to blow,push,and fling things out...the covers being cut like this act like a wind tunnel so without the covers the deck would get dirtier IMO this is a MUST DO mod for all Raptors!!


0726161236.jpg


#9

B

BoylermanCT

Thank you Tom. I like how you modified the covers. I will be doing the same thing.

Funny how your design is very similar to the pulley guards on my Craftsman tractor which cost 1/2 the price of the Raptor SD!


#10

5

577jersey

Hahaha,,i think I know what you are talking about,,hey some engineers just need a little more common sense and maybe we wouldn’t have to mod these mowers..lol
The stamped deck chute design I agree is the worst part of the RSD,,guess they had to try and idiot proof it some...I bet with that bottom bar cut out this deck will throw and spray grass 25ft no problem,especially with flap bungeed up :)


#11

B

BoylermanCT

When does your warranty expire? I want to know how the deck does when you cut off the bottom bar across the discharge chute!

I'm curious how other manufacturers get the open discharge normally seen on a fabricated deck when their decks are the same thickness as the Raptor's and Hustler can't offer an open discharge on the SD. The SD was the only mower I saw with this design on a fabricated deck. That my be Hustler's hook to get you to go up to the Fastrak for another $2 grand.


#12

5

577jersey

Its gonna be a while I only have 61 hours...I may get bored one day and say @#$% it!!!! and just wack it off,,Im sure the deck is strong enough without doing any other mods too it.The deck hangers will bust off before you bend the deck back too the blades,there is a 1/2" flat stock across the bottom front edge,,that aint going anywhere easy,,and if it does you better hold on cause your going for a wild ride...lol


#13

mhavanti

mhavanti

Tom,

Just think how much the deck would be blown off if the pulleys had 1/8th inch spiral blades top and bottom with the pulley guard opened all the way around with one inch wide stands around the perimeter of the guard. All the deck would be clean and not much of a way anything could stop up the area.

Max


#14

5

577jersey

mhavanti said:
Tom,

Just think how much the deck would be blown off if the pulleys had 1/8th inch spiral blades top and bottom with the pulley guard opened all the way around with one inch wide stands around the perimeter of the guard. All the deck would be clean and not much of a way anything could stop up the area.

Max
Click to expand...
Now thats using your head Max...lol..when you get them patented Ill buy a set :)


#15

G

Good 1 Brian

BoylermanCT said:
After doing months of research, and looking at Husqvarna, Scag, Hustler, Ferris, Cub Cadet, Simplicity and Bad Boy, I bought a Raptor SD 54"

So what made you decide on the Raptor SD after all you research ?
Click to expand...


#16

5

577jersey

Well I liked the 2800 hydros,rear tires,big castors,fat frame,fab deck design other than opening,,spindles are good,18,600 blade tip speed,seat ok..kawi rules!!
The warranty is good...I really should have waited a bit longer cause if I would have known about the Bobcat CRZ I would have got that in a heart beat over the Hustler SD.
Alot more mower for less $$...oh well I still love the SD...just hope she holds up...and he obviously didn’t see the CRZ in his research,,just like me :(


#17

K

kraky

I'm guessing one of the problems with the Bobcat organization is a lack of dealer Network. I'm in North Central Wisconsin and when I click to find dealers I find only two in the state of Wisconsin and from what I can tell Bobcats are made here in Wisconsin....geez..... you would think they'd have about 20 dealers in your home state!?


#18

5

577jersey

Yeah,,I am lucky to have 2 of them within 25 miles here,,same with Hustler...


#19

5

577jersey

Here is a quick video of a local owner.



#20

1slow5point0h

1slow5point0h

577jersey said:
Congrats on the RSD,
I would also take the belt covers off or notch them out on the ends so you can blow the grass out after use,,grass likes to get clogged in there and burn things up once in a while...great mower I use one commercially for 60 hours now and only had a tension spring snap...easy fix though.

Tom
Click to expand...

I took my covers off after the first couple of mowings. It's just so much simpler to blow the top of the deck off, or let the wind blow it off when I have the mower on my utility trailer heading back from one place I mow.


#21

mhavanti

mhavanti

Tom,

Here is just how easy it is to add a drain hose to any engine. I used the Bobcat CRZ parts manual to get their parts numbers for you. However, it is much simpler and less expensive to just run out to an auto parts or farm store and grab this stuff off the shelf.

Bobcat Oil Drain Hose/valve makeup for the Kawasaki Engines

1. 4164251 VALVE-OIL DRAIN
2. 4164252-001 FITTING-3/8NP TO BARB Fitting
3. 12” x 3/8” Clear
4. 48412-01 Hose Clamp to hold the hose alongside the top of the engine.
5. #6 Hose Clamps (2)

The above numbers are from the Bobcat CRZ parts manual.

However, all you need is:

1) 3/8” NP brass fitting to 3/8” barbed hose connector (Advanced Auto Parts) $1.79
2) 12” 3/8” clear PVC or neoprene fuel and chemical resistant hose. Any farm store, $1.19
3) #6 Hose Clamps, (2) Any store with hose clamps, 55 cents each. $1.10
4) 3/8” Hose end valve (plug) Brass: http://www.ebay.com/itm/Brass-3-8-B...441622?hash=item4b000da5d6:g:jpsAAOSwR5dXR7Yz $1.79
Plastic: http://www.ebay.com/itm/1-4-3-8-Hos...hash=item4d3630b0a0:m:mtJJArut3yqTtmPdhPQGzFg $6.99

I'm going to do this to all three of my mowers.

I'm going with all brass and use a balloon over the hose valve end after draining and returning the hose to the home position next to the engine cover.


#22

B

bertsmobile1

I use a pump.
A lot easier quicker & cleaner.
Boat shops usually sell the same pumps that mower shops do at a substantially cheaper price.


#23

B

BoylermanCT

Good 1 Brian said:
BoylermanCT said:
After doing months of research, and looking at Husqvarna, Scag, Hustler, Ferris, Cub Cadet, Simplicity and Bad Boy, I bought a Raptor SD 54"

So what made you decide on the Raptor SD after all you research ?
Click to expand...

I was set on a Husky and went to the Hustler / Husky dealer to order it and he talked me out of it. He said the Hustler support was much better, and I talked to his mechanics and assemblers who all said the Hustler is the better brand. The Raptor SD also came with a Kawasaki engine, where the others were Briggs or Kohler. Plus the Raptor SD was a few hundred less than the others.
Click to expand...


#24

mhavanti

mhavanti

Hello Bert, hope all is well downunda!

I have a pump also.

Always good to read your posts from way down there.


#25

B

BoylermanCT

Now why can't Kawasaki take a trick from Briggs. My Craftsman tractor has a 12" hose coming from the bottom of the engine to a clip on the top. To change the oil you unclip the hose, bend of down and it drains the engine oil. When you are done, put it back upright and clip it. Doesn't get much easier than that! I was given a black hose with the Raptor SD, and I am sure I will lose it!


#26

mhavanti

mhavanti

Plus it is stiff also.


#27

5

577jersey

Thanks so much for doing all the leg work on this project!!
Im heading out to TSC this Wednesday,,Ill get all the stuff I need for this mod.
Really appreciate it again...

Also,,Bert..Im not a huge fan of pumping the oil out of a combustion engine,,I think time and gravity does a better job at it,,especially if there is some sludgy,metal,crud at the bottom...Ill let mine drip for 10 minutes until it stops,then Ill jack it up in the back and more will come out.
Pump is great for efficiency and production if you are doing it as much as you.

Just my opinion for whatever its worth...

Tom


#28

T

turboawd

577jersey said:
Here is a quick video of a local owner.

Click to expand...

when did this come out? i really need to see this in person. it looks very promising.


#29

K

kraky

The guy who made that movie is not only wise Beyond his beers..... he actually enjoys what he does. He likes everything about a lawn mowing business so much he makes about 3 movies a week and they're kind of fun to watch. With all the bad Politics on TV it's refreshing to come here and see one lawn mowing sob having fun and showing us what he's up to!


#30

5

577jersey

kraky said:
The guy who made that movie is not only wise Beyond his beers..... he actually enjoys what he does. He likes everything about a lawn mowing business so much he makes about 3 movies a week and they're kind of fun to watch. With all the bad Politics on TV it's refreshing to come here and see one lawn mowing sob having fun and showing us what he's up to!
Click to expand...
Thats right brother,,hes a good friend of mine,he has a passion for mowers,tools,and the lawncare lifestyle :)


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