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well I got my sport back from the dealer and this tine it had the mulching blades , when first delivered it just had the regular blades with the end cap on and I was told that is how they are , cut once and just left a line of grass .
Complained and they picked it up . came back with the mulching blades but no deflectors on the inside again I think there is some thing missing all rain so can not try .
The parts manual is also no help . So is this all I get is an end cap and some squiggly blades for the $120.00 mulching kit ?? and will it even work ?? any Ideas ?/ Mike Lannon WI .

the sports was new off the show room floor but I think it was old as no row bar or rear bumper . but came in at $3100 with a mulching kit ,set up and delivered . had to wait 4 days because they had to order the mulching kit . model # 929125 serial # 09021228

There should a divider under the deck. Its part of the kit, along with blades and endcap. Divider part# 113357 Black in color. And from the looks of it, with an 09**** serial number it was made in 09'

well I hope I get this straightened out no calls from the dealer and we have a lot of rain so will have to wait but looks like they tried it before sending back and the grass looks like it is making its own divider , and if it is a 2009 well I wonder if they registered it for my warranty ?? I was told it was last years model . so it looks like another day on the phone? I will put some pics of the sales slip and the home made grass divider . should put back in the air and take pics with the clipping removed . so any more info just post , Thanks Mike

well cut twice and it leaves big tire tracks still waiting for divider plate but I think there are other issues , is there been changes to the deck since this is a 2009 I just bought . Any ideas it has the mulching blades on now but I do thing this tire issue is a big deal even though it is just my yard I do not think it is correct I know it weighs a lot . HELP . Mike

This thread may be helpful. There's a description near the end on how to tell if your deck should have the baffle or not.

http://www.lawnsite.com/showthread.php?t=326666

On a side note, I've been using the mulching kit on my 48" for a couple years and am now giving up on it. I remember being pretty happy with it when I first got it, but I think it was late summer, so dry grass, and the deck was still pretty new. Mulching works well if grass is dry and don't cut too much off. In spring, with lots of rain and rapid growth, and perhaps now that the paint under my deck has worn off, the grass just sticks like crazy, cakes up, and falls out in big clumps whenever I stop or make a turn. Trying to go over the clumps again doesn't help because it just picks them up and drops them when I stop or turn again. I've gone back to side-discharge and think that's the way to go. The clippings are a bit longer, but still disappear by the next day. Discharging with the chute does leave windrows, so I do have to go over the rows again with the chute up to dispers them well enough.

Regarding the tire tracks, that looks normal. The grass will bounce back from being compressed by the tires, but the longer the grass the longer it takes. Hard to tell from the pics, but that seems like a pretty high cutting height. I like to keep it 2.5" to 3".

well got the plate installed but is is in up side down .all the grass just sits on the ledge since the top in on the bottom , just leaves big droppings / clumps of grass . Now I am thinking that since this is a 2009 it might have issues and they redid the deck as I think there has some thing about that . so am I getting a bad cut because hustler made a bad unit and change it because of what grass look like , was there a recall on 2009 sports ?? some thing is making me think I bought a bag of worms! Mike



here is the print that the seller sent mt to prove it was installed correct , as I see it it should be bolted to the top of the deck , they drilled new holes in the face and bolted it to the side not the top . will have more to deal with Monday .



I might have been a little hard on the dealer in the last email when I ask him when it would not fit right and they had to redrill the divider why a light bulb did not go off and relook at the print .




this is what makes me think I got a recalled mower/ deck that just did not perform correctly so they redesigned the deck and that is why the factory part does not fit ?? Mike

No, It's not upside down. That looks installed as best as can be. The bolt lines in the diagram can be a little confusing because it's going up and over to the front lip, but it's not going through the top of the deck. The bolts #8, which you have hanging down from the front end of the baffle, are supposed to go through a lip at the bottom front edge of the deck, which you don't have (presumably because you have the prior generation deck design), so they made it work by drilling holes and bolting to the front.

Hi all well installed the only way just does not work and yes it does not work , for some reason there are cutting issues with this hustler sport , they all get good reviews but mine for sure does not still looks like my grandsons ran around the yard with a go cart there are so many tire tracks . and now that that divider plate is installed well the shelf fills up with clippings and yes when that area fills up they drop down in big clumps , the other issue is the top of the deck so full with clippings they also just drop off when you turn . A lot of issues and I only cut about an acre if that of grass and with all the trees and other things in the yard the engine runs full speed and I go slow , the acre take me a little over 2 hours so not just flying around the yard . so is the issue I got stuck with an out dated deck that had to be change because of all the issues , also should have never been told that a mulching kit would work on a two blade deck . as usual a few pics that help explain my situation . would the factory tell me if there was a recall or problems that they changed the decks?? Mike



I would think as big as hustler they did not run into this problem or they think every one should just put up with it or buy another one . I even have been cutting the lawn way lower then with my toro recycler deck and buy the way they have a lot of dividers/ beakers on each side like 3 per blade . mu old mower was a HXL 15 38 inch recycler . and it worked great and when done my yard looked groomed now it looks hacked up .



well now when your looking at $3800 mowers and find one for $2700 and they say well the only difference is it is last years model just no roll bar I should have looked a while longer or at different dealers ?? so any one have Hustlers phone number ?? Mike

Just asking here, But how did it cut before the mulch kit? Is the deck level and how is it pitched (Front to Back) Is the engine running at 3600 Rpm's

The only difference I see with the decks is model yr 10 and older there were 2 versions of the 42" deck. A swept forward deck and a swept back deck. Swept meaning is the discharge blade ahead or behind trimside blade. Late 10' and newer are swept back. I see yours is a swept forward design. Is there an advantage to either, Im not sure. But, they usually change things for a reason. Mulch kit part # same for both decks. All the grass blowing out and laying on top of deck tell me that either the deck is pitched wrong or the mulching blades have to much lift. Look at the fin on the toro tractor you have. That blade is almost flat. no lift at all.

well it rained this morning and it is raining again right now.

as far as the deck height I check and looks like it is about with in 1/8 of being level to ground , I just measure to the flat platform I made to get it in the air .

as far as how it cut with out the mulching kit never had it with out when bought it was not delivered till it came in about 3 days and I am burrowing a mower so it was no issues . when dropped off I asked for the old blades and was told they use the same ones , well I think I know better so had a few words and then they said yes these should be with the kit they ordered but it was shipped with out so they will be sure to get and pick up and install when in, only a few days and they picked it up and came back with the mulching blades , cut a little and well just bad , put in the air no divider , again called went threw hoops and well they will pick up and install another few days , picked up installed the divider again cut some grass not at all happy put in air and there what I think is up side down , storing grass in coroner and drops down when full . and all sort of grass all over the deck .

now was every thing check before delivery well I have all the paper work that should have been filled out and sent in to register but nothing I have all the paper work with nothing checked off . ?? I asked if it got registered and was told yes I will get it done . ??

so will see what tomorrow brings any Ideas will be appreciated . so very unhappy with my super deal ? any one know what the deck heights should be ? flat or tipped ? My toro always worked so never even checked in the 14 years . still cut great but the hydro just will not get up even small hills so that is why I am replacing it . wanted the zero turn as it is hard on my hands to do so much turning with a steering wheel , might have been that the toro might have had issues why it was getting hard to turn or just my Arthritis .




nothing filled in or signed .



and as far as the blades well I paid $120 for a kit and I think it should work , and the $90.00 for set up and delivery well they dropped it off and picked it up did things and brought back twice just because they ?? but I do think it should be right as even thought it was a year old !! but really a 2009 , it still must be right . Mike

Measuring off the BLADES, side to side should be level. Front to back should level to 1\8 inch lower in the front. Set tire pressure at 12 psi rear and 15 front. Make sure engine is running at 3600 rpms. Now all this should have been done at selling dealer. The biggest thing I found with ANY mulching mower no matter the brand is that the grass is even alittle damp and or if you try a cut to much off at 1 time they just do not work. The deck over loads with clipping and packs up and starts clumping and boggs or stalls engine. Maybe Gator type mulching blades would be a better choice. I was never really to keen to the idea of taking a side discharge deck that moves a good volume of air and blocking the discharge and now they call it a mulcher. Mulching dry leaves, Sure it most likley works very good,

If you ever find a mower that will mulch wet thick grass and not leave clumps let me know and I will buy us both one

(( racing is the only sport that you need two balls ))

My toro always mulch good when wet I could only cut half of the yard before I would put up in the air and scrap the deck . I always scrap the deck after every cutting . with the mulching deck it has a few things that are like dia 3 sided angles above the blades in the deck . will take some pics of that later . also I think the hustler deck is close to that but for sure my yard is not at all that flat . Thanks and will get exact measurements on the deck , would it be better more than less in the 1/8 ? also have no Idea if the RPM's are at that but I run it full throttle . and cutting is not like racing as I always turn RIGHT . Mike


I do not have any books on my Hustler .I wonder if they should have came with the tractor ?? but I just looked up my Toro and here is what they said.

" The blade pitch for a 38-inch (96.5cm) mower is correct when the blade in front is 1/8-3/8 inch (3.5-10.5mm) lower in front than in the rear. "

mmuehlba said:

My toro always mulch good when wet I could only cut half of the yard before I would put up in the air and scrap the deck . I always scrap the deck after every cutting . with the mulching deck it has a few things that are like dia 3 sided angles above the blades in the deck . will take some pics of that later . also I think the hustler deck is close to that but for sure my yard is not at all that flat . Thanks and will get exact measurements on the deck , would it be better more than less in the 1/8 ? also have no Idea if the RPM's are at that but I run it full throttle . and cutting is not like racing as I always turn RIGHT . Mike

I do not have any books on my Hustler .I wonder if they should have came with the tractor ?? but I just looked up my Toro and here is what they said.

" The blade pitch for a 38-inch (96.5cm) mower is correct when the blade in front is 1/8-3/8 inch (3.5-10.5mm) lower in front than in the rear. "

Click to expand...

On most mowers the deck should be around 1/4 inch lower in the front. This is so the sharpest part of the blade cuts the grass. And is less work the engine has to do.

Now I run mine lower in the back. I like the cut better. I feel it cuts the grass twice.

Now when it comes to your hustler I feel they are very good mowers.
I feel you got a bad rap from the dealer
I would run the mulch blade and side discharge
Maybe cut the grass every couple of days. Less clipping.

My feeling are you liked your toro should have stayed with toro
I like what I use and I stay with it

(( racing is the only sport that you need two balls ))

well as far as a toro they have not made riders for a while they had MTD make them and now there O turn are so good they only warranty for one year and if I could have bought a new Toro like they were , I most likely would have but a big no . I just did not jump into this hustler I did some looking in fact I even borrower a mower so I did not have to buy one right a way . there calling for rain and the grass is not even ready to be cut will have to call the dealer and see what they say ,should get some pics of deck and check the heights on the Hustler but will also have to get some items listed on e bay today , my other addiction besides marbles . I knew my cousin was trying to sell his older Power King so I said I would sell for him if I could use it till it sold , well my daughter had a neighbor that must have gotten sick or what ever so I took it over to cut her lawn , I just wish I would have helped sooner . Mike

Did we get this machine figured out or no luck?

Did you finally get it resolved? I have a similar problem with my Ariens Zoom 42 (http://www.lawnmowerforum.com/gravely-ariens-forum/17716-ariens-zoom-42-mulching-problem.html) that is still pending. Ariens want me to send it to the dealer for inspection but I don't want to be left with no mower for more than a week...

Hi All well yes it has been taken with a while ago but just waiting to be sure . I was talking with my brother and when I said it was so much less that the others he said well there should have been a flag that it was $1100 less . And if you are having issues now after the money issue is done most likely the service will also so he said end the charge on the card so I called the credit card company and put in a stop , then I called the dealer and told him , to my surprise all he said was I will pick it up in a little bit , sure he was there with in a few hours and took it back , never heard any more . Then there was the comment some thing like if you liked your Toro so much I should have bought one , well I looked on craigslist and there was one just like mine but a year newer went and was very good , sent the $600 and have been using ever since . still wish the sport would have worked out as it was very easy to use the few times I did but even my $600 used toro cut better . . Mike