keeping mmm up

tinman565 · Sep 14, 2009

Is there a way to keep the mmm in the up position while I use the 3 point hitch ? I just traded in my 1998 John Deere 855 for this blue thing that I'm falling in love with very quickly...lol. Its a TC33DA..15LA loader..supersteer..72"mmm. My JD was able to hold the deck up while using the 3 point hitch. Thanks.

jwstewar · Sep 15, 2009

I have the little brother to your tractor a TC-24D. If they are the same, there should be 2 pins in the tool box. You raise the hitch (and the MMM) up to the top, slide the 2 pins through the holes in the rear lift arms (attached to the MMM) and then put a hair pin to hold them in place. I'm not at home right now so I can't take any pictures to show you. But the hole should be near the location of the rear pins that hold the MMM on.

tinman565 · Sep 15, 2009

And thats it ? The other four pins stay in there where they are ? And while I raise and lower the 3 pt hitch..nothings gonna bind or snap ? So when I have it right, I should have a total of 6 pins holding my mmm in place ? Thanks.

jwstewar · Sep 15, 2009

Yep, that is it. The 2 pins you add will keep the arms from dropping down that the back of the deck is attached to. This will allow the 3-point lift arms to drop down "away" from the lift mechanism of the MMM.

TomOfTarsus · Sep 17, 2009

Now that'd be handy! I'm going to see if I can do that with my TC18. I like to keep the deck on to lower my CG a bit... really hilly land!

Thanks!

TomOfTarsus · Sep 18, 2009

And it does! I gotta get me a couple of pins, I'm glad y'all reminded me about that. Mowing season's just about over, it's time to start hauling wood on the carry-all!

Thanks again!

Inspector507 · Sep 18, 2009

Works that way on my TC18 with 914A 54" MMM

TomOfTarsus · Sep 21, 2009

Yup, but I had to do what a fellow on another thread recommeded. Just try and find a 1/2" x 4 cotter pin in my neck of the woods. So, rather than another McMaster-Carr order for two pins, after the third hardware store with no success, I bought a pair of 1/2"x5-1/2 hex bolts, which will spend some time on my drill press this evening!

I also had to level the rear arms on the 3PH, they were 1 1/2" out. Which is surprising, because the guy that I bought it from was obviously very meticulous about everything else.

JonL · Sep 22, 2009

Be careful with the mower deck up in uneven ground or doing heavy loader work. You can put a lot of weight on the rear wheel assembly of the deck and bend it. Once I'm done with the mowing season I remove the deck to avoid damage and that way have a chance to look it over. Don't forget to look over the deck mount bolts to the frame from time -to-time also. Not a bad idea to remove the belt from the pulleys at the end of the season also to keep pressure off the bearing during off season.

TomOfTarsus · Sep 23, 2009

Thank you sir, duly noted! I'll have a look at that geometry today!

I found it interesting that my homemade clevis pins were too short. It looks like they need to be 1/2" ~ 1" longer to go through all the holes in that bracket.