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Hello everyone! I just received a brand new Hustler Raptor SD 54 from Lowe's today and was doing a fluid check before cutting grass and noticed a potential issue. The hydro reservoir is WAY overfilled... I would say that it is over 3/4 full in fact. The store couldn't answer whether they topped it off or it came that way. I guess my concern is that the store poured any old thing in there when they saw that the container was "empty". I don't feel good about this right of the gate. What do you guys think? Also to top it off Hustler makes their customer service number very hard to come by. Was definitely not happy with that.

I can fully understand your concern!

I also purchased my Raptor Flip Up through Lowe's and they delivered as well. But unlike your situation, everything was fine. I've had it since 2016.

Now what you are referring to is the mowers "Hydraulic Expansion Reserve Tank". This small tanks fluid level should be at the "Full Cold" line only and definitely not above that line. It should never be above that line. The FULL COLD LINE is located at the bottom of the tank.

The best time to check that should only be when the mowers engine is cold (or in other words the mower has not been on or running at all).

Now the only other time that this specific tank will show a fluid level above that line is when the mower is running or right after it had been shut down, of course the engine being hot, etc. But after a total cool down of the mower, that level should drop back down, either below or right at the Full Cold line.

With all that being stated. Double check your owners/user manual and read up about that. It may give you something a bit different but I doubt it.

It appears that you just might be between a rock and a hard place on this. First of all, I don't think Hustler would ship an mower with that tank full of fluid? But again I could be wrong about that.

Second, someone over at the Lowe's store that you purchased it from may unknowingly added fluid to that tank? But again, it's hard for someone to fess up about that. "IF" they did, lets hope that they used the correct fluid called for in the owners/user manual (which on mine calls to use SAE 20W50 service motor oil) and not Hydraulic or Automatic Transmission fluid. Because either of those fluids should never be used!

So if you just want to leave it and not deal with it your options are to either contact Lowe's or Hustler directly and explain the situation to them and see what progress'es out of that mess. Both are more than likely to lay fault at each other to get out of it.

But not all hope is lost!

What you can do is remove some of the fluid from the tank until it reaches right below the FULL COLD LINE.

To do this simply get one of those syringes that is used for basting turkeys, remove the tanks black top, insert the syringe and start removing the fluid, again until you reach the FULL COLD LINE.

Once done, then you can try out your new mower and give it a go.

The choice is yours on what you want to do, this is just my $0.02 on it all.

Oh and go back and read all about your mower before you actually start to use. It's helpful, also there should be a 1-800-# to call if you have any particular questions.

Good luck and I hope everything turns out well for you.

Keep us posted on the overall outcome on what happens.

I wouldn't run it at all or do anything to it until you exhaust your options with Lowe's and/or Hustler.

I went ahead and notified the store and removed the excess fluid. It was in fact a thick oil so I really do believe that it was simply overfilled at the factory.

I once worked for Lowes and one of my nephews did as well. Let me tell you about putting things together. You barely have the tools to do the job let alone oil to add to a mower. Lowes did not add oil because the person that assembled it did not have any to add to it.

BlazNT said:

I once worked for Lowes and one of my nephews did as well. Let me tell you about putting things together. You barely have the tools to do the job let alone oil to add to a mower. Lowes did not add oil because the person that assembled it did not have any to add to it.

Click to expand...

Makes sense coming from someone who worked there.

But if so then one of two things could have occurred at the factory.

One, either excessive amount of fluid was added?....or....Two, something in the mowers Hydraulic system is not functioning as it should allowing the fluid to fill up in the reserve tank?

Really any possibility?

Someone forgot to purge air or the new guy though fill with oil meant fill to the top. Or the pump that shuts off automatically at proper amount was not working right. Many things could have gone wrong. Quality control was not doing its job for sure.

BlazNT said:

Someone forgot to purge air or the new guy though fill with oil meant fill to the top. Or the pump that shuts off automatically at proper amount was not working right. Many things could have gone wrong. Quality control was not doing its job for sure.

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If they forgot to purge wouldn't they simply purge themselves with use?

No the froth up and things get worse.
A bit late but I hope you kept the excess cause we missed a 3rd option,
Some idiot poured some crud in there in the shop cause he had a "thing" against the mower brand or Lowes.

bertsmobile1 said:

No the froth up and things get worse.
A bit late but I hope you kept the excess cause we missed a 3rd option,
Some idiot poured some crud in there in the shop cause he had a "thing" against the mower brand or Lowes.

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The oil would drain down to the hydros when sitting. There's nowhere else for it to go.

As we all know, when the mower is in use and the fluids get hot, the hydraulic fluid expands.
Because the excess amount of hydraulic fluid has to go somewhere.
Thus, the reason for the "reserve expansion tank" is necessary.

When the hydraulic fluid expands due to excessive heating the reserve expansion tank will show fluid build up beyond the Full Cold Line. Though when the mower has been sitting and has cooled down then the excess amount of fluid that has built up in the reserve expansion tank will eventually, yes, drain back into it's system that it needs to settle back into. Leaving the reserve expansion tank with fluid only either at the Full Cold Line or just right below the line. But again, never above it.

But as the picture provided by the original poster shows, the fluid build up was almost towards the top of the reserve expansion tank and as the original poster explains, when the mower was delivered the reserve expansion tank was almost top full with fluid and of course was concerned. Rightly so. It was already like that.

If so then, the excess amount of hydraulic fluid had already drained back into it's system and well of course that excess amount of hydraulic fluid had to of come from somewhere?

Someone obviously added more fluid (or some type of oil) to that mowers reserve expansion tank. Probably without even referring to the manual about it. Maybe really "not thinking" and just seeing that reserve tank and decided that it was "low on fluid" and then taking it upon themselves to just "add more fluid" to the small tank, to the point of almost topping if off? Big question specifically about this is, exactly "what type of fluid" was actually used to fill that reserve expansion tank?

One of two things, if the reserve expansion tank was to continuously show that excessive amount of hydraulic fluid build up, almost to the top then 1.) the hydraulic system needs to be looked into, possible problems?....or.....2.) someone just added more fluid to the reserve tank, trying to top it off, again unknowingly perhaps?

Speaking for myself here, I know for a fact that on my mower, once done using it and all and gets parked, that reserve expansion tank does show just a bit above Full Cold Line, with excess fluid but "never" way above towards the top. After about an hour or more the excess fluid settles back in and the reserve expansion tank will show the excessive amount of fluid at the Full Cold Line or just right below it.

Read this thread yesterday, prior to receiving my Hustler Raptor SD this morning. Checked the Hydro Fluid level, and just like the Gilitar's original post the level was well above the Cold Full line (3/4 full). Didn't sign any paperwork, and had Lowes take it back. Lowes completely understood my concerns, and will be delivering me another mower. Must say Lowes has been awesome through this purchasing process, and like others I due believe this is a factory issue.
I realize I could have just removed any excess fluid, but was worried there would be other issues with this mower if such a simple task like filling proper fluid levels was ignored. Was I wrong in having Lowes deliver it back? Would you do the same?
Thank you Gilitar, and to everyone else who posted on this thread.

wallacestocky said:

Read this thread yesterday, prior to receiving my Hustler Raptor SD this morning. Checked the Hydro Fluid level, and just like the Gilitar's original post the level was well above the Cold Full line (3/4 full). Didn't sign any paperwork, and had Lowes take it back. Lowes completely understood my concerns, and will be delivering me another mower. Must say Lowes has been awesome through this purchasing process, and like others I due believe this is a factory issue.
I realize I could have just removed any excess fluid, but was worried there would be other issues with this mower if such a simple task like filling proper fluid levels was ignored. Was I wrong in having Lowes deliver it back? Would you do the same?
Thank you Gilitar, and to everyone else who posted on this thread.

Click to expand...

Wow!.....another incident on the subject of excessive hydraulic fluid showing up in the reserve expansion tank.

To answer your questions....No you are not wrong in having Lowe's take it back.....and yes I would've done the same.

By chance did you (or are you going to) contact Hustler and specifically ask to speak to one of their engineer's and inquire about that specific problem?

Yes, I was going to wait and call Hustler tomorrow/Monday. I'll update you guys with Hustler's response.

This is why I always recommend buying equipment at a servicing dealer instead of a big box store!

wallacestocky said:

Yes, I was going to wait and call Hustler tomorrow/Monday. I'll update you guys with Hustler's response.

Click to expand...

Hopefully, Hustler will take it SERIOUSLY, and issue a SERVICING BULLETIN to ALL dealers AND Big-Box stores. Might ask what recourse a new owner in a similar situation should do in that case. .. :thumbsup:

Boobala said:

Hopefully, Hustler will take it SERIOUSLY, and issue a SERVICING BULLETIN to ALL dealers AND Big-Box stores. Might ask what recourse a new owner in a similar situation should do in that case. .. :thumbsup:

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:thumbsup:

I'm definitely with you about that.

Now, can you imagine how many of those, just like that, have left the factory and have been sold!?

Alright, with that being said....OK lets be fair about all this.

Just maybe the factory has changed or altered it's method about the Hustler mowers hydraulic fluid in reference to the reserve expansion tank?

I know that it's all just speculation at this point in time but hopefully someone (meaning, either one of these fella's that have just received a new Hustler mower from Lowe's or even from an authorized Sales & Service place) will be able to contact Hustler Corp. directly and get some definite answers to this specific topic.

Also, hopefully each have actually read their Owners Manual on each of their specific model/style Hustler mower and see exactly what it states about the hydraulic fluids expansion tank.

Referenced from the manual posted on hustlerturf.com for the Raptor SD (model # 937870).
"When the hydraulic system oil is cold, the fluid level should be at the “Full Cold” line on the expansion tank. Use only the specified oil shown."

Prob over filled at the factory or they send a small bottle to be serviced with the unit is sold. No more than it holds I doubt if it will hurt it. Hope it wasn't meant for the engine and there is no oil or low oil in it.

Sounds like this is an issue back at the plant to me.

Response from Hustler: (Your thoughts?)


Unfortunately, it sounds like there may be some confusion regarding the correct oil level in the expansion tank. The tanks are slightly overfilled from the factory due to an air bubble that forms in assembly. These transmissions don’t ship to us completely filled. Therefore, when we add oil to the expansion tank, an air bubble is created and needs “burped”. After the air is purged (burped), the oil should settle to the correct level (cold-full line). We recommend checking the oil level after the first mow, but it should read correctly.

Any subsequent Raptor SD will have the same starting oil level. The only other recommendation is reading the operators manual and registering the mower. You may register through the link below:

I apologize for the confusion.

Thanks,

Sounds to me like it's done at the Hustler facility, but then, .. they might put a warning tag on it to inform the dealer to check the level before releasing to the customer ..?? and is there a tag to say unit may need purging for proper operation ..?? Hmmmmm

That sounds kinda like BS to me, more like Hustler is just trying to "cover their *****" BS just thrown out there to satisfy the customer.

From whom exactly did that statement come from (I know Hustler) but was it from Hustler's customer service, an engineer, etc.?

Or was it just the response you received back from Hustler Corp. when you sent in a customer request inquiry through email?

The reason why I say it sounds like BS to me is because if that were the exact case on this matter, then when each and every Hustler mower is sold a "tag" identifying this specifically should be attached to inform the customer pointing that out.

And/or it should be stated in the Owners/User manual indicating that specifically.

Because it kind of conflicts and contradict's what is currently stated in the manual about the fluid in the reserve hydraulic expansion tank?

Nothing is stated in the Owners/User manual about "burping/purging" the hydraulic fluids system.

Alright the above got me thinking about all this and well I started to read more into my mowers "Hydraulic System" in my Owners/Manual (Raptor Flip Up) and at the very bottom of the section is the following:

IMPORTANT: Refer to the Raptor® Flip-Up General Service
Manual (P/N 121535) for complete hydraulic oil and filter
change procedures.


So I referenced the "Hydraulic System" in the General Service manual for my Raptor Flip Up (pages 4-6 thru 4-8) and only then does it state about the process of the "purging procedure" on the hydraulic fluid.

Though this process is only done after the initial hydraulic fluid change and any changes of it there after. The following is what is stated in the General Service manual:

Initial system oil and filter change must be after the first 75
hours of use or one (1) year whichever comes first. Thereafter,
replace filter and oil in each transmission every two (2)
years or 200 hours, whichever comes first.

With that being stated, I recall that after my first year with my mower, I sent it in to a Hustler Authorized Sales & Service for warranty work and was asked if the hydraulic fluid, oil, etc. had been changed and I told them no. Afterwards when they were finished I was told that they had serviced/changed the hydraulic fluid and filters on my mower, etc.

Mr. Mower said:

That sounds kinda like BS to me, more like Hustler is just trying to "cover their *****" BS just thrown out there to satisfy the customer.

From whom exactly did that statement come from (I know Hustler) but was it from Hustler's customer service, an engineer, etc.?

Or was it just the response you received back from Hustler Corp. when you sent in a customer request inquiry through email?

The reason why I say it sounds like BS to me is because if that were the exact case on this matter, then when each and every Hustler mower is sold a "tag" identifying this specifically should be attached to inform the customer pointing that out.

And/or it should be stated in the Owners/User manual indicating that specifically.

Because it kind of conflicts and contradict's what is currently stated in the manual about the fluid in the reserve hydraulic expansion tank?

Nothing is stated in the Owners/User manual about "burping/purging" the hydraulic fluids system.

Click to expand...

Maybe it's done that way because most people will go out and MOW with the damn thing and never--ever--read the manual.

It was a response from Hustler corp to my email inquiry through Hustler's website. Couldn't get through when calling Hustler without getting there voicemail. I received my response from someone from Hustler with the job title Business Operations Specialist.

cpurvis said:

Maybe it's done that way because most people will go out and MOW with the damn thing and never--ever--read the manual.

Click to expand...

:laughing:......yes very true.




Just to add to all this, the only mention of "Purging/Burping" the Hydraulic System Fluid is on the end of the Hydraulic System section of the General Service Manual (at least for my Raptor Flip Up).




It states the following in the very beginning:

IMPORTANT: Purging procedures must be followed after
changing the oil and filter. Refer to Purging Procedure section
for detailed information.

Purging procedure

Due to the effects air has on efficiency in hydrostatic drive
applications, it is critical that it is purged from the system.

Then follows up with:

Air creates inefficiency because its compression and
expansion rate is higher than that of the oil approved for use
in hydrostatic drive systems.
These purge procedures should be implemented any time a
hydrostatic system has been opened to facilitate maintenance
or the oil has been changed.
The resulting symptoms in hydrostatic systems may be:
1. Noisy operation.
2. Lack of power or drive after short term operation.
3. High operation temperature and excessive expansion
of oil.
Before starting, make sure the transaxle is at the proper oil
level. If it is not, fill to the specifications outlined in this manual.

But in all reality none of this is necessary on a Hustler mowers initial usage upon arrival and is not mentioned in the Owners User Manual.

The purge procedure explained in the general service manual seems to contradict what the Operations Specialist from Hustler told me to do if I have the same issue with my next Hustler SD. This is his exact quote:
"It will purge itself after the first mow. We do recommend checking after the mower cools, but it should settle near the full cold line."

After putting roughly 2 hours on the mower I've had to add two-thirds of what I took out. Hustler is not purging the hydros at the factory!

Funny how this is the exact opposite complaint of us original 1st year SD owners. Our overflow reservoirs were filled to the cold line and after the first mow they were empty. so we added oil back to the line. After the next mow they were empty again. I added about a pint of oil total to my mower before it had burped the air out of the hydros and fluid lines going to the reservoir. It seems Hustler addressed it by adding more oil to the reservoir so after the first heat cycle or two it would be at the right level.

This reminds me, I'm probably due for my 2nd trans fluid replacement.

Purging the hydros is part of the dealer set-up that should be performed in addition to making sure the tires are at proper pressure, the deck is leveled properly, that everything is adjusted properly and operates as it should. Again, this is why I always recommend buying equipment from a servicing dealer and not a big box store or remote dealer that just ships units.

If you cover the hydro reservoir neck and pull a mild vacuum on it trapped air will be removed from the hydros and lines and burp up through the oil in the reservoir. Then when removing the vacuum the oil will be drawn in to replace where the air was. This would take 2 minutes to do at the factory or by a dealer. It is how I refilled my hydros on oil change after draining them via the filters, really saves having to try to get to those buried vent/fill bolts at the top of each 2800, it does take a few cycles to get all the oil in though.

See my original post HERE on the process.

Darryl G said:

Purging the hydros is part of the dealer set-up that should be performed in addition to making sure the tires are at proper pressure, the deck is leveled properly, that everything is adjusted properly and operates as it should. Again, this is why I always recommend buying equipment from a servicing dealer and not a big box store or remote dealer that just ships units.

Click to expand...

That's why the mowers sold to Big Box stores are not quite the same as the ones you get at a dealer. The manufacturer knows the Big Box store has no service department for anything it sells, so they try to do as much of this servicing as they can at the factory before it goes in the shipping crate. They know Lowe's or any other Big Box doesn't have anybody trained in doing anything more than uncrating and airing up the tires.

Then why are they sending out machines with air in the hydros when their owner's manual says that it's critical for it to be purged? How does that only apply when you service them but not when they're new?

Brand new mowers are being sold and delivered to customers who may immediately over pressurize and overheat the hydros and damage them... great!

Darryl G said:

Then why are they sending out machines with air in the hydros when their owner's manual says that it's critical for it to be purged? How does that only apply when you service them but not when they're new?

Brand new mowers are being sold and delivered to customers who may immediately over pressurize and overheat the hydros and damage them... great!

Click to expand...

The "purge" specified in the manual (on jackstands, with tires off the ground) is to get air out and fluid into the hydro pump and motor part of the transmission. The part people are complaining about here is a little bubble of air at the top of the transmission case and air in the lines going to the overflow tank. That air is not in and will not go into the pump and motor. Maybe I'm a bit more relaxed because I'm a Mechanical Engineer and I've grown up around equipment, but this fluid level isn't a big deal. Just drive the mower and check the fluid level when the machine cools down, if it is below the line, add some. if you accidentally put too much in the tank will just burp it out the top the next time you mow and it will dribble into your yard. This thing functions just like the coolant overflow tank in your car.

Ok, good enough I guess. But other manufactures running the same/similar transmissions have a full system purge specified as part of the dealer setup...

Darryl G said:

Ok, good enough I guess. But other manufactures running the same/similar transmissions have a full system purge specified as part of the dealer setup...

Click to expand...

That's the point you're missing--Big Box stores are NOT dealers and don't do dealer setup.

The manufacturer, in this case, appears to be doing what it can to assure that fluid level in the Big Box store units will be as close to correct as possible when the owner uses the mower.

Point isn't missed. For the third time now...this is why you shouldn't buy things at big box stores! I've been to Home Depot once in the last 15 years...I desperately needed a drill bit after 8 pm. Anybody who does buy there and has a bad experience got what they deserve. :tongue:

Kilitar,

How is the Raptor doing so far?

Max

Your dreaming if you think local dealers do anything special!!
I purchased my SD54 from a local dealer because of all the posts claiming you got better service.
I did not plus I was lied to about the machine needing the upgraded brace between the Hydro's.

Make SURE your machine has both of these braces installed!



I had the exact experience as posted above.
Fluid level was low and needed topping off after the first 2 or 3 mowing's.

Because of these complaints Hustler started to over fill the oil reservoir a bit so the level would come down to the proper level.
Mine stopped changing after I got the level right.
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