Changing Blades on a Hustler Raptor SD Zero Turn Mower

Here I change the three blades on the mower and clean the deck.

[@FOUNDEDEARTHBROTHERS]

You must be a super human LOL. I tried to take my bolts out and after several minutes of straining, I nearly blew every vein in my brain. Thanks for the breakdown!

[@johnthomas3863]

Just a little reminder, hose under the deck after finishing up the lawn each time, that will prevent build up and deck rot. We’ve been cleaning out decks in the commercial business in Pro Level South Florida for to many years to count. Thanks for the video

[@1bertski]

I use a cordless dewalt impact to remove and install blades. It makes it a lot easier.

[@robertoswalt319]

Thanks for the comment about using a cordless impact driver. I was wondering if a cordless impact would be strong enough.

[@augustv123]

Nice video, thanks for posting! The only thing I’ll add is that if you’re following these instructions and still having a hard time get a can of WD40 and spray it between the blade and the nut. Once I did that I was able to remove them with a regular sized ratchet. That dried grass is like super glue sometimes. If your arms are long enough hold the nut on top of the deck with a wrench instead of using a block of wood to keep the blade from spinning. This method keeps the blade even more still.

[@lonestarhomestead5415]

Thank you for the great ideas..

[@robertoswalt319]

NIce video, I need to replace the blades on mine and have the old ones sharpened. I appreciate your stating the bolt size because I would have presumed that they would have been metric. I like that you used jack stands because you can't be too safe when working in crush zones.

[@lonestarhomestead5415]

Thank you. Yes, I don’t want to be under a mower when I die.

[@georgesimpson3113]

Believe it or not it takes less than 2 minutes to drop the deck. I power wash mine. I have a few sets of blades I rotate and keep a set sharp. Easy to keep sharp with a cheap $10 1/4 in. Air Angle Die Grinder from HF. Then hook everything back up in less than 3-4 minutes. Faster to clean. Cleaner than your way. End of season you can paint or coat with something slick. Sharp blades cut amazing. Oh, I even sharpen brand new blades! I don't think they come sharp enough "out of the box". EDIT: If you have a loader... I just lift the front end of the mower with a chain, do what I need to do and lower it. But thats me. ;)

[@lonestarhomestead5415]

I do have a loader and that's a great Idea. That would be much faster. Thanks for the advice.

[@tpack670]

I took my spindle covers off when I bought my Hustler ZTR. Way too much grass stays compacted under them and rust the deck. I blow mine off after every use and it looks just like the day I bought it. FYI.... an impact driver will take off those blades much easier and faster as well.

[@heingrobler3607]

Thanks for that it helped a lot... from South Africa

[@topherbec7578]

Thanks, I have to change mine soon. I leave the belt covers off, makes cleaning easier after each use.

[@PressurewashingPrince]

If you coat the underside of your deck with WD40 it’ll help prevent the grass from drying and sticking to your deck.

[@NickD615]

Good video and nice use of resources. I've got the same exact model.

[@lonestarhomestead5415]

Thank you

[@timsmith5837]

Thank you, just what was needed.

[@lonestarhomestead5415]

Good deal Tim glad it worked out.

[@MaaaatO]

Great video. Due to replace mine and wondered how others did things. Another video had it being lifted with a tractor scoop with lifting strops.....alas I dont have a tractor or the strops lol

[@jeffmhobbs]

Faster and easier using a 18-20 volt impact driver w/1/2" socket for the bolt removal and putting back on.... and blades won't spin. Also using anti-seize lube on nut and blots will make removing bolts a lot easier and faster especially doing it without an impact driver. Some folks spray Pam cooking spray under deck after cleaning to prevent grass caking on. Wouldn't recommend power washing under deck as spindles, etc.. can rust. Hustler Dealership charges $8.50 per blade to sharpen and balance. Well worth it if only doing annually to get it done correctly.

[@lonestarhomestead5415]

Thanks for the info Jeff great ideas.

[@577buttfan]

Best way to scrape a deck is after you run it in wet grass for a while,stuff gets like concrete lol.

[@lonestarhomestead5415]

I have learned that the hard way.

[@daviddaigrepont9485]

Thanks. Helped alot.

[@baconnbitz]

Very helpful, thanks!

[@999benhonda]

I drive my ztr onto my trailer ramp with one wheel hanging off...replace the blade on that side...then drive it up the ramp with the other side off and replace the other blade. Quicker than having to get out the jack and jack stands. An impact gun (I have the ryobi electric one) makes the job faster and easier as well.

[@lonestarhomestead5415]

Great idea.

[@danieltucker8837]

Dude, I get my highlift blades on ebay for $10 a blade, $30 for set of three. The belts are kevlar and they are $29 compared to $60. These local dealers are a rip off.

[@johngrant9544]

i buy mine from oregons parts store i like exmark highlift on my hustler sd 42

[@lonestarhomestead5415]

Thanks for the tip. I will look into that.

[@evanrice5864]

So you have to put the new blades on at the same angle like the old blades were before you take them off?

[@joshsundiwa]

Thanks for sharing👍👍 at what speed (RPM)are these blades running at?

[@camcordernonsense5264]

Is there anything wrong with holding the upper deck level nut just above the pulley with another wrench? It worked fine on center and chute side blade. Left side the whole assembly turned with the nut above the pulley held still. Didn't hear anything horrible. I'm going with a wedged wood block tomorrow but I'm wondering if that means something broke

[@lonestarhomestead5415]

I don't know why it would be doing that. I would be very interested to hear if you find out why its doing that.

[@MaxsGarajMahal]

You may want to do my belt cover modification as well. Been three years and haven't had to remove the covers since. Saves belts, bearings and pulleys.

[@lonestarhomestead5415]

Hey Max is that where you drilled holes in the cover? I didn't see a video on it but saw them in the background of one of the other videos.

[@MaxsGarajMahal]

No Sir, I haven't done a video on those yet. I have been asked many times. However, when someone brought theirs to me to do, it has always been late in the day and they wanted to take them home with them as soon as I was done so I haven't had a set to do from scratch for a video. Maybe the factory might send me a pair to do a video on. If the shipping wasn't so high to send them back and forth, I'd do more of them for folks.

[@lonestarhomestead5415]

So just drilling the holes in the cover? How many holes do you suggest?

[@MaxsGarajMahal]

I drill 8 holes, 1 1/8" after chamfering inside and outside. Most important to chamfer the inside so that even the finest clippings will not be hampered from exiting the belt cover. I take a compass, find center of the flat area and mark it with a lead pencil in your compass. Then I find center of the belt cover at a 90 Degree angle to the frame of the mower. I then set the first hole 1 1/8" to either side of center and that should give you 1/4" spacing between your holes and an even spacing from that point in both directions. Make sure you leave at least a 1/4" meat between each hole. That will give you maximum evacuation and maintain a modicum of safety for the operator as well as others. I've even had folks use that for a step although I have painted a bright yellow on the warning clearly marked on the belt cover and the holes have stood up very well to a 300 pound fool stepping on it. You most likely will be very satisfied with your decision to open up that cover. You will no longer have a reason to remove it until time to replace a belt, which will take much longer now or maybe have to replace a spindle bearing. Which should also take longer. Good luck and if you like it, send some traffic to my channel, please Kind Sir.

[@lonestarhomestead5415]

Thanks Max I did this a few weeks ago and it works great.

[@johnthomas3863]

Those pulley covers are coming off as soon as the delivery is complete

[@nathanevans4142]

Thanks was wondering the socket size. Had a 7/8 with me and it was too small.

[@TimLitfieldakaTimWhitfield]

What name brand were those blades? ? So only two screws on each side ( for a total of 4 screws) to take of the cover over the pulleys? I just wish I had two things. A ratchet and a jack like yours I could probably do this job by myself.

[@lonestarhomestead5415]

I don't know the name of the blades, we just get them from the dealership with the model number (sorry). Yes just four screws. My dad left me lots of tools. I am glad I didn't have to buy them all for sure.

[@TimLitfieldakaTimWhitfield]

@@lonestarhomestead5415 Yeah unfortunately, I am gonna have to get them to take mine to the shop and have it done. They want $40 for a 12 mile trip to take the mower up there and bring it back to me. That's a hard pill for me to swallow. Although $50 for blades and for them to change them out, ain't really a bad price. All I have to do is wait for them to bring i back to me LoL. But I do wish I could just do it myself. Loved the video! At least I learned how to take the cover off and clean all of the grass that has accumulated underneath the cover. That was REALLY helpful. Thanks

[@thomasgregory8941]

Good viodeo thanks

[@dwaynemaslowski9398]

port out your belt covers , you be surprise how much grass dont get in there plus, easy to clean with a leave blower

[@lonestarhomestead5415]

I did I need to get back to making videos...I does help out that's for sure.

[@twigg5702]

Keeps all that grass from building up

[@gerfriedmeinders6046]

Hi, can you tell me what kind of tires you have on your mower? We're looking for bigger tires that provide more grip. So can you tell me the size, Dimensions of your tires? They look way bigger than mine.

[@lonestarhomestead5415]

I will try to add that tomorrow.

[@lonestarhomestead5415]

The rear are 20x12x10 The front are 13x6.50x6. These are the tires that come on it when I bought it from Lowes.

[@gerfriedmeinders6046]

Thank you. Thats what i thought of... my rears are 20x8x10 and my local hustler Dealer said there are no bigger tires or he cant find some. No grip on gras not even on roads. And without grip you cant zero turn...

[@twigg5702]

Use a leaf blower after every time you cut

[@577buttfan]

They will cut you after the paint wears off lol,looks like you where mowin some sand there for blades to wear like that,you in TEXAS?

[@lonestarhomestead5415]

Yes sir here in texas. They get plenty of wear here some from grass and lots from rocks and sand/dirt. Ha

[@3656kelly]

Where did you get your blades from? Do you have a link?

[@lonestarhomestead5415]

Ballard.com They have tons of stuff and fast shopping.

[@baddriver3580]

Hey, how much do you charge for cleaning out decks? Cool Idea and I need that for my piece of crap HusQ.....LOL. Great video!

[@lonestarhomestead5415]

Yea no joke. Good thing I have kids to help out.

[@garymartin8619]

If you can a impact wrench it’s much easier

[@paytonrichards315]

Yo please!

[@JohnC-kc5uh]

Heard of a cordless impact, way much easier

[@lonestarhomestead5415]

Yes have one and yes much easier. Just showing the simple way.

[@bigredc222]

I've seen them get so tight a pneumatic impact gun won't take them off, you need to put a long pipe on the breaker bar. Good video.

[@pinnacleoffaithchurchofgod8212]

Try gator blades. I just put them on mine. I love them. Finer cut.

[@tomfarrand3426]

impact driver

[@lonestarhomestead5415]

Yes. Faster

[@MaxsGarajMahal]

This will help slow down the clippings capture below the deck. Hope that will help you. kzbin.info/www/bejne/hYazkpRuf9SNgJo

[@chastheplayer8367]

The chutes are rubbish…i change my and put heavy duty rubber on…doesn’t rip off when rubbing against something