Hustler Raptor SD 500 Hour Review X3

[@302vettelife2]

I own a 2020 Raptor SD with 200 hours. It's been a really good mower. It cuts great. Only issue was the drive idler came a little loose and was throwing drive belts. No issues since it's been fixed.

[@troxelservices]

10-4

[@lscott4402]

I have the same model. The only con to using this mower is the small diameter of the grass discharge shute.

[@ryanwinnard8359]

Be sure to constantly check the bolts for the wheel motor brackets I’m about 700 hours into my SD with the 60 inch deck and it’s a 2018 model and the bolts keep breaking and sharing off good thing. I have extra ones. Took a while for them to figure out the wheel motor bracket issue was pretty frustrating, even though it was under warranty. I had to pay out-of-pocket and then they would send me a check in the mail🤦‍♂️I went through several pairs and a bunch of frustration, but it has been a great mower overall and it is easy to work on. Also, I live in a sandy climate on the coast of North Carolina and my deck is getting eaten up pretty good from the sand. I do run my mower commercially. also the deck bracket upgrade where it shoots out The grass is a great upgrade. My 60 inch deck with a four year extended warranty that I bought at Lowe’s was a little over 9000$ definitely going to upgrade my mower for next season. I’m looking at the hyper drives now. Great starter mower though.For sure💯

[@troxelservices]

We just bought another XD(newer version of the SD) We have two of them now, a 2022 year and now a 2024 year. So far these have done well for the $5,400 price point. We tried a bad boy elite and we like the Hustlers SD/XDs better

[@ryanwinnard8359]

@@troxelservices nice I hope they work out well for you. I put every single hour on that mower since I’ve had it and I have to say for not even being a commercial unit and me running it commercially and putting it through its paces even with the defects of the wheel motor brackets Im still very impressed with it. When I do buy a new commercial industrial unit, I’m going to keep this SD. Just because it’s super easy to work on and I know it inside and out. The grass grows extremely vigorous where I am, especially when we have a lot of rain. Even with all the hours that I have put on it it still runs very strong and spits out grass 6 to 8 feet out of the deck with my shoot open wet grass will shoot out about 4 1/2 to 5 feet and that’s soaking wet. Pretty impressive for sure. The only thing I don’t like about the XD is the rear tires are not as wide as the SD because the ground is super wet here where I am for a lot of the summer unless we are in a drought. It’s a lot less of rutting up the yards and still making impressive lines and not leaving wheel tracks imprinted in the ground. So many decisions, I almost thought about not getting a hyperdrive because the tires on it for how big the unit is don’t look too wide and I’m afraid it’s going to be too heavy.

[@999benhonda]

I have a 2019, 42" sd with 300h. Mine has more cosmetic wear...it sits outside on the trailer 24/7. The yards I mow are also rougher than the stuff you mow. I have the kawasaki, I upgraded to the commercial air filter at 250h. I've had to replace one steering damper and one spindle. The spindle failed when I tried running X blades. I made my own foot operated shoot lift, and mounted a 12v radiator fan on the front to help keep me cool. I don't run those deck covers, they just trap grass. I've earned about $35k with my $4300 hustler. It isn't commercial, but the deck is strong, motor and hydros are serviceable and those are the things you need to get a decent service life out of a mower. I hope to get 1k hours before I have to upgrade.

[@troxelservices]

That's awesome man. Very nice!

[@ryanwinnard8359]

That’s exactly what I was thinking about with my 60 inch SD I hope I can get at least 1200 hours out of it💯paid around $9000 for mine.

[@travisricks3436]

Good review for sure. Last week I bought a new 2021 Fastrak 48. Love it! Wish the dealer had a 54 or 60 in stock but he didn’t. Besides, a 48” cut will do me just fine. Love the 4 year/750 hour Hustler warranty also. I gave $7500 cash out the door here in Southeast Louisiana. I have a 6’ finishing mower for my tractor to take care of the big areas.

[@troxelservices]

You may end up being very thankful you have the 48 inch, we have a couple 54 inches and a 60 inch and there are some gates that we can’t even get into with the 54 inch.

[@gardnerrosseto]

I have a 2021 xd model, so far no problems. I think hustler have fixed the problem with the bracket and most other issues previously reported.

[@johngamble1203]

I have a hustler 2014 fastrak 54 cut,wouldn't take anything for it,cut around 3 acres or better .Only had to replace deck belt,only because ran over a ant bed I didn't see .Hustler makes very good mowers,like all things,take care and up keep,will last.

[@ejtheballer8314]

Yes love the video

[@itsyourhighlights5102]

Man! That thumbnail

[@psav1520]

I’ve had 3 hustler ZTRs in recent years. They get worse with every new model. Had the hydro-drive brackets replaced, cracked fenders, severe vibration noise etc etc, etc. I have found that Hustler will work with you until they decide not to. My case was escalated to Nick (Sr. product representative). After failed attempts at a repair, Nick would not return any phone calls. The case was then escalated to the next level (Ken Coker). Ken provides nothing more than lip service. He did call me once. When I provided video proof of the complaint, he failed to ever contact me again. The mower is still under warranty, the dealer will not do anything more and tells me that Hustler will not do anything more. I would never touch another Hustler mower, ever. Hustler will not honor the warranty if it is not a very simple problem. Either they don't know, or don't care about fixing a customer's mower.

[@imnothere220]

It's weird. In Ireland they are being sold as commercial units.

[@troxelservices]

Very interesting. I can understand why however.

[@vivianjones6252]

My husband maintains our hustler raptor zero turn. After watching videos about the trans brackets, he replaced all the mounting bracket bolts with grade 8 bolts with lock nuts and lock washers on all bolts. Before tightening the bolts he made sure the frame mounts and brackets were seated against the trans cases with no spaces between them. One of them needed three washers between the mount and trans case. You can't get a tight mount with a space between them. Checking them when you sharpen blades is about often enough. Have discovered one broken bolt in200 hrs.keep them tight !,,,,,,

[@troxelservices]

Good move

[@mattbaker6818]

Retork all Trans mounting bolts every 50 to 100 hours and you will not brake the mounting bracket also that Kawasaki engine is supposed to be decarbond and valves lapped every 300 hours it's in the owners manual!!!

[@rolandmoreno3526]

Cut corners let the gas run out

[@prestigiouscutslawncare4690]

These mowers are absolute junk I have owned one replaced rear end pump deck spindles belts drive belt 10 plus times if your looking to by one of these or already have one pile it off on someone and by a SCAG spend the money and be smart hustlers are junk!

[@troxelservices]

I have 3 RAPTOR SD mowers that I would buy all over again given the choice. You do have to treat them a bit different than a $9,000 - $10,000 commercial mower but in the end, its worth it.