Exmark deck on a Wheel Horse

[kpinnc 11,936]

I had to get back on this project. It needs a thread of it's own. Bill finished his, and mine has been about half-done for months.

 

I had previously tested it, and it cuts great with excellent clipping dispersal. I haven't planned to use it with my 520-H, but I did test it on that machine with great results. One great advantage was that there are no clippings that get into the Onan at the flywheel. 

 

Anyway, the caster setup worked fine, but was just too big for use with anything that has a standard front axle, and even on the 520 it was a pain to get it on and off the tractor. 

 

So I'm going back to 'normal' gage wheels, but not using the adjustment quadrant like a standard WH deck. As it is right now, I'll have 6 possible cut heights using hitch pin placement to set it, and they go up to almost 4 inches at the highest setting. I've also dropped the carrier down closer to the deck in the hopes of making installation and removal easier. 

 

The first pics below are from the original design and testing. The pics without casters are the new wheel design. I'll be testing it this week and then painting afterward. I still have to add scalp wheels too.

 

 

[Bill D 1,915]

I look forward to seeing the end result.  Please post as many details and pictures as possible.  I may try building another one using an Exmark deck.  I haven't been entirely happy with the clipping dispersal from the Bobcat deck.

I like those gauge wheels.  Where did you buy them?  Do they have bearings or bushings?

Edited April 17, 2022 by Bill D

[kpinnc 11,936]

1 hour ago, Bill D said:

I may try building another one using an Exmark deck.  I haven't been entirely happy with the clipping dispersal from the Bobcat deck.

I like those gauge wheels.  Where did you buy them?  Do they have bearings or bushings?

 

I think your Bobcat deck would work the same if your baffles were like mine. Also- my blades run almost 1/2 inch higher than the baffles, and nearly an inch higher than the front lip of the deck. 

 

The wheels are actually kinda huge. 8 inch diameter, and yes sir, they have bearings. I really want some 7 inch ones so I can tuck them under the adjustment arms. 

[ebinmaine 67,328]

We don't mow with a rider but the work is interesting to me nonetheless. 

Looks good.  

Is keeping the deck wheel under the adjustment arm for aesthetics? Or to line up the cut edge to the wheel mark in the grass? Other reason?

 

What was the impetus for doing this in the first place?

Had this deck on hand?

Just for the halibut?

Use what ya have?

 

 

[kpinnc 11,936]

1 hour ago, ebinmaine said:

What was the impetus for doing this in the first place?

Had this deck on hand?

Just for the halibut?

Use what ya have?

 

The deck was from a walk behind mower. I made a hitch and used it as a towed mower for a while, but couldn't help thinking that it would eventually pop me in the back of the head with a rock. 

 

This deck was what started the 'whatchamacallit' build too. The cut quality of this deck exceeds anything I've seen from Wheel Horse. The 60-inch deck comes close, but still not as good. Also, there are a couple places where my zero turn won't fit. Not to mention my zero turn needs a backup in case it's down for maintenance. 

 

So there's several reasons for it. If you only saw the way this thing cuts compared to a standard deck, you would understand. 

 

Edited April 17, 2022 by kpinnc

[ri702bill 8,296]

Judging by the thick ribs on the top, this probably weighs as much as a 60" deck for a D series!

[peter lena 8,589]

@kpinnc  think thats a terrific upgrade to that deck , the increase in stability  and direction should make mowing easier, use the good stuff in those swivel wheel bearings  , and related areas . pete

[kpinnc 11,936]

4 hours ago, ri702bill said:

Judging by the thick ribs on the top, this probably weighs as much as a 60" deck for a D series!

 

Not quite but it is heavy!

[Pullstart 62,812]

23 hours ago, kpinnc said:

walk behind

Great source idea for decks from broken engine commercial units at the auction…

[Bill D 1,915]

3 hours ago, Pullstart said:

Great source idea for decks from broken engine commercial units at the auction…

Mower shops are loaded with them.  The shop near me has a pile of dead Bobcat walk behinds.  Also consider the welded deck from brands like Husqvarna.  My neighbor had one.  I think it might work under a horse.

[kpinnc 11,936]

The thing about walk behind mowers that is helpful, is that the cut height is often determined by spacers on the bottom of the spindles. The reason I say this is a good thing is because you can set the cut substantially "up" under the level of the skirt and baffles. Wheel Horses, like most belly mowers don't provide much room, so cutting higher is difficult. Commercial mowers regularly cut as high as 4 inches, and you can't get that with a standard WH deck. In the pic below, the blades are an inch above the skirt of the deck. I can set it another half inch higher if I chose to. A WH deck in the same setting would nearly have the blades on the ground.

 

In addition, these things are made of 1/4 inch plate steel. Heavy, but extremely durable. One of the few things that got higher in quality of construction over the last 30 years...

Edited April 18, 2022 by kpinnc