cleat 4,936 #1 Posted December 30, 2015 Most of my deck hitches are badly worn so I decided to make a couple. These are for my 42" and 48" decks. 60" is completely different. They are just tacked together now to check for fitment, I will take them back to work for final welding and painting. I have drawn up the plans, I will scan them and post as well. Cleat 19 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
AMC RULES 36,940 #2 Posted December 30, 2015 Nice fab work... looks factory original. 5 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
KC9KAS 4,741 #3 Posted December 30, 2015 Very nice. I would think you have a "marketable" item there! 5 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Racinbob 10,256 #4 Posted December 30, 2015 Sweet. 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
WNYPCRepair 1,875 #5 Posted December 31, 2015 Nice work 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
boovuc 1,090 #6 Posted December 31, 2015 Nice work Cleat! Very nice and needed replacement part for a lot of us! 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
cleat 4,936 #7 Posted December 31, 2015 That part can be purchased new here for $61.37. I doubt that I could make and sell them for less. http://www.mowerpartpros.com/OEMpartfinder.htm#/Toro_Consumer/15-48SC01,_48%22_Side_Discharge_Mower,_1989/SIDE_DISCHARGE_MOWERS-42_&_48_IN._(107_&_122_CM)/15-48SC01-909-1989/810603R1-03R10009-0005 However, if anyone wanted to copy my plans and make their own, that would be great. I will be posting the plans and final completed pictures soon. Cleat 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
rick 215 #8 Posted December 31, 2015 Nice job! I wish I had developed that ability in my "wasted" years, lol. 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
cleat 4,936 #9 Posted December 31, 2015 Actually, I find my fabrication skills getting better with age. I am 51 now and can do a lot of things better now than I could have 10 years ago. 3 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
WNYPCRepair 1,875 #10 Posted December 31, 2015 What did you use to cut the notches, they are nice and clean 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
WHX?? 46,673 #11 Posted December 31, 2015 Older and wiser now Cleat?? I envy the guys who have the tools or access to them at work to do nice fab like that. I win the power ball I'll be sure to be generous with plasma cutters, drill presses.lathes and whatnot with my Bros here! 4 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
TDF5G 2,051 #12 Posted December 31, 2015 Looks great! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
cleat 4,936 #13 Posted December 31, 2015 I just used a hand held mini-grinder (5") with a zipcut wheel to make the notch after drilling the 1/2" hole. For the other end of that same plate, I just drilled a 3/4" hole then cut right through the centerline of the hole to make it act like a saddle. All dimensions will be on the plans which will be uploaded soon. No special tools were used to make this, just a drill press, mini-grinder, and a welder. I do all measurements with a vernier caliper but a tape measure would work. Cleat 5 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
WNYPCRepair 1,875 #14 Posted December 31, 2015 1 hour ago, cleat said: I just used a hand held mini-grinder (5") with a zipcut wheel to make the notch after drilling the 1/2" hole. For the other end of that same plate, I just drilled a 3/4" hole then cut right through the centerline of the hole to make it act like a saddle. All dimensions will be on the plans which will be uploaded soon. No special tools were used to make this, just a drill press, mini-grinder, and a welder. I do all measurements with a vernier caliper but a tape measure would work. Cleat Nice, I would have thought a plasma cutter or band saw they are so precise Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
cleat 4,936 #15 Posted January 1, 2016 Here are the plans. Deck hitch plans.pdf Cleat 3 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
squonk 38,840 #16 Posted January 1, 2016 Never even noticed that that part wore out. What are the symptoms? uneven cut? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
JC 1965 1,528 #17 Posted January 1, 2016 Very nice Cleat. Thanks for sharing. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
mikekot3 92 #18 Posted January 1, 2016 Nice fabrication work on your brackets and thank you for sharing your plans. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
cleat 4,936 #19 Posted January 1, 2016 3 hours ago, squonk said: Never even noticed that that part wore out. What are the symptoms? uneven cut? I have been bead blasting all of my deck parts as part of the restoration and notice a lot of wear where the hitch connects to the tractor Tach-A-Matic and also at the two connection points to the deck where the spacers go that connect to the draft bars. Not all of my decks are this bad, just 2 of 4. Would you actually get uneven cut, likely not but since these decks are getting at least partly restored, I wanted connection and pivot points that are not worn. Cleat 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ericj 1,576 #20 Posted January 1, 2016 i have found on my 520's that use to have 60" decks that the quick attach brackets on the the center lift of the tractor, ware big time and cause a 48" deck to actually hit the rear tires if you run ag tires year around like i do. and one 520 that i mounted my 2 stage blower on actually hung crooked, and would dig into unfrozen ground on the one side. i purchased new side brackets but have changed implements around so it is no longer a problem till i finally get around to making the repair. i personally have never seen a worn lift bar on a deck cause uneven cut, unless maybe really bent up. bent 1 are the only reason i have swapped them out. eric j Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
312Hydro 473 #21 Posted January 1, 2016 (edited) Nice work on those . What did you use for the spacers? Also,if you make part B back to back,you will only need to drill one 3/4 hole and it will be easy to work with. Edited January 1, 2016 by 312Hydro Added photo Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
cleat 4,936 #22 Posted January 1, 2016 I buy them here. http://www.mowerpartpros.com/OEMpartfinder.htm#/Toro_Consumer/78368,_48%22_Side_Discharge_Mower,_1996_(SN_6900001-6999999)/LIFT_ASSEMBLY/78368-17983-1996/3318-376-376A0008-0006 For $1.00 each I could not make them. You are correct, 2 B plates could be made at once. Cleat 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
mikekot3 92 #23 Posted January 3, 2016 Hi Cleat thank you for the link to a parts website I was not aware of. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
cleat 4,936 #24 Posted January 12, 2016 (edited) Deck hitch is now welded up. Just needs cleanup and paint. Cleat Edited January 12, 2016 by cleat 5 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Kurt-NEPA 755 #25 Posted January 14, 2016 Fantastic project. Thanks so much for sharing. One of my 48"SD decks is badly worn, when the 3/4" rod gets that bad, it will fall out of the tach-o-matic hitch. With your drawings, I now have a Spring project. Kurt Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
