How well WH's mow

[Brian1045 28]

I have a 1993 Craftsman with a 14 hp kohler and a 2002 John Deere with a 17hp kohler and they both mow pretty decent.

But, if I use the ole 1045 it's a very different kinda cut. The other 2 can't compete.

Sure they are faster, better riding, quieter etc. But the WH leaves a cut smoother than glass. Since the deck discharges out both sides I think it scatters the leaflets more evenly...hence no big grass build up or clumps.

The clippings them selves seem better distributed over the yard. Of course my fiance' won't even attempt to mow with ole red...thats why I turn her loose on that green thing. More mowing for her...but more fun for me :banghead:

[Teddy da Bear 11]

Since the deck discharges out both sides I think it scatters the leaflets more evenly

Both sides??? It should be either a side discharge or rear discharge. I am confused or you have something I have never seen before.

[Brian1045 28]

The deck discharges out both sides...I also have the bolt on shrouds/shields to block one side or the other. I'll post some pics.

[Teddy da Bear 11]

:USA: This "is" something I have never seen before.

Definately I/we :banghead:

[Brian1045 28]

pics

Attached Image

[Jim_M 179]

It looks like a RM-364 to me. What's the width of the cut?

[Brian1045 28]

36"

[wh500special 2,267]

Brian1045,

what you have there is the typical rear discharge, cross-shaft deck from the early 60's era. The removable side plates really were just a bow to manufacturing ease, but I have seen (and had) many decks with one of these plates missing over the years. When WH gained better stamping capabilities (in 1965-ish) this deck was redesigned with a one-piece, stamped-steel sheel and did away with the side covers. Yours, of course, is the the earlier style fabricated box version. The covers were "supposed" to stay on there, but really as long as you are smart enough to keep a foot out of there I see no reason not to leave them off if you are happy with the cut quality. All you're losing is the control over where the clippings go - thus negating one of the benefits of a RD deck which is the ability to tightly trim on each side w/o slinging clippings into a flowerbed for example.

I never thought the cut quality was that great on many of WH's decks, but honestly haven't mowed a significant amount with one of these old cross shafters. When I did (side plates in place) I found that long grass clippings seem to windrow right in front of the rear wheels which then mash it down leaving stripes of dead grass in the yard akin to how my bush hog does in the field. I would imagine that removing the side plates would cure that clumping problem as has been the case with your tractor.

The huge blade overlap and the counter rotation of the blades really make this design RD deck one of the best RD cutters I have seen. But if you have grass that needs to be "sucked up" into an upright position before being clipped you're probably going to find these decks (and most RD decks for that matter) somewhat inferior to a well-designed, deep tunnel, aerodynamic SD deck.

For all their shortcomings, Craftsman and JD do typically (recently anyway) do a great job at mowing grass. They have the ability to generate lots of airflow and vacuum and really do a nice job of mowing most all types of lawn grass. I am glad to hear that you feel your 1045 rates on par with these!

Steve

[Brian1045 28]

I generally only mow my front lot with the WH which is 1/4 acre. The back lot is 1.75 acre so thats where the JD and craftsman come in, depending on which one we feel like riding that week.

I like mowing the front yard with the WH so the neighbors think I'm to cheap to use a "nice new mower" that's where all the road traffic drives by my house as well.

Come spring I'm getting rid of the JD and the Craftsman. I've been window shopping for a zero turn for months. So ole red and a new Toro or Hustler zero turn will occupy what space I have left.

[TT-(Moderator) 1,162]

Actually, the manual states that the side covers can be installed upside-down (sticking above the top of the sides) to allow material to discharge out 3 sides at once. This is helpful when mowing thick or high grass, weeds, etc.

Make sure you evacuate all living creatures in a 300 foot radius from the area you are mowing. (that's not in the book, but it should be!)

In the case of several decks I currently own - they discharge out the front too. (rust holes, ya know? )

[dieselhorse 0]

I know my 8-8psd cuts better than my folks Craftsman, the cut is just plain cleaner and with less "mohawks" when turning tightly. Both decks are correctly set up and leveled, while the Craftsman is better for bagging and picking up wet leafs in the fall that are down in the grass, for general summer mowing, the old Horse has it beat. Thiers is a 42" cut, and my Horse is 38 I think. Has the tri blade deck, side discharge. Mike

[Duff 206]

I don't know if it's by design or accident, but the 37" SD on my 312-8 cuts like a dream!

As to the clippings, neither of my "green tractors" (46" and 48" three-blade units) comes close to the suction and air flow generated by the WH. The wind coming out of the discharge almost rivals my leaf blower - pretty impressive. Even in very wet grass there's no clumping - what little does mat together gets blown to smithereens coming out. And the end result looks like the fairway on a golf course!

Like TT said - I have to be sure there's nothing alive within 300 feet of the outflow or it's apt to get scatter-gunned, especially if I'm crossing a dirt walkway or if there's sand on the part of the driveway I may be turning around on.

Hmmm....maybe I just found the answer to my need to sandblast some parts for my mid-mount grader blade. Wonder if I can hang them off the tractor in front of the discharge port and drive across spilled sand? :horseplay:

BTW, I mow at full throttle, 2nd gear, high range.

Duff :banghead:

[wh500special 2,267]

I don't know if it's by design or accident, but the 37" SD on my 312-8 cuts like a dream!

Duff,

It's no accident! That deck is probably the best quality of cut deck WH offered, at least in the pre-Toro years.

The wind tunnel design really allows it to generate tremendous vacuum and airflow and it does a great job. Most all of the other WH decks (most) were flat top designs and generally lack the ability ot stand the grass up for an even cut. If you mow often enough and have a variety of grass that doesn't sag much under its own weight the "flat top" design 42's and 48's work acceptably. But if you get into thick, wet conditions they aren't as effective.

Being as objective as possible here about the other WH decks, they can't touch that 37" sucker (pun intended) in adverse conditions. The 60" D250 (Deere) deck is an air tunnel design too, so I suspect it does a nice job.

The 42/48 decks are really old designs (early 60's) and don't benefit from more modern ideas about how to design a great cutter. They really stumbled into something with that 37 SD design though. Too bad it didn't "trickle up" until Toro unleased the 44 and 52 SD's.

Steve

[DMESS 24]

The beauty of the old "gear drive" decks was the fact that they had a ton of blade overlap. They cut clean, but were notorious windrowers in heavy damp conditions. With the blades counter rotating towards the center they didn't have the ability to "throw" the clippings, they just chucked them out the back in a row. This is the nature of the design and in light cutting wasn't a problem. Your older multi piece design actually gives you an advantage since you can flip the side covers and allow things to flow in all directions. The later single piece stamping, while safer and simpler, eliminated this ability. (Now I do have an RM-366 side discharge but that's another story.)

The traditional 42" and 48" decks aren't overly bad, they just lack good airflow. The shell is too deep and the range of cut is a bit optimistic by todays standards. Now on TT's golf course they might actually be able to use the lowest cut settings, but not on any realistic yard that I've cut. I've been more pleased with the 42" over the 48", but that is more likely due to having rougher yards that frown upon wider decks. I've also found the 42" on a front carrier to be a fantastic cutter due to not matting down the grass with the tractor wheels and having a slightly higher cutting ability.

I've no experience with the 60" tank deck from the 520-H/7xx-Z machines. It is certainly stout but doesn't apper to offer any additional airflow improvements over the old standards (42"/48"). I suspect this deck performs well by the nature of it being tied to a 20-24 horse torque monster of an Onan. Cut by brut force per say!

I AM intimately familiar with the other 60" deck that of which WH can only take credit for adapting to the Attach-A-Matic system. The shell shape and design has winner written all over it and from a quick inspection you'd figure it a top notch cutter. This one's a catch 22 as the cut and airflow are splended IF you keep it stable. The deck is a wet noodle in the stability department. "Flexible Flier" was a perfect nickname. I wonder if it was the same way under an Ariens machine?

Now the little 37" really was a winner. While the shell was still a bit to thin for rugged duty, it was small enough not to suffer to much because of it. It has it's weaknessess, (rear mounting points crack, easily damaged leading edge) but the cut and airflow are fantastic. Front/rear AND left/right adjustment are sweet too. Probably only topped by the later Wind Tunnel designs or (go ahead and laugh) the 30" single blade found on the 100 series RER's and some of the 200 series machines. As equipped on the 100 series RER's it is a true baffled high vac design and will all but suck the dog piles out of the lawn.

I've used the 36" 3 blade models, both side and rear and I recall these performed acceptably. Nothing out of this world, but I don't recall any horrors either. I've yet to run the 42" RD, but intend to as I have a Recycler in the works.

Whew!

[BairleaFarm 340]

I've used the 36" 3 blade models, both side and rear and I recall these performed acceptably. Nothing out of this world, but I don't recall any horrors either. I've yet to run the 42" RD, but intend to as I have a Recycler in the works.

The SD is what ive got on the B100 it mows way better than the 48" sd on the c160.

[perry 82]

i have 2 of these decks in very nice shape. i have never mowed with them :banghead:

[bustedglass 1]

I have the 37" s/d deck on my little B211-3 tractor. Always was a great cutting deck. But since I have re-powered my little tractor with a 15.5 h.p. motor . Running in low gear with the 5 speed transaxle that I replaced the original 3 speed with, that 37" deck will suck the black off of my blacktop driveway .

[DMESS 24]

I have the 37" s/d deck on my little B211-3 tractor. Always was a great cutting deck. But since I have re-powered my little tractor with a 15.5 h.p. motor . Running in low gear with the 5 speed transaxle that I replaced the original 3 speed with, that 37" deck will suck the black off of my blacktop driveway .

I assure you it should almost be illegal to run it under a 520-H like I have. At the time I could turn it at about 4100 RPM too! :horseplay:

[Drydock 3]

I picked up a 66 Lawn Ranger a while back at a farm auction. Tinkered it back to life, tried it out on my 1/2 acre lawn. (36" shaft drive RD) Works great! My brother was watching my boy cutting the back yard (Bumpy Ozark hillside) turns to me and says "That thing articulates better'n anything I've ever seen"

The 4 trailing links used in this old design, along with the 2 outside wheels and the center roller, really does follow the ground. It does windrow some If I wait longer than a week, but I love trimming around the trees from either side.

Got a JD LT-160 for sale . . .

[Lane Ranger 11,395]

Drydock :  I think the Lawn Ranger has a 32 inch deck on it -instead of 36.    Nut The 1968 I have operates well too!   I use to use it to trim up close to the house and flower beds as the other Wheel Horse tractors could not get as close when cutting!

[bmsgaffer 2,053]

Lane, this post is 6 YEARS old.

 

Haha, digging around in the archive room again?

[56flatbed 29]

This may be an old post, but I have learned why my 42" RD sucks, or rather doesn't suck, and leaves a mess in anything over 3" high.  I have a 54" SD on my Husky that cuts quickly, but still doesn't leave a nice cut.  My 22" Toro pusher, now that is smooth!

[dcrage 630]

Glad this post got pulled forward -- I have a 37" and a 42" and I am continually struck by differences -- Big pluses for the 37" are that you can grease the spindles and remove blades without removing the deck -- Not so for the 42" -- Also the discharge distance is noticeably greater for the 37" -- This could be bad and good -- It is bad because you have to make 3 passes discharging onto uncut grass if you want to avoid grass clippings/piles on a walk, in a bed, against a structure/fence; BUT conversely the good is you don't need any power assistance to bag with the 37"

[Tankman 3,523]

Many years ago, forget the models, used RD decks. The Horses were pull starters.

 

I was a prototype sheetmetal layout man, made decks using 316L stainless steel. Covered with red paint of course. Used the cast iron parts from the rusted out deck during the rebuild. Rust be gone forever!

 

Wifey loved the Horses and their rear discharge decks, towed a large Jackson sweeper.

 

Riding, easy enough to mow frequently. Healthy for the lawns too! Should never mow taking more than one third of the grass off the top.

 

Enjoy the ride! Mow, mow, mow!

[Tankman 3,523]

The old Horses plowed earth and snow very well too!  

Edited September 26, 2014 by Tankman