Mower Deck build

[draganof1]

I've been lurking for long enough. Finally registered. I finally gave up trying to find a usable deck for my Cub 107 and just built my own. I didn't take any pics during the build. Most of the steel came out of the scrap pile except the MTD Spindles and Harbor Freight Wheels. The K301 was a spare for my Cub. It's 50" wide and nothing will stop it. I owe this build to this Forum. It gave me the courage to just do it.

John

 

[mrcaptainbob]

Nicely done! Encourages me to do mine this winter....

 

[draganof1]

I have about 3 hours of running time on it and the only problem is the cheap wheels. It's going to get upgraded to solid rubber tires and adjustable cutting height. Overall it's the best $300.00 I've spent in a long time. Was well worth the effort. My next project is installing a 3cyl Yanmar Diesel in my Cub 108 this Winter. I'm on a roll why stop now.

 

[Short Game]

Cool beans! I thought I was the only one who chained up lawn tractors. I've got everyone I know's riders chained up now with chains I buy at thrift stores.

My ATH 720 Bush Hog grooming mower has been around and is starting to rust through. I even stripped it and repainted it once (when I had it all apart to put new seals in the gearbox), but the rust came right back. I am afraid that what I paid $425 for is going to cost a lot more than that to replace. Your project will have me thinking.

 

[Runner]

Nice work!

I share your opinion of the cheapo HF wheels/tires. I tried them for gauge wheels on my rear blade and they lasted about 30 minutes before blowing out.

Is there a way to adjust the mowing height? I'd imagine it would be easy enough to just put spacers between the top of the casters and the mounting plates.

Have you thought about making an offset hitch to get increased mowing width? A guy who lives near me mows about 4 acres with such a setup and it seems to work well.

Thanks for posting.

 

[ninefinger]

I so enjoy looking at things that are overbuilt. Very nice work, should last a very long time.

 

[Hooked_on_HP]

Nice job.:thumbsup: Where does the grass discharge.
Bill

 

[draganof1]

The discharge is under the Battery. Here's a low resolution pic of it.



Once I replace the HF wheels I'll separate it from the tractor and take some better shots including the underside.

One additional item still to be added is a small Wood Chipper driven off the K301 on the side opposite the Air Cleaner. That way when I'm Mowing and come across a small branch I can stop, engage the Chipper and dispatch the offending item.

 

[davedj1]

very nice. how do you keep from scalping the lawn? Unless of course your lawn is flatter than mine...lol

 

[draganof1]

I'm lucky, mine is flat like a Pool Table. If it did scalp it would be okay though. I look at grass as just a weed that I can't eat.....

 

[Jeff Lary]

Great job, I also noticed the tire chains I bought my Wheel Horse in 1997 with chains on I blow snow and mow lawn and the chains have never been off still plenty of traction in the winter and no spin on my slopes in the summer.

 

[Diamondpilot]

Neat build. I had the same issue with tires. I had a King Kutter 5' mower that had cheap tires like that. I replaced them with solid tires from the mower shop for the front of ZTR's and not a single problem after that until I sold the piece of crap KK.

Biggest issue with the KK tires was even at 35 PSI that was recommended they would roll off the rims and tear the Valve Stems off.



Chris

 

[draganof1]

Tire Chains are the only way to go up here in the Land of Wet Grass. And those cheap wheels are being replaced this weekend with solid rubber tires. No more HF Tires for me.

 

[mwb]

Nice! I like the mule drive... been thinking of making a mud motor (swamp motor for a boat) using a vertical shaft engine (lawn tractor) and use a mule drive to make it work.:thumbsup:

 

[draganof1]

Well I finally changed out the wheels to solid rubber and it cured all the problems. I've been working on the Chipper addition and the only thing remaining is to go back and finish some welding on the Chute and a few small areas. Rain is on it's way here this weekend so I reluctantly threw on some paint to keep the rust down until I finish the welding. Oh I did run a bunch of DF branches and Blackberry vines through it. Works great. Some of the Branches were 1" and above. Didn't even slow it down. Keep in mind this was designed for light duty. I'll post some final pics once I finish it. I like this multi-purpose machine thing. I'm thinking the next accessory will be a 1/2 scale Buck Saw.

 

[draganof1]

Tough crowd.....

 

[Short Game]

We're waiting for it to make Julienne fries. :licking:

 

[hddnis]

Tough crowd.....

I just saw this thread.

Very cool machine you have going on there. I like the chipper, DF branches can be a pain since a mower will just run over the top and leaves those little straight poles in the grass.



Mr. HE

 

[sandman2234]

Tough crowd.....

if you think we're bad, you ought to try some of the other forums I visit. They are hard to get a bite out of!!

I, like others just saw this post. Nice build!!Probably the only thing I hesitate in appalding you on is the choice of spindles, but understand that was probably due to using what was on hand. I did a larger version (7' 6") to pull behind my Ford 1100 13hp 4x4 tractor and used boat axle spindle hubs (3500 pound cap) with custom made spindles. The deck got traded for some electrical work that I needed done before I ever finished it, (but I had to finish it as part of the deal) so I never got to try it out. Since I still have 3 of those spindles, maybe I need to start another deck project.... (NOT!!!)
I especially like the addition of the chipper!
David from jax

 

[NormL]

Tire Chains are the only way to go up here in the Land of Wet Grass. And those cheap wheels are being replaced this weekend with solid rubber tires. No more HF Tires for me.

I used to take my chains off the Ford 601 with FEL come the summer. I quit doing that (laziness on my part the first time) a couple years ago. Big improvement!:thumbsup: Now I leave them on for the performance. Same with the garden tractor.