mahindra 60" belly mower run gearbox upside down?

spirostats · Jun 27, 2020

dieselscout80 said:
Looking good. :thumbsup:

Are you concerned about side forces on the mower with the mount?

I was concerned before the built, That's why I connected it this way at first and used 1/4" steel on the mount. It turns out that even without swivel wheels and after some hard hits on a couple of trees and turns on thick tall grass the lateral movement of the chains that suspend the deck is undetectable. I have to say I am ecstatic on how it works up to now and cant wait to fabricate a swivel deck for it. I would like more of a "devil's advocate" type of feedback because i'm a little worried that this is going too well and feel that it's one of those "too good to be true" scenarios.
The one negative thing that I have encountered and was mentioned in this forum at a different post is the dust (obviously only in topology like mine)that might blow towards the engine intake at times when the wind is blowing the wrong way. I watched it happen and so I took out the air filter and screens and blew them out with the leaf blower, took a about 10 minutes and wasn't too bad ...just fyi!

spirostats · Jun 27, 2020

My only concern with that would be that if you drive up to a steep slope or over the edge of a ditch or something like that the mower could pivot down far enough to hurt the u joints.

Aaron Z

spirostats said:
Yeah. I have the same concern but yesterday I rigged it up with some chain and mowed about a half acre. It does a really good job so now I'm more motivated to figure out a safe setup that limits accidental damage. I want it to pivot a few degrees but will have to find a way to prevent pivoting past it's limits. I could always just hook it up to the loader arms and put them on float but want a little more flexibility to follow the (not so flat) ground I have more evenly.

I moved the mount a little closer. There is no way for the driveline to come of by accident now and even at the most extreme angle it can actually tilt it's within safe operating range. Only thing now is that I have to connect the driveline BEFORE I engage the mount.....no big deal anyway and I'm also planning to fabricate some kind of flexible mount to hold the driveline in position so I can just drive up to it and hook up all toghether! Im thinking maybe a "V" guide .....tbc...

spirostats · Jun 27, 2020

Next things to do and could use advise with:
1. a swivel deck
2. a spare gearbox _just in case_ ....they look to be about $300.00
3. a spare belt...need to figure out which one it is and where to get it from
4. spare blades
5. I have the cylinder for the kubota front hitch so I will try to mount it permanently and put in a diverter valve to operate it so that I do not have to use the loader arms for it or other front implements that use the front PTO.

spirostats · Jul 11, 2020

90% done.
Works great. Not sure why this configuration isn't more popular. It was definitely worth the effort. Wheels are from harbor freight on two bolts. Can easily be changed out for about $15 a piece. Will look for a wider one in the future and might add suspension. I can bolt anything on the fabricated swivel mount. Lowest height in this configuration is 1.5", I dont think I need it any lower for any reason but left my options open just in case.I need to add some grease fittings. I also need to install the lift cylinder but is definitely not needed. Works great as a blower too. I will add a short video soon.