deflector rope

[sgoldste01]

I have a JD GT245 tractor with 54C deck.

Not surprisingly, there are times when the plastic deflector hanging off the right side of the deck gets in the way. Some people remove the deflector, but I'm not fond of this idea for safety reasons (I'm guessing it keeps things like rocks and such from being flung high into the air).

What other solutions do people use? I think I've seen that some people attach a rope to the deflector (and perhaps tie the other end of the rope to the cruise control arm that's also on the right side of the tractor) so that they can easily grab the rope and lift the deflector as needed.

Is that a good solution? Other ideas?

Thanks!

Steve

 

[kennyd]

I did the rope thing for a while, but have since taken the deflector off completely.

 

[beenthere]

Deflector off for me too. Seems the rope would just be in the way for getting on and off that side of the tractor.
The one thing that I think the deflector is good for (and the only thing that I see) is keeping some of the grass clippings from blowing back onto the operator when it is windy. Other than that, no other use. If for slowing objects down, no people should be in the firing line when mowing. And the times the deflector is in the way and would be pulled up with the rope, are the times mowing close to an object (wall or tree or rock) and the chances of reflected objects is very high. Good eye protection is a good idea for the operator.

 

[SSdoxie]

Took deflector off on mine to but I bolted a 4" wide strip of rubber belting over top of the discharge where the deflector hinge was, this keeps most of the clippings and debris from flying up in my face but still lets grass blow straight out.

 

[6thgpSF]

I did the rubber thing myself on a push mower only I used the rubber used on roofs.works great...russ

 

[JB4310]

I use a rubber bungee to hold it back for extended periods of time when not mowing.

It does get in the way sometimes when mowing but I thought if it were removed things would fly out in a dangerous trajectory?

JB.

 

[aczlan]

We did this on our Cub Cadet LT1050 (which is for sale BTW):

The rope ties onto the RH handle on the fender and loops over the deck lift handle.

Aaron Z

 

[Runner]

On my JD 185, I have a piece of 1x2 with a hole drilled in it sitting on the top of the mower deck. There is a carriage bolt going through the wood block and in between the guard and the top of the deck (i.e., right through the middle of the hinge), then a washer and nut on the inside.

This works on that machine because there is a ridge in the plastic guard that fits right over the 1x2.

 

[sgoldste01]

Took deflector off on mine to but I bolted a 4" wide strip of rubber belting over top of the discharge where the deflector hinge was, this keeps most of the clippings and debris from flying up in my face but still lets grass blow straight out.

Where can I find this rubber belting material?

 

[beenthere]

Runner
Could you post a pic?