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I have a Hustler Raptor 42" Deck with about 60 hrs. I have been having issues with the zero turn NOT going straight. With the handles pushed all the way forward, I can tell the left wheel goes faster, so the mower veers right.
Even when the handles are at a neutral position, the mower wants to turn right.

I have checked the settings on the Steering Control Lever to make sure both handles align.


I have checked the tire pressure to make sure they are equal in pressure but no luck.

Is there any way to adjust mechanically the speed of one side vs the other?
Is this related to something hydraulic?

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

tekparasite said:

I have a Hustler Raptor 42" Deck with about 60 hrs. I have been having issues with the zero turn NOT going straight. With the handles pushed all the way forward, I can tell the left wheel goes faster, so the mower veers right.
Even when the handles are at a neutral position, the mower wants to turn right.

I have checked the settings on the Steering Control Lever to make sure both handles align.
View attachment 31869

I have checked the tire pressure to make sure they are equal in pressure but no luck.

Is there any way to adjust mechanically the speed of one side vs the other?
Is this related to something hydraulic?

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Click to expand...

They all do that sir.
When I started doing mowers ZTR's were new and had complicated adjustments to get them to drive strait.
We were supposed to drive 30' full foreward then 30' full backwards and end up within 1' of where we started.
You could almost do this with the old 1 pump 2 motor systems
When they went over to the individual motor pump drives those instructions vanished as did the adjustments on the control levers at the drive.
SO you will just have to get used to it.

first thing to check is the rear tire pressures are equal. one tire being low would rotate slower.
then there is a simple adjustment under the rear where each handle linkage connects to each transmission. very easy to adjust.

turboawd said:

first thing to check is the rear tire pressures are equal. one tire being low would rotate slower.
then there is a simple adjustment under the rear where each handle linkage connects to each transmission. very easy to adjust.

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Can you please elaborate on this adjustment?

tekparasite said:

Can you please elaborate on this adjustment?

Click to expand...

yes, but make sure both rear tires are inflated first. one tire low will cause mower to track sideways.
there is two seperate transmissions in the rear. each handle controls one transmission. the only thing the handle does is move the drive plate back and forth on the transmission.
you just need to loosen the two jam nuts(8) and move part 19 up or down the shaft a little bit. you shouldnt have to move it much at all. adjust it a little and then take for a spin to see if its good. may have to repeat a few times to get it right.


here is a diagram from a raptor sd 54" for reference.

turboawd said:

yes, but make sure both rear tires are inflated first. one tire low will cause mower to track sideways.
there is two seperate transmissions in the rear. each handle controls one transmission. the only thing the handle does is move the drive plate back and forth on the transmission.
you just need to loosen the two jam nuts(8) and move part 19 up or down the shaft a little bit. you shouldnt have to move it much at all. adjust it a little and then take for a spin to see if its good. may have to repeat a few times to get it right.


here is a diagram from a raptor sd 54" for reference.

Click to expand...

Awesome!! Thanks for the detailed explanation. The mower is at our ranch, so hopefully I can make it there tomorrow and try these adjustments. Thanks again.

Also if the ground is slightly unlevel the mower will veer to one side,with a ZTR you always have to be making steering inputs to keep them straight from my experience.

577jersey said:

Also if the ground is slightly unlevel the mower will veer to one side,with a ZTR you always have to be making steering inputs to keep them straight from my experience.

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My property is on top of a hill, so the ground is definitely not leveled when I mow. However, the misalignment between the two transmissions happens even when I'm in the garage where it's perfectly leveled and not even moving forward. When both handles are in neutral position the mower still wants to turn right.

tekparasite said:

My property is on top of a hill, so the ground is definitely not leveled when I mow. However, the misalignment between the two transmissions happens even when I'm in the garage where it's perfectly leveled and not even moving forward. When both handles are in neutral position the mower still wants to turn right.

Click to expand...

Yeah you have to adjust the left pump back a hair so the creeping stops.

turboawd said:

yes, but make sure both rear tires are inflated first. one tire low will cause mower to track sideways.
there is two seperate transmissions in the rear. each handle controls one transmission. the only thing the handle does is move the drive plate back and forth on the transmission.
you just need to loosen the two jam nuts(8) and move part 19 up or down the shaft a little bit. you shouldnt have to move it much at all. adjust it a little and then take for a spin to see if its good. may have to repeat a few times to get it right.


here is a diagram from a raptor sd 54" for reference.

Click to expand...

The adjustments shown in this post are for the purpose of adjusting the neutral position of the levers and not the actual speed of either side.
Be very careful when moving them or you can end up with a mower that moves with lap bars in the stop position.

How can you increase the speed of the hydro's? I have changed the Hydro Oil and filters. Tire Pressures are all at 9 PSI. Still clocking at 5.5 Mph (Raptor SD 48" 112 Hours with 2800's Hydros).

GeorgiaZTR,

Jack up your mower, with the wheels off, sticks in park, loosen the front nut about a quarter turn, tighten the rear nut about a quarter turn at a time and do that until the hydro pumps begins to creep in park. After you have made the motors creep, back them off a half a turn. Put the wheels back on tightly, lower the unit, run it on "smooth & level" ground to make sure it is tracking straight. Clock it for speed.

Have fun.

Max

Thanks Max!!! Can always count of you!!! Keep that mower CLEAN!!!

Georgia,

Btw, that isn't the official way to speed up your mower's pumps. Bert will most likely jump in to give you a clearer picture on the way to increase pump pressures thru pop-off valve springs in the pumps etc. Hope so, he is the man on those.

The method I gave you is simply to make both wheel motors drive straight to their maximum thru linkage adjustment. PS. That is all the Hustler dealers are going to do for you and to be honest, good luck with that. lol

Max

That trick increased the speed from 5.5 to 6.5 mph :thumbsup:

GeorgiaZTR,

Got to tell you something that should make you feel better about that. Although Hydro Gear and Hustler says: "Up to 7.5 mph". In the past year I've clocked over twenty mowers with ZT2800s and ZT3100s and so far, not one 2800 has done more than 6.5 mph. The Fastraks with 3100s, won't do 8 mph even after doing that trick. So, you're doing about all you're gonna get and that fits within the "Up to 7.5 mph". Makes you want the other 1 mph, doesn't it?

Max

mhavanti said:

Georgia,

Btw, that isn't the official way to speed up your mower's pumps. Bert will most likely jump in to give you a clearer picture on the way to increase pump pressures thru pop-off valve springs in the pumps etc. Hope so, he is the man on those.

The method I gave you is simply to make both wheel motors drive straight to their maximum thru linkage adjustment. PS. That is all the Hustler dealers are going to do for you and to be honest, good luck with that. lol

Max

Click to expand...

Max,

Please do not drag me into threads.
Hustlers are a bit thin on the ground down here & I have never laid a hand on one let alone a spanner.
Hydros are very expensive down here so I do tend to pull them apart rather than replace and while I do like to fully understand how the thing I am trying not to make any worse work, Hustlers are yet to be tortured.

I now have an insatiable hungry for that extra mph!!!!

Bert,

LOL, surely you'll be in the USofA soon and dead middle of the state of Arkansas which is pretty much dead middle of the USofA. When you get here, there is a Hustler sitting rightchere along with about ten more of them on this block along with some off brands but not many.

I'm still researching Hydro Gear pumps as to what the internals are that will interchange from housing to housing from a 2800 thru a 4400. According to the parts manuals, most of the parts will pop out of a 4400 and slide into place in a 2800. Considering I have no experience in popping them apart, modifying them, etc. I'm looking for a mess of each of those that have been put out to pasture so I can put them on the work bench and figure it first hand.

Some of the things I want to know is: What hydro gear pumps have the exact same bolt patterns although they may have larger axle shaft size diameters, pumps, shock valves, etc.

Anyone with any of this information that would share I promise it will be greatly appreciated.

Now Bert, you know damned good and well pulling you into a thread ain't the worst thing that has happened to you although you haven't yet tortured a certain brand. Between you and I, we'll find a way to torture all the brands if we live long enough. lol

Hope the temps are beginng to warm up down there.

Max

mhavanti said:

GeorgiaZTR,

Jack up your mower, with the wheels off, sticks in park, loosen the front nut about a quarter turn, tighten the rear nut about a quarter turn at a time and do that until the hydro pumps begins to creep in park. After you have made the motors creep, back them off a half a turn. Put the wheels back on tightly, lower the unit, run it on "smooth & level" ground to make sure it is tracking straight. Clock it for speed.

Have fun.

Max

Click to expand...

Max,

Are you referring to the parts #8 and #19 on the previous page's parts diagram?


Thanks,
CMOS

I am not looking at the diagram at this time. However, the rod coming from the sticks to the rocker lever. One nut in front, one in the rear. Go faster forward means the push rod needs to be longer. Tightening the nut in front by loosening the rear nut will make that wheel motor go faster.

Max

mhavanti said:

I am not looking at the diagram at this time. However, the rod coming from the sticks to the rocker lever. One nut in front, one in the rear. Go faster forward means the push rod needs to be longer. Tightening the nut in front by loosening the rear nut will make that wheel motor go faster.

Max

Click to expand...

Max,

Maybe I'm confused but the instructions above seem to be the opposite of what you posted on page 2:

"sticks in park, loosen the front nut about a quarter turn, tighten the rear nut about a quarter turn at a time and do that until the hydro pumps begins to creep in park. After you have made the motors creep, back them off a half a turn."

If I understand the concept correctly, the instructions on Page 3 are the correct ones.

Can you clarify?

Thanks,
CMOS