48" SD Deck

[Tankman 3,523]

A bit ahead of schedule but hey, wanna be ready for spring mowin'! Like the Boy Scouts of America, "Be Prepared."

I just mounted a 48" SD deck on my current project, '90 520-8 (nice!).

I took it for a ride 'round the property.

The deck will cut fine, I had reworked it a year ago for a 416-8.

Here's the difficulty. While the deck is level, runs fine off the PTO but, doesn't like to ride in the raised position (manual lift). Seems too heavy.

And, a "Real Confession" something which I apologize to all for doin'. Sorry.

TSC didn't have a generic fuel filter, darn me, sorry again, installed a Deere thingy. Now, I'm starting to cry a little bit.

Any ideas?

[leeave96 490]

You may be bottoming out as you lift the deck on the black deck bumpers. You would have to adjust the trunion that sets the height of the lift when in the up position. I had to do this one time with a 48 inch deck.

Edited March 11, 2013 by leeave96

[TT-(Moderator) 1,162]

 

Make sure the trunnion (#20) is in the bellcrank hole closest to the lift lever shaft.

 

Note the adjustment mentioned in the previous post.

[Tankman 3,523]

Thanks TT and leeave96!

Should have thought a bit more but, duh, I'm not too smart nowadays. I do have an excuse, a number of 'em, 1st ex-Jarhead and 2nd 65 goin' on 66.

I'll adjust in the morning. Oops, better mark my daily planner.

Thanks again! I'll head into the darkness and report tomorrow.

Terry is makin' a set of decals, I'de rather be puttin' them on!

[Wyattrrp 59]

I picked up a 48" RD deck with my 314A last spring. I ran it for the summer on the 312-8 and it did a great job. Not much rust and spiindles were fine.  The only issue I had was after about 3 weeks of mowing I greased the spindles and found the center spindle grease zerk missing.  I screwed in another and greased it, forgetting about it.  3 weeks later trying to grease them, I saw that the zerk was missing again, thinking strange but not worried and mindlessly inserted another.  Ok now near the end of summer I see the zerk again missing so I start to investigate a ittle further.  I lifted the manual lift and saw that the lift arm (#27 in Terry's diagram above) actually slightly touches the side of the hexagon zerk when lifted and within a few minutes running lifted, it spun the zerk out and bye bye as it flew who knows where. At the time I didn't have time to fully research the issue and it was getting into leaf season so I switched to the 37" SD with leave vac, so will have to deal with it in a couple months when mowing starts up here in MA.  (Jealous of those already getting ready for mowing, after experiencing last weeks 18" snow and the week before 24"!)

 

Has anyone had that issue? I assume I need to do a detailed lift adjustment making sure the rubber stops make the deck rest straight in the lifted position. When I did a quick view at summers end, it seemed pretty good, but maybe a small adjustment will stop the center spindle from lifting up enough to touch the arm and rotate the grease zerk out of its hole?

 

I still liked the extra 6" cut over the 42" I have, getting the mowing done more quickly.  Just wish the deck height lever was on the right discharge side like the 42" so I could get under bushes with the non-discharge side to blow grass into lawn area instead of into bushes mulched areas.

 

Wyatt

[pfrederi 18,689]

Having the center pulley zerk fitting damaged by the lift is not uncommon. I leave the mangled one in then put a good one in long enough to grease it. Then the mangled one goes back in.

[Tankman 3,523]

 

Having the center pulley zerk fitting damaged by the lift is not uncommon. I leave the mangled one in then put a good one in long enough to grease it. Then the mangled one goes back in.

 

As often as I pickup my grease gun, I use it more (much more) than recommended.

I also have a box of various grease fittings on hand; 90°, 45° and strait fittings.

If I feel bored, I might just change fittings for the heck of it.

Of the many Horses I picked up used, more often than not, the front axle Zerk fitting is usually broken off. An easy removal with a screw extractor. Grease fittings don't rust in place too often.

48" deck center pulley Zerk fitting, is usually gone. I just replace it.

Keep it clean, keep it mean! :smile:

[Wheel-N-It 2,976]

I had the same problem with a 42" deck once. LOL, I thought it was just me !

[Don1977 605]

The lift arm hits that fitting and brakes or wears it away.  I had the top worn off and the fitting complete removed before. After reading Tarcoleo below ,I remembered I used a fine tread allen set screw mine the to seal it the last time I greased it.

[tarcoleo 119]

Replace the grease fitting with a short bolt.  Only fit a grease fitting when greasing.  Yes, its the lifting arm.

[fisherman 39]

I think the tractor is shot now that u put that deere thingy on, u better give it to me so i can put it out to pasture! lol i hope u solve the problem with the zerk fitting. Cant wait to mow with mine havent mowed with a wh in years last one was a b series. I want to do a study on my two wh's as to which deck cuts better the 42 rd or the 36rd cant wait!

[tunahead72 2,546]

Yeah, Tankman, I think fisherman is right, your entire tractor is shot now that you've corrupted it with that Deere thing.  But you're in luck -- I just ordered a 5'x10' trailer from my local dealer, it should be here in a couple of weeks.  We're probably close enough that I can come by and take it off your hands some day soon, I won't even charge you!

 

About the center grease fitting...  All the ideas so far are good, but I think I've also seen this issue addressed here before.  I seem to remember that it was solved by making sure you have a washer and hairpin cotter installed at the end of the tractor lift bar where it slides through the mower leveler bar.  The washer and cotter pin aren't shown in Terry's diagram above, but I've seen them in other parts diagrams.

 

I'll see if I can find a thread...

 

EDIT:  Here we go, there's a couple of nice photos in here that show what I was talking about.  Tom (tarcoleo) also mentions using a shaft collar, which I think would also work well, especially if the pin at the end of your lift bar doesn't already have a hole drilled for a cotter pin:

Edited March 13, 2013 by tunahead72

[Wyattrrp 59]

For the record I have had 2 brand new 42" SD decks over a 30 yr period, run on the C-125 mostly and last year or 2 on the 312-8, and never had any damage to any grease zerk.  On the 48" SD on the 312-8 the zerk was missing 3 times last summer and each time I put in a new one and tightened it, only to find it missing.  So I did run it a few times with no zerk.  But grit can get into the grease. The arm lifts and then touches the side of the hexagon zerk base, so blade must turn in direction that the arm hitting the side of base unscrews it.

 

The washer and cotter looks like a good solution, thanks for the link Ed. In 30+ yrs using 42" SD I never needed a pin, as the arm lift perpendicular shaft always lifted the deck and it stayed fairly centered I guess. I do not think my lift arm has a hole as some do but will drill one and add washer to hold the arm slightly away come warm weather. 

 

Thanks again for a great permanent solution to a small but agravating issue.

Wyatt

[Tankman 3,523]

 

The washer and cotter looks like a good solution, thanks for the link Ed. In 30+ yrs using 42" SD I never needed a pin, as the arm lift perpendicular shaft always lifted the deck and it stayed fairly centered I guess. I do not think my lift arm has a hole as some do but will drill one and add washer to hold the arm slightly away come warm weather. 

 

Thanks again for a great permanent solution to a small but agravating issue.

Wyatt

I like the solution and like you Wyatt, none of my lift arms have a hole. Time to drill for a small hair pin cotter pin. :smile:

[tunahead72 2,546]

I can't take credit for the actual solution, only for remembering that I'd seen it around here somewhere.

 

Now will somebody please tell my wife that I actually remembered something useful?

[Tankman 3,523]

 

 

Make sure the trunnion (#20) is in the bellcrank hole closest to the lift lever shaft.

 

Note the adjustment mentioned in the previous post.

In place of the chain ass'y (P/N #22), I have a solid lift bar with adjustment as shown (P/N #20).

Playing with the adjustment(s) I can get the deck bumpers to strike nicely under the footrests. I can't

get the vertical high to hold.

Might this be 'cause the chain ass'y has been replaced with the solid shaft? If so, I getting the chain ass'y quickly

although I can make due with the deck rollin' in the down position.

OK, what's up? Ideas? :smile:

[Don1977 605]

My deck came with a solid lift shaft they get bent and bind when lifting or lowering. I replaced mine with 4 links of chain and a couple of chain clevis from the clevis hitch. It doesn't quite hit the footrest, but it's close enough that deck doesn't hang crooked. If I could find 3 or 4 links of chain about 1/4" shorter it would be perfect.

[dsholler 54]

Looks like you have standard chain there.. you should try to find some BBB, it has shorter links.. I would check a marine place.. most of the power windlasses take that kind of chain, and they may have a scrap end for you..