Woods L59 mower on Kubota L-185

[Anonymous Poster]

The Woods L-59 mower deck slung beneath our L-185 has not been raising/lowering evenly, despite adjustments to the mechanism in the rear of the tractor, straddling the PTO. Also noted this weekend that the tension-relief spring on the righthand chain has been bent, as has the eye-bolt that attaches the chain to the raising/lowering mechanism at the rear of the tractor. The bent-open eye-bolt allowed enough slack into the chain to cause it to unhitch from the top of the mower deck. What would cause such failures to occur, while the left-hand side chain, spring and mechanism have had no similar failures?

 

[Dale Binkley]

I had an L-59 deck on a 24hp Yanmar for 17 years. Not sure if the set up for raising/lowering is exactly the same but is probably close enough to make general comparisons.

Each chain from the deck ran over two pulleys and connected to eye bolts on brackets at top of both lifting rods. If there is any difference in tension on the chains, one chain will be lifting more weight than the other. This will tend to bend the eye bolt over time making subsequent adjustments more difficult. I removed my deck each winter to give clearance for chains on rear wheels for plowing snow. The only part of the job I hated worse than driving the tractor over the mower deck to reattach it was readjusting the balance of the weight of the deck on the chains. This usually was good for a few words from my "plumbing" vocabulary.

While this system of deck control is simple, it is sensitive to operator control and maintainance. Make sure parts that need to move (pulleys) are clean and lubed regularly. Use a gentle touch (GO SLOW) in raising and lowering the mower deck. This will minimize the amount of torque you put on the entire adjustment system.

Another suggestion: Keep the bearings greased on a regular basis. I felt fortunate in having to replace only one bearing in the seventeen years we owned the tractor. It was workhorse of a deck which gave a very good finish to our lawn.

 

[dellaratta]

You would drive over the mower to reattach it? I never thought that was an option when putting a mower back on.

 

[Dale Binkley]

Yes, drive the tractor over the mower deck. The deck was strong enough to take any weight put on it. To take the deck off by sliding out from underneath the tractor would have required a fair amount of deck disassembly due to the lack of clearance between the front and rear tires of the tractor. Also, the dealer that originally sold the tractor said it was the easiest way to perform the task.

I would not try to drive my Kubota over the mower deck it has, it is made for ease of installation by sliding it out from the side of the tractor. Ease of use has come a long way in the last twenty years.

 

[tractorman]

Slightly off topic but what the hay! I have a Woods L59 deck off of a Kubota L295 that's looking for a good home. It ahs very little use on it, although the paint has seen better days. Thanks