Raptor SD cut quality - any recommendations?

[kraky]

When I sold Deere lawn tractors alot of them had a spring. We'd always reach down and show the customer we could float the deck up off the showroom floor w/just one or two fingers.
On the lawn tractors we told people to find the cutting height they liked...then set the wheels 1/4-1/2" off the ground....in combo w/the lift spring and wheels the deck could lift itself much easier and follow ground contours w/o beating all the wheels and lift linkages to heck.
I can tell on my raptor SD when in my road ditch that there's alot of pressure on the wheels sometimes.
As a matter of fact the former owner had the mountings pretty tweaked. Those wheels go sideways on a zero turn.....any float lift on the heavy Fab deck SHOULD be a very good thing.

 

[Grass Whisper]

Mooch91: Did you get the mulch Kit with your fastrak?

 

[mko1024]

New guy here. I read this entire post with some amusement. You guys have some high standards. Compared to my old mower, my yard looks awesome.

Why no love for blowing the clippings into the uncut grass? I had to do that with my old tractor. I've continued to do that with the new machine out of habit. No worries about clumps of cut grass if you hit them twice.

 

[Grass Whisper]

:smile:Upgraded to new Fastrak from Raptor SD. Quite different mower all together. Mulch kit installed by dealer which does indeed have 3 baffles to isolate each blade. Have yet to test d/t rain..

 

[kraky]

'Usually" if your cutting often enough to get a good mulch job you probably wouldn't have seen much clippings (if any) laying after side discharging under the same conditions. But I understand not wanting to blow residue into gardens, driveways, house siding etc.
I ordered just the mulch cover from my dealer instead of the complete kit. Maybe not smart...complete kit is $160 vrs steel cover at $60. Just didn't want to fool w/install...take out...install etc as our springs are too wet to mulch.
Hoping to use it for fall leaf grinding. Plan on pregrinding w/gator blades and using it as a final pass....not sure how it will do but have wasted $60 more foolishly if it bombs.

Very interested in more fastrack reports....its on my dream list...!

 

[Grass Whisper]

Makes perfect sense Kraky, my thoughts were with the deeper deck and mulching. My next step is to remove the mulch kit and side discharge. I agree with you on side discharge though.

One thing I can say is the trans. are a bit smoother as it has zt3100 vs. the raptors zt2800. Not that there is a thing wrong with either. Another difference is the tires are not as wide as the Raptor54. But it's 200 lbs. heavier! Not including my fat *****! :laughing:

 

[bigdaddyr]

Makes perfect sense Kraky, my thoughts were with the deeper deck and mulching. My next step is to remove the mulch kit and side discharge. I agree with you on side discharge though.

One thing I can say is the trans. are a bit smoother as it has zt3100 vs. the raptors zt2800. Not that there is a thing wrong with either. Another difference is the tires are not as wide as the Raptor54. But it's 200 lbs. heavier! Not including my fat *****! :laughing:

Watching these comparisons closely. Did the extra 200lbs help with traction on steep hills? Do the upgraded zt-3100's make going down a steep hill any smoother without loosing control?

Since it sounds like your Raptors were fairly new did your dealers work out a good trade? I'm thinking about talking to the dealer I bought mine from and financing the difference if it seems worth it.

 

[Grass Whisper]

Well I traded my Raptor SD for a Fastrak. I purchased the Raptor SD, the mulch kit, upgraded the seat, (to the 60 inch nice seat ) and ordered the bag catcher that I never picked up. So for me, it was an additional $1475 difference but credited the value of what I had spent. Also, I included the mulch kit on the Fastrak.

I was happy for the upgrade. I did put 3 hours on the Rator at the trade. Dealer ordered the Fastrak for me.

To answer your question my yard is dead flat. I am pleased with the mulch performance of the new mower. It is 200lbs or so heaiver. I went with the 54 inch d/t the drive tire size. Just a blast to mow..:smile:

 

[kraky]

Man...another really good deal. Around here on a outright no trade deal the spread between a SD raptor and fastrack is $2000. I'd trade my used SD for a new fastrack in a heartbeat for 2 grand....you guys are getting treated WELL!

 

[bigdaddyr]

Man...another really good deal. Around here on a outright no trade deal the spread between a SD raptor and fastrack is $2000. I'd trade my used SD for a new fastrack in a heartbeat for 2 grand....you guys are getting treated WELL!

See if anyone around you has the 2014 Fastrak SD. I got mine for a $2400 spread and feel pretty good about it. Has some of the more commercial features like FX Kawasaki engine and chain hung deck. Loving it.