New Deck for Hustler

[Steve1]

PJ - is there a new deck coming for Hustler this fall? I keep hearing rumors and would really like for it to be true!

I absolutely loved the Super Z I demo'd but felt that the deck was a little lacking in being able to handle the taller, wetter stuff only because it wasn't what many call a full-flow deck. I really think if the deck was about a half inch deeper and had a wider discharge chute allowing the clippings from the left and center blade to bypass the right blade on out the chute, that Hustler would have hands down the finest ZTR out there.

Any news yet?

[mowerconsultant]

I can not comment on what may or may not be in testing at this time.
As new products and product improvements are available I will update here on LS.

Pj

[Doc Pete]

Originally posted by Steve1
I absolutely loved the Super Z I demo'd but felt that the deck was a little lacking in being able to handle the taller, wetter stuff only because it wasn't what many call a full-flow deck. I really think if the deck was about a half inch deeper and had a wider discharge chute allowing the clippings from the left and center blade to bypass the right blade on out the chute, that Hustler would have hands down the finest ZTR out there.

Any news yet?

I don't know what Hustler is doing, but I'm experimenting with custom new blades, a larger discharge chute, and Yes, these things have made a big difference in how the Hustler's handle longer, wetter grass.
Rest asured, Hustler is aware of what we want in cut quality and they are researching as we speak.
Currenting with my new blades, I was throwing the grass "6" rows, and with the opened chute, it has shortened the distance to 4 rows, but with terrific vacuuming and dispersion effect.
Pete

[PaulJ]

Hi Pete,


Could you post a pic of your "opened" discharge chute? I have been thinking of opening moine some but I'm not sure how much or where to cut. I did take out the little baffle at the back of the discharge and it helped some.

Also you mentioned one time about better results with little or no deck pitch. I found this to be true. I was having trouble wiht the grass laying down and not getting cut evenly in tall stuff. I lowered the rear of thedeck about .25" putting it level and it made a big improvment in the cut and discharge., and even the stripes are better.

[Doc Pete]

Originally posted by PaulJ
Hi Pete,


Could you post a pic of your "opened" discharge chute? I have been thinking of opening moine some but I'm not sure how much or where to cut. I did take out the little baffle at the back of the discharge and it helped some.

Also you mentioned one time about better results with little or no deck pitch. I found this to be true. I was having trouble wiht the grass laying down and not getting cut evenly in tall stuff. I lowered the rear of thedeck about .25" putting it level and it made a big improvment in the cut and discharge., and even the stripes are better.

Hi Paul,
I'll try to get a pic in a day or two. For your info, the custom blades I've made are making a giant difference in cut, striping and keeping the deck clean.
Interestingly, the angle I've settled on for the new sail (60 degrees) for the blades, is the same as the exmark super highlifts. Guess Exmark has already done some homework (G).
Pete

[PaulJ]

Hey pete,

Waiting for that pic.
I've been thinking about trying to get some blades like I used on my lesco. High lifts with a notch between the flat part of the blade and the lift fin. I think that eric(bhb) posted some pictures of them a while back. I know if I ran them in double on the old lesco it really pulled the engin down. But with a gator on top it did wonders.
Currently I took the gators off the top and am runnig double standards, with hustler high lifts at the discharge.
There is almost no difference in the hustler standerd blades and their high lifts. I'll have to look to other sources for the blades I want to try.

[Doc Pete]

Originally posted by PaulJ
Hey pete,

Waiting for that pic.
I've been thinking about trying to get some blades like I used on my lesco. High lifts with a notch between the flat part of the blade and the lift fin. I think that eric(bhb) posted some pictures of them a while back. I know if I ran them in double on the old lesco it really pulled the engin down. But with a gator on top it did wonders.
Currently I took the gators off the top and am runnig double standards, with hustler high lifts at the discharge.
There is almost no difference in the hustler standerd blades and their high lifts. I'll have to look to other sources for the blades I want to try.

Hi Paul,
The standard Huster blades are 30 degrees and the highlifts are 42 degrees. I've found a big difference running all double highlifts compared to double standards. Your mileage may differ (G).
Anyway, I've already posted one pic, but I'll try to post the pics in order.
FYI, these custom superlifts combined with hustler highlifts (making doubles) need all the power of the 25/54 SWB to run. Also, I've made a set for the 23/48 SWB, which handles them plus hustler highlifts very well.
Both machines have the custom "opened up" chute, and both basically can mow any length of grass dry or even fairly wet without any clumping. In fact, I mowed 10 lawns today, and being in NJ, every knows it's been raining for the last day and a half.
With the mods I've made, I no longer worry about clumping , even under damp, wet conditons. Very simply, I've finally found a combination of deck and blade that let's me mow when I want, and not worry about weather conditions. I'll keep you posted.
Pete

[Doc Pete]

Originally posted by PaulJ
Hey pete,

Waiting for that pic.
I've been thinking .

[Doc Pete]

Originally posted by PaulJ
Hey pete,

Waiting for that pic. .

OOP's. By the way, the superlifts are 60 degress, which is what some of the other makers ultralifts are. Also, with these blades, my decks get a little dirty underneath, but now will not clog up as they did in the past, with or without doubles.
Pete

[theservicingdealer]

Where are you cutting the deck. Front or rear. Cant tell from your pictures or explanation. Do you use one custom double and one standard lift??How long is the piece are you adding to the blade?? Its wet up here in Vermont.


I have tried lesco blades with high lifts with the notch on the hustler. DONT BOTHER. The notch on the lift changes things and cuts bad.Even worst as doubles.

[Doc Pete]

Originally posted by theservicingdealer
Where are you cutting the deck. Front or rear. Cant tell from your pictures or explanation. Do you use one custom double and one standard lift??How long is the piece are you adding to the blade?? Its wet up here in Vermont.
I have tried lesco blades with high lifts with the notch on the hustler. DONT BOTHER. The notch on the lift changes things and cuts bad.Even worst as doubles.

Yup,
I found the grass clippings fold around and get stuck on the notch creating a ton of drag on the blades and almost stalling the machine.
Also, as the grass clippings fly off the blade they create little spit balls the size of a golf balls, when the grass is wet.
This is why I round the edge of the notch to let the grass slide off the blade. Exmark does the same on their notched blades.

I cut the rear of the deck and moved the top deflector back, to match the opening.

Using my 25/54 SWB, I use doubles consisting of a set of hustler highlifts and one set of custom blades. The 25/54 will not pull double custom blades. Actually, for most applications, one set of custom blades work practically the same as the double combo for keeping down the clumping and improving the cut.

However, with the SWB's the sound is very annoying with single custom blades unless you add another set of blades to destroy the sound of the blade vortex’s slapping against each other. (This is the same annoying sound you hear when a two-bladed Huey Helicopter comes toward you).

FYI, the tab is 1/8" mild steel and is 2.50"x7/8". Any taller and it will hit the chute top deflector. Again, a 60 degree angle seems to work the best. Less sail angle doesn't perform as well, and more sail angle just seems to rob power and make more noise. I haven’t experimented with asymmetrical blade setups using more sail on #1 and #2 blade. Howver, I will if I get more blades (G).

I’m sure Hustler is playing around with deck and blade design as we speak.

Pete

[PaulJ]

Thank you for the pictures pete.

That shows what I wanted to know about the discharge. you really opend that thing up. Looks like you remounted that baffle farther back. Nice blade btw. There is definatly a trade off in power and lift.
I have added the blowout baffles to the front of my deck and that helped some with the lift. Made a big difference in stopping leaves and thatch from blowing out the front, but that's not the problem now.
Thanks again for the pics.
Keep up the good R & D work.

[John Gamba]

Originally posted by Doc Pete
Hi Paul,
The standard Huster blades are 30 degrees and the highlifts are 42 degrees. I've found a big difference running all double highlifts compared to double standards. Your mileage may differ (G).
Anyway, I've already posted one pic, but I'll try to post the pics in order.
FYI, these custom superlifts combined with hustler highlifts (making doubles) need all the power of the 25/54 SWB to run. Also, I've made a set for the 23/48 SWB, which handles them plus hustler highlifts very well.
Both machines have the custom "opened up" chute, and both basically can mow any length of grass dry or even fairly wet without any clumping. In fact, I mowed 10 lawns today, and being in NJ, every knows it's been raining for the last day and a half.
With the mods I've made, I no longer worry about clumping , even under damp, wet conditons. Very simply, I've finally found a combination of deck and blade that let's me mow when I want, and not worry about weather conditions. I'll keep you posted.
Pete

Pete
It looks like you are making --Meg-mo Blades??

John

[Doc Pete]

Originally posted by John Gamba
Pete
It looks like you are making --Meg-mo Blades??

John

Meg mo's that actually work (G). FYI, from the pictures I see, I believe the megmo's angle is a little too great, which just wastes power. Also, we both know mine don't fold back under load (G). Also, since they are singles, they work well in the wet and don't load up under the deck.

You should check the angle of the sail for me, and if it's over 60 degrees, you have your answer, it's too much.

[matthew horner]

So is hustler planning on coming out with something for those of us who just bought new mowers with this prob?

[John Gamba]

Originally posted by Doc Pete
Meg mo's that actually work (G). FYI, from the pictures I see, I believe the megmo's angle is a little too great, which just wastes power. Also, we both know mine don't fold back under load (G). Also, since they are singles, they work well in the wet and don't load up under the deck.

You should check the angle of the sail for me, and if it's over 60 degrees, you have your answer, it's too much.

Why do you have me on your ignore list?
John

[Doc Pete]

Originally posted by John Gamba
Why do you have me on your ignore list?
John

?????????????
John,
What do you mean??? I don't anything about even having an ignore list. What is it, where is it??? Didn't we just email each other this past week????
Hey, call me 908-953-9812

[John Gamba]

Originally posted by Doc Pete
?????????????
John,
What do you mean??? I don't anything about even having an ignore list. What is it, where is it??? Didn't we just email each other this past week????
Hey, call me 908-953-9812

OK.
John

[Doc Pete]

Originally posted by PaulJ
Thank you for the pictures pete.



Paul,
Got the chance to put the blade/deck combo to the test, not that I wanted to (G). We a had a full tilt down pour this afternoon. Total cloud burst. As soon as it stopped, I went out and cut this lawn that is a chemlawn with no weeds.
To my amazement, I was able to cut with both the 48 and 54 and there were no clumps at all. As I was cutting, there was a fog of mist coming out the chute, but no clumping.
I checked and was cutting about 3" to 4" of grass off. Again, simply amazing. I just couldn't believe what I was seeing.
I hope to get some real pics of before and after. At the moment, I can honestly say, if things go OK, I truly cut in the wet, without any clumping. Uh..... cleanup is something else though (G).
Pete

[matthew horner]

Looks like my question from a few back got ignored, about the existing mower decks. Would you please address it when you get the chance?

Thanks,
Matt

[Doc Pete]

Originally posted by matthew horner
So is hustler planning on coming out with something for those of us who just bought new mowers with this prob?

Matt,
What machine do you have and are "you" having a problem, since not everyone experiences problems.
Pete

[theservicingdealer]

Pete,
This years machine dont have the internal baffle in the rear of the deck on a 60". Have you tried anything on these deck? Or have you tried running your decks with out it. We found the deck mows better without it in wet conditions. In nomal conditions I have no complaints on the deck cut. We going to see what happens soon.
thanks

[matthew horner]

Originally posted by Doc Pete
Matt,
What machine do you have and are "you" having a problem, since not everyone experiences problems.
Pete

Doc,
Thanks for the question. I have a 04 super z 60 inch with 25 horse kawasaki. I bought it new at right of way equipment in raleigh nc.

The problems that I have are
1. I have to scrape the grass off of the deck about twice a day
2. The deck leaves scragglers if i'm cutting off more than3 or so inches and not going very slow.
3. Wet grass clumps bad! The discharge is "choppy", it shoots the grass in clumpy spurts.

I wonder if this is what others are experiencing.

I might add that when i'm cutting dry grass and i'm cutting 1 or 2 or so inches off, i have NO complaints.
Matt

[Doc Pete]

Originally posted by theservicingdealer
Pete,
This years machine dont have the internal baffle in the rear of the deck on a 60". Have you tried anything on these deck? Or have you tried running your decks with out it. We found the deck mows better without it in wet conditions. In nomal conditions I have no complaints on the deck cut. We going to see what happens soon.
thanks

Brian (Hustler) has started to work closer with me, and I'm going to do more indepth testing for him. Right now, I believe the added sail to the blade is the key to many things.
I realize I should have tested the machines with the baffle on and off, but I was so shocked by the total lack of clumping in totally soaked grass, I just kept smiling and mowing (G).
However, in combo with the supelifts, the baffle may be helping to discharge the clippings faster by getting them out from under the deck faster.
FWIW, even with the doubles I'm using, the grass clippings are larger and practically the same size as with singles. Naturally, this means the grass is spending less time in the deck and not getting mulched by the blades. And, we all know the mulching of the grass is what begins the sticking and clumping on the discharge.
I will be making another set of blades with an even longer sail. Naturally, the baffle will need to be removed for this test. I'll keep you posted.
Pete

[Doc Pete]

Originally posted by matthew horner
Doc,
Thanks for the question. I have a 04 super z 60 inch with 25 horse kawasaki.

Hi Matt,
As I understand the 60" Z's are being examined and are the first in line for changes to improve the clumping problem. In my case, blades, which are an easy fix, may be something to look at.
Bear with Hustler, they are trying to fit 30 years of "Z rider" experience into 5 years.
I'll bet you'll have something from them by next season, or maybe sooner.
Pete

[matthew horner]

Originally posted by Doc Pete
Hi Matt,
As I understand the 60" Z's are being examined and are the first in line for changes to improve the clumping problem. In my case, blades, which are an easy fix, may be something to look at.
Bear with Hustler, they are trying to fit 30 years of "Z rider" experience into 5 years.
I'll bet you'll have something from them by next season, or maybe sooner.
Pete

Thanks for your quick response.

That includes the super z also, correct?

SHould I expect to hear from hustler directly or will this go though my dealer. I haven't heard to much from my dealer since I bought the mower.
Matt

[Doc Pete]

Originally posted by matthew horner
Thanks for your quick response.

That includes the super z also, correct?

SHould I expect to hear from hustler directly or will this go though my dealer. I haven't heard to much from my dealer since I bought the mower.
Matt

Matt,
I'm just a crazy Hustler owner that loves to experiment:D .
PJ, who is a factory rep, should keep all of us informed, which I know he will.
Pete

[PaulJ]

Originally posted by Doc Pete
.
PJ, who is a factory rep, should keep all of us informed, which I know he will.
Pete


If you keep an eye on this forum you will know more than your dealer and before your dealer.
Another perk of lawnsite :D

[matthew horner]

I like that.
Matt

[J.Gordon]

‘’ I absolutely loved the Super Z I demo'd but felt that the deck was a little lacking in being able to handle the taller, wetter stuff only because it wasn't what many call a full-flow deck. I really think if the deck was about a half inch deeper and had a wider discharge chute allowing the clippings from the left and center blade to bypass the right blade on out the chute, that Hustler would have hands down the finest ZTR out there.’’


Matt I believe the deck doesn’t need to be any deeper, they just need to have more vacuum and discharge than the stock blades and deck will allow. If you look at other decks like Dixie Chopper or Walker, their decks aren’t very deep.
I opened my discharge opening as much as possible; the opening is a little over 13’’ now. And I also got the chance to mow Very tall wet grass, with the regular high lifts and it will still clump but this grass was thick. (I think any mower will clump in the same conditions) I did notice that it was discharging about three rows instead of four to five; it seems to have a lot more vacuum, which is the direction I want to go for. I haven’t had the chance to put the double high lifts on and test it but its been raining enough so I will get the chance soon. I had to make a new OCDC and modify my Accelerator to fit the deck, and it packs even better with wet grass than it did before! The more I modify this machine the more I like it! I believe the modified super high lift blades will make this the best machine for any type of grass. It has always had a beautiful cut in regular conditions. If Hustler ever quits making this machine I am going to choke somebody!!! I thought I might go for a rider for my next unit, but after the mod’s on my SWB. I will get another Hustler walk-behind. Probably a 36’’ deck with a 23-horse Kawasaki! Hear that HUSTER a 23HP 36’’ cut. So I could add a Flex Deck or equivalent when needed.

Jeff

[matthew horner]

Yeah, I'd love to get a hustler wb.