New Hustler/Gravely Fastrak/Raport SD Type vs Used Commercial ZTR

[monteu]

Ok, this is what happened. My 2006 Hustler Fastrak had a hydrostrat go out. The dealer here says that on that old of Fastrak the parts are obsolete. He can get them from an aftermarket place, but I'm looking at around $1,000 to repair it. Then the other side could go anytime. The mower needs some other work done too on the casters and in general has been used pretty hard. We live on an acreage and my boys run the mower. It usually takes 2-3 hours to mow the place. I'm not sure how many acres it might be. Mower has a 54" deck.

I have decided not to repair the mower. I'm a bit short on cash now so not coming at a good time. My options are a Huster Raptor SD for 4 grand, a new 2016 Fastrak for $5,500, the Gravely and Simplicity models in the same price range and a used commercial.

A local fellow here that does lawn mowing has a Gravely Pro Turn 460 with 860 hours on it and its a 2013 model I believe. It was around 12,000 new he says. It's $5,000 or best offer. I am fairly certain he would go down on price.

So do I buy a newer lighter duty machine and get the 0% financing or do I buy a used commercial machine and try to scrape together the cash? If I go new I am not sure if I should stay with Hustler or try Gravely this time.

 

[Locoweed]

How many hours on your fastrak?

 

[monteu]

How many hours on your fastrak?

600 or so

 

[southernAL]

From experience i've owned two Gravely ZTR's. My current one is a Pro-Turn 160 and I really like the mower. That Pro-Turn 460 is a sweet machine w/air-ride seat How well has he maintaned it? The good thing about buying new is you know what all has been done and how it has been treated.

 

[Garrett Wiggins]

The good thing about buying new is you know what all has been done and how it has been treated.

This!!

 

[BoylermanCT]

I have a 54" Hustler Raptor SD and love it. It takes me 2 hours to mow my 5 acres. If you are mowing for 3 hours per mowing, you are looking at 7-10 acres. At that size, I would go with a larger, faster mower. A 60" Fastrak would be the step up in the Hustler lineup. It comes with a 4 year, 400 hour warranty if I recall. If you have a Bobcat dealer, look at them as well. They come with a 5 year warranty.

 

[coobie]

I would also look into Ferris ZTR.Nice machines.

 

[whitexc]

Only cutting 2 acres here but have had no issues with my Gravely ZTHD52 other than your normal maintenance wear and tear. I have had the machine for 6 years and have right around 290 hours on it. This year I did add a Milsco suspension seat as my back yard is a bit on the bumpy side. I wish I would have done that 5 1/2 years ago! Cost was around $5000 when purchased.

I would be pretty leery on buying used unless I knew the guy and his habits mimicked mine, as in the machine was washed, waxed and treated to more frequent service intervals. I know it is just a mower but seeing how some guys treat them just doesn't work for me.

 

[southernAL]

Yea to mimick what whitexc said, get you a mower with a suspension seat at least! I also owned the gravely ZTHD52, and it was great, but would beat you to death if the lawn was uneven or bumpy.

 

[Ghost River Retrievers]

I have a Hustler FastTrac of about the same vintage that I abused until I got a tractor and bush hog. It is a high quality machine. I had a transaxle go out...it took about 3-4 months to find a replacement, but i found one for 300-400...glad I did. If you don't fix yours, I may contact you for parts.

 

[monteu]

Ok, there is a Bad Boy Elite 54 used here local for $3,500. It only has 29 hours. I have pretty much narrowed it down to this or a new Hustler Raptor SD. They are $4,000 + sales tax. Any thoughts?

 

[southernAL]

Given those two mowers, I would choose the new hustler with warranty. I've looked at the bad boy mowers, and they seem like nice machines, but it seems like they've had problems with spindles. I could be wrong on that but I know my neighbor has had problems with his. Then again it all narrows down to how well you treat your equipment and maintain it.

 

[whitexc]

Are going big box store on the Hustler? That is likely where the Bad Boy came from as well. Tractor Supply? If you are going to spend that much, do yourself the justice and look at some other brands. You may spend a bit more but will get a machine that is built to last. Yeah, they throw on a fabricated deck but what are the spindles and bearings like? How is the deck lift system? Foot pedal lift or some hand lift (very handy for not scalping things) that you have to operate while still controlling the machine? Is there one hydraulic pump that is shared by two wheel motors? Fan cooled hydraulics? Spin on filters for the hydraulics for easy servicing? So many questions.

I am not trying to talk you into spending more money but more getting a unit that will last you a long time with proper care. I would give Gravely a look and if there is a Bobcat dealer around you I hear good things about them. Shop around and do yourself a favor.....stay away from the box stores. Best of luck. Let us know what you end up with.

 

[monteu]

Are going big box store on the Hustler? That is likely where the Bad Boy came from as well. Tractor Supply? If you are going to spend that much, do yourself the justice and look at some other brands. You may spend a bit more but will get a machine that is built to last. Yeah, they throw on a fabricated deck but what are the spindles and bearings like? How is the deck lift system? Foot pedal lift or some hand lift (very handy for not scalping things) that you have to operate while still controlling the machine? Is there one hydraulic pump that is shared by two wheel motors? Fan cooled hydraulics? Spin on filters for the hydraulics for easy servicing? So many questions.

I am not trying to talk you into spending more money but more getting a unit that will last you a long time with proper care. I would give Gravely a look and if there is a Bobcat dealer around you I hear good things about them. Shop around and do yourself a favor.....stay away from the box stores. Best of luck. Let us know what you end up with.

Actually the Bad Boy was sold by a local dealer here that sells Gravely also. I have looked at his Gravely offerings, but sort of decided against them. The Hustler is coming from the local dealer where I purchased the Fastrak new 11 years ago.

 

[TSO]

600 hours is nothing on a mower... Fix yours for $1k and drive it for another few years with no payments.

 

[rustyshakelford]

600 hours is nothing on a mower... Fix yours for $1k and drive it for another few years with no payments.

Or fix for 1k and sell for $2500? I get the wanting to start over but don't lose out on the value of what you already have.

Brett

Brett

 

[MESSMAKER]

Fix it. $1000 is not out of line. Hydro is the weak point on that particular mower. It is not bad, It just is not as durable as what you find on the more expensive mowers. Look at the rear tires on a ZTR. the larger the rear tires, the stronger hydo unit it has. 20 inch tires show up on the smaller units. The big hydos can handle 24 or 26 inch tires.

 

[nosurprise]

Make sure that whatever one you buy that the hydro pump's are serviceable and rebuildable. Most of the entry levels​ aren't like the raptor, big dog c series etc....

 

[monteu]

Bought a Hustler Raptor SD from the local Hustler dealer. It has serviceable hydros. All around a heavier machine than the Fastrak I bought 11 years ago and the price was almost $1,000 cheaper than I paid then. I brought the old Fastrak home. I can buy a rebuild kit off of Ebay for the hydro for around $350. When I get some time I want to do that and then sell it or keep it for an extra mower.
f

 

[Texasmark]

Wise decision not to repair. The whole machine wore out over time....just the hydros beat the rest of it to the punch....just a waiting game .....what's next to fail.
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I never bought a used mower and never will. Too easy to be abused. One of my ZTs is a Hustler Fastrak 44 I bought back in 2005 and has served me well so I'm not knocking them.

I just bought a new Ferris IS700Z and in doing so I shopped most all other brands. Lot of good machines out there and Gravely seems to be at the top with several others. While shopping $12-15k machines were everywhere so the $12k new price is probably correct for the used Gravely you are looking at. My machine was $7200 new and I bought it for a soft ride and added another several hundred for aftermarket extras to suit me, plastic canopy, balloon traction rears, and extra seat springs although mine has the deluxe seat.

I think an upper cut (not big box store lower cut model built to meet pricing demands), heavy duty, commercial, Industrial Service type machine may be worth the gamble. It all depends on the PO and how the machine was cared for. The reason for selling, if truthful, is a good indicator as to what to expect.