37" vs 42" deck for 310-8

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My machine is a 1992 Toro classic 310-8 WH. I have two 37" decks that I fully restored via some welding, grinding, primer, bearings and paint. I'm going to try and put some mulching blades on it this year. Now, I have a chance to get a complete 42" deck for cheap $$ that doesn't need anything.

My question is: Is the 42" that much better than the 37" SD in terms of getting the job done faster, cut quality?

Thank you for your help.

[whfan74 2,071]

Well it will definitely cut down your mowing time. Saving 5 inches on every pass really adds up if you have a good amount of mowing to do. Of course the more obstacles you have play a huge part in to the equation as well. Planning on putting a 42" on my 312-8 this year. Dad will be using it on his 1.5 acres and every little bit helps.

As far as mowing you should still get the same quality of cut. I have only seen a difference when going up to the 48" if the ground is not very level and has many high and low spots which could cause some scalping.

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That's what I thought. I know it will make a difference in time, but a huge difference I wasn't sure of. I don't have a lot of room in the garage for decks all over the place. Wouldn't the 42" allow me to use the larger 8" front tires and rims?

[Rollerman 290]

I personally think the 37" twin blade deck is probably one of the better ones for cut qaulity.

I'm even on the look out for one.

The 42" is still a good cutter & will cover a larger area a little faster.

Also that left side hangs out a bit farther so you don't have to turn so tight trimming around trees or bushes.

And yes the 37" is the only deck that needs the smaller diameter front wheel & tires....with the 36", 42", & 48" tire clearance isn't a problem.

[rickv1957 74]

Just my 2 cents,I always cosidered the 42" deck the most versatile deck wheelhorse produced,Rick

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Thanks for all the responses. I'm going to check it out this week and if it's in good shape, pick it up.

Chris

[nylyon-(Admin) 7,880]

Is the 42" a side or rear discharge? Rear discharge decks (in my opinion) are a little nicer. They don't shoot rocks out the side, and you can trim on either side.

[Irv 115]

I use both (on a 310 and 312). I use the 37" when I bag it and the 42"sd when not and I really don't see a difference in cut quality.

[kpinnc 14,589]

I'm with Stephen on this- and I have used both decks for reference.

The 42 makes a significant difference in how fast you can mow your lawn, but can be quite the load on the 310 in thick grass. The 310 will carry it, but the governor will get a workout in the heavy stuff.

My 37 inch deck gives by far the best cut of any deck I have. That includes the 42 side and rear discharge, 48 SD, or a 36 3-blade setup. It also has a much higher amount of "thrust" out of the chute- meaning a non-powered bagger will work much better with it.

I have never used a 60 inch deck, but I understand it has a very nice cut as well.

Kevin

[wh500special 2,262]

Stephen and Kevin are on to something...

I've said this many, many times: In my estimation, the 37" is the best cutter WH ever made.

It is really the only pre-Toro multiblade deck that generates significant airflow and vacuum to stand the grass upright for even cutting after the front wheels steamroll it over.

You may not notice a difference b/t the 37" and 42" in ideal conditons of perfect moisture and grass density, but as soon as anything deviates from the ideal the 37-incher will outshine the 42.

If you're not fussy about cut quality, then the 42 is perfectly acceptable. Neither is really much of an acre-taker and I'd guess under normal mowing conditions they'd consume about the same power since the 37" is pumping so much air. If your grass is heavy then the load of the 42 will be felt since the clippings tend to bunch up underneath.

I know this is an issue that comes up annually, you might get lucky if you do a search for "cut quality" and find additional opinions.

Steve

[stevebo-(Moderator) 8,527]

If you are going to consider the smaller deck then I would look for a clean 36 inch rear discharge over the 37 side. I have never seen a 37 inch deck that the fron right side is not pushed in. I have run 36, 37 and 42 and on the 310 the 36 rd would be my first choice. I understand you have to take what you can find however this is the best time of the year to look for one. B)

[Don1977 605]

As far as mowing you should still get the same quality of cut. I have only seen a difference when going up to the 48" if the ground is not very level and has many high and low spots which could cause some scalping.

You would have to have some afoul rough ground for a 48" base with all good wheels and rollers to scalp. I have seen a lot of different brand mowers that will scalp where my 48" will not. I will admit that the plastic rollers that Wheel Horse came out with in the 80's are junk. After a couple of sets of the plastic rollers and bent shafts. I had a friend of mine to turn a set out of Dogwood that I soaked in oil and added brass bushings they have been on the base 4 or 5 years with no appreciable wear. I also ground of the welds of the original roller shafts tabs and welded on new shafts. I have up graded the spindles three times, wore out two sets of the pressed steel pulleys and machined the original cast iron pulleys to fit the latest grease able spindles. I was having trouble mowing high grass until I reinstalled the cast iron pulleys. I have welded up and ground down the idler bar twice turned around the slide block the first time . Had to made new slide blocks the second time, they were no longer available. The deck I have is a "75-48MS01" I need to find some sheet metal and rebuild the baffles then it will be as good as new.

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Wow, This is interesting. I have only been in this house two years and the yard is about 3/4 acre. For the last two years I pushed a mower and it takes just over an hour to mow (wearing athletic shoes and ipod on full). This year I picked up my WH 310-8 and tore through it replacing everything that it needed. I ended up with two 37" decks and they are both in great shape. I do have a bagger for the tractor but I may just put mulch blades on the 37". I have a Redmax 8001 so leaves in the fall are no obstacle.

My goal is to reduce the time it used to take to mow with the 21" push mower and not feel like I just ran a marathon. It does rain a lot in the spring and I travel often for work so the grass is usually pretty heavy and wet by the time I get around to it.

Sounds like I should just stick to the 37" set up.

Thank you all for the advice.

Chris

[wh500special 2,262]

...the yard is about 3/4 acre. For the last two years I pushed a mower and it takes just over an hour to mow (wearing athletic shoes and ipod on full).

You're in much better shape than I am! I used to push mow my 2/3 acre yard with my Lawnboy in 45 minutues if I was really making an effort...that was 5+ years ago and I doubt I could keep up any longer.

Stevebo makes a good point about the leading edge of the 37-inchers often being caved in on the discharge size. They're not as heavy duty as the 42's - especially the newer 42's that have the reinforcement rod around the perimeter - but on a suburban lawn they do hold up well. I had one on a 200 series where a previous owner had reinforced the tunnel by welding in a brace across the discharge chute at the very bottom...I cut it out since it was a clogging device.

The 37's are somewhat prone to stress cracking at the attachment points too. But it sounds like you may have addressed that already.

When you get the side-to-side and front-to-back leveling adjustments right, the relatively narrow deck should cut almost as smoothly as your walk behind.

I've not used either the 38" Toro style deck that replaced the 37, not have I tried a 52" Toro-style so I haven't tried EVERY deck combo. But I highly doubt you'll beat the cut quality of the 37 if you stick with the WH brand.

Steve

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Stevebo makes a good point about the leading edge of the 37-inchers often being caved in on the discharge size. They're not as heavy duty as the 42's - especially the newer 42's that have the reinforcement rod around the perimeter.

Ha, I know what you mean. I'm a former welder so one deck now has a very heavy gauge reinforcing rod welded around the front and both decks have the lift points reinforced also. Otherwise they are in great shape.

[802heath 0]

i went ftom a 36 in rear discharge deck on my B-81 and then to a 48? off a 416 on my gt 1142 and i think the 36 cuts better and the big one doesnt handle the ups and down on my lawn edges as well either

1 just my two cents! B)