Hustler Raptor 52" zero turn mower

[rfuerst911sc]

Hey guys I am a long time lawn and garden tractor owner . Very familiar with them and currently mowing my 2.5 acre spread with a John Deere 330 diesel garden tractor with 50" deck . Of the 2.5 acres I am mowing a little over an acre . The JD does a good job but it's slow .

So thinking a zero turn may be a better option I started looking locally on CL . Found a 2017 Hustler Raptor with a 52" deck powered by a Honda engine . No hour meter but the seller bought it new and only used for his property so no commercial work . He is selling because he bought a larger new one . He says all it needs is a good cleaning and one crack on the deck needs to be welded . I can easily do that . He is asking $1200.00 .

Did some online research and it seems Hustler is a good brand that's been around for over 50 years. Any of you guys own this brand ? Or have real world experience ? I have never used one . My yard is hilly but only one section I consider steep . With my garden tractor I mow that steep section up and down vs sideways . I think I would do the same with a zero turn . All advice appreciated , I would probably end up selling the JD .

[cabmandone]

Yeah I've got an older Hustler Super Z. Hustler makes a solid mower. The Raptor is pretty much the homeowner "entry level" line if I'm not mistaken but still very well build. I've never tried to mow sideways along a hill with either my Z or my Dad's. He has a pretty good hill that we both mow up and down. Seems the safest way to do it.

If he cracked the deck on that mower, I'd look for a different mower.

FWIW, it's a $3500 mower brand new.

https://www.google.com/shopping/product/1?q=hustler+raptor&prds=epd:13637097889566253675,eto:1363709788956625 3675_0,pid:13637097889566253675,prmr:1&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwi2wrX4_LXyAhXcFlkFHfDZBqoQ9pwGCAU

[rfuerst911sc]

Cab thanks for the reply . I just noticed in his ad the pics of the engine says Kohler 24 but his ad said Honda powered . I have asked for clarification . We have a dealer 22 miles away I think a road trip is in order 😁

[cabmandone]

Originally Posted by rfuerst911sc

Cab thanks for the reply . I just noticed in his ad the pics of the engine says Kohler 24 but his ad said Honda powered . I have asked for clarification . We have a dealer 22 miles away I think a road trip is in order 😁

I'm not aware of Hustler using Honda engines. They've had a long association with Kohler as the entry level and Kawasaki as the "upgrade". I could be wrong though.

If you've never mowed with a "Z" know this, 6 or 7 mph mowing speed sounds great but your yard better be smooth or you better have a seatbelt and a strong back because you're gonna take a beating. My mower will mow circles around a Raptor... if I'm brave enough to keep the handles at full forward.

[cabmandone]

https://atlanta.craigslist.org/wat/grd/d/bowdon-hustler-raptor-zero-turn-52-mower/7361172908.html

If that's the one, I'm not a fan. I think it's missing the pulley covers on top of the deck and it looks like it has been run pretty hard and not well cared for.

BTW, I think you can buy a Hustler Raptor at Lowes or one of the big home improvement chains. I never liked that Hustler went that route.

[rfuerst911sc]

Originally Posted by cabmando

https://atlanta.craigslist.org/wat/grd/d/bowdon-hustler-raptor-zero-turn-52-mower/7361172908.html

If that's the one, I'm not a fan. I think it's missing the pulley covers on top of the deck and it looks like it has been run pretty hard and not well cared for.

BTW, I think you can buy a Hustler Raptor at Lowes or one of the big home improvement chains. I never liked that Hustler went that route.

Yes that's the one. Per my research Hustler did use Honda engines for a while. I will see what the seller says but I am going to the dealership to look them over.

[masraum]

I can't tell you based on that particular zero turn.

I mow a slanted portion of our yard in our zero turn. I don't know that I'd call it steep. It feels more steep on the ZT if going across or diagonal. Our zero turn says not to mow a hill >10% (I think). I think it also advises to go down, not across, and may even say not to mow up, I can't remember. I assume that's because the front is very light, and there's some chance of the thing rolling over backwards under the right/wrong circumstances. I've mowed ours up, down, across and diagonally and never had a problem, but I also don't go crazy when I'm going across. I've never noticed a problem going up.

[masraum]

Originally Posted by cabmando

I'm not aware of Hustler using Honda engines. They've had a long association with Kohler as the entry level and Kawasaki as the "upgrade". I could be wrong though.

If you've never mowed with a "Z" know this, 6 or 7 mph mowing speed sounds great but your yard better be smooth or you better have a seatbelt and a strong back because you're gonna take a beating. My mower will mow circles around a Raptor... if I'm brave enough to keep the handles at full forward.

Yes, 6-7 mph is fine when the yard is relatively smooth, but if you have dips, bumps, ridges, it can get ugly. I now know where my bumps are and slow down for those sections. If you hit a bump going fast enough, it can kill the blades (my mower has a safety feature that says if you aren't in the seat, then the mowers stop).

[cabmandone]

Don't know how far this one is from you but the Cub Tank is a decent mower. Main thing, and you seem to know this, is that it wasn't used commercially.
https://nwga.craigslist.org/grd/d/east-ellijay-commercial-zero-turn-for/7348942547.html

Wow! This deal is even better!
https://nwga.craigslist.org/hvo/d/east-ellijay-commercial-zero-turn-mower/7350476338.html

If you can find one that wasn't used commercially, a Dixie Chopper or XMark would make a good mower for you as well.

[Tim Hancock]

I have a 60" Hustler Raptor with 27hp (IIRC) Kohler engine. Going on 4th year I believe with no issues thus far. We use it to mow our house yard which is approximately 4 acres. I bought the soft ride front suspension arm kit with it. I mow with throttle wide open and full forward on the levers.

I think they have now switched to Kawasaki engines on the newer ones.

[cabmandone]

^^^
The springer front is definitely a back saver. My Super Z will still beat the snot out of ya at full speed with the springer forks. But I think mine mows at around 12 or 14 mph... again if I'm so bold as to hold the bars at full forward.

[Tim Hancock]

Your commercial version is definitely faster. My wife mows our house yard most of the time so it works for us and at least it is definitely faster than our old 60" Schroeder flip deck she used to use.

Found a picture from the day I bought ours in 2017 (I bought our daughter one also that day as she mows about 3 acres). Picture is before I installed front springer kit. I bought them in Napoleon Ohio from local Hustler dealer

[Seahawk]

I am a zero turn convert but they do have limitations for farm use.

70% of the farm is zero turn friendly, the rest I mow with a 19 year-old MF 2300.

THe ZT has shaved off 1/3 of the mow time. The big problem is I can't get my wife off of it



We have two old 2300's so we took the mower deck off the 2300 with the FEL and put a rotor tiller on the back PTO.



Seriously, used properly, the ZT's are the deal.

[mgatepi]

I bought a new Dixie Chopper Silver Eagle in 2011, purchased the snow blade kit with it. IT has been incredible, never had an issue, well except for a leaky hose which I replaced, over 500 hours on it now. Generac 27 hp engine.
Cost was a little over 11K if I remember correctly. I was using a JD 335 before and I easily cut 45 mins off my mow time. I cut about 1.5 acres and plow my driveway in the winter. Also use it to pull my manure spreader.

[masraum]

Originally Posted by cabmando

If he cracked the deck on that mower, I'd look for a different mower.

Right, unless it's junk on composite, How in the hell did he crack the deck. I've bumped some stuff with mine, and not come close to cracking the deck.

[rfuerst911sc]

The crack in the deck is at the opening where the chute is . As heavy duty as these decks are that is the only weak spot just because of the opening . Anyway I just got back from the local Hustler dealer . While he has cheaper models the FasTrack series with a 48" deck looks promising .

It has a ROPS bar which I want , I think this is the smallest model in their lineup that has the hoop . Has a 22 hp Kawasaki industrial engine and serviceable hydro units . And a 4 year 1000 hour warranty for $6495.00 . If I put down 2K the financing is 0 % for 48 months @ 110.00 per month with zero penalties if paid off early . I now have to decide to buy outright a used unit or finance a new one . Unfortunately the dealer only has one with a huge backlog from the factory .

[cabmandone]

Originally Posted by rfuerst911sc

The crack in the deck is at the opening where the chute is . As heavy duty as these decks are that is the only weak spot just because of the opening . Anyway I just got back from the local Hustler dealer . While he has cheaper models the FasTrack series with a 48" deck looks promising .

It has a ROPS bar which I want , I think this is the smallest model in their lineup that has the hoop . Has a 22 hp Kawasaki industrial engine and serviceable hydro units . And a 4 year 1000 hour warranty for $6495.00 . If I put down 2K the financing is 0 % for 48 months @ 110.00 per month with zero penalties if paid off early . I now have to decide to buy outright a used unit or finance a new one . Unfortunately the dealer only has one with a huge backlog from the factory .

Sacred Feces! Let me make a phone call.... or two. I have friends who sell Hustler. That seems crazy high based on that link I posted.

[rfuerst911sc]

Originally Posted by cabmando

Sacred Feces! Let me make a phone call.... or two. I have friends who sell Hustler. That seems crazy high based on that link I posted.

I am curious what you come back with . This is a Fastrak not a Fastrak SDX they are similar . I told my wife when I got home my dad would roll over in his grave that I was thinking about buying a lawn mower for 6500 bucks !

[Skillet83]

Originally Posted by rfuerst911sc

Hey guys I am a long time lawn and garden tractor owner . Very familiar with them and currently mowing my 2.5 acre spread with a John Deere 330 diesel garden tractor with 50" deck . Of the 2.5 acres I am mowing a little over an acre . The JD does a good job but it's slow .

So thinking a zero turn may be a better option I started looking locally on CL . Found a 2017 Hustler Raptor with a 52" deck powered by a Honda engine . No hour meter but the seller bought it new and only used for his property so no commercial work . He is selling because he bought a larger new one . He says all it needs is a good cleaning and one crack on the deck needs to be welded . I can easily do that . He is asking $1200.00 .

Did some online research and it seems Hustler is a good brand that's been around for over 50 years. Any of you guys own this brand ? Or have real world experience ? I have never used one . My yard is hilly but only one section I consider steep . With my garden tractor I mow that steep section up and down vs sideways . I think I would do the same with a zero turn . All advice appreciated , I would probably end up selling the JD .

I have owned a Hustler X One with a 60" deck for 7 years, Kohler powered. Purchased new, have almost 300 hours on it. Has never failed, not once, starts and just runs. I did do a major service on it at 250 hours. All the commercial guys around here are running Hustlers.

[rfuerst911sc]

What I am finding out from this dealer and internet research is many lower price units have " lifetime " hydro drives meaning they can't be serviced . If I am going to buy a cheaper unit that can't be serviced maybe used is the way to go ? The thing will sit for a week , then mow for an hour or two then sit for a week .

Not a fan of Cub Cadet and it pains me to say that as I sold them back in the day when they were made by International Harvester and were solid quality machines . Not impressed since the MTD buyout. Is the " Tank " commercial unit really a good quality machine ? As usual I am paralyzed by analysis ☹️