I love using a 120 grit flap wheel to sharpen blades! Puts very little heat into the steel and does it quickly and accurately. I have a 2010 Fastrak myself. Its a beast! Love the commercial grade bits on it! Much more maintainable than a residential unit. Thanks for a great presentation!
I highly recommend using your leaf blower and blowing off all the grass & leaves after every use, helps keep things cooler and cleaner... just a tip. 😉👍🏼 good sharpening video! 👌🏼
Over 1550 hrs on my Hustler with Kawasaki engine. About time I started doing the routine maintenance myself instead of the dealership. Thanks very much!
Thank you. Not being very mechanically inclined myself, I love when nice folks break stuff down to a beginners level. So often, people teach to their peers :)
Super helpful video! Thanks! I just bought a Raptor XD 48” and I love it! Coming up in the break in oil change and needing to sharpen blades. All the best!
You are checking the oil level wrong. TO GET A CORRECT OIL READOUT, DO NOT SCREW THE FILLER CAP DOWN. jUST INSERT IT INTO THE FILLER PORT AND LET IT BOTTOM OUT BUT DO NOT TURN THE CAP. AFTER YOU FINISH FILLING UP THE OIL, THEN SCREW DOWN THE OIL FILLER CAP. For reference, read your Kawasaki engine manual on page 13 and it will repeat this procedure.
Also tells you the same thing on the dipstuck itself. Love my hustler but they do need their oil changes every 50 hours. Otherwise they won't make over 700 hours
Thnx Michael..I have a Hustler Raptor SD..Im thinking the maintenance shouldn’t be much different than this so here I go...off to do something fun!! Peace ✌🏼
Nice video. Just an FYI, balancing blades that run by a belt is not necessary. If the blade bolted directly to the engine it's much more critical. The belt takes up most all of the harmonics of a blade.
Thanks. That was the best info yet about Hustlers. I'm lost so anything helps. You were specific about oil, filters, etc. Question: do you add stabilizer to the gas? What kind? How much?
When you check your oil do not screw the dipstick back down just set it down and pull it back out I told Kawasaki is it’s not by manufacture it’s by Kawasaki. Because when you screw it back on I can spin the dipstick and give you the wrong reading.
@@Michaelsbackyardmarina Do you want your engine to be cold and when you pull the dipstick wipe it off and then just shut the dipstick down and pull the dipstick back out don’t screw the dipstick back in. If you screw it back in it gives you a false reading
When you check the oil level your not supposed to screws the dipstick back in then unscrew it and check. You in screw it clean it stick it in till it stops pull it out and read it ! Unless the manufacturers instructions are wrong
It is not necessary to remove the drain plug to drain the oil. Just loosen the 10 mm plastic bolt on the drain mechanism until oil begins to flow out of the connected drain hose. Then retighten the bolt when the oil is all drained. Do not tighten the plastic drain bolt too much, it is just made out of plastic.
Can't believe I took my mower to the local dealer and paid ~$150 for for these 3 steps to be done so easily. Granted, I like to support the local businesses, but this is just too simple.
So you’re just bored and decided to watch and comment on a video that has no relevance to you.... damm you must really be bored! “Go do something fun!”
I love using a 120 grit flap wheel to sharpen blades! Puts very little heat into the steel and does it quickly and accurately. I have a 2010 Fastrak myself. Its a beast! Love the commercial grade bits on it! Much more maintainable than a residential unit. Thanks for a great presentation!
just got the same mower today. i didnt know there was grease fittings near the front tires. im glad i watched this
I highly recommend using your leaf blower and blowing off all the grass & leaves after every use, helps keep things cooler and cleaner... just a tip. 😉👍🏼 good sharpening video! 👌🏼
That's a good idea!
Over 1550 hrs on my Hustler with Kawasaki engine. About time I started doing the routine maintenance myself instead of the dealership. Thanks very much!
Sounds like a plan and a good way to save a few dollars
Thank you. Not being very mechanically inclined myself, I love when nice folks break stuff down to a beginners level. So often, people teach to their peers :)
Great to hear!
Super helpful video! Thanks! I just bought a Raptor XD 48” and I love it! Coming up in the break in oil change and needing to sharpen blades. All the best!
Glad it helped!
Thanks. Your video explained a lot of things I needed to know 🙏
Glad it was helpful!
You are checking the oil level wrong. TO GET A CORRECT OIL READOUT, DO NOT SCREW THE FILLER CAP DOWN. jUST INSERT IT INTO THE FILLER PORT AND LET IT BOTTOM OUT BUT DO NOT TURN THE CAP. AFTER YOU FINISH FILLING UP THE OIL, THEN SCREW DOWN THE OIL FILLER CAP. For reference, read your Kawasaki engine manual on page 13 and it will repeat this procedure.
sounds good. thanks for watching
Also tells you the same thing on the dipstuck itself. Love my hustler but they do need their oil changes every 50 hours. Otherwise they won't make over 700 hours
Outstanding video! Just bought a Raptor XD. Very informative…thank you!!
Awesome! Thank you!
Thnx Michael..I have a Hustler Raptor SD..Im thinking the maintenance shouldn’t be much different than this so here I go...off to do something fun!! Peace ✌🏼
Thanks for watching and commenting
Nice job thanks for the 411.👍🇺🇸
No problem 👍
Thanks just bought the exact same mower!
Good choice!
Conical blade balancers are easy to produce on the 3d printer, and I recommend this method.
that would work for sure.
The raptor manual doesn't even cover the grease fitting points. Thanks for sharing.
You are welcome and thanks for watching
Nice video. Just an FYI, balancing blades that run by a belt is not necessary. If the blade bolted directly to the engine it's much more critical. The belt takes up most all of the harmonics of a blade.
Still balanced blades will let your bearing towers last longer
Thanks. That was the best info yet about Hustlers. I'm lost so anything helps. You were specific about oil, filters, etc. Question: do you add stabilizer to the gas? What kind? How much?
Glad it was helpful!
good video thanks
Glad you enjoyed it
Just an fyi, there's usually 4 more. They are for the spindles for raising and lowering deck.
Ok thanks for watching
When you check your oil do not screw the dipstick back down just set it down and pull it back out I told Kawasaki is it’s not by manufacture it’s by Kawasaki. Because when you screw it back on I can spin the dipstick and give you the wrong reading.
Interesting. I always just pull the dipstick cold before starting and if it's good I mow.
@@Michaelsbackyardmarina Do you want your engine to be cold and when you pull the dipstick wipe it off and then just shut the dipstick down and pull the dipstick back out don’t screw the dipstick back in. If you screw it back in it gives you a false reading
You should invest in a blower, keep your mower clean so it can breath and not overheat. It will be more fun
I blow it off now and again
I blow all of the grass and leaves or whatever will blow off. I like this method better then water.
what about the gas filter?
When you check the oil level your not supposed to screws the dipstick back in then unscrew it and check. You in screw it clean it stick it in till it stops pull it out and read it ! Unless the manufacturers instructions are wrong
It's been fine doing this way for over 6 years now. thanks for watching
Great video. When should the first service be done??
Follow your manual, not me. Thanks for watching
It is not necessary to remove the drain plug to drain the oil. Just loosen the 10 mm plastic bolt on the drain mechanism until oil begins to flow out of the connected drain hose. Then retighten the bolt when the oil is all drained. Do not tighten the plastic drain bolt too much, it is just made out of plastic.
Yes good stuff, thanks for watching
Can't believe I took my mower to the local dealer and paid ~$150 for for these 3 steps to be done so easily. Granted, I like to support the local businesses, but this is just too simple.
Should have cleaned that baby up before storing for the winter. :)
Don't worry, it gets cleaned. Thanks for watching and commenting
My blades never make it long enough to sharpen.... about 20 hours and they are SHOT!
Wow, I'm 250 hours in on these blades and they are due to be replaced, thanks for watching
@@Michaelsbackyardmarina Sandy soil...
Not suppose to screw the oil cap all the way down
Suppose to put the dipstick in the full tube and not screw it down to get proper oil level
Is that was it says in the manual? Thanks for watching
Better look closer. There are a few more grease jerks on the Fastrak. lol
I'll track them down
@@Michaelsbackyardmarina 4 more
Probably a dumb question but what kind of grease do you inject?
@@mdtrahan89 It is a low temp application so any general grease will work.
you never showed how you took the blades off, it's kind of a pain in the butt, i thought you may have a trick.
use a wooden block
Does your mower require the spindles to be filled with grease?
I have a Cub Cadet with a Kawasaki engine. I know how to change my oil.
Cool
So you’re just bored and decided to watch and comment on a video that has no relevance to you.... damm you must really be bored! “Go do something fun!”