Side discharge to Rear discharge

[AndyG]

Has anyone ever tried to convert a side discharge mower to rear discharge? I have a old 72" Befco side discharge. I like the mower and its construction but I want to change it to rear discharge to reduce the possibility of objects being thrown from the mower.

 

[AndyG]

OK so no one has tried to convert from side to rear discharge. What are the differences in deck design between the two types? If I can get a good idea of how the deck is arranged on a rear discharge I can decide if the project is feasible.

 

[djradz]

Andy, my old Woods mower is both. The only difference is removing the side shute, and replacing it with a plate. The plate is identical to the one on the near side in the picture. I've used it as a rear discharge for over 20 years. No baffling changes underneath the deck were necessary.

 

[jc7622]

It probably would work either way. My 7' rear discharge cutter doesn't have any kind of deflectors underneath and throws everything big or thick against the side and then deposits it out the back edge of the cutter.

 

[AndyG]

Thanks for the answers. When you close off the side chute doues it cause the grass to clump badly or is it pretty well spread out. My main motivation in doing this project is to reduce thew poissibility of objects being trown from the mower.

 

[inveresk]

On my rfm, the discharge opening is virtually the whole width of the back of the cutter so it doesn't block. Sticks and stuff can still get fired out at high velocity but at least only backwards. I could stop this with a chain skirt if it was an issue which it isn't.

 

[beenthere]

dj
Is that the pic you intended to attach with this? Good one of the check chains however. Kinda was expecting to see the discharge feature mentioned. /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

 

[djradz]

Yes, the discharge side was on the left, but the plate on the left side is exactly like the one on the right, and that I had a picture of, so I figured, it didn't matter. Nothing else was changed - took chute off and put plate on.

 

[beenthere]

/forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif

I guess I don't see a discharge chute in that pic you posted.

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( the discharge side was on the left, but the plate on the left side is exactly like the one on the right, and that I had a picture of )</font>

I must be losing it. /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

 

[RobJ]

same here, I think the picture one from another topic. /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif

I always like pictures. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif