A question re a lawn tractor

[HobieMarty]

I have used my auto ramps to get under my lawn tractor. If you don't have issues with getting down on the floor on a creeper, maybe this could be an option. Drive the front wheels up onto the ramps, chock wheels, set brake, get on a creeper and scrape away.

By the way, why is there so much build-up of grass? Do you cut wet grass?
As a side note: Many years ago, I used some rubberized spray liner stuff in a can and coated the underside of my mower deck and it seems to help protect the deck from rocks or stick damage, and for some reason, I don't get a buildup of grass under the deck but I don't know if the spray stuff has anything to do with that.

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[Dmond]

How were you able to tie the 4x4 into the joists?

[gregpark]

Drive the front wheels of your mower perpendicularly over one side of your lift and raise it up 3 feet. Strap it or chock the rears if yer ascared.
Over thinking this thing. I just lift the front of mine up and push a big block of wood under the front with my foot. It's just enough to remove blades and squirt a hose.

[MBAtarga]

Good luck on your JD endeavor. I've got 2 of them - 1 with a 42" deck and the other with a 48" deck.
Both decks are heavy! - and certainly a pain to drop and then drag out. I've entertained the idea of building a ramp to drive them up on to do blade changeouts easier.

[stevej37]

Originally Posted by HobieMarty

By the way, why is there so much build-up of grass? Do you cut wet grass?
As a side note: Many years ago, I used some rubberized spray liner stuff in a can and coated the underside of my mower deck and it seems to help protect the deck from rocks or stick damage, and for some reason, I don't get a buildup of grass under the deck but I don't know if the spray stuff has anything to do with that.
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I try not to mow wet grass, but there are times when it's unavoidable.

I've been using this stuff for years. Need to scrape it down good before applying.
I think it helps.

[Alan A]

I just use jackstands.
If they hold my car they aren’t really over stressed with a tractor.

But my deck comes off with three bolts so to clean it - or do pretty much anything else to it - it’s easier to unbolt it, drag it out and turn it over. Is that an option?

[Tobra]

Originally Posted by stevej37

I bought an Amazon pvc under deck washer that would spray up a few years back.
It was worthless to me....maybe my water pressure is not enough?

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Pressure washer? I got a little brass tip that worked pretty well with just the hose. I would scratchthe caked on grass with a screwdriver so the water would take it off easier. If you spray a littl oil on the deck when it is clean, it does not get as bad

I am a lazy, lazy guy.

[stevej37]

Originally Posted by Alan A

I just use jackstands.
If they hold my car they aren’t really over stressed with a tractor.

But my deck comes off with three bolts so to clean it - or do pretty much anything else to it - it’s easier to unbolt it, drag it out and turn it over. Is that an option?

That's what I have been doing, but getting that deck out after unhooking it is not easy.
No matter which way the fronts are turned...it interferes with the removal. I always do it on the garage floor to make the sliding easier and that also makes the 'flipping the deck over' more challenging. When tipping it up, it wants to roll on the gauge wheels very easily. If not careful, the whole deck can slide away and land on the floor.

[stevej37]

Originally Posted by Tobra

Pressure washer? I got a little brass tip that worked pretty well with just the hose. I would scratchthe caked on grass with a screwdriver so the water would take it off easier. If you spray a littl oil on the deck when it is clean, it does not get as bad

I am a lazy, lazy guy.

I have a SunJoe electric pressure washer....but to do the entire underside, it needs to come off and be flipped over.
Post #85 is what I use after every good scraping.

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[Alan A]

Originally Posted by stevej37

That's what I have been doing, but getting that deck out after unhooking it is not easy.
No matter which way the fronts are turned...it interferes with the removal. I always do it on the garage floor to make the sliding easier and that also makes the 'flipping the deck over' more challenging. When tipping it up, it wants to roll on the gauge wheels very easily. If not careful, the whole deck can slide away and land on the floor.

I jack the front after dropping for clearance.

I’ve no idea how old you are - or your physical capabilities here - but I flip mine from the side. Along the long axis [perpendicular to travel direction] to avoid the wheels rolling away problem. I do it in the driveway and lean it up against a retaining wall to wash the thing, or just flip it to futz with blades or the bearing turrets, which on the old craftsman that preceded the current zero turn were finest chinesium. I was replacing one or two a year.

[stevej37]

Originally Posted by Alan A

I jack the front after dropping for clearance.

I’ve no idea how old you are - or your physical capabilities here - but I flip mine from the side. Along the long axis [perpendicular to travel direction] to avoid the wheels rolling away problem. I do it in the driveway and lean it up against a retaining wall to wash the thing, or just flip it to futz with blades or the bearing turrets, which on the old craftsman that preceded the current zero turn were finest chinesium. I was replacing one or two a year.

I'll be 72 in a short while...and have no problems with lifting. But I've never considered turning it over from either side instead of front or back. I might try that sometime in the yard.


Well, maybe not....I just googled my decks weight.

A John Deere 48C mower deck, part number AM133402, weighs 97 lbs.

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[Alan A]

Originally Posted by stevej37

I'll be 72 in a short while...and have no problems with lifting. But I've never considered turning it over from either side instead of front or back. I might try that sometime in the yard.


Well, maybe not....I just googled my decks weight.

A John Deere 48C mower deck, part number AM133402, weighs 97 lbs.

.

I’m a bit younger. But remember you don’t have to lift it entirely to flip it - you max at 50% lifting one side when you start and it gets less as the angle increases. 50lbs shouldn’t be too awful assuming no underlying health issues.

[stevej37]

Originally Posted by Alan A

I’m a bit younger. But remember you don’t have to lift it entirely to flip it - you max at 50% lifting one side when you start and it gets less as the angle increases. 50lbs shouldn’t be too awful assuming no underlying health issues.

Hopefully, this chain-fall will eliminate my need to remove the deck. If I find it's not worthwhile, I'll go back to removing it whenever I need to do a good scraping. If I'm just doing the blades, I can do that with my rhino ramps.

I'm curious about the tractors lifting weight....the scale is on delivery this afternoon.

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[HobieMarty]

I don't think your chain hoist will be stressed from lifting the front of a riding mower as it won't be lifting the entire mower. That is a fairly heavy deck so, I can understand that it would be a bit cumbersome to remove and move around. Maybe taking a set of the gauge wheels off would help to stabilize it when trying to flip it over if you went that route.
I noticed that there aren't any covers over the belt pulleys, did you take those off at some point?

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[stevej37]

^^^ Yes I did...I was having to remove them almost every mowing because of the packed-in clippings. After a few times, I just left them off. I still have them.

I also defeated the auto shut-off of the mowing deck that happened every time the hydro was in reverse. It would shut off prob 50 times in one mowing...every time I came to a sharp corner.

I'm the only one that gets on the tractor..and I'm careful about it.

[stevej37]

Scale shows me what I suspected....highest weight is under 400 lbs. when lifting.
380 lbs. with the front end 6 inches off the ground.
354 lbs at 2.5 ft up......a nice working position.
weight made 345 when I ran out of chain. (scale takes a foot)

[HobieMarty]

https://youtu.be/K3XyRlIzFwY?si=cOdc4B5jvz8Z4R2r

This is different.

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[stevej37]

^^^ I've seen those before on Ebay. I doubt it would work with my 48" deck...I'm sure it wouldn't work with a 54"deck. Watch at the very end...it looks like his 42" deck is resting on his floor when tipped.

[flipper35]

I would drop the deck, lift the front and roll the deck forward, put the tractor down and back it out if the way and connect the chain falls to stand the deck up to wash and do the blades.

[porsche930dude]

My only concern about lifting to the side is the air filter. On push mowers if you tip them some way they dont like oil blows out the breather and soaks the filter. So I would run it a while without the air filter just in case.