I find a fair amount of BX drive-over deck owners dissatisfied, but I’m very mechanical, so I wanted to write it off as ignorance. In most cases, I really believe it is. I watch these videos on line and can’t believe how many first-time tractor owners don’t know jack, and talk like they are experts. I’m my case, I’ve had issues, but really have been to busy to just get down and dirty to scrutinize the mechanics and figure out the roots to the problems.
I really believe there are several circumstances that make the drive-over go awry:
First you have to keep the deck clean. Dirt is not your friend with the moving parts and sub-chassis.
Second, the self-align collet has to be greased. It is a wonder contraption, but if not, it will bind when trying to slide the lever to separate. The first year, I had to beat on the lever with a rubber mallet to separate the collet.
Third, I think I may need to lube the alignment pins because often when dismounting, it binds there, and one side pulls out first sliding the deck a bit sideways, and then you are driving off sideways a bit.
Lastly, I am going to drill in pins in my concrete barn floor to hold the deck steady as I back off. That will cure a major issue. I cannot figure out for the life of me how these videos show guys driving on and off with the deck on asphalt. I even drop the front anti-scalp wheels to zero and flip the rears up so the deck has maximum contact with the ground, and it still slides. I noted in the BX 80-Series brochure, where they show the deck process, they don’t even show flipping up the back wheels.
Maybe if we get out of -10 temperatures here and the snow piles in August, I’ll put the deck back on and figure it out.
Thanks to all who responded here, and let me relax my panties twisted up like a balsa wood airplane rubber band.
