Retrofit a front L&G Dethatcher to my JD 1026R SCUT?

DeereMann · Apr 28, 2014

Hi,

Has anybody tried to retrofit Deere's front dethatcher attachment for Lawn & Garden tractors to a 1000 Series Deere SCUT tractor? :confused3:

We looked at it this weekend and the bracket on the dethatcher is identical width of the tractor front hitch bracket so it can not slide inside or outside of it. And the dethatcher bracket has two welded cross braces on it.

Deere does not offer any other dethatchers - I see some tow behind 3 point hitch aftermarket brands though. I prefer front pusher attachment so the loose thatch gets mulched or vacuumed with my MMM deck.

Any help or suggestions appreciated.

Wyobuckaroo · Apr 28, 2014

There has been some things done like that....
Seems not a lot and not often...

I built this thatch/gravel/yard rake that I can use on one of my universal 3pt tool bars...
I plan to build a bolt on front 3pt mount the use the rake on... The rake assembly can be reversed on the tool bar...
Actually.... The picture is version 2... Version 1 worked OK... But would clog quickly...

I plan to use the lift cylinder from my front snow blower to lift the front 3pt... That way I can use the up and down on the joy stick for the thatch rake and the bucket curl to lift/lower the mid mount mower deck...

I have it set to run only about 3/4" deep, but with this many teeth, it seems to be quite aggressive... That is OK for the gravel, but may be a bit much for a pristine yard.... Mine is pretty rough, so that isn't a concern...

Good luck
===

DeereMann · Apr 29, 2014

Wyobuckaroo,

Wow is that thing ever a heavy duty implement! I like your idea of using the snowblower lift cylinder. I think I will look at putting my quick-tatch lift bracket back on the front and retrofit the dethatcher to that.

Thanks,

DM

bigtiller · Apr 29, 2014

i'm really surprised that JD doesn't offer a dethatcher to fit the front quick hitch on this size of tractor. 20 years ago they made one that attached to the frame but it was a manual lift. I often thought of "making" one fit to the front hitch but never got that interested in it.

DeereMann · Apr 29, 2014

bigtiller said:
i'm really surprised that JD doesn't offer a dethatcher to fit the front quick hitch on this size of tractor. 20 years ago they made one that attached to the frame but it was a manual lift. I often thought of "making" one fit to the front hitch but never got that interested in it.

I don't think dethatchers are that popular - I don't know very many guys that have them. A relative told me about it, and they work great. I suppose Deere doesn't sell that many for L&G tractors so they figured they wouldn't make one unique to fit the new 1000 series SCUT tractors.

Wyobuckaroo · Apr 29, 2014

DeereMann said:
Wyobuckaroo,

Wow is that thing ever a heavy duty implement! I like your idea of using the snowblower lift cylinder. I think I will look at putting my quick-tatch lift bracket back on the front and retrofit the dethatcher to that.

Thanks,

DM

===
Again, I am going to fab an independent full size cat 1, 3pt for the front.... Thinking it will be more useful than an adapter off the MMM front bracket adapter... On your tractor the front quick-tach and MMM mower attachments may be compatible.... Good luck with that...

I have seen pictures of Deere made front 3pt hitches for the 2xxx(?) series in European advertising... Running a front and rear implement seems a common thing in Europe... But of course a factory hitch is not available for a tractor as old as mine....

Enjoy

Wyobuckaroo · Apr 29, 2014

DeereMann said:
Wyobuckaroo,

Wow is that thing ever a heavy duty implement! I like your idea of using the snowblower lift cylinder. I think I will look at putting my quick-tatch lift bracket back on the front and retrofit the dethatcher to that.

Thanks,

DM

===
Again, I am going to fab an independent full size cat 1, 3pt for the front.... Thinking it will be more useful than an adapter off the MMM front bracket adapter... On your tractor the front quick-tach and MMM mower attachments may be compatible.... Good luck with that...

I have seen pictures of Deere made front 3pt hitches for the 2xxx(?) series in European advertising... Running a front and rear implement seems a common thing in Europe... But of course a factory hitch is not available for a tractor as old as mine....

Enjoy

Gittyup · Apr 29, 2014

You can't use the mower and the JD blower/blade quick hitch at the same time because they mount to the same location.

bigtiller · Apr 29, 2014

Gittyup said:
You can't use the mower and the JD blower/blade quick hitch at the same time because they mount to the same location.

Which tractor are you referring to?

I know it is possible on the 2305 and 2720. I bought my 2305 in 2006 and just figured with that model change they all could do it.

Edit: I am wrong, it can't be done the 2720

Gittyup · Apr 29, 2014

I'm not sure about the 1-series, but all of the X-series. And they use the same mowers and blades on both series of tractors. Perhaps someone with a 1-series can clarify this for us.

bigtiller said:
Which tractor are you referring to?

I know it is possible on the 2305 and 2720. I bought my 2305 in 2006 and just figured with that model change they all could do it.

RG1 · Apr 29, 2014

Gittyup said:
I'm not sure about the 1-series, but all of the X-series. And they use the same mowers and blades on both series of tractors. Perhaps someone with a 1-series can clarify this for us.

I can't speak for the 1 series, but I don't see how it could work on a 2520/2720. They are basically the same exact machine as my 4115, and I can't have both the front hitch and MMM mounted at the same time.

bigtiller · Apr 30, 2014

RG1 said:
I can't speak for the 1 series, but I don't see how it could work on a 2520/2720. They are basically the same exact machine as my 4115, and I can't have both the front hitch and MMM mounted at the same time.

Well this is embarrassing. You are correct, my 2720 can't do it. Thanks for showing me the error of my ways before Mrs. Bigtiller found out.

RG1 · Apr 30, 2014

bigtiller said:
Well this is embarrassing. You are correct, my 2720 can't do it. Thanks for showing me the error of my ways before Mrs. Bigtiller found out.

The main thing is that she didn't find out :laughing:

DeereMann · Apr 30, 2014

RG1 said:
I can't speak for the 1 series, but I don't see how it could work on a 2520/2720. They are basically the same exact machine as my 4115, and I can't have both the front hitch and MMM mounted at the same time.

The 1 series can run the MMM and a front hitch. I have the hydraulic lift kit for the MMM which uses an add-on SCV. This leaves the front lift two hydraulic lift ports open for use.

Gittyup · Apr 30, 2014

The hydraulics were never the limitation. It was the mounting mechanics on the frame. On older models, the MMM and hitch share mounting holes where the front deck hanger cannot connect to the frame as the same time as the front hitch. Do you have a front mount quick hitch attachment? And have you put both the MMM and the front hitch on at the same time? Maybe you can on the 1-series. But you couldn't in the past.

DeereMann said:
The 1 series can run the MMM and a front hitch. I have the hydraulic lift kit for the MMM which uses an add-on SCV. This leaves the front lift two hydraulic lift ports open for use.

DeereMann · May 1, 2014

Gittyup said:
The hydraulics were never the limitation. It was the mounting mechanics on the frame. On older models, the MMM and hitch share mounting holes where the front deck hanger cannot connect to the frame as the same time as the front hitch. Do you have a front mount quick hitch attachment? And have you put both the MMM and the front hitch on at the same time? Maybe you can on the 1-series. But you couldn't in the past.

Nope - the MMM & quicktatch do not share the same bracket slots. there is a unique bracket that one has to add for the quicktatch lift, and the quicktatch only uses those bracket slots.

Gittyup · May 1, 2014

DeereMann said:
Nope - the MMM & quicktatch do not share the same bracket slots. there is a unique bracket that one has to add for the quicktatch lift, and the quicktatch only uses those bracket slots.

Nice! They should do that for of them. One more plus for the 1-series.

DeereMann · May 5, 2014

I stand corrected - the front PTO shaft bearing bracket interferes with the mower front draft arms. Shoot.

Well, it's on to narrowing the dethatcher frame to fit inbetween the mower brackets (by only 0.040"!). We already got holes drilled into the mower brackets to fit the dethatcher holding pin.

I refuse to give up! :irked:

Gittyup · May 5, 2014

DeereMann said:
I stand corrected - the front PTO shaft bearing bracket interferes with the mower front draft arms. Shoot.

Well, it's on to narrowing the dethatcher frame to fit inbetween the mower brackets (by only 0.040"!). We already got holes drilled into the mower brackets to fit the dethatcher holding pin.

I refuse to give up! :irked:

Yeah, sometimes JD baffles me. The front hitch/mower problem has always annoyed me. On my new X739, you can't use wheel spacers with the 54" deck. Who would buy them knowing they had to removed the wheels every season to put them on just to reverse it in the spring? And they don't make this clear until you buy the spacers and read the instructions. Anyway, If (when) you succeed, post some photos.