48" Deck to 520 Attach Issue

[P3x 57]

Hi Folks,

 

Been a while since my last post as the 520 been running fairly well and info available to resolve issues I needed a hand with easily found searching the site.  What a great resource!  But have run into problems trying to reattach my 78360 48†SDD on my '93 520H. Looked thru the site and found some similar posts but not with the specific info needed to verify/correct the problem. Looking for suggestions to determine what needs fixin before  forking out big bucks hoping for a fix..

 

Some background. Since purchasing several years ago I've had the deck on and off several times. Have had no problems with the deck other than cutting too low for my likes and replaced the Guage Wheels and leveled/adjust the deck for a higher cut. 

Had arm surgery scheduled a couple of weeks ago so made a cut to last while recuperating and removed the deck to do some cleaning/painting on the underside.  During removal noticed the front suspension hitch bar was a bit stubborn to release from the tractor,  not too worrisome as a bang with the palm was all it took to release. 

 

Cleaned and inspected the deck; other than wear on some of the pivot points all looks to be in good shape.  So just painted the bottom, installed new blades, and lubed.  Went to reinstall it and ran into problems trying to get each side of the deck's suspension hitch bar into the Attach-Matic hitch at the same time. I remembered I did have  a similar issue in the spring installing the mower for the season. So looked at the deck/hitch components all look ok, so to get ‘er done before dark disconnected one susp. bar-to-deck pivot bolt (one with spacer/bushing) locked the bar in the hitch, and reattach the hardware which was easy enough. Have not noticed any problems with the deck/mowing since.

 

This weekend was not so lucky, spent several hours trying to connect it.  Could not and finally resorted to using the hand mower. I’m at a bit of disadvantage with an arm still not 100% healed but had enough to jostle it to try to get it attached.  Looked everything over again and other than some wear on the pivot connections, do not see any bends in any brackets/tubes. Disconnected the susp. bar to ensure it's not tweaked, no problem closing and locking the hitch while disconnected. But when connected to the mower deck, cannot get both sides seated in the hitch to lock. The deck has had a couple of weld repairs prior to my purchasing and look to be professionally done without alignment issues.

 

So am kinda dumbfounded (emphasis on dumb!) to what is up. Since all looks Ok what are the chances the amount of wear in the suspension components/linkage points would cause a problem like this?  It does not seem to be enough to be a contributor.  Other than a visual, how to determine if something is bent/tweaked too much?  Started pricing different suspension components and would like to be confident if a part(s) needed it will resolve the problem.

 

Any and all suggestions appreciated!  Thanks!

[Forest Road 594]

I've had some minor issues in the past. But I typically get the lift arm in place. Raise the deck with the hydro sort of forcing the mid hitch into position. Double check its in properly in bother sides. If I'm having a hard time closing the attatchamatic mid hitch I find a few taps from a runber mallet or small hammer work well. Rarely does it just close for me. And tractor has under 200 hours so no wear issues here.

[varosd 1,185]

make sure the belt is on the deck pulley but NOT tightened up in the mule drive.  I don't use the hydro to raise the deck into place, it seems like my 36" RD lift linkage has a lot more "up and down" motion compared to the 520's 48" SD. no other decks to compare

[dennist 139]

Tim, I am not saying using the hydro to lift is " correct", but I am with Forest Road, when I have struggled I just make sure it is lined up correct and then hydro up easy and it goes right in. I do not think it would be your deck suspension parts IMO.

[Foozerush 40]

On my 416-8, with 42sd I have my son or wife sorta pull up on the lift handle to get my bar to line up and lock into place, I don't think anything is bent/wore out, just the nature of the beast on my tractor.....

[daveoman1966 3,841]

If you cannot get both sides to lock in, then you MAY not have the FORK on the front HITCH SHAFT aligned correctly.  This fork MUST be pointed upward (and slightly forward) to engage the LATCH SHAFT, then lock the hitch shaft down.  There is not a lot of room here and it will fit correctly ONLY in one position.  If the fork is not alignet correctly, it will jam on other hardware, preventing the hitch shaft from raising up high enough to lock it in to position.    

Here is a reading from the manual, verbatim:

MOWER INSTALLATION:

Turn the front wheels fully to the left...mower is installed from the right.

   Place the mower at the right side of the tractor with the gage wheels in the lowest cutting height.

With the tractor lift lever pulled back, slide the mower p[art way under the tractor sufficiently to allow thetractor lift bar to clear the left draft bar.

  Push the lift lever forward far enough to line up the pin of the lift bar with the slotted hole in the leveler bar of the mower (fig 3)

Slide the mower under the tractor until it is centered making sure that the lift pin is in the slot of the leveler bar.

From the left side of the tractor, open the mid-hitch latch.

With the fork of the mower hitch shaft pointing upward so that the fork will engage around the latch shaft, use the lift lever to lift the mower hitch shaft and draft bars upward and insert the mower hitch slaft into the hitch slots, and lock with the latch.

Note:  The locating spacers welded to the mower hitch shaft must be positioned between the tractor hitch plates.

Edited August 20, 2013 by daveoman1966

[Don1977 605]

As said above the fork on the hitch shaft has to go on the upper shaft in the Tach-a-Matic hitch.

[P3x 57]

_{Thanks for all suggestions.}

 

_{Took a week off to let the arm heal and got back to it yesterday. Went over things to see why its become more difficult to attach. When the lift bar is connected to the deck as it needs to be, it is a chore to get the bar aligned properly and locked in the hitch. To verify I disconnected the lift lever from the deck and tried connecting it to the hitch and it went in and locked very easily. It seems while the deck lift lever is attached to the deck, it adds quite a bit of preload you need to overcome to get the bar aligned and locked in.}

 

_{So backed off the deck level and lift trunion adjustments - tried to raise the cutting height earlier in the year and got it locked in without using the hydro. Re-leveled the deck and transport height and cycled it up and down several times and all is well. Will try it out later today am interested to see how the new blades and clean undercarriage improve the cut. Appreciate all the help.}

 

 

 

_p3x

 

 

_{Dennis - Saw your post on Grader Blades and cannot agree more.  The blade I got from you saw some serious action ripping up my lawn and regarding my foundation; does a great job. Have not used it since but will never give it up!}

Edited August 25, 2013 by P3x