Raptor SD cut quality - any recommendations?

[mooch91]

OP back.

Embarrassing cut tonight with my SD 54.

I was on vacation this week, so my lawn went 8 days since the last cut. We had two significant thunderstorms this past week which brought some torrential rains, too, so there was some growth.

I'd say I was between 5 and 6", cutting at 3". So in some cases I was taking 50%+ off the lawn. Not ideal, but I would have hoped not overwhelming for the mower either.

Attached is what I got. This is still with the super high lifts and a squared-off discharge chute.

 

[mooch91]

So I've proven it can't cut without leaving clumps/visible clippings during the middle of a drought cutting at 4 day intervals. It surely can't do it with spring growth or a more reasonable (weekly) cutting rate.

I've tried every adjustment possible on this thing, every blade available... I think it's about time I call it what it is and move on to something better. I'm going to try Hustler corporate customer service on Monday for one last shot at seeing if there's something I'm missing, or something they can do, but I'm not optimistic. Had I known the cut quality was going to be this pathetic, I'd have spent a couple of thousand more on a pro model.

 

[PVHIII]

So I've proven it can't cut without leaving clumps/visible clippings during the middle of a drought cutting at 4 day intervals. It surely can't do it with spring growth or a more reasonable (weekly) cutting rate.

I've tried every adjustment possible on this thing, every blade available... I think it's about time I call it what it is and move on to something better. I'm going to try Hustler corporate customer service on Monday for one last shot at seeing if there's something I'm missing, or something they can do, but I'm not optimistic. Had I known the cut quality was going to be this pathetic, I'd have spent a couple of thousand more on a pro model.

They should give you a full refund on the Raptor (my dealer did me)...I originally bought the Raptor when they first came out in 2013...I spent twice as much money on my Fast Trak SD but I have at minimum 3 times the mower...looks like a nice place you have there and plenty to mow as well..Hustler builds very good mowers but I am by no means a fan of the Raptor...my mom in law has one that every time she mows with it (no matter what the conditions are) I have to scrape out the deck... I HATE IT!!...BUT...I absolutely LOVE my FTSD.

 

[mooch91]

They should give you a full refund on the Raptor (my dealer did me)...I originally bought the Raptor when they first came out in 2013...I spent twice as much money on my Fast Trak SD but I have at minimum 3 times the mower...looks like a nice place you have there and plenty to mow as well..Hustler builds very good mowers but I am by no means a fan of the Raptor...my mom in law has one that every time she mows with it (no matter what the conditions are) I have to scrape out the deck... I HATE IT!!...BUT...I absolutely LOVE my FTSD.

Trouble is, I'm a year and 52 hours in to owning this mower. I toyed with it last year thinking there had to be something I was missing. Not sure how much the dealer will do for me at this point.

 

[Rail5042]

You want to know a cheap way to fix the clumping issue. Don't blow the cut grass into the uncut grass. I know but then you can't go forward and back words. You have do a circle pattern. I found the best approach to anything is know your equipment and know each job site. I first started to use mine I was scrapping two show shovel loads of grass out of deck. Now I have just a little build up in front. My lawn in thick around my house and thin in the field. I run thick to thin. Reduces clumping. My front yard is a little sandy. I finish there. That sand blast the deck off. My back yard where my drain field and sump pump drain are is jungle every time. I will cut it twice or blow the clippings away from uncut grass.

 

[DJ660]

These HI-Lifts you have on now, Are they Hustler blades ? Whats the part #. Here is the Part # for some Big-Dog blades, They call them "Catcher" Blades. They have a very similar profile and lift "Fin" like the Scag super hi-lift blade. Hustler part# 602416

 

[mooch91]

These HI-Lifts you have on now, Are they Hustler blades ? Whats the part #. Here is the Part # for some Big-Dog blades, They call them "Catcher" Blades. They have a very similar profile and lift "Fin" like the Scag super hi-lift blade. Hustler part# 602416

That's the one I've been running for the past two months.

Just switched yesterday to the Gator G5 to give that one a shot again.

Not too confident either will work out for me.

 

[DJ660]

Is the deck Level side to side? Deck Pitch? Reason I ask as it looks too not be level in the pics. Is the engine running at 3600 RPM's, Alot of the units I've seen were NOT running at correct rpm. If all checks out good, I would try setting deck Pitch differently and see what happens. got nothing to lose right? I've had some older Fastrak's that I've had too set pitch 1\4 HIGH in front to get them to cut good.

 

[mooch91]

Is the deck Level side to side? Deck Pitch? Reason I ask as it looks too not be level in the pics. Is the engine running at 3600 RPM's, Alot of the units I've seen were NOT running at correct rpm. If all checks out good, I would try setting deck Pitch differently and see what happens. got nothing to lose right? I've had some older Fastrak's that I've had too set pitch 1\4 HIGH in front to get them to cut good.

I've leveled the deck over a dozen times, tried all the different pitches (level, forward, backward). Right now it's level side-to-side, with the nose down about 1/4".

I would like to check the RPMs, but can't do that myself unless someone can recommend a cheap tach I can buy for my toolbox. May have to bring it to the dealer for that. This is probably the one thing I didn't check...

Thanks.

 

[mooch91]

I'm back to running the Gator blades and I made an arbitrary increase in engine speed tonight. Not sure if it's 3600 rpm or above (lever is about 1/8" from the end of its travel in the cam), but there's not much more room to increase speed beyond where I have it.

Same result. TWO days worth of growth (two big downpours over the last two days) and I still have rows of visible clippings and some smaller clumps. I was trying to determine if it was throwing the clippings further (before, most clippings were landing between 3 and 5 feet). It might be a hair better in terms of distance thrown, but hard to tell.