mounting mmm

[littlefoot]

Hi, Bought BX23 with 60" MMM mounted, took it off for winter and can not get it back on. Can't seem to get the shaft on or the hitch arms lowered, they seem to be locked in up position. 3 hours later I gave up. Help

 

[Scrounger]

Been theri, I made a simple mistake of not checking to see if the height setting was on TOP. It will hold the 3 PH in the up position which holds the MMM up also. WHen you lower the mower does the 3 PH lower but not the MMM arms? If so, I bet you are set int he TOP position. If its not in the TOP position and you can't give them a little pull to bring them down, I'm not sure what would be holding them up.

 

[pjwbx2230]

Shaft can be difficult. Need to pull the collar back and then match up with the PTO drive shaft (when tired this can be a ruthlessly tedious and maddening process). With regard to rear linkage arms- you may have them locked in upward position- there is a circular valve beneath the seat- if it is turned all the way (clockwise?) the link arms and three point hitch will not descend, Turn it the other way and with the key off set the deck height at 0.0. Hope this helps- had the same problems myself after doing fifty hour nmaintenance- it's all good now, though. Good luck and sorry about the less than technical explanation.

 

[AMR]

I have the same problem with the linkage arms, after setting the height adjustment to 0 I move the control for the linkage arms/3 ph forward to lower them and I reach up and essentially pull them down. After that, getting the shaft on I find very easy, from the left side of the tractor I lay on my side holding on to the handle on the fender, pull the collar back and "probe" the shaft to be sure it is lined up, rotating it slightly to be sure that it is and it slides right on, I also put a little grease on it. Be sure that you get the shaft connected before making any other connection between the MMM and tractor.

 

[SeymourBota]

It is easiest to attach the pto shaft BEFORE mounting the lift arms.
Roll the mower into position, raise the lift arms all the way and attach the shaft first- then proceed with the lift arms and front linkage.

 

[rosey]

Another tip tha will make life easier is to jack up the tractor from the rear and remove the rear wheels first. This will give you easier axcess to the shaft so that you're not fighting for the proper position to reach the pto shaft collar.

 

[littlefoot]

You guys absolutly right. Unreal spent hours yesterday took 20 min today. Thanks for the help.

 

[newcountry]

Yes, it can be frustrating. I had the problem this spring of keeping the dial at 'Top', took me a good 20 minutes to figure that one out. /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif THEN, I couldn't get the drive shaft to seat properly. I had a recent poster who had his shaft come off and tear up his hydraulic filter, so that took WAY too long. Never seemed to have as much trouble as I did this last time. I'd hope it'd get easier, not harder! /forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif

 

[AceDeuce]

Attaching the PTO shaft first is great advice. A flat, level surface is also a must. I'm not sure that removing rear tires will really save you any time though. With practice you'll be able to take that thing on and off in a matter of just a few minutes. I take mine off every time I'm doing anything other than mowing.

 

[Volfandt]

Agree, hooking up the pto is the 1st thing to do when mounting the MMM.
Practice makes perfect rings true with this proceedure.
Matter of fact same holds true with mounting/dismounting of the the FEL & BH too.
I think nothing of mounting/dismounting any of them now adays. There are some days when I'll have all three on/off multiple times depending upon what task I feel like tackleing.

To make R&R'ing the MMM easier as well as makeing it easier change the depth settings of the anti-scalp wheels, I changed those round safety clips out to the type of clip used to keep a trailer hitch locked down. Got 'em for a few $$$'s at TSC. This is especially handy to spin or adj the MMM's left rear anti-scalp wheel.

Volfandt

 

[AceDeuce]

That mower deck is WAY too shiny. How do you keep it so clean? Mine is green camouflage colored even though I rinse it off after each use and pressure wash it once a year.

 

[Volfandt]

I'm afraid that MMM will never be that shiney again /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

That pic was taken before it's 1st ever mow'n in the dead of it's 1st winter. It was still cherry /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif

It's working on it's 2nd season now and I believe theres still some shine left to it, I'd just have to give it a good field day inorder to find it /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Heres a more recent shot of when I was putting it away last winter. It had already been pressure washed btw.
Volfandt