Quick hitch for GC2400 series

[tsteahr]

Hello,

I currently waiting for my new GC2410 to be delivered. During this wait I am now considering retiring my lawn tractor with its snowblower and using the new GC for mowing and snow removal. If I want to use a front blade or blower I will need to have a quick hitch installed.

Does installation of the quick hitch preclude the installation of the grill guard?

Is the quick hitch itself something that can be easily removed or is it something that once it is on you just leave it? It looks like it might be a little vulnerable to getting banged up when there is nothing attached (The pics I have seen make it look quite low to the ground).

About the mmm. Can it be removed by one person fairly easily and quickly? It is possible for me to store it in a vertical position so it does not take up too much garage floor space or is it to heavy to maneuver?

I'm curious about the mulching deck. Can you cut 2-3 inches off the lawn and not have clumps all over or do you need to keep up with the grass and mow it when you only need to take an inch off. What do you guys with the mulching decks do when you can't get to the grass for 2 weeks and it has gotten 6 inches long?

Finally about the blade. I would consider the heavier blade. My 2410 will have R1's and filled tires. I have a 150ft paved drive with about a 10% grade. With my 600lb lawn mower, trying to push snow with a blade was futile (weights, chains and a sand bag on the back did not help enough). The front of the machine just got pushed around. A blower was the only real option for snow removal with that small machine. Can the GC actually move a 6-8 inch wet snowfall with the blade? I don't want to buy a blade only to find out it is useless in snow on a paved drive and then have to buy a blower as well.

Thanks for the help!

 

[irvingj]

Can't help with the blade, don't have one.

Haven't found that I need one, the blower takes care of it all. I also have a steep uphill drive, and the tractor (with BH on for traction) does get real light on the front going uphill. Sloution: go uphill once, in the center (I may have to stop back up a foot, and re-center on the way up) then do the rest downhill. I just back up to get back to the top of the drive. Only takes 2-3 passes on my driveway, 10-14' wide. This thing will easily throw snow 50-70', though it will drop to about 35' with wet snow...

Mower deck comes off easily, though it helps to have a concrete floor to be able to slide the locked wheels sideways. I've found that, even with turf tires, there's clearance under my 2310 to be able to slide the deck in. (With R-1 or R-4 tires there's even more clearance, I believe.) Takes only a few minutes either way. There are axle/wheel sets available, aftermarket, that allow the deck to be stored & rolled around vertically. Many have made up their own. It is heavy, but I can heft it up to a vertical position OK. Just wouldn't want to try to carry it!!

I've removed the MMM's discharge "flapper" to gain space for parking, and have found it will broadcast the clippings very well over a wide area when mowing. Haven't tried mowing with 6" or more, since the mower is so fast I can easily keep up with the growing. Used to take me 3-5 hours, now only about 1/2 hr on the tractor with some push-mower trimming in tight spaces. My deck is the 60" version (not a mulcher).

Quick-hitch assembly: Yes, you need to remove the grille guard when putting it on- at least on the 2310. The 2410's grille guard is a bit different, so I'm not sure how that works. However, removing the quick hitch is easy; that's what I do in the summer, and then put the grille guard back on. In the winter, if I should need the FEL (not often) I just remove the blower and leave the quick hitch on, but am careful not to drive over rocks or other stuff that would hit it. You're right, if you intend to go over rough ground, you're better removing the quick hitch- it does hang low. I had seen your --was it you?-- earlier post about making your own quick hitch, but I'd recommend factory, even though it's expensive; there's a lot of stress on those parts.


Hope this is of some help. First pic is 6" of very wet snow!

 

[tsteahr]

Thanks for the information and the pics. Very helpful. Making dollies to store the implements on seems like a good idea. I am thinking I will make dollies for the blower, the mmm and the BH. Thanks for the pic of the underside of the deck. Very helpful. Does it stand up on edge like that on its own or do you have some brace behind the deck? Are your wheel/axles attached to the deck when you have it stored or is the deck just sitting on the axles? What size is your mmm?

The blower performance looks very impressive. An order of magnitude beyond what my lawn tractor could do.

I had a discussion with the dealer today who gave me similar feedback to what you have said concerning the quick hitch and the grille guard - easy to take on and off but be careful with it on.

It must have been another member posting about making a quick hitch. I will use the factory item for sure. The dealer quoted me about $2200 for a HD blade with power angle and hitch or $3500 for the blower with electric chute rotation option and hitch. The price for the blade seem a bit high but the blower quote seemed reasonable (in as much as $3500 can be reasonable!!!)

Does your blower have the electric option and if so how do you like it?

I'm also thinking about getting a 5ft york rake with a attached wheel. I'm hoping I will be able to find more use for the rake than just spreading lomb...

Sorry for all the questions, I do appreciate the help. It makes this tractor purchase (which is rapidly turning into a lot more $$$ than I was initially thinking) a little easier to take getting advice from others. I feel like I'm investing a lot into this rig and I don't want to be dissapointed...

 

[irvingj]

tsteahr--

You're right, it is a big investment, and you're wise to research and learn all you can, and this forum is a great place to do it-- try some searches.

MMM is 60", actually purchased used from a "neighbor" of yours-- down CT way.

If you look closely at the photo, you'll see the aftermarket storage axles/wheels, somewhat submerged in the gravel on the driveway. They slide in to the MMM's wheel holes, after removing the "stock" wheels. The mower will probably stand up on its own wheels with some support, but I'd be careful. Although it seems to be quite stable with the aftermarket wheels, the axle/wheel set does come with a chain that they highly recommend attaching to a wall-- cheap insurance against an accidental tip-over! And yes, it will stand up just fine on the aftermarket axles/wheels. I only use them for storage or for servicing the MMM.

There are a number of posts on this forum concerning dollies (try a search!); I just use car tire dollies for the FEL and the blower-- a piece of 2x4 is all that I've needed to get the blower at the right height and angle to quickly slide it on the tractor. The backhoe I drop outside onto some wooden blocks, since the stabilizer arms will slowly bleed down and retract after a while, with the result being that the BH is becomes too low to engage without some finagling. Hope this helps.

 

[irvingj]

Oops-- forgot: I have the electric chute controls. They're not real fast, but I like to have the ability to change direction easily. Some people have hydraulic set-ups, which can be very fast. Others have put together their own systems using automotive wiper or window motors.

One nice thing about the remote control is that, once set, the chute doesn't vibrate to a different position, which my walk-behind blower would often do-- to the point where I had to steer the machine AND hold the chute control. Don't miss that at all!

Here's a better shot of the MMM axles/wheels; you can see where they go into the hole where the original wheels were. Also a pic of the BH on blocks and the blower on the automotive dolly.

 

[tsteahr]

Nice pics. I like those axles for the mmm. This was the first I head of those used to store the mower. I'll ask the dealer about them. I will be making dollies based on what others have done here and the BXpanded ones.

I also think I will order the chute control with the blower. One last bit of info I have not been able to get a clear answer on.. Does the blower electric chute control both direction and height, or just direction?

Thanks very much for your info and picks.

Cheers!

 

[tsteahr]

I was able to find out that there are seperate electric actuators kits for both the chute rotation and height adjustment. Each kit is ordered seperatly, both are similar cost.

My dealer didn't have any info on those slick wheel/axels for the deck. I searched the boards for axle info but came up empty... Do you remember where you got the wheel and axels?

 

[CinderSchnauzer]

Finally about the blade. I would consider the heavier blade. My 2410 will have R1's and filled tires. I have a 150ft paved drive with about a 10% grade. With my 600lb lawn mower, trying to push snow with a blade was futile (weights, chains and a sand bag on the back did not help enough). The front of the machine just got pushed around. A blower was the only real option for snow removal with that small machine. Can the GC actually move a 6-8 inch wet snowfall with the blade? I don't want to buy a blade only to find out it is useless in snow on a paved drive and then have to buy a blower as well.

Thanks for the help!

I have an early 90's Honda 6522 with Turfs and a front power angle blade & QA that looks identical to the MF 1405 Dozer Blade. It's 22 HP, but @ 1,713 #'s plus the Blade might be slightly heavier than your GC 2410.

Based on my experience with the Honda, I'm pretty sure you'd have no problems handling 6" - 8" wet snow. There's wet and then there's WET - so sometime you might have to take a bit less than full width.

 

[irvingj]

tsteahr- took me a while to find the paperwork, but here it is:

Axle/wheel set for MMM:
Mower Deck Axle Co.
Willet, NY

http://www.moweraxle.com

I got mine last May, $89.95 + $11.50 shipping. A bit pricey, but worth it, I believe. Well made. I have the 3" wheels, which are a bit small for the gravel driveway, but still workable. Optional 5" wheels would have been better, I think.

 

[tsteahr]

Thank you very much.

Order placed for a 5" set, $99.95+$14.