Side discharge to rear discharge?

[ssrdotto]

Included in my tractor deal was a 60" bushhog rear finish mower w/ side discharge. I really wanted a rear discharge but the price was right. I am just curious if I could convert to a rear discharge or if the housings are totally different between the two. the last thing i would want is to ruin a brand new cutting deck..... /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif

Please let me know if should have been posted in the implement section for better results. I put it here figuring it would be more inline w/ this forum.

Thanx, in advance

 

[beenthere]

I was under the impression that the side discharge had all blades rotating clockwise (discharge to the right). And the rear discharge had counter rotating blades (at least my old deck had that).

I would think it is something to look into, at least. I don't think just opening up the deck in a different location would effectively get the cut grass to discharge there. The shape of the deck housing to carry the cut grass would likely be another variable to overcome.

 

[ssrdotto]

I was thinking along the same lines but was unsure if any one had actually attempted this? It is probably WAY more trouble than it's worth but it would alleviate me having to make the first 3 passes one way than all concuring passes the other or cleaning up all the grass clippings from the driveway and flower beds /forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif

 

[Mith]

My rear discharge dech uses all 3 blades rotating the same way. Dont see why it wouldnt work.
Antoher idea may be to plug the discharge chute and get some mulch blades and mulch it.

 

[ssrdotto]

I could but with only a 22hp tractor the large deck is already pushing it I couldn't imagine mulching it. I usually cut my grass every two weeks it can get pretty high over by the farmers field where it is well fertilized. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[yugo]

ssrdotto-
Why don't you try blowing the discharge grass into the uncut grass. 99 % of our mowing is with the discharge toward the uncut grass, which makes a cleaner looking yard - no dead grass on top. We have a Kingcutter 6' finish mower, that does a fine job when I mow at regular intervals. With the Jimna 284, 25 horse, we also do the same thing cutting pasture with a brush hog, to eliminate wind rowing. Give it a try! Yugo

 

[frank_f15]

I don't think it would work properly(i may be worng) but i would think the underside of the deck is designed different for side or rear discharge.

 

[ssrdotto]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( ssrdotto-
Why don't you try blowing the discharge grass into the uncut grass. 99 % of our mowing is with the discharge toward the uncut grass, which makes a cleaner looking yard - no dead grass on top. We have a Kingcutter 6' finish mower, that does a fine job when I mow at regular intervals. With the Jimna 284, 25 horse, we also do the same thing cutting pasture with a brush hog, to eliminate wind rowing. Give it a try! Yugo )</font>

This is what i am doing now and after inspecting the deck this weekend will continue to do in order for it to work properly I would basically have to reconfigure most of the underside by welding bent steel sheets redirecting grass clippings around the side to the rear. So it can be done but it's just not worth molesting a deck w/ 2hrs on it /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif Maybe I could hit up farmer fred next door and see if he knows where I could get a junk one to play with it's a thought any way. Thanks for everyone's input /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[Donman]

What is your main reason for wanting a rear discharge deck? The only reason I can think of is mowing close to things on both sides of the deck instead of only one side. Is there another reason?

 

[SnowRidge]

I have a rear discharge 48" finish mower on which all three blades rotate the same way. If the grass is real tall and the mower setting is high, it will throw a few clippings slightly to the right, but otherwise it's not a problem.

You could rig a baffle from a mulching kit (or rig a temporary one from some sort of scrap) and use it with the standard blades and see what happens. It might give you some sort of idea how much of the rear skirt would need to be cut away.