Walker's F Series Thread

[walker450]

I installed my prototype baffle after removing two of the existing ones. I mowed for about an hour and right away I could tell a night and day difference regarding blowout from the front of the deck.

There is a very small amount of blowout at the front left of the deck so I may add a lip like on the other side to see if that'll disrupt the airflow enough to prevent it.

I welded the baffles directly to the deck to make sure they work. We got rain overnight so I will have to wait a few days to test in drier conditions. If they pass that test, i can cut the tacks and weld some tabs and bolt them in place.

 

[Doug Vee]

I installed my prototype baffle after removing two of the existing ones. I mowed for about an hour and right away I could tell a night and day difference regarding blowout from the front of the deck.

There is a very small amount of blowout at the front left of the deck so I may add a lip like on the other side to see if that'll disrupt the airflow enough to prevent it.

I welded the baffles directly to the deck to make sure they work. We got rain overnight so I will have to wait a few days to test in drier conditions. If they pass that test, i can cut the tacks and weld some tabs and bolt them in place.

Glad to hear you have made successful progress. I look forward to seeing the final product.

Doug

 

[two_bit_score]

Thanks for the update Walker450!

 

[Hay Dude]

I need that baffle pretty bad. I would say of the few minor complaints I have on my F, this is the worst one.
I wonder if Kubota offers something? They must have more than a few similar complaints.

 

[walker450]

Yes there is a baffle kit available for the 72" anyways, not sure if you have that or a 60". Google your deck model number and messicks parts and it should find the messicks parts diagram where you can get a part number.

Here us the one for my deck: Kubota RCK72P-F36 (72" SIDE DISCHARGE MOWER) Parts Diagrams

 

[Doug Vee]

Thanks for the info Doug, very helpful. I will investigate the driveline and gearbox a little more and review Arto's thread.

My deck is actually a side discharge. The main issue is blowing out from the front. I checked Kubotas site and they have this on the F series page: "An inner baffle to prevent cut grass from discharging to the front."

I searched several forums and it seems that a front baffle helps prevent blowout. Messicks has a "Front Kit" bagfle option but it would cost nearly $300 to try out.

I looked at Skags website and they have a protruded front on the deck and then an internal front baffle with some flat pieces that come back between the blades. I'll attach pictures of all this, hopefully it'll make sense.

I've also noticed that on Kubota's website the pictures of the ZD and F decks show a small lip along the leading edge, only about 3/4" long, I wonder of that is for airflow or something else? Mine does not have that lip.

I believe I'm going to have to spend some time fabricating in the shop to get this thing working better so I'm not eating dirt every time I go over areas with thin grass.

One attached screenshot is of a post on a different forum where a guy took off the front baffles if a Kubota deck and it caused a lot of blowout so he out them back on.

I thought I would post an image of my rear discharge deck baffles, just for reference. See below.

Also, note the low lift blades.

 

[walker450]

I thought I would post an image of my rear discharge deck baffles, just for reference. See below.

Also, note the low lift blades.

Thanks for sharing that pic Doug. It looks like all the blades turn the same direction, is that correct? I thought rear discharge decks had one blade spinning the opposite way.

Looking at that picture makes me like rear discharge decks even more, so simple, just let it go out the back and be done, each blade for itself. I imagine in taller grass less HP is required to perform the same amount of work.

 

[Doug Vee]

Thanks for sharing that pic Doug. It looks like all the blades turn the same direction, is that correct? I thought rear discharge decks had one blade spinning the opposite way.

Looking at that picture makes me like rear discharge decks even more, so simple, just let it go out the back and be done, each blade for itself. I imagine in taller grass less HP is required to perform the same amount of work.

Hmm, I have not heard of one blade turning opposite the other two. All three of mine rotate the same direction.

The deck does seem to work pretty well, especially since I removed the two rubber flaps at each side and the long flat bar that ran across the back between them. With those parts installed, random piles would spit out the rear of the deck when the grass was heavy.

The only upside I could see for the discharge "flaps" and the flat bar is that the engine screen and the transaxle stayed cleaner.

 

[arto98607]

Here is a photo of my F3060 72" RD deck before cleaning - these blades rotate in the same direction.

Different baffle design - it's wide open towards rear.
This was a new replacement deck from Kubota few years ago and it's identical to the original design.

There is no forward blow to speak of, but lot of blowing towards rear.
This design was obviously not meant to do any mulching and it does not when driving forward, however it does pretty good mulching job when mowing in reverse!

Our Grasshopper mower has a factory 61" mulching deck with no grass outlet to speak of and ground speed has to slowed down a lot in taller grass, but in normal conditions all clippings just sort of disappear.
It takes lot more power to run good mulch mower in tall grass.

 

[walker450]

Thanks arto! It's neat to see the differences in deck design. If I had found a rear discharge in my proce range I would have bought it for sure.

I made another trip to my local Kubota dealer.... $86 total for grass deflector chute, pin, and spring.... I figure if it prevents a broken window then it is well worth it. I temporarily robbed the one off my BX but it isn't wide enough and builds up in a few areas and causes some to blow straight into the air where the gap is, so I figured I would put the proper piece on. I ordered the plastic one for a 90 series. I like the way a plastic one offers some flexibility when needed. Judging by the parts diagrams it should go right on. If it requires some modifications I will have to break out the tools.

Ultimately I'd like to build a custom block off plate that will have multiple positions: closed, open with deflector in normal position, and open with deflector raised up about 45 degrees to better disperse clippings if needed.

 

[Doug Vee]

Thanks arto! It's neat to see the differences in deck design. If I had found a rear discharge in my proce range I would have bought it for sure.

It is interesting to see the difference between my rear discharge deck baffles and Arto's. My baffles surround the blade chamber, but taper to a shallower dimension toward the rear. As Arto noted, his deck is wide open at the discharge side.

Doug

 

[walker450]

I edited some video together, nothing fancy. Mowing the front area with the F series. This is before the baffles, there is one angle I got from the mower deck, left side, you can see grass blowing up all over the place!

 

[arto98607]

Looks like it's working very good!

In out neck of the woods it's been very dry with practically no rain since start of May and the yard is brown - this is normal for us most years.
The only mowing needed is the odd weed here and there.

Mowing season restarts sometime in October usually...

 

[Doug Vee]

Looks like it's working very good!

In out neck of the woods it's been very dry with practically no rain since start of May and the yard is brown - this is normal for us most years.
The only mowing needed is the odd weed here and there.

Mowing season restarts sometime in October usually...

Yep,

Same here, being a few miles north of Arto. Mowing dandelions is all there is to do. I have been going 10-14 days between mowing.

By the way Walker- it looks like you need a larger mower! Or, I need a much smaller one . Definitely looks like it is working well for you. Probably better with the new baffles?

Doug

 

[walker450]

It is much much better with the baffles and discharge chute on. I also sharpened the blades and cleaned out the deck after the mowing in the video above. I should have just stopped and done it then but I was in a rush I suppose.

I only mowed the front area with the F a few times, mainly testing it out


The next mowing will likely be with the M series and 7' Shulte. I'm going to talk to a neighbor and see if they are interested in cutting it for hay next year. The neighbor across the street used to bale it but landed a couple of big fields and can't mess with this little piece anymore.

Summer heat really set in the last few weeks here. Luckily still lots of green grass since we had a wetter than average June/July.

Forecast as of 7-31, I am very surprised to see any chance of rain, very odd but will be welcome of course:

 

[Doug Vee]

Here in the PNW, it has been dry, but not as hot as your location. We had about .3 inches last month, but that is pretty much it since...I guess I can't remember when. Rain would be welcome here, that is for sure.

Doug

 

[walker450]

I meant to ask this when I changed the fluid a while back... the hydraulic fluid filter that was on it was blue, anyone know roughly when Kubota stopped using blue filters? I've only seen white ones from my dealer since I've had Kubotas over the last 15 years or so.

 

[walker450]

Another video! I hope this helps future prospective F series buyers to make their decision.

I tried to mow this pond dam with a ZD1211 (turf tires, no extra weights) and I didn't make it a couple feet before it was sliding and totally helpless, had to pull it up with my side by side. I figured this would be the case but just had to see it for myself.

The more I mow with this machine the more I like it.. I've gotten used to the feel of it and can get close to objects like it's second nature now.

 

[Doug Vee]

I like how the rear of your deck is radiused so you can back into an object to trim behind it. Mine deck is squared off in the back, so the blade tip can not get anywhere near to whatever it is you are trying to trim closer to from behind.

Doug

 

[Hay Dude]

Another video! I hope this helps future prospective F series buyers to make their decision.

I tried to mow this pond dam with a ZD1211 (turf tires, no extra weights) and I didn't make it a couple feet before it was sliding and totally helpless, had to pull it up with my side by side. I figured this would be the case but just had to see it for myself.

The more I mow with this machine the more I like it.. I've gotten used to the feel of it and can get close to objects like it's second nature now.

I wonder if the grass was damp/wet? Mine won’t slide if grass is dry. If wet, it’ll slide a little.