Leaving MMM pinned up in winter and plowing.

[BizDoc]

I've always taken my MMM off in late fall prior to putting on front blade for plowing. The 72 inch deck is a monster to move around and store. So I was thinking of just pinning it up and leaving it on for the winter while plowing. Has anyone else done that? I not sure what harm it can do?

Michael

 

[oldnslo]

Would the lack of ground clearance be a problem when moving snow?

Would the mower width be wider than snow removal equipment?

Above are two possible problems I can think of.

 

[RjCorazza]

Give it a shot and see! Worst case is that you could high center the tractor on the mower if you drive over unplowed snow.
A side benefit would be the extra 200 lbs of weight for traction.

 

[Peter 315]

Give it a shot and see! Worst case is that you could high center the tractor on the mower if you drive over unplowed snow.
A side benefit would be the extra 200 lbs of weight for traction.

Just turn the mower on and blow the snow out....lol

 

[BizDoc]

Would the lack of ground clearance be a problem when moving snow?

Would the mower width be wider than snow removal equipment?

Above are two possible problems I can think of.

Two great questions. Ground clearance shouldn't be a problem since the plow is in front and clears the way for the mower deck. The plow is same width as mower deck, but I can see that being a small issue when the blade is swiveled right or left, that could drag some snow if it gets high enough, but that just means one or two more easy passes. The deck isn't on for me to measure the height but I think there's 3 to 4 inches of clearance with the deck locked up. At first I was concerned about the deck getting snow all over it in the winter, but then remembered seeing dealers with all their attachments, and tractors covered in snow, so I presume that's no issue.

Thank you

 

[BizDoc]

Give it a shot and see! Worst case is that you could high center the tractor on the mower if you drive over unplowed snow.
A side benefit would be the extra 200 lbs of weight for traction.

Good point actually, I have a long deceiving slope on the driveway. The extra weight could help those R7's stop spinning.

 

[BizDoc]

Just turn the mower on and blow the snow out....lol

That's right make those blades earn their keep during the winter.

 

[bigtiller]

I think I would take the diffuser off for more maneuvering room.

 

[Yander]

I've plowed snow with the MMM on. It does fine. That was on a small subcompact. I used a 6' blade and my deck was 5'.

 

[gstrom99]

First time I tried that, I got hung up on the mower. Never, ever, ever again. Always come off.

 

[CH4Ohio]

I have a B2910 with 72" MMM. It takes me 5 minutes to remove it. One lever up front, pull a pin on either side, reach under and slide the PTO shaft off, lower bucket to raise front wheels off ground, rolls right out the right side. Goes on just as easy except I do have to lay on my back to attach the mid-PTO.

That mower deck is really heavy duty and does a great job. However, the tractor is still heavy enough to tweak the deck or the blades or the hangers or the linkages if you get it hung up on something or catch the sides and twist it. One weak point is the cups that are mounted right above the blades on the spindle shafts underneath. They're just sheet metal and I've bent one of those before when I got a stick of firewood jammed under the deck in some high weeds.

Also, not sure if your setup is the same as mine, but my tractor doesn't have provisions to "pin it up". There are some hangers underneath that have provisions to "pin up" the deck hanger arms when the deck is off -- but they're NOT designed to carry the weight of the deck or hold it up. These hangers are actually pretty light and would get bent up.

I also think that trying to carry the mower deck up high would interfere with the 3-point hitch. Will your hitch still drop and raise through it's full range if you "pin" the deck up? If not, those linkages will end up bent.

Personally don't think it's worth the risk of tearing it up so I try to avoid tilling, significant loader work, pushing snow, 3-point implements, etc. with the deck on. I can remove the deck as as fast as I could strap it up anyway.

As far as storage, I have a 2" ratchet strap around a post in the barn and I just hang the deck upright against the post using the hinged front-mount. I use the loader to lift it up there and just hook the ratchet strap and give it a few cranks. That's my winter storage method.

FWIW, that's how I handle it . . . Don't bend your deck up.

 

[LittleBill21]

tried for one day, it came off the next day.

 

[dodge man]

I had a Kubota BX with a 60” deck and tried it one winter and it didn’t work. I plow with a rear blade and the fel and the deck kept getting hung up in the snow. With a front blade maybe less of a problem?

 

[bdhsfz6]

Removing the MMM from my old L3010 was a task I dreaded every winter. I used to leave it on when plowing, but due to the uneven ground, high centering was a constant problem.

I finally built a low slung dolly using high quality, easy roll casters. I would raise the front of the tractor with the FEL, slide the dolly under the mower and detach. Made the process much easier.

 

[CH4Ohio]

Removing the MMM from my old L3010 was a task I dreaded every winter. I used to leave it on when plowing, but due to the uneven ground, high centering was a constant problem.

I finally built a low slung dolly using high quality, easy roll casters. I would raise the front of the tractor with the FEL, slide the dolly under the mower and detach. Made the process much easier.

Not sure about the OP's B3030, but on my B2910 the 72" deck has big casters on all 4 corners. Once you unhook it, it rolls pretty smoothly in any direction as long as you're on pavement.

 

[jyoutz]

First time I tried that, I got hung up on the mower. Never, ever, ever again. Always come off.

I was envisioning this. Hung up on snow pack and lots of hand shoveling underneath to get free.

 

[bdhsfz6]

Not sure about the OP's B3030, but on my B2910 the 72" deck has big casters on all 4 corners. Once you unhook it, it rolls pretty smoothly in any direction as long as you're on pavement.

The MMM on the L3010 also has casters but they are too small and don't roll easily on my rough barn floor. I think this is the case with many mowers.

If you have a smooth, clean concrete floor, It shouldn't be a problem but using 6" quality casters on my dolly made a big difference.

 

[BravoXray]

I leave the MMM on my BX2230 when I push snow, neever had a problem with it. I just clean the snow off it before I put it back in the shop.

 

[Midniteoyl]

I've always taken my MMM off in late fall prior to putting on front blade for plowing. The 72 inch deck is a monster to move around and store. So I was thinking of just pinning it up and leaving it on for the winter while plowing. Has anyone else done that? I not sure what harm it can do?

Michael

Just had my BiL use his mower deck as a blade to level loose dirt, so..

 

[number two]

Just turn the mower on and blow the snow out....lol

On the national news about 12 years ago-a guy in New Jersey mow/blowing his sidewalk!
Seemed to work!