520h

[noncritical 5]

Just picked up a 520h with a 60 inch deck Now that I am getting older the deck is a monster to slide under the tractor can I just drive over the deck if so are there any tricks Thanks

[horseyheaven 112]

I wouldn’t drive over it.  There are too many pieces in the mechanism on deck to bend and/or tweak the shell.  Best way I have found is to release attach matic on deck and front mule drive.  Remove belt from pto pulley and lay mule drive to side.  Then, take a 2x4 or larger on a floor jack under front axle.  Lift as high as it will go.  Before doing this, make sure you disconnect the lift pin or deck will go up with tractor.  With tractor front up in air, pull deck sideways.  Then, to get it up to work on, I use a cherry picker or front loader to get it stood up.  If you don’t have these, try a board with some length to it for leverage.  Block it up and put floor jack under it.  They do lift easier if you can get it part way up.  I believe the weight of it is 320 lbs, so they are not light.  Good luck.

[lynnmor 7,302]

I don't lift the tractor, there is just enough room to slide the deck under.  A very smooth floor is a big help.  I am getting older as well and have messed up my rotator cuffs with these decks, the solution to the problem was a zero turn with a stand up deck. 

[noncritical 5]

Thanks everyone I'm used to the old and small 312 with 38 deck. Seems small compared to this beast lol

[littleredrider 409]

You can drive over it. The 60" decks are much more heavy duty than the other decks. I don't like taking mine off/on, but I just drive over it with the front, not the back. My biggest pain is the deck won't stay still when I try to drive over it. Need a way to hold the deck still. Mine is an 8-speed, so I just put it in low 1st and idle up n over.