Chute ideas for Kubota F

[Hay Dude]

Was looking for alternatives to the steel F chute. I have already damaged 2 trees by cleaving off chunks of bark with the rigid steel chute.
My Z has a plastic, flexible chute which will not do any significant damage. Kubota dealer parts says no alternative chutes. The chute mounting points on both mowers are same. However, the mower openings are a little different. I ordered a Z chute anyway and will try to see if it’ll fit.
All out removal is not an option for me.
Anyone else have ideas to share?

 

[jcummins]

When I bought my F-series used I never even put the chute on it. I had to take the chute off for it to fit on the trailer. Sometime after that I built an electric actuator Chute blocker and I would never go back with that monsterist chute that Kubota put on this.

 

[Hay Dude]

When I bought my F-series used I never even put the chute on it. I had to take the chute off for it to fit on the trailer. Sometime after that I built an electric actuator Chute blocker and I would never go back with that monsterist chute that Kubota put on this.

I would love one of the chute blocker kits, but dayum they ain’t cheap

 

[zzvyb6]

Cut a piece of a truck or trailer mud flap into same shape as metal one. It folds out of the way.

 

[Hay Dude]

IF the Z chute fits, I will go with it, but I’m skeptical.

 

[arto98607]

Sorry, just trying to figure out why you need a chute in your F mower.

My two larger mowers have a rear discharge deck, and an old JD 300 with 42" side discharge had the chute cut off on purpose over 30 years ago by the previous owner, in order to fit into tight places.

Is it a safety issue due to commercial mowing?

 

[GolfAddict]

I believe you got your F a year or so after I got mine, so I wonder if they have just recently made the change to a steel chute. Mine came with a black plastic chute. Possibly the plastic chute for the 72 inch model I have would fit, but I have no idea of the part number for the chute. I’ll look at the manual to see if it has it listed.

 

[mikester]

My ZTR has a rubber chute, have you tried swapping out the metal one for a newer one off a different machine?

 

[GolfAddict]

Owners manual just calls it a discharge deflector, no part number.

 

[cold1313]

My 2014 F3990 has a plastic chute...front mount deck

 

[Hay Dude]

Here it is. It can really do some damage

 

[Hay Dude]

Sorry, just trying to figure out why you need a chute in your F mower.

My two larger mowers have a rear discharge deck, and an old JD 300 with 42" side discharge had the chute cut off on purpose over 30 years ago by the previous owner, in order to fit into tight places.

Is it a safety issue due to commercial mowing?

Yes it’s more “unsightly” to be throwing a wide cloud of clippings to some of the residents at the community/farm we maintain. The chute-down gives a more controlled look of the clippings.
If it were my house, I’d pretty much let them fly and get rid of the chute.
It’s a $20,000 annual maintenance contract.

 

[Tinhack]

Timely topic. I just added a hydraulic lift cylinder for the shoot on my Bad Boy. It's rubber but sticks way out. I can raise and lower it with a flip of a switch. Or raise it a little in high grass to help clear the clippings from under the deck. And, I no longer have to get off the mower to raise the shoot when backing into my little shed. I don't have pictures of it yet. I'll try to get some this afternoon if you're interested.

I'm using a convertible top pump and cylinder. It's 12 volts and has a self contained motor, pump and reservoir. The lines are some type of poly plastic and the cylinder is an original CT cylinder. I added an on-off-on DPDT switch to my control panel. All I did was wire the pump so the positive and negative are reversible--Just like the original. The pump draws about 25 amps.

It works great except the old cylinder does drift a little. I'm thinking of getting a new cylinder. They're about $75 but I have another used one I can try first.

 

[Hay Dude]

Timely topic. I just added a hydraulic lift cylinder for the shoot on my Bad Boy. It's rubber but sticks way out. I can raise and lower it with a flip of a switch. Or raise it a little in high grass to help clear the clippings from under the deck. And, I no longer have to get off the mower to raise the shoot when backing into my little shed. I don't have pictures of it yet. I'll try to get some this afternoon if you're interested.

I'm using a convertible top pump and cylinder. It's 12 volts and has a self contained motor, pump and reservoir. The lines are some type of poly plastic and the cylinder is an original CT cylinder. I added an on-off-on DPDT switch to my control panel. All I did was wire the pump so the positive and negative are reversible--Just like the original. The pump draws about 25 amps.

It works great except the old cylinder does drift a little. I'm thinking of getting a new cylinder. They're about $75 but I have another used one I can try first.

Funny you mention. My 3680 had an extra remote on it, but previous owner removed it! Would have been nice for making a lift cylinder to operate my metal chute.

 

[Travis616]

Timely topic. I just added a hydraulic lift cylinder for the shoot on my Bad Boy. It's rubber but sticks way out. I can raise and lower it with a flip of a switch. Or raise it a little in high grass to help clear the clippings from under the deck. And, I no longer have to get off the mower to raise the shoot when backing into my little shed. I don't have pictures of it yet. I'll try to get some this afternoon if you're interested.

I'm using a convertible top pump and cylinder. It's 12 volts and has a self contained motor, pump and reservoir. The lines are some type of poly plastic and the cylinder is an original CT cylinder. I added an on-off-on DPDT switch to my control panel. All I did was wire the pump so the positive and negative are reversible--Just like the original. The pump draws about 25 amps.

It works great except the old cylinder does drift a little. I'm thinking of getting a new cylinder. They're about $75 but I have another used one I can try first.

My father did the same thing years ago, you could likely do the same thing with a linear actuator with a lot less bother. Might be good to attach it to the deflector with a short piece of cable or chain so the deflector could lift up without retracting the actuator if it ever needed to?

 

[Tinhack]

I thought of using a linear actuator but the one I had was too large/bulky. A new smaller one was too expensive. And, they are not water proof. I had all the parts for the convertible top cylinder. In fact, I have two. I used them on my grader blade on my Kenbota. I no longer used the blade after getting my little dozer (JD-420C). So, the parts have been in my stash. The only item I had to buy was a new switch.

 

[jcummins]

Here's what did.... Took a video but it won't upload.

 

[Hay Dude]

Here's what did.... Took a video but it won't upload. View attachment 709241

Very cool. Would like to have
Anyone see an OCDC type for the F (operator controlled deflector chute)?

 

[arto98607]

I know it's too late now, but would this type setup work next time?

PS. ROPS is not needed due to terrain of my property for F3060 so it's been stored away.

 

[Hay Dude]

I know it's too late now, but would this type setup work next time?


View attachment 709341


PS. ROPS is not needed due to terrain of my property for F3060 so it's been stored away.

Not for me. After trying a rear discharge in dry grass, I found I prefer blowing the clippings rather as opposed to inhaling them, or wearing them on windy days.
I actually removed the steel chute and I found a plastic Exmark chute to use for now. Will try to find something else better soon.