Good morning!!!!

[MoKelly]

42F clear sky upper 60's for high t shirt weather.

Outside chores done E muffin time.
Bedroom window was open last night for the fresh air in which very little air was allow in because both kitten sat on window sill,early felt paw lightly pulling on blanket than love push to the face nope it wasn't the Mrs.,one of kitten want under blanket than curl up next to me purr to day break than turkeys started gobbling...not much sleep for me this morning but it was worth it.

Ha!

Cats are something. Here is ours.

He may be a tiny bit spoiled. He only sleeps on my wife’s side of the bed.

MoKelly

 

[RoyJackson]

I was thinking roy's idea of adjustable drop hitch.
Get a can of nice shiny CC yellow spray paint, scrape off all that nice new
paint around the hitch, and weld this on:

https://www.amazon.com/MaxxHaul-70067-8-Position-Adjustable-Mount/dp/B008CE06ZA/ref=sr_1_6?crid=2AMKH42KNILJT&dchild=1&keywords=drop+hitch+adjustable&qid=1619955006&sprefix=drop+hitch+%2Caps%2C193&sr=8-6

That's a lot heavier duty then one would ever need with a lawn tractor!!
Good suggestion though, Drew!

Deere didn't offer any kind of hitch, but a little internet search, I found one on eBay...even painted Deere green!
The rear "bumper" of a Z9xx series ZTR has two holes already drilled....good thing, since the bumper is pretty heavy duty

 

[RedNeckGeek]

Good Morning!!!! 57F @ 4:15AM. Abundant sunshine. High around 85F. Winds NW at 15 to 25 mph. Winds could occasionally gust over 40 mph.
The Fire Weather Alert has been escalated to a Red Flag Warning starting at 10AM, lasting through Tuesday.

Red Wing Blackbirds are a sure sign of summer around here, Ron, but even with the hot temps, I haven't spotted any yet. Good to see you posting again.

Got an early start on the mowing yesterday and got the upper meadow done. Forgot all about the old motorcycle tires I'd left out there, which the tall grass hid perfectly. The flail mower knew just where to look, though, and gobbled one up like a rooster on a June bug. Love the way all you do shut down the PTO is mash down on the button, as the tire jammed the rotor and the belts started screaming. Used a big pipe wrench to reverse the rotor and unwind the tire, and decided it was as good a time as any to break for lunch. It was good timing for the FedEx guy to drop off the front differential.

Tried a new pattern this year that kept the tractor pointed more directly up the hill, but that still wasn't enough to get all of the ground under the trees done. It gets steeper toward the right side of the photo, and when it gets to the point that the wheels turn and the tractor doesn't go, it's time to quit. Still plenty left to do, so I'll be out there again early this morning, but will probably quit when the red flag goes up.

Hope everyone enjoys the rest of their weekend!

 

[buckeyefarmer]

Ron, GOOD TO SEE YOU!!!

 

[RedNeckGeek]

I was thinking roy's idea of adjustable drop hitch.
Get a can of nice shiny CC yellow spray paint, scrape off all that nice new
paint around the hitch, and weld this on:

https://www.amazon.com/MaxxHaul-70067-8-Position-Adjustable-Mount/dp/B008CE06ZA/ref=sr_1_6?crid=2AMKH42KNILJT&dchild=1&keywords=drop+hitch+adjustable&qid=1619955006&sprefix=drop+hitch+%2Caps%2C193&sr=8-6

Great idea, Drew. I'd be tempted, if I was gonna weld on my new tractor, to weld one of these on. Then you could put a lot of different things on the back.

 

[Looking4new]

Good morning, low was 36 and high will be 59°F. Wind NNW 4 mph. Mix of sun and cloud. 30% chance of rain showers or flurries. It is going to be a wet week.

The part time guy at the dump tried to give me a hard time over lifting the stove out of the trailer. Told him it was my trailer and I would accept all responsibility for the trailer. He lifted it out. I will wait until Tuesday and get the full time guy to lift the mower.

Jobs for today, put a level on the back hoe. I've got one of those screw on R-V levels that I am putting on the control station on the BH so when I put the stabilizers down I can see when she sits level.

Welcome back Ron! Nice shot of the Red Winged Black Bird.

On the ZTR I think I would weld on a 2" receiver and go for the drop hitch, that would add an extra foot to your drawbar length and make backing up the implement a bit easier. Longer distance from pivot point to axle makes for easier backing up.


Have a safe day all

 

[daugen]

my understanding is that zero turn hydraulic motors are not designed to pull heavier loads
that a garden tractor would have no problems with. So no need to go heavy duty since you don't need
heavy duty from a pulling standpoint. This looks like a fun welding project where you could do the whole thing from scratch with
left over shop materials.

If I had it, I'd pull a cart with something else but today most of us have gotten rid of conventional garden tractors.
Why those old Craftsman GTs can be nice to own. Or a larger Wheel Horse, Bolens or Simplicity. And for sure a shaft drive Cub Cadet.
But for mowing lawn, there's seems no equal today for a commercial zero turn.
I gave my Gravely 8199G with 23hp Vanguard to a close friend locally. As much as I love that machine, and did a frame up restoration on it, without
power steering it's too hard on me. Once I got the JD X750 I realized how comfortable mowing could be. That sold with the farm.
So my orientation is to a 5 series mower where
hydraulic steering is first offered. Would be nice to find a used one, some of the older 3 series had power steering also.

Zero turns are dangerous on wet slopes, we all know that and the steerable front end and grippier tread tires of the larger Cub Cadet zero turns
with steering wheels apparently add a lot more grip. And RS's mower sure doesn't look like any MTD product...seems positioned between Prosumer and Commercial.

I need power/hydraulic steering so the cost goes up thousands of dollars for that, because you only get it on higher line models.
I have zero desire to go zero turn fast, would rather roll along comfortably and smell the roses.
Now that my shoulder is done, that hurdle to mower use is done.
Well, not at the moment, arm doesn't work yet at all but with a smile let's say I'm cautiously optimistic.

So I'm spending a little time on CraigsList looking at used equipment, mowers see what's out there. Less than I thought actually.

 

[LouNY]

Front mount mowers such as the Kabuta F series, NH and Deere have them also along with Toro and others.

 

[RoyJackson]

Yep, you're right Drew...
ZTR's are not designed for towing. But, as long as one uses a degree of common sense with what they tow, shouldn't be a problem. I have two towable implements I tow...the aerator that's been the topic of multiple posts, and a lawn roller that has to be filled with water for ballast. I've used both implements for 3-4 years now...only use 'em once a season

I've considered getting a towable spreader, but if I do, I'll most likely tow it with the Gator.

Speaking of the Gator...one thing I forgot to order yesterday was the 10 amp in-line fuse for the LED work lights....probably should have just stopped by Home Depot or Lowes in Lebanon (NH) since I pass by there every day

 

[Eric Salop]

Good afternoon, I thought I would have all day to play outside, however rain came sooner than expected. At least I got out for a couple of hours with the brush cutter and made an impression on some unwanted weeds and rushes.

Thomas, 9 wheelbarrows is a lot of kindling at one go, how is your arm today ?
Ron, great to see you back !

We had frost again last night, the met office says April was the coldest in many places of the UK for 50 years and this weekend could be a record breaker. Even so, the spring flowers and trees are doing well.
Unlike some places we don't have vast carpets of bluebells, all we have are small pockets that seem to favour the shade at the bottom of the replanted hedgerows. There are not many, but anything that confirms winter really is over is most welcome.