Pinning up MMM tricks?

[Will]

Does anyone have any tricks for pinning up a MMM on a B2410? I've got the mower adjusted so that pin holes almost line up when I lift the 3 point hitch all of the way, but it is still a pain in the neck crawling around on the ground with my arm under the tractor trying to plug the small pin in that holds it up. Even worse is trying to line the spring clip up with the hole in the pin and attach it by feel. Has anyone figured out a better technique? Or has anyone found/made a pin with a handle to hold up their MMM?

 

[TresCrows]

No--I know of no tricks other than trading for the BX which has a knob that adjusts for height and also locks the deck at the top without those stupid pins. I assume you have the FEL which makes pinning the deck more difficult because of the FEL arms you only have rear access. Mine do not quite line up either on full lift and I went to the dealer and looked at a 7500 and they do not either. It requires a slight lift to get the pins in--easy enough but pinning the pins with the clip--especially on the right side is a pain. Oh well. I put a cross mark on my pins so I could see the hole alignement. I am going to look for some push type pins that have the thumb release--those would cure the problem.
While I was there a new 7500 was getting scrubbed for a customer delievery--what a sweet sounding little engine. J

 

[Von]

Will, Attached is a photo of the pin I made for my 72" MMM on my B2710. It slides thru both holes and its easy to put the pin to hold it in from the out side. Feel free to copy this design, I got the idea from someone else on TBN!

 

[TresCrows]

That is a great idea for the larger 2710/2910 but alas it will not work on the 2410/7500. The reinforcement brace for the FEL mount obscures the holes. It might be reasonable to remove approx 0.3 to 0.5 inches of material in a half moon shape from the triangular brace with out affecting the integrity of the unit and then the one piece pin would be able to slide all the way through. J

 

[Will]

I'm thinking that maybe one of might work. I'll have to do some measuring, but I think the original pin is about 3/8" thick. I don't know if the extra length will get me into any trouble. For about $20/pin you can get push button release pins (click <A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.reidtool.com/Support/productlisting.htm> here then click on fasteners to download a portion of their catalog).

 

[dullpain]

Don't understand why they even put the brackets on my 2910 if the lift won't get it high enough to pin it when not in use. Major disappointment with Kubota engineering! About the only thing I don't like about the tractor, other than the trash in my fuel tank on delivery.

Have just decided I must tolerate it - When I finish mowing many times I have other uses for the tractor that requires the deck be pinned up. For now I just jack it up with floor jack and pin it. No FEL on my tractor. If anyone comes up with a solution I would like to know.

 

[TresCrows]

You need to make some adjustments to the lift rods. You should be able to raise the deck high enough that the pins can be inserted with only a minor struggle--a floor jack is a major struggle. My 2410 was way short when I first got it but then I decided the book wa full of malarky and got out the wrenches and went to it. It now raises enough that with hand pressure I can rock one side up and pin it and then the other. I am only about 1/2 hole off or even less. J

 

[TresCrows]

There is a pin we use in aviation that has a thumb release that pushes a rod that retracts two small ball bearings on the other end. To insert you push the thumb release and vice versa to remove. I just have not had time to look for one and I CAN pin my deck. I think grinding off some material from the angle braces might be the best solution so as to use the full length pin. J

 

[glennmac]

I copied Von's rod for my 2910 mmm. It works well as long as the holes line up, which is not a common occurrence. I usually just take the mower on and off every week.

 

[dullpain]

My life is simpler now thanks to you. The book is malarky. I adjusted and now can pin by hand with only " a slight struggle"

Many thanks/