Hustler Raptor Deck Chute Modifications and Upgrades.
Right way, wrong way, factory way along with several alternative ways.
If you are an owner of a Excel Industries Hustler Raptor of Big Dog Zero Turn with the grass catcher scallop on the top of the deck at the discharge chute. More than likely you have read articles on the internet via forums, personal testimonies or on one or more of the video sources such as YouTube and Vimeo, etc.
If you have given thought to modifying this discharge chute area above the discharge chute reinforcement bar. Please keep safety in the front of your thought process. The enforcing bar is a strong safety item that the manufacturer placed in front of the blade tip of the right hand side of their fabricated deck. The manufacturer makes an alternative over the top of the deck - deck reinforcement to help create strength for the safety of your deck.
Although this over the top enforcement helps the front of the deck from becoming bent rearward toward the blade tip, it does not help reduce the possibility of a foot accidentally going into the now opened up deck discharge chute. Considering that you are responsible for removing the manufacturer installed reinforcement bar, you accept the liability for any personal or property damage that may happen to a greater degree from objects are now able to slip deeper into the blade's cutting surface. An object (possibly human or animal) can now go in as deep as 4 inches. This would remove a foot before a person could move back. Remember, you, the end user are responsible for the damages to any person, animal or object, not the manufacturer. In the event you have removed the reinforcement bar completely, consider purchasing the manufacturer's over the top of the deck enforcement.
Alternatives to removing the reinforcement bar is to cut the height of the bar down to approximately 7/16" from the bottom of the bar so that the top of the bar is now below the top of the cutting blade. This will then allow the grass clippings to flow outwardly freely without interruption from the bar blocking the discharge. The material left in the reinforcement bar will help keep a foot from going into the blade. Of course there is always a chance of human error that may allow it, however, you will have given much less opportunity for that to happen if the bar is still in place. The remaining bar will also support the front of the deck to keep it from becoming slammed backward into the blade tip which is the reason it was there to begin with along with the grass catcher resting upon it.
This brings us to another alternative to the grass catcher scallop. If you remove the bar completely, consider placing a deck scallop block off plate. I will place a link to a YouTube video so that you can see how well they work in conjunction with lowering the reinforcement bar. Clippings don't fly up into the operator's face nearly as bad nor does it windrow as badly. Here is the most important part of the block off plate. Keeps the foot / leg on the outside of the deck due to the block off plate is flush with the inside of the reinforcement bar.
Right way, wrong way, factory way and alternative way. I'll let you all be your own judge. My choice is the alternative way. Cut the bar down, install a block off plate.
This is the abridged version of the video showing the lowered bar and block off plate. There is one more video coming out within the next two days that will have some still photos showing the original concept, design process, the mock-ups, materials test along with another cutting with thicker, longer grass while wet as well. The block off plate tests have shown this upgrade to the Raptor Deck Discharge Chute is a viable modification to help maintain safety for your mowing apparatus, the humans and animals in the area along with objects you may not want to cut down.
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Max's Garaj Mahal
Max Hughes
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Upx46nmGVA