BX mower attachment: BLECCCHHHHHH!!!!!

[Happy Gilmore]

I've been too lazy to put the MMM on my BX, I've been using my little 42" 3pt trash mower on some of the rougher stuff and my junk box to mow the lawn. Once I service the BX it'll be going on though.

 

[NY_Yankees_Fan]

I have to take my dads MMM off his 04 BX22 in the fall & put it on in the spring and I like many hated it and tried to delay the spring part as long as possible. I was talking to the dealer I bought my equip from about hating it and he said to put the shaft on first then the lift arms & then the front bracket part. While I still was not thrilled about the task it did go considerably easier to my surprise. Also others are mentioning a drive over deck or sliding the deck under, I have always drove over for on & off. I use a couple of pieces of wood and just ease the front tire down. Is that what everyone means by drive over or am I missing something? Thanks-

What your dealer told you is the way I do it and it works, been doing it that way since I got my BX in 2002, my dealer told me the same thing. I do not turn the deck wheels I just drag it on the garage floor. Agree it is my least favorite thing about the BX. I can live with it since I only do it once a year, taking the deck off is the easy part. It is that dang drive shaft coupling that drives me nuts.

 

[check]

I just borrow a friend's riding mower, and in any case I would never spend $2K for a MMM for my BX25 and then have to take it on and off all the time. (I use the BX for other things in the summer, and could not leave the MMM on full time.)

If I really needed a mower, I would just get one of those nice Garden Tractors that cost less than the cost of a MMM for my BX25. (Might even be green! Then I would have TWO tractors, and my happiness would be even greater!:dance1:

 

[nysdotinspector]

Every year before I take the deck off my bx I turn the anti-scalp wheels sideways. It makes positioning and moving the deck much easier. 10 min. time installing and less removing.

 

[oldballs]

I have had the deck off the BX 3 times this year, mowed for the 4th time today. I may take it off again next week. I can take the deck off in 40 seconds and put it back on in less than 2 minutes.

BULLITT, you must be one skinny, wiry guy!!

 

[firemailwv]

today was the first time for me, and I'll tell ya, I getting a little ticked off. the PTO went on ok, but not knowing any better I hooked up the front first. And then fought for 20 minutes trying to get the rear left arms over the stupid nuts. Out of ideas and frustration ~ I took the front off and then tried again with the deck slid forward. AHA!

I hope next time will only take a few minutes. We shall see.

 

[RaydaKub]

I haven't ever really had a problem with mine, lifting the front end makes a huge difference. The toughest part for me is the pto with my Bro-Tek plate on. The shaft fits through fine but getting my hand behind the plate and in front of the brake rod can be a real _itch.

 

[94BULLITT]

BULLITT, you must be one skinny, wiry guy!!

:laughing: Here is a video of me removing the deck.

today was the first time for me, and I'll tell ya, I getting a little ticked off. the PTO went on ok, but not knowing any better I hooked up the front first. And then fought for 20 minutes trying to get the rear left arms over the stupid nuts. Out of ideas and frustration ~ I took the front off and then tried again with the deck slid forward. AHA!

I hope next time will only take a few minutes. We shall see.

I hook the rear of the deck first, then I either hook the PTO shaft or the front, it does not matter. I have heard some guys say they hook PTO shaft first but I don't like the deck moving around while I hook it up.

 

[Happy Gilmore]

Slick video 94, yep it's that quick

 

[George the Beagle]

I'd like to see you put it back on that quickly.

 

[Cherokee140]

I watched that video...I think part of it is me, I do mine in my shop where the floor is nice like that as well, and store it under the body of my VW bug. But it is all I can do to pull it out....I just don't have the upper body strength any longer. I have to turn the wheels. Then when putting on the right rear lift mount I have to use a little pry bar or screw driver...it does not take much....just a little and pop it goes on.

I also noticed that the boots are damaged....lucky the fan is not, but I am sure that happened in the woods. I really don't want to do the armor, but it looks like I will have to.

Those of you that have bought the armor do you have to take it all off to mount the mower....has anyone made armor that does not have to be taken off for the deck.

 

[bellweather]

Mounting the deck on a flat hard floor is key. I also remove the left rear wheel in order to hook up the shaft. It's an extra step but it makes dealing with that evil shaft coupling a whole lot less painful.

 

[NY_Yankees_Fan]

No matter what option you choose to hook up your deck, PLEASE make sure you hear the coupling click into place. Even if you hear it, give it a good tug, very bad things happen when that shaft spins at high speed and hits things such as the hydraulic filter.

 

[kcender]

I watched that video...I think part of it is me, I do mine in my shop where the floor is nice like that as well, and store it under the body of my VW bug. But it is all I can do to pull it out....I just don't have the upper body strength any longer. I have to turn the wheels. Then when putting on the right rear lift mount I have to use a little pry bar or screw driver...it does not take much....just a little and pop it goes on.

I also noticed that the boots are damaged....lucky the fan is not, but I am sure that happened in the woods. I really don't want to do the armor, but it looks like I will have to.

Those of you that have bought the armor do you have to take it all off to mount the mower....has anyone made armor that does not have to be taken off for the deck.

When I had my BX25 I made a shield that protected the fan and allowed the deck to be installed.It took a bit of measuring and trimming to get it to fit properly as there was not much clearance for the drive shaft.

 

[CHDinCT]

Cherokee140, I hear you on sliding the deck out without turning the wheels. While I don't mow with my BX25 too often, I've had to mount it quite a few times when my old garden tractor needed some kind of emergency service. Anyway, I keep two, 2x6 boards in the garage about 4' wide each, then drive the BX up onto the 2x6's giving me an extra 1.5" of room. Then I use these small castors they sell at Lowes and I think Harbor freight (and probably elsewhere) to move the deck without turning the wheels. They're rated for 200 lbs each. Each deck wheel fits just right into the cradle of the castor. Makes moving it around and making little adjustments to line things up very easy. Still don't like having to put the PTO shaft on, but that is what it is.

Shop Waxman 6-in Plastic Swivel Caster at Lowes.com

 

[Cherokee140]

Cherokee140, I hear you on sliding the deck out without turning the wheels. While I don't mow with my BX25 too often, I've had to mount it quite a few times when my old garden tractor needed some kind of emergency service. Anyway, I keep two, 2x6 boards in the garage about 4' wide each, then drive the BX up onto the 2x6's giving me an extra 1.5" of room. Then I use these small castors they sell at Lowes and I think Harbor freight (and probably elsewhere) to move the deck without turning the wheels. They're rated for 200 lbs each. Each deck wheel fits just right into the cradle of the castor. Makes moving it around and making little adjustments to line things up very easy. Still don't like having to put the PTO shaft on, but that is what it is.

Shop Waxman 6-in Plastic Swivel Caster at Lowes.com

Fantastic idea...I love it. This right here is what this forum is all about.

 

[Cherokee140]

When I had my BX25 I made shield that protected the fan and allowed the deck to be installed.It took a bit of measuring and trimming to get it to fit properly as there was not much clearance for the drive shaft.

I have been thinking about building a shield like that...I want it to be nice, what did you make it out of, I have been thinking about diamond plate.

 

[94BULLITT]

Slick video 94, yep it's that quick

Thanks, I think it is easy to remove. I think it is as about as fast or faster than Deere's auto connect on the 1 series.

I'd like to see you put it back on that quickly.

I'll make a video of putting it on sometime.

 

[Happy Gilmore]

When I had my BX25 I made a shield that protected the fan and allowed the deck to be installed.It took a bit of measuring and trimming to get it to fit properly as there was not much clearance for the drive shaft.

Any pics?

 

[Tulkas]

Auto connect on a 1026 is as good as they say IF and ONLY IF it is adjusted right and you remember to put the little metal yokes on the right way if you take off the auto connect to put on the front PTO for a blower.