King kutter toplink question

[2Njohn]

I will attach pics which will probably be sideways or upside down, my phone is the only way I can post here.

Anyways last year I mowed all year with the toplink very relaxed and slack in the chain. The issue I had with that was it is hard to mow a straight line with the deck constantly moving side to side.

This year I adjusted the toplink to take nearly all the weight off the back wheels and force the deck to travel more straight. After 3 mowings I was greasing and cleaning the deck when I noticed the chain had worn into the gearbox almost a quarter an inch. This of course infuriated me for my stupidity in not noticing it sooner. Thankfully it did not wear through to the inside of the housing.

My question is what can I change about the top link mount to have the deck track straighter and be above the gearbox. Or is the toplink supposed to just flop around with the chain like that? I don't like the deck moving so much it is too unpredictable when mowing close to fences and structures.

 

[2Njohn]

 

[2Njohn]

 

[2Njohn]

 

[2Njohn]

Oh yes and I think my pto shaft is about 3 inches too long. It was that way when I got it it. If I read right I can shorten it by cutting equal lengths of each inner piece.

 

[carlntexas]

I think a pair of stabilizer bars would keep it running straight.

 

[Cbrown9064]

I think a pair of stabilizer bars would keep it running straight.

yes, my thoughts exactly. The finish mower should ride on its wheels for the cutting height. The stab bars would keep it from walking side to side and allow you to put slack in that chain.

 

[Cbrown9064]

Also, here is a link to a new owners manual. http://www.kingkutter.com/WorkArea/DownloadAsset.aspx?id=6991 while not exactly what you have, it does say to "lower the mower until the swivel links (flex hitch) are parallel to the ground". To me that means no "up" pressure from the tractor.

 

[Soundguy]

yup... sway bars from under axle brackets will keep the mower in line. and then let the mower ride on it's own wheels. only lifting it up for transport.

and making a better setup so the chain don't eat the gearbox...

 

[2Njohn]

Great info thanks all.

I shortened the PTO shaft by 4 inches at work today. That made a huge difference in it tracking in a straight line.

I have the sway bar links brackets and pins under the rear axle so I will grab some of those bars and put them on.

Again I think the PTO being to long by 3 inches was the majority of my problem, that caused it to always want to walk catty whampus to the tractor. Now that the shaft runs straight that fixed a big part of my issues. I am thinking after the posts here that running the sway links will take care of the rest.

Again thanks all!

John