To buy or not to buy....Hustler Super Z Diesel 72"

[Gary Fowler]

I think I read somewhere that the engine is a Perkins made for Caterpillar, so it is a great engine. You shouldn't need service other than oil change and filters for several thousand hours so I wouldn't be too concerned about where it is serviced. 400 hours on a diesel is not even broken in good yet and the rest of the mower looks great. You may be looking at spindle bearing replacement in the future and maybe a belt but the rest should be good as new. The ad said he had some spare parts (hopefully a belt and some bearings) belts for that rig might be way over $100 (my Craftsman 6000 belt was a bit over $100 with tax)
I considered a Kubota diesel F series when shopping for my Ferris but I decided smooth ride was more important for my back than diesel power, but I do still think about having a big diesel engine and a massive deck.

 

[MonkeysTractor]

I called a Hustler dealer this morning and sure enough...the Cat Diesel is a service problem. Has to go to a Cat certified dealer. Problem is, the Hustler dealers around Austin are not Cat certified. Looks like I'll pass on this one.

 

[MonkeysTractor]

Trying to get over my disappointment!

 

[jpaeye]

Trying to get over my disappointment!

I would go for it. I have Dixie Chopper with a Yanmar 36 HP diesel and 84" deck. It is a beast. I had originally wanted the gasser with 40 HP, but the dealer talked me out of iit. I am glad he did. The diesel really has far more power. It also requires little in the way of maintenance other than routine air, oil, and fuel filter changes. I believe that is all most diesels need until around 800 hours when valves may need checked/adjusted. I would much rather have a diesel than a Kawasaki gas motor, and 400 hours is nothing. Diesels do not bog like a gas motor. I can go through foot tall grass, and mine will not quit.

I would also think that when and if that motor needed servicing, you could find a diesel service shop or perhaps even a tractor/equipment dealer to service it. Thses small diesel motors are put into service in a lot of different areas--construction vehicles, boats, etc.

 

[DK35vince]

I sure wouldn't pass the Z up over a Cat diesel.
If a problem ever came up you should have no problem getting it repaired at a local truck or equipment mechanic.
We have multiple local repair shops that work on Cat diesels on our company trucks and rollers.

 

[IXLR8]

I called a Hustler dealer this morning and sure enough...the Cat Diesel is a service problem. Has to go to a Cat certified dealer. Problem is, the Hustler dealers around Austin are not Cat certified. Looks like I'll pass on this one.

The Hustler dealer may not be CAT certified, I don't know of any that are. But I bet there is a CAT certified mechanic somewhere in Austin. Like others have said... the CAT/Perkins is a very solid motor. Just keep up on oil/filter changes, and use the correct oil, use clean fuel and your first service will be probably be in another 2000 hrs. If it has been treated well, with 400 hrs it is just about broken in. I would do a little more research before passing on this one, especially if you have 10 acres to mow weekly. I didn't want to scare you away from this one, just wanted you to be informed.

 

[djdicetn]

The Hustler dealer may not be CAT certified, I don't know of any that are. But I bet there is a CAT certified mechanic somewhere in Austin. Like others have said... the CAT/Perkins is a very solid motor. Just keep up on oil/filter changes, and use the correct oil, use clean fuel and your first service will be probably be in another 2000 hrs. If it has been treated well, with 400 hrs it is just about broken in. I would do a little more research before passing on this one, especially if you have 10 acres to mow weekly. I didn't want to scare you away from this one, just wanted you to be informed.

Question from a "diesel-challenged" user..........what kind of "gas mileage" does a diesel get(i.e. I have a 22hp/726cc Kawasaki FX691V commercial gasoline engine on my Gravely, and I average a little better than 1 gal per hour using mid-grade non-ethanol gasoline which could also be looked at as 1 gal per acre since I have about a 1.5 acre lot and mow 4.5 times per tankful with 4.5 gal tanks). The "downside" I see to going diesel is the price of diesel fuel. Back years ago.......diesel cost about the same as "regular unleaded ethanol gasoline"......but now it costs more than the "premium unleaded ethanol gasoline". I know my father-in-law who has a 36' Class A Motorhome diesel-pusher that gets maybe 3-4mpg......wishes he had a gasoline engine that would move that RV:0(

 

[MonkeysTractor]

Alert----thread hijacking!

 

[bigblock]

I agree with Vince. Chances are good that you will not need anything done on that engine for a long time and if you do Cat mechanics are not hard to find. I would not let the fact that the Hustler dealer can't work on it stop me.

If you really want and need that I would go for it if I were you.

 

[MonkeysTractor]

Ok, well, throw this in the mix. Came up on CL. I like Kubota!

Kubota Diesel Zero-Turn Mower