XR-7 deck on Diesel model?

[Tonyr]

Will Hustler be bringing out a diesel model with the new XR-7 deck?

If yes...when?

If no....bummer! lol.

[mowerconsultant]

Yes... eventually...
The XR-7 needs some design work to accommodate the hydraulic motor that drives the spindle belt on the diesel model.
I do not have a time frame as to when this will happen.

Pj

[Tonyr]

good stuff!

hope it is sooner rather than later, this will be an awesome machine!

I'm still kicking myself I went deere and not Hustler, the kicks are hard too lol.

[Travis Followell]

PJ,

Why does Hustler choose to use a hydraulic pump and motor to drive the deck belt? Why not just run a belt directly to the engine like the other manufacturers do?

[jtkplc]

popular question...

[mowerconsultant]

PJ,

Why does Hustler choose to use a hydraulic pump and motor to drive the deck belt? Why not just run a belt directly to the engine like the other manufacturers do?

Our design is different from other mfg's.

[mowerconsultant]

Our design is different from other mfg's.

I should elaborate a little bit more on this.
Our design is different...
With our design we mount the engine transversely.... as in sideways in the frame (like a front wheel drive car).
This allows us to have the engine placed over the rear wheels better, and it also allows us to mount it lower in the frame.
This results in a lower profile, shorter length machine and the absolute best stability of any diesel mid mount zero turn on the market.
When the engine is mounted this way, there is not a realistic way to transfer power to the deck via a belt or drive shaft (both of which rob too much hp from the engine), we don’t have issues with gearboxes or twisted mule drive belts (like some mfg's may or may not have problems with).
Using hydraulics gets more hp to the deck in a more efficient and simplistic way and also allows us the infinite height adjustment of the deck between 1 and 7 inches, with no belt alignment or drive shaft angle problems.

Let me know if you have any other questions.
And sorry for the delay in getting the complete reasons posted.

Pj

[Tonyr]

I've demoed the diesel with the standard SD deck, the diesel was a very smooth top of the line awesome machine. I've demoed it with the RD deck too, while the decks didn't really suit me, the unit itself was awesome every time and I would buy one without a 2nd thought. Very tough stable equipment! If the XR-7 goes on the diesel, my next diesel mower will be that combo.

[mowerconsultant]

If the XR-7 goes on the diesel, my next diesel mower will be that combo.

It is not a "if", it is a when....
The XR-7 design will eventually make it to our entire commercial product line.

Pj

[Tonyr]

sorry, bad choice of words lol.

anyway, I reckon you guys will have the machines of machines then!

keep up the great work guys, ya miles ahead of the green ones! lol.

[jtkplc]

I should elaborate a little bit more on this.
Our design is different...
With our design we mount the engine transversely.... as in sideways in the frame (like a front wheel drive car).
This allows us to have the engine placed over the rear wheels better, and it also allows us to mount it lower in the frame.
This results in a lower profile, shorter length machine and the absolute best stability of any diesel mid mount zero turn on the market.
When the engine is mounted this way, there is not a realistic way to transfer power to the deck via a belt or drive shaft (both of which rob too much hp from the engine), we don’t have issues with gearboxes or twisted mule drive belts (like some mfg's may or may not have problems with).
Using hydraulics gets more hp to the deck in a more efficient and simplistic way and also allows us the infinite height adjustment of the deck between 1 and 7 inches, with no belt alignment or drive shaft angle problems.

Let me know if you have any other questions.
And sorry for the delay in getting the complete reasons posted.

Pj

Would it be accurate to say that Hustler delivers the highest percentage of HP to the deck as compared to all other brands? To me, only having the 28 EFI and 30 Kohler, at least on paper, seemed underpowered. But if your transfer of power design from engine to deck doesn't rob HP, then it should be better? So where other brands need 31 HP gas engines, you can get by with 28, and still have the same cutting power?

[mowerconsultant]

The 28 EFI and 30 Kohler are definitely not underpowered on the mowers we use them on / will be using them on.
We only use the hydraulic deck drive on the diesel, otherwise on all of our product we use a simplistic single belt that get the hp to the deck without any type of mule drive or twists in the belt.
As to comparing how much hp is put to the deck in our application VS other MFG's, I am told by our engineering group that with the combination of hydraulics we use in our diesel, we are putting more hp to the deck in comparison to our competition in this class of mower.

Pj