Finally got a 6 wheeler!

[wmsthree]

SCORE! Last night I picked up a mid 80s Hustler (i think) 950 in pristine condition. Original tires, wheels, seat cover, muffler - it looks like it was barely used. I've been wanting a 6 wheeler forever and always wanted a Max, but I couldn't pass this up! A few questions right off the bat: where's the plate on a hustler that tells me what model it is? Couldn't find it last night - if it's missing how do I tell what year model I have? And I'm definitely going to replace the 21x11x8 tires - everyone says 25s will fit, what's the best tire for mud AND swimming? I'm looking hard at carlisle 24x10x8's like on argos so I don't have to buy 9" wheels but the price scares me. Any other suggestions?

[jpswift1]

The Hustler is a GREAT machine......just as good, if not better than a Max in certain aspects. I'd check the engine serial number and run it to get the year. Is it a Briggs flat twin or Kohler single K341 16HP? If you were going to do 25's, I'd say get some 25x13x9 Maxxis Mudbugs or Vampires, or 25x12x9 Goodyear Rawhide III tires (if you can find them, since they're discontinued) but obviously you'd have to buy new rims. The 24" Argo tires would fir the bill though. They're decent in the mud, but super fast in the water. Post some pictures if you get a chance, we'd love to see it. Congrats on the new machine!

[wmsthree]

Pictures coming - haven't even got it off the trailer yet, picked it up last night at 9 pm in the middle of a TORNADO.....interesting loading it for the first time, even more interesting drive home! It's a Kohler single, I'm assuming a 16 horse.

[jpswift1]

Is the Kohler painted red or yellow? I'm going to guess that it's a late 70's early 80's machine. And I must say, you're a true 6x6 nut already if you went to pick up the Hustler at 9PM in the middle of a tornado!

[wmsthree]

Kohler is red. Fired it up and scooted around the yard a little, lever adjustments need some help! Bad gas, probably need to rebuild the carb, little stuff. Thinking of doing a fluid change on the T20 - it's pretty jerky.

[jpswift1]

Kohler is red. Fired it up and scooted around the yard a little, lever adjustments need some help! Bad gas, probably need to rebuild the carb, little stuff. Thinking of doing a fluid change on the T20 - it's pretty jerky.

Glad to hear it's up and running. They're fun, aren't they? Add just a hair under 1 quart of ATF type F transmission fluid, and 4 ounces of limited slip differential additive to bring the total amount of fluid to exactly 1 quart. The differential additive will help prevent the T-20 band chatter and make for nice smooth operation.

[brushcutter]

The 950 I had didn't swim well with either the 22" rhIII's or the 25X12X9 Maxxis Mudbugs on it- strange thing though Boncrshr's 950 with the 25" vampires swam pretty daggone fast in the vids I've seen of it. That probably has a LOT to do with all the extra weight it took on with the full wrap angle iron bumper/brush guard with the warn 3000 and all the included bracing, throw in a deep cycle battery and all the other stuff and I had a machine that sat down to the top of the tires in the water. So for swimming keeping your machine as light as possible is very important. The mudbugs fit fine after spacing out about 7/16" to clear the tub. They were far better in the mud but they were also bigger than the 22" RHIII's, so I can't say whether they would be "better" than 25 RHIII's. Contact Matt O and see if you can get a set of his beadlock rims, I ran ZERO air pressure for a while in the Mudbugs, and never popped a bead- not one time!

Tornado at 9pm huh? You've got it bad, really bad... welcome to the crazy world of aatv"s

[wmsthree]

Thanks for the replies, guys! Yes I guess I have it bad, I've wanted one for a long time. Weather is finally cooperating today, I'll get some pics hopefully this afternoon then I'm gonna pop the covers and do a little cleaning and evaluation to see where all my money's going next (ha!).

[wmsthree]

Here's pictures! (Finally!)

[Twizted1]

Looks good.

[jpswift1]

Yes, very nice Hustler you have there!

[wmsthree]

Sorry for the delay on an update to this thread, I've been busy! Pulled the trans out and broke it down, sent the bands to transmission crafters, pulled the motor out, going to search for urethane bushings for motor mounts, yesterday I steam cleaned the inside of the tub.....WOW. I have cleaned up some nasty things in my lifetime with a hot water pressure washer but this thing was by far the nastiest I have ever done. I think the previous owner just drained the engine oil into the tub and left it to lube the chains and NEVER pulled the plug out - that stuff was 1 inch thick in some spots - took FOREVER to get it out of the tub. Now as soon as I get some parts I can go back together!

[wmsthree]

pics with the top off and after 1 1/2 hours of steam cleaning.

[jpswift1]

Looks like a brand new machine!

[fmints]

pics with the top off and after 1 1/2 hours of steam cleaning.

I wish mine looked as good as yours when I rebuilt mine> Consider yourself a very lucky man! Good luck with the rest of the build!