BX deck installation for dummies

[D902 BX PILOT]

guys,
thank goodness i'm not to proud to ask . . . but does anyone remember a link for the deck installation procedure for a bx. i did a search and pretty much came up goose eggs. usually the tricks of the trade posted within these pages are priceless aides and suggestions that make the process less intimidating.
thanks in advance for any links or suggestions

regards, D902 BX PILOT

 

[asylum575]

Pretty easy actually. I was a little intimidated at first.

1. raise the 3ph all the way which will let the arms for the deck rise.
2. Slide the deck under the tractor. Line up those same arms from #1 so that the deck can slide forward to be locked in by the silver pins on the spring. Make sure the pin is pushed back and locked before you plan on sliding the deck forward in place. Don't slide forward just yet,
3. Attach the shaft to the PTO. I have found this to be a PITA. Easy off, not easy on. If you have a car jack close by, raise the rear left on the tractor and remove the rear left wheel. I did this the first time and it gave a really good view of what's involved. Make sure the shaft locks/clicks in place.
4. Lower the 3PH to lower those arms and make sure they line up with the mounting bracket on the deck.
5. Now slide the deck forward and release those springed pins to lock the deck in place.
You're almost there, now the easy part/
6. Hook the front bracket to the deck and then hook it to the locking arm. The locking arm will swing the fron bracket up and make sure the spring pin is pulled back. Once in place, release the spring pin to lock.

Voila.

 

[oldnslo]

One other thing, make sure the height adjustment is set low enough to allow the arms to drop far enough to engage the pins into the lift eyes of the deck.

on my 54" deck you can also turn the gauge wheels 90 degrees to aide in rolling the deck in & out.

To make attaching the PTO shaft easier. Before rolling the deck under the tractor pull the PTO shaft apart and lube the splines. Slide the shaft back together and tehn roll the deck under the tractor. It makes hooking the PTO much easier.

Roy

 

[bellweather]

"remove the rear left wheel" what a good idea!

 

[JOHNTHOMAS]

http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/kubota-owning-operating/167187-removing-mmm-bx2660.html
This is taking the MMM off of a BX2660 so may help.

 

[asylum575]

"remove the rear left wheel" what a good idea!

I found it really tough to get the shaft on, so by removing the wheel, you can see everything. Just remember to put it back or lower the tractor so the deck will slide where it is suppose to go.:thumbsup:

 

[Tom_H]

It takes me 3 to 5 minutes to get the MMM on. I often couple the PTO in less than three seconds. I built a dolly that matches the profile of the deck: half inch ply mounted on sixteen two inch casters. There are holes beneath the blade bolts and a lip on the front edge of the dolly. This takes all pressure off blades and allows the blades and thus the pto shaft to pivot freely. Due to the dolly, deck wheels don't need to be turned sideways and the deck is easily maneuvered into partially diagonal position which allows the person ample room on the left side of the tractor to crawl under. Both ends of the PTO connector need to be liberally lubed. You must use finesse, not force. If it won't go, use a softer touch, not a harder one. Cock the collar back and ever so slightly rock the receiver back and forth at all angles, simultaneously rotating it back and forth, all at the same time gently nudging forward. When you get the technique down and have tons of lube, it will slide into place like nothing. Due to the dolly casters, you can then realign the deck with the lift arms. When mine was new, it took an hour the first time and 30 min. each time thereafter for the first year. It has become very easy with time and experience. I could probably do it in 90 seconds if I really hustled.

I have much longer descriptions of the technique, along with pics of the MMM dolly in the archives.

 

[asylum575]

Tom,
The problem with putting on the shaft isn't the amount of force, it's reaching back to do it. Once you find the spot, it pops right in.
It gets easier each time.

 

[Grandad4]

Three other points...

1. One can shift the PTO lever to "rear only" to release the mid-pto shaft so it can rotate freely, but the collar on my deck is very hair-trigger, so it's probably the worst part of a 10 minute job for me.

2. Don't expect to do this job in your tux... you're going to get some grease on something doing that pto shaft, but, grease and tractors sorta go together, don't they? :laughing:

3. With or without a dolly, you really want to be doing this job on a flat, paved surface.

Thanks for mentioning the dolly, Tom. Building one is going to go on my "to do" list!

 

[radioman]

granddad said it first- changing the pto selection to rear only does allow the MMM shaft to spins freely.

When I hook up mine, I use something like a towstrap around the leg of the wheels. I push my deck as close it will go under BX with my foot. I would throw my towstrap under BX to other side and walk over there and just pull it under. A simple kick here or there to move 60"deck away from tires helps. I usually do this on up hill with FEL lifting front up. It really makes it easy to get the deck under. From there you can hook up the deck by hooking rear pins then hook front bars.

When hooking up the MMM shaft, I find its the easiest to go on left side of tractor and put my left shoulder hunching over the deck. Reaching in with left hand, I pull collar back to let it click in place. I would proceed by start sliding the collar onto the shaft , spinning the shaft on tractor with my middle finger till its lined up and then just slide on. The only thing you might be frustrated with is the collor popping back out before you slide all the way. This is where you will learn the art of soft touch with finesse.

 

[Tom_H]

Tom,
The problem with putting on the shaft isn't the amount of force, it's reaching back to do it. Once you find the spot, it pops right in.
It gets easier each time.

I don't have that problem. The dolly makes it possible to push the left side of the deck very far forward, leaving ample room for me to crawl behind the rear of the left side. I can get most of both shoulders under the tractor. Once connected, the dolly makes it easy to realign the deck.

 

[Jabroni]

I found that the hardest step is to attach and lock the PTO collar. I used up my entire vocabulary of swear words on that #@$& thing! One other thing I did that helped: The front wheels I turn at a 90 to allow the deck to slide under the tractor, and I raise the front of the deck higher than the rear. The rear wheels I point in the normal d1rection because it seems impossible to turn them forward once the deck is latched up. Then you have to just horse in under the tractor. The deck manual is also helpful to have as a reference.

 

[sxs191]

I found that the hardest step is to attach and lock the PTO collar. I used up my entire vocabulary of swear words on that #@$& thing!

Too funny, I put the mower deck on for the first time last night. I think I even made up new swear words because I ran out of them. That **** collar must have took 95% of the time. My dad just sat back and laughed the whole time at my frustration.

 

[asylum575]

Too funny, I put the mower deck on for the first time last night. I think I even made up new swear words because I ran out of them. That **** collar must have took 95% of the time.

I found that the hardest step is to attach and lock the PTO collar. I used up my entire vocabulary of swear words on that #@$& thing!

That's why I removed the left rear wheel. It makes it much easier. It's worth the time and effort.

 

[Jabroni]

That's why I removed the left rear wheel. It makes it much easier. It's worth the time and effort.

You know...it sounds like a great idea except my tires are filled. I wonder how much they weigh or if I can rock them out and away from the tractor?

 

[Lockport]

OK everyone, now let's try hooking the collar with the Bro-Tek skid plate installed!:confused2:

 

[radioman]

You know...it sounds like a great idea except my tires are filled. I wonder how much they weigh or if I can rock them out and away from the tractor?

Well -its probably over 100 lbs for sure. tires filled 75 % will be about 10 gallons for 26x12.00-12 on the rear BX's. Rimguard is 10.7lbs per gallon. So figure 107 lbs for each tire plus rubber and rim. I'm guessing its 150lbs easy.

If you need to mess with those tires, using the BH stablizers- its easy to rock it around on the ground since BH lets you adjust perfectly for height.

 

[dodge man]

I don't understand the problem with hooking up the driveshaft. It can be a little bit of a reach, but usually takes me less than a minute. Its really not that tough to take the deck on and off, but for some reason, like a lot of other people, find it a pain in the butt to do. It really doesn't take me that long to do, maybe 10 monutes. The FEL seems to get easier to take on and off, and I don't mind doing it but I hate the idea of the MMM going on and off, and I don't know why I feel this way. I still wouldn't be without a MMM even though it can be a pain to take off and on.

 

[asylum575]

Its really not that tough to take the deck on and off, but for some reason, like a lot of other people, find it a pain in the butt to do. It really doesn't take me that long to do, maybe 10 monutes. The FEL seems to get easier to take on and off, and I don't mind doing it but I hate the idea of the MMM going on and off, and I don't know why I feel this way. I still wouldn't be without a MMM even though it can be a pain to take off and on.

That's because for the MMM we have to get down on ours knees and make all kinds of groaning sounds as we realize we're wearing shorts and the driveway is hot from the sun. The BH and FEL is easier, because we just have to walk around and the hydraulica do all the work.

 

[rtbmee]

i myself simply pull the deck under using a strap or chain. i dont bother w/changing the direction of the deck wheels. I have a concrete tarmack around my shop so pulling the deck sideways w/the wheel @90dia doesn't take much effort. i too use the FEL to raise the machine to get the deck under, not nessasary but often it's on when I'm converting to cut grass again. be sure to have the deck height adjustment set to the lowest setting to get the lift arms to lower enough to meet the deck. i find the biggest pain is the grass evac system, way is this not designed to engage like any other 3 point system?