Weapon of Grass Destruction

[Hydro 131]

Well it has been 4 months since my horse died. It was young, 450 hours. My 416 suffered valve-guide-idess. It was fatal. deadhorse: Transplant surgery was not an option. This disease unfortunately is common to the Onan bloodline.

During my grieving process I contracted to cut my acre and a half. My vision soon went blurry watching the zero turn race by my window. Two cuts was enough. I had to buy another mower. I know, time is money but the quality of cut was too much to bear. Up here in Ontario a good Horse is hard to find.

My search began locally then spread to Ebay, I even drove to the Wheel Horse Show in PA., then I placed an add on this forum. I decided I wanted to go back to Kohler. I chose the Magnum series and decided to stay with a hydrostatic transmission. I needed a 48

[farmer 1,078]

Gary,

Really really pleased to hear you got yourself another , a Mountie on a Deere is just too weird! a bright red 300 series......much better. :thumbs2:

[COMMANDO6 20]

It's amazing how the quality of a cut can differ between mowers.

Congrats on the find :thumbs2:

[Shuboxlover 481]

:thumbs2: :D

[AMC RULES 37,207]

Glad you're back in the saddle, now what? Gonna shoot the deer? :banghead:

[can whlvr 994]

congrats gary,just take that green thing over to lake simcoe and dump her in :thumbs2:

[JackC 617]

Good pick. Good year, strong reliable kohler engine, plenty of power yet easy on gas, and the hydros are nice.

[HankB 16]

I have a '97 314-H as well. It's an awesome machine!

What deck do you have on it? I have the 42" recycler. It's a beast but I'm not sure I'm thrilled with the quality of cut. I probably wait too long to mow. But the recycler does its job pretty well. Edit: I see you have the 48" SD deck. How do you like that?

[Hydro 131]

I had a 42 recycler on a 312 and I now have a JD 265 with a trycycler deck. It was set up to mulch until I removed the kit. Frankly I don't like them for the size of my yard. You have to cut really often, every four days or so and they really work your engine if you go much longer than 4 days. You probably don't notice that so much with your 14 because it has so much power. Cutting is also slower and with the acre and a half I am about two hours before I start the triming.

From the mowers I have had either the 42 or 48 SD cut much cleaner for what I do. The 42 recycler baffles rusted out pretty quickly too just because it always retained so much grass. I then converted it to a rear discharge. That worked well. The really nice thing about the W/H SD is they really move the grass out from under the deck. Just have to watch the end opposite the chute and the spindles. I usually pulled my deck a couple of times a season to clean it. The last one I had was a 1989 48" and was still very solid with no rust through spots anywhere. The spindles were corroding but still quite serviceable.

You would also find the wider deck allows you to carve around bushes and trees due to the extra width beyond the rear wheels.

I love the 48" SD. Can you tell?

[HankB 16]

... The 42 recycler baffles rusted out pretty quickly too just because it always retained so much grass. I then converted it to a rear discharge. That worked well. ...

I love the 48" SD. Can you tell?

Hi Gary,

Thanks for the additional information. The baffles on mine have not rusted out though I'm concerned that it accumulates clippings between the deck and insert.

How did you do the conversion? Is it only necessary to remove the insert or does something else need to be put in to replace it?

I've been using a RD deck since we moved here in '87. I guess I've gotten used to it. I do have a 36" SD deck that came with my 312-8 and find that I spend more time than I like going around things on the left side only.

best,

hank

[Hydro 131]

The mulching deck is based on the 42 RD so once the baffles are out you have a RD deck.

My 312 was a 1990 and I bought it in 2002 with 350 hours about. 2 years or so after the baffles were rotten so I went to an auto/farm repairer and we decided to torch out the baffles. The rest of the deck was still very good. So we ground down the welds.

You are right, the clearances between the baffles and the deck become clogged. Remember the mulch process wants to keep the grass in the deck longer so it can grind it up so to speak. The SD wants it out of the deck as quickly as possible.

After I cut out the mulching baffles I noticed a big difference in the cut and the load on the engine. The RD just dropped the grass at the back no issue, no windrow. I did not have to change the blades. My wife's flower beds were safe! I liked the RD but they only come in 42". The 48 makes big difference in my cut time and I don't mind a windrow.

My lawn is fairly flat but we have planted a number of trees so in some areas I am running 400 feet straight with no obstructions and in other areas I am carving around trees and shrubs. I would have a 48" RD but to my knowledge they never made one.

If I moved to a smaller property it might be worth my while to have a smaller deck but whatever I will always have to have a reason to keep a Horse!

[Hydro 131]

Earlier in this thread I was asked for pictures of my new prized possession. My 1997 314H

[Hydro 131]

two more photos

[Hydro 131]

[liketoplayto 6]

wow thats super nice looking ride u got there and it out runs a deer wtg nice tractor.

wes from indiana