60" deck

[tarcoleo 119]

Have C-81 fitted with 13 HP Honda. While 13 HP is enough to

drive a 60" deck on level manicured grass, is it definite and

positive that the deck will not fit between the wheels of the

tractor?

Tom in RI :notworthy:

[Rollerman 290]

Tom there were two types of 60" decks made by Wheel Horse.

The Earlier C195 had it's own style & the later 520's used another.

Both will fit your C81 if you really set your mind to it.

I think a 13HP engine is a little light for one.

The C195 style will work by useing the front end off most 300series tractors.

That amounts to a taller spindle & smaller front wheels.

You may have to make some mods to the carriage between the deck & tractor, but I've seen a 417 with this deck on it.

The C195 style deck isn't quite as heavy as the later 520's either.

The 520's used a unique forward swept axle on the front to make room for the 60" deck on those.

[rickv1957 74]

I think that honda 13 hp will have a hard time trying to run a 60"deck,Rick

[whfan74 2,071]

It will spin it and it will cut..........but depends on what type of lawn you are going to be cutting. Might work ok if you are just knocking the tops off on a flat level yard. Putting too much load on it probably will cause some headaches.

[tarcoleo 119]

My two acres are level and mowed weekly. My C-111 with 11 HP Honda

cuts them without bogging. Similarly, I judge that the 13 HP on the C-81

cut drive a 60" under the same conditions.

My question about putting a 60" on my C-81 (don't own a 60" yet) boils down

to the following: If I jack up the front end of the tractor, THEN slide the

deck in, will there be sufficient clearance once installed and lowered? In other

words, is the wheelbase longer in the 520H only to provide "sliding in clearance"

with the tractor on the ground?

Tom in RI :notworthy:

[whfan74 2,071]

Like Stephen said you will have to change your front axle out as well as some other mods I am sure. You will need to acquire a forward swept axle in order to turn the big boy around.

Unless you have a 5 foot wide strip that you are going to cut and that's it. :notworthy:

[tarcoleo 119]

Stephen, Scott and everybody-

Well it seems that a hi-tech shoehorn would be required. Guess I'll

stick to 48" decks. Thanks guys,

Tom in RI (with limited Yankee ingenuity) :notworthy:

[Rollerman 290]

Tom here is a pic of a 417 with the C195 style 60" deck.

They have a differant shape than the 520's & it fit with the use of the taller spindles & smaller wheels in front.

The wheelbase on your C81 is only differant than a 520's because of the forward swept axle

So with a little research & the right combination of parts you could fit one under your C81.

As far as the HP...I've cut grass with a 312 & a 48" deck....did fine as long as it didn't get tall.

If for some reason the gras became as tall as the deck...then it really get slugish.

I'd think a 60" would have really used up anything 13HP had & more.

Just takes a lot more torque to spin up those big decks compared to even the 48's

If you can find a 60" deck though & want to try it go for it....you can always add more HP later if you need it.

[tarcoleo 119]

Hey Stephen-

Great picture! I see the smaller wheels. Taller spindles? I assume that that

refers to the distance below the kingpin to the axle?

Anyway, in your photo there seems to be some space to burn between the deck and

the rear wheels. Generally, there is latitude to locate Tach-A-Matic devices on frames.

The previous owner of my C-111 (or maybe it was me 15 years ago) moved the frame

location of the t-a-m back about 2" so that my 48" deck is now about 1" from the

tires.

So I speculate that a C-195 style 60" deck might be squeezed under my C-81 by

relocating the attach device rearward on the frame eliminating the need for smaller

wheels. And I wonder if I can conveniently mount the 60" unit by doing that and jacking

the front end at the time of installation?

Thanks in advance, sorry to put you to task,

Tom in RI