48" Mower Deck Chute Spring

[Dewders 4]

I don't see many pictures posted of people running the full chute flap on their mower decks. I just restored mine, and I have the hardware (I assume) that came on the chute but it was all unattached. Can someone post a pic of the proper way the spring is mounted to keep the chute flap loaded downward? Thanks in advance!

[kpinnc 11,936]

I've never used one. WH decks don't distribute clippings far to begin with, and I prefer not to make it worse.

 

The 48SD also already extends a couple inches past the path of the blade on the discharge side. I've never had anything deflect upwards out of mine.

 

If you're determined to use a shield, I suggest fabrication of a heavy rubber or plastic one that doesn't further obstruct the path of the clippings. The factory shield nearly closes the chute off completely. It's likely to leave streaks in the lawn. I'd stay away from it unless you have a specific safety reason for it. Otherwise you'll basically have a mulching deck.

[Snoopy11 5,714]

13 minutes ago, kpinnc said:

If you're determined to use a shield, I suggest fabrication of a heavy rubber or plastic one that doesn't further obstruct the path of the clippings. The factory shield nearly closes the chute off completely. It's likely to leave streaks in the lawn. I'd stay away from it unless you have a specific safety reason for it. Otherwise you'll basically have a mulching deck.

Yeah, I don't know if it is necessarily a WH problem... but I will say... out of the garden tractor style machines I have had... they all distribute clippings better with NO chute...

 

Don

[dcrage 628]

One reason to use the chute in my yard is to knock down acorn flight during fall clean up. I broke a rear entry door ($750) 10 years ago. The acorn got thrown about 30 ft, shattered that window. Now I bolt on the chute in the fall after the acorns have dropped. 

[kpinnc 11,936]

3 hours ago, dcrage said:

One reason to use the chute in my yard is to knock down acorn flight during fall clean up. I broke a rear entry door ($750) 10 years ago. The acorn got thrown about 30 ft, shattered that window. Now I bolt on the chute in the fall after the acorns have dropped. 

 

Now that is a good reason! 

 

I suggest just bolting the deflector on, and let friction hold it up or down. That way you can set it how you like (up or down) when needed. As heavy as the OEM guards are, acorns won't be enough to flip it up.

Edited September 2, 2022 by kpinnc

[Lee1977 6,648]

I only uses the deflector to keep the green slime off my right resr wheel. The one on my C-120 is modified and mounted level with the deck,  The later model deck deflector with the 3/4 bar and deflecter flat welded on, I removed the flat.

[Horse Newbie 7,057]

@Dewders,

I recently restored a 48 inch SD deck. It came with my (second owner) 1994 520H so I guess my deck is around a 1994 model. You can try to find my thread with some maybe helpful info on there, but you have already restored your deck so maybe not.

I am at the point of almost being completely finished with mine except for installing the chute guard. 
I have posted some pics that may help… these pics are of the front and back mounting points for my chute.

 

I don’t know what that little piece of metal was for that is welded on the front, and like you I have not been able to see any IPL’s that show in good detail how it was/ is supposed to do.

Nor have I seen many pics on Redsquare of the way the chute mount’s either…

Here are a few pics of the spring I got from A to Z Tractors, and of a little spring catch I fabbed  up…

I can’t remember where I ordered the rubber spacer for the bolt on front but I do know it is a factory size part.

 

I also attached a short video of the chute being raised and lowered. As you can see in the video I am gonna have to grind a little metal off of the spring catch I made because it is interfering with the chute completely raising.

 

Basically I researched, gathered as many parts as I could, and figured out a way to make it work.

 

If I ever use the deck, I most likely will like others not use the chute because it does not go on and come off quick enough for me, and having it on will take up valuable real estate in my “horse” barn.

Edited September 3, 2022 by Horse Newbie

[Dewders 4]

That's the missing piece of my puzzle! I don't have that metal bracket on the spring side to keep tension, I only had 2 nuts showing. That makes sense! The other side of yours would have been just a welded stud. What you have will work just fine. Thanks for your help!! 

[76c12091520h 3,608]

On 9/2/2022 at 7:57 PM, Horse Newbie said:

@Dewders,

I recently restored a 48 inch SD deck. It came with my (second owner) 1994 520H so I guess my deck is around a 1994 model. You can try to find my thread with some maybe helpful info on there, but you have already restored your deck so maybe not.

I am at the point of almost being completely finished with mine except for installing the chute guard. 
I have posted some pics that may help… these pics are of the front and back mounting points for my chute.

 

I don’t know what that little piece of metal was for that is welded on the front, and like you I have not been able to see any IPL’s that show in good detail how it was/ is supposed to do.

Nor have I seen many pics on Redsquare of the way the chute mount’s either…

Here are a few pics of the spring I got from A to Z Tractors, and of a little spring catch I fabbed  up…

I can’t remember where I ordered the rubber spacer for the bolt on front but I do know it is a factory size part.

 

I also attached a short video of the chute being raised and lowered. As you can see in the video I am gonna have to grind a little metal off of the spring catch I made because it is interfering with the chute completely raising.

 

Basically I researched, gathered as many parts as I could, and figured out a way to make it work.

 

If I ever use the deck, I most likely will like others not use the chute because it does not go on and come off quick enough for me, and having it on will take up valuable real estate in my “horse” barn.

 

IMG_1605.MOV 31.89 MB · 0 downloads

 

[Horse Newbie 7,057]

Even though my stud that is supposed to be welded on the front is missing, and I have come up with a slightly different mounting option, how do you get the chute slid on the back stud where the spring is, and then still be able to get it on the front stud ?

Seems like it would not go…