deck weights

[Maxwell-8 4,275]

Anybody having problems with decks jumping up?

The owners (my aunt-household) of the 312 are saying the deck is flying up and down. 

Is this normal? Would deckweights solve this?

One thing to point out is I custom made the deck a mulcher, that parts need some refining as well. As everything is covered with grass. 

(Picture was taken after mowing very tall grass)

Edited June 7, 2021 by Maxwell-8

[lynnmor 7,302]

I never had a problem like that.  I see some odd wheels and the carriage appears to be at an unusual angle. so I would start from scratch and adjust by the manual.

[pacer 3,168]

Well, thats a new one to me! Deck "flying up and down"?

 

Mentally running thru my mind I cant picture any way this could happen. After all the deck isnt rigidly attached and 'floats' which allows it to move according to the terrain its moving over  -- of which if the terrain is uneven/bumpy, etc the the deck will follow (to a degree)

 

As to a mulcher, I also have a jury rigged one that I install during the start of leaf fall, before they get too heavy. It doesnt work very well on heavy leaf build up. Having a side discharge deck, I prefer to cut the grass so the chaff is scattered over the previous pass, letting the chaff/leaf clippings, etc decompose, acting as a sort of mulch --- I have very poor soil and using this method over many years I have managed to gradually build the soil to where I have a pretty decent lawn.

[kpinnc 11,932]

The only time I've had a deck jump is when it catches one of the front tires in a sharp turn, and that was usually when the belly hitch wasn't properly connected to the deck. 

[peter lena 8,587]

@Maxwell-8, looks like something is amiss there , never had a deck do that , would check on this site for related deck mounting pictures and diagrams , those rear deck wheels are not original , maybe wrong size ? another thing is the grass build up on engine cooling intake and top of deck , clean that all off , and zero in on why you are covered with grass debris. are you cutting in low range / high gear ? when you are cutting very high grass, take advantage of your gearing , low range will , help the deck work easier , 3rd gear hi , will give you the slower ground speed you need , unless you need to go slower . looks like the deck is at highest cutting height . you probably also have a grass clogged deck . drop it , clean it out , sharpen blades . I regularly  drop and inspect my decks , also oil spray them down to stop rot , let them dry in the hot sun , upside down . like this , just an idea , I use, pete

 

[Maxwell-8 4,275]

1 hour ago, peter lena said:

@Maxwell-8, looks like something is amiss there , never had a deck do that , would check on this site for related deck mounting pictures and diagrams , those rear deck wheels are not original , maybe wrong size ? another thing is the grass build up on engine cooling intake and top of deck , clean that all off , and zero in on why you are covered with grass debris. are you cutting in low range / high gear ? when you are cutting very high grass, take advantage of your gearing , low range will , help the deck work easier , 3rd gear hi , will give you the slower ground speed you need , unless you need to go slower . looks like the deck is at highest cutting height . you probably also have a grass clogged deck . drop it , clean it out , sharpen blades . I regularly  drop and inspect my decks , also oil spray them down to stop rot , let them dry in the hot sun , upside down . like this , just an idea , I use, pete

 

Wheels are not original but identically the same size.

.

I will say they better cut there grass in a lower gear instead of 3 HI. Blades are sharp, al the grass build up is because of my home-made mulchsystem for the deck. Did WH came stock with mulching decks? If so has anybody a picture of it so I can make an better replica. Deck is not in it's higest setting but is pulled up in the picture. I believe they run second lowest.

 

2 hours ago, pacer said:

Mentally running thru my mind I cant picture any way this could happen. After all the deck isnt rigidly attached and 'floats' which allows it to move according to the terrain its moving over  -- of which if the terrain is uneven/bumpy, etc the the deck will follow (to a degree)

There lawn is indeed very bumpy, maybe that's the problem. I was suprised a deck of 135 lbs would be flying around. 

 

I painted the underside with an equivalent to POR15. They only have the mower 2 months. And I did a full maintenance (2 days work) on it.  

 

Thanks everybody for your input!

I am gone go down there in two weeks. Leveling out there lawn, checking the deck attachment-system and may look into improving the deck mulching capability.  

[Maxwell-8 4,275]

I think I saw @Ed Kennell 'mower that had weights on the outsides of his deck.

[squonk 41,040]

My recycler mulching deck: I added the back flap to keep chaff off the hydro.

 

Recycler insert gets loaded with clippings. You need to clean it out a few times a year.

 

Grass gets under the fins/baffles.

 

 

Edited June 7, 2021 by squonk

[roadapples 6,983]

I think I'd just slow down. You'll get a much nicer cut....

[squonk 41,040]

20 minutes ago, roadapples said:

I think I'd just slow down. You'll get a much nicer cut....

You see these landscapers with their $10,000+++ mowers going flat out. bouncing all over the place. "Hey I got me a suspension!" Big Whoop! 

 

My boss at Napa mowed lawns as a sideline. I don't really know why because he would just buy a new Grasshopper every year so he wasn't pocketing anything. He would complain to the dealer about his deck bouncing. SLOW THE FRICK DOWN! 

[roadapples 6,983]

With oil splash lubrication, and running nearly wide open throttle, I'd need a seat belt in high gear...

[peter lena 8,587]

@Maxwell-8 , missed some basics in this operation , first off you never cut or attempt to cut high grass in hi range /hi gear , i can only imagine the engine and mule drive / clutch plate self destructing over this stress. another thing is the use of mulching blades , and the highest setting on the deck. that would be a lesson of never driving that horse again. military driving test , you screw up , you will never drive anything again , but you will be in the repair group that repairs the damage. should not have happened , that's just my own opinion  , pete    

[Maxwell-8 4,275]

37 minutes ago, peter lena said:

@Maxwell-8 , missed some basics in this operation , first off you never cut or attempt to cut high grass in hi range /hi gear , i can only imagine the engine and mule drive / clutch plate self destructing over this stress. another thing is the use of mulching blades , and the highest setting on the deck. that would be a lesson of never driving that horse again. military driving test , you screw up , you will never drive anything again , but you will be in the repair group that repairs the damage. should not have happened , that's just my own opinion  , pete    

 Whit I mean 2-3 weeks not cut. I will let them know. Should have instructed them better. 

[Ed Kennell 38,029]

4 hours ago, Maxwell-8 said:

I think I saw @Ed Kennell 'mower that had weights on the outsides of his deck.

I'm not sure what you saw.  I don't recall having any weights on a deck.    The front of my decks will bounce when I am mowing the rough  trails at a high speed, but I don't believe the rear wheels ever lift off.

 

3 hours ago, roadapples said:

I think I'd just slow down. You'll get a much nicer cut....

I think Jay has the solution to the problem.

[Maxwell-8 4,275]

1 hour ago, Ed Kennell said:

I'm not sure what you saw.  I don't recall having any weights on a deck.    The front of my decks will bounce when I am mowing the rough  trails at a high speed, but I don't believe the rear wheels ever lift off.

 

I think Jay has the solution to the problem.

[Ed Kennell 38,029]

Aha, that's a block of wood I use to mount a bagger.     Not a weight.

[pacer 3,168]

But, But ----- somehow this topic has seemingly drifted into the problem being the young lady going to fast, but nowhere in @Maxwell-8 post is mentioned what speed or gear she was cutting in..... Speed/gearing certainly is a possibility, but until that is known........

 

He did mention that his Aunts ground was 'bumpy' and to my thinking that is more likely the culprit, and when later he mentioned "they better not cut the grass in 3 high" seems he isnt sure what speed she was using. 

Edited June 7, 2021 by pacer