This video is actually 20 minutes of fame. I found it extremely helpful. I bought this exact mower, used, with 300 hours on it. the person I bought it from couldn’t answer half of the questions that this video did. Everything he has said checks out and all the mods he did are legit. I feel better about the purchase I made because of this video. My teenage son has also been involved with all the work we had to do to this mower, because mowing our 4 acre property is his job. Buying a brand new mower would obviously be easier, but we could not afford that. Thank you Mr. 577.
577-Jersey Customs - Thanks for this video. I've done several of the mods you suggest on my Hustler Raptor SDX 54." I particularly appreciate the decal link which I used to buy one and so...much better than a,b,c,d,e.... the fuel tank trick to allow more fuel allowed me to do my lawn without a second fill. Awesome!! Thanks.
I put 600 on this one and my buddy mows a farm with it now for the last 3 seasons so it prob has close to 800.I have an SDX now with 420 hours.I love these machines man.Once you figure out the weak points and how to deal with it they are freiggin bullet proof!
I ordered the SD seat for my base Raptor, injured my back in a crash this past summer man and the base seat has become VERY uncomfortable due to injury locations... BTW you are extremely helpful to me with your bright mind and ingenuity on these mowers, thank you brother 🙏
Install flex fork kit 799288 and a Rotary 12530 Seat Suspension or A & I Suspension Tractor Seat with Trapezoid Backrest - Black, Model Number T333BL either one is available on amazon.
Dude, I love the modifications, and more importantly, the reasons and thoughts behind them! This video was very helpful. Thanks for putting it together.
Enjoying The Sun 577-Jersey Customs I just got this machine a few weeks ago and it's a HUGE luxury to know all these points of interest. Supreme's videos we're helpful also with the decision making process
Can I ask if you run your Kawasaki on synthetic oil? If so, when did you make the change from conventional oil? I have the Kohler engine, and the mechanic at the dealership mentioned to keep it on conventional motor oil for the first 100 hours. He said the Rings will seat better that way. I'm currently around 10 hours on my machine. Thanks in advance
Great video. Have the same mower and struggle with the grass trying to exit the deck, especially if it’s damp whatsoever. I noticed the deck needed trimmed right off the bat. For sure gonna be cutting out that triangle piece. Gonna have to do the trimming of the belt covers too.
Thanks man,yeah i cut the whole opening bigger,even removed the bottom piece hundreds of hours ago and no issues at all with deck integrity. Have a happy mowing season bud and thanks for swinging by!! Bump bump!!!
Thanks again buddy got them ordered and will let you know what I think. Now just gotta look up how to do the seat bypass. Great point that it puts too much work load on the Pto.
Its an easy mod,just pull the plug off then jump it out with a short piece of wire,i used plug connectors that where the same as the switch,if you want you could even cut the wires and solder,heat shrink together to complete the circuit :)
Jersey 577. First off, thanks for all the great mods. Have them all done except extending the gas drain line. Opted to go with some replacement atv tires for wicked traction lol. Just as you say the gas extension is prob your best mod, I've got a killer one for you. Everyone complains about the clogging and clumping out of the discharge. Well, I solved it 100% and best of all didn't modify the deck so warranty stays in tact. On my 2017 SD, there is a 1/4" lip on the inside front of the deck. It actually comes in 1/4 inch then turns up to form a channel along the front. If you're is the same, tins of grass gets packed in there. What I did was rip two sections of 16" 2x4 down to 1/4" width. You actually inky rake off about a 1/8" cause they aren't 2" to begin with. I then slid them in on each side to meet as close to the v bend in the middle as I could. Under the lip on the botto m if the deck, there are little drain holes along the lip. I used some wood screws with flat washers and they snugged the boards right in place. Dude, I'm telling you my mower has never cut better. Side a huge up or down, no clogs or clumping. The boards don't allow the grass to collect and the high lift blades throw the shit out of it now. Let me know if you try it and get the same results. My mower is now a 100% bad ass grass throwing machine.
I have the same mower 60”. Need to do an oil change today. I went from a 60” exmark lazer z. Got tired of throwing money at the thing so I bought my side and it’s been wonderful so far. The best mod I see you did is the carpet, that would most definitely keep a lot of dust and grass from flying up
Wow,a Lazer Z is much more of a mower than this,but I have been using the SD for 4 years now and Its been a real champ,It sits around 500 hours and running strong!!
Enjoying The Sun 577-Jersey Customs yeah my exmark keeps blowing a hydro on the same side. Just spent $800 last year replacing it and it’s gone out again for the 3rd time 🙄 well my hustler has been doing amazing. I use it commercially, only problem thus far is the belt jumped off on the hydros. Can you please make a video of how to replace that? So far you have the best video on this mower that I’ve ran across👍Also I been mowing for a living for 5 years now. I’ve seen nothing that beats the Kawasaki engine. We have a toro with it as well and it cuts amazing.
@@theurbanartist775 Awesome bro,I have been using it hard too,i replace the pump belt once a season,its not very hard to do,but you have to get the deck belt out of the way then fish the pump belt up over the pump fans around the crank pulley,it only goes on one way correctly with the idler.Its such a tight spot it would be very hard to make a video but Ill try next time I do it lol.Make sure you carry extra deck belt tension springs they break every 100 hours or so.A trampoline spring will work fine.The pump belt tensioner still has the original spring haha,I carry an extra just in case.Yeah man,kawa is the best!!!!
thick rubber stair mat bolted to the back of the deck hanging about 3 to 4 inches. stripes yards like a damn baseball field. love my raptor sd. great vid by the way bro, definitely gonna do that overflow gas tank mod. where did u buy the black tubing you put on the end of that second filter? what size tubing?
Thanks for the vid, I just got a Raptor SD with 54" deck and Kohler Pro 7000 series. I would have prefered a Kawasaki but the Kohler is what was available. Yesterday was just my second day mowing with it. I like the way it cuts but I'm going to agree the tires sort of suck for traction. I've got some pretty good sloped areas and yesterday the grass was a bit on wet side. Tires would spin and load up with mud and then were just a complete pain and wouldn't hold side hills. Think I'll try the tire mod you show. Also I think one of those deck height decals is the way to go over the alphabet. Don't know why the factory doesn't do it with dimensions so they make sense. I'm thinking about getting around a 20" light bar to mount on the front. You seem up on things so I'll ask, any idea on how hard it is to splice in to the harness or is there a switched spot that the factory light kit plugs in to? Thanks for a great vid.
Can you elaborate on the grooving of the tires and the benefit? Is it only valuable for going across a hill and what sort of steepness? How wide is the groove?
I got a question for you 577 I got the same zero turn lawn mower that you got but it's got a Kohler motor on it today I was blowing out the air filter and I noticed they was some oil down inside the air filter assembly is that normal or not normal
hello this is Darren again I was wanting to know on the hydro-gear filters are they different than the oil filter because I know the thread size is the same so what I'm asking is could you use a regular oil filter for the hydro gears or are they a different type of material filter for the hydro gears thank you
These blades right here are the best for the 54" but i don't see why they wouldn't work great for ya...give em a try and let us know. Hey,have a Merry Christmas buddy,thanks for swinging by!! www.ebay.com/itm/3-Blades-for-Hustler-Raptor-SD-60-mower-Marbain-hardened-steel-Made-in-USA/122738084971?hash=item1c93c28c6b:g:dNIAAOSwTblZ0-jc
Just cut with my new 54" SDX last night and am in love with the machine. I'm going from years only using a 21" walk behind to this monster. One question I have is on the return passes through yard. What reference point on the mower/deck do you use for most efficient/best looking cut and stripe results?
Hey brother shout out from Missouri. Great videos! What engine oil are you running? The hydro video was very helpful. Do you have a video on bypassing the seat shutoff switch? Are you any other social media?
I use Shell Rotella T6 ..for safety switch just unplug the connector from bottom of seat and jump it out :) I also did my steering switches too,i hate switches.
did you ever have any issues with the bolts for the support bar between the hydro's breaking? Or the mounting bolts for the hydro's to the frame being loose?
Enjoying The Sun 577-Jersey Customs I appreciate the quick reply! I just got done replacing broken bolts today on my dad's mower, had 2 broken bolts and one loose. I guess it's a common problem for these mowers, but other than the few minor issues it's really been a good mower.
I have changed the belt a few times it was very easy,and the belt cover mod makes it super easy to keep clean,plenty of room to work on the deck,also very easy to pull the pins and slide the deck out. Thanks for commenting!!!
Hey Ryan! You can order a muffler shield direct from the dealer,if you tell them its burning your grass they may give it too you free depends on the dealer!
I have the 42 Raptor When I engage the PTO with the deck lowered the deck jumps up violently and then slams back down The nut came off of one of the deck hangers and the washer and bushing fell off as I was cutting grass I didn't know the deck was plowing dirt on one side and cutting grass on the other until I turned around What can I do about it?
Yes,they have always been hi lift when i got the XHT,and for some reason they never state that in auction,i have PMed the seller and they said they are hi lift.
Thanks for the video. Can you recommend a quality deck belt for this mower? The Hustler brand cost $90!!! Reviews I’ve read say the aftermarket belts are trash. Would love to hear your thoughts.
Hmmm Im still on the same darn belt for 300 hours on my new SDX and on this old one its on the second OEM belt over 650 hours..The belt even fell off a couple times and got burned up.If your not mowing commercially just go with the ebay belt should be fine man especially if its made by rotary or stens.
best cup holder besides the grasshopper...the scags is useless ... the bobcat didn't have one bad thing ..my issue was that I was to high up and mower was huge ...just comfort issues ...the bobcat seat was very very comfortable also
I got it years ago through my dealer. My new machine does not have a heat shield. Just keep rolling when it's hot out. Don't stop or you'll burn the grass LOL
What is your opinion on 2019 hustler 54inch limited. Much appreciate your proffesional oppinion and may the good LORD BLESS you and your family, Kindest regards Bob.
577 Jersey what's going on? I picked up a 2017 Raptor SD 54" today. I found something interesting that they Did to save themselves 5 bucks. They now come with two seat springs instead of three. I'm a bigger guy, so it irritated me. Guess that's my incentive to drop some weight or spend the $15 lol.
not for nothing there's nothing like the ride and steering of a hustler ...it's a smooth mower. but I just think you don't alot for money ...now yours with the kawi is a much better buy ...but when you put that mower up against the scag or Bob cat ..it falls real short spec wise...that being said the SDX looks alot more refined ...better seat , bigger deck opening ...thicker deck kawi ...but at $4399 it's higher priced than both scag n Bob cat ...and still short in many areas
hey buddy just curious when u cut that deck opening out does that void the warranty at all?I mean obviously not because u said u got 2 new pumps by hustler but did they question that at all?also the cutting of the pulley guards
