Anyone with a 72" MMM and a 59" Snowblower on a 3000 series?

[orlo]

Hi:

I have a 3720 and have been using an 84" RFM since last fall. Due to this I haven't used my 72" 7 iron MMM since early last fall. the dealer installed my front hitch/lift and front PTO for my 59" snowblower. I took the blower and arms off, etc. early last spring. I went to mount my MMM today (I wanted to bag and use the cyclone rake) and the first swearing event was realizing It seemed I had to remove the Front PTO shaft bearings. 4 about 25mm bolts in a hard to get spot that was probably tightened by a torque wrench. Anyway, I get that off, I do all the other pain in the butt stuff for the MMM and the front hanger seems like it's about 5" back from where it needs to be so I can put the hanger bracket in it? I don't have the front pto/hitch manual (Dealer never gave it to me). I looked at my MMM install/parts list and the hanger bracket does not look like what's on there now.

Does anyone have a 3020 series with a MMM and a snowblower? Am I just cracking up or is there a bracket or adapter I'm missing?

Thanks for any help anyone can provide.

 

[sunnyside360]

I have a 3720 cab tractor with 72" 7 Iron mmm and 59" front mount snow blower. I use it primarily for mowing 6 acres of lawn in summer and clearing snow from approx 2000 ft driveway in winter. I have never removed the front attach mechanism for the front hitch. For the summer, I remove only the hitch itself (3 or 4 pins if I recall) along with blower and drive shaft -- no wrenching involved.
I'll take a look at mine tomorrow (tractor is in barn) and see if I can be of any help. Will also check to see if I have the manual for hitch and drive shaft.

 

[orlo]

Thanks. I'm wondering if there is another plate that mounts on the hooks on the plates for the snow blower or something.

 

[orlo]

Actually, is there any chance you can take a picture of your front hanger bracket? If so that would be great.

Thanks,

 

[sunnyside360]

Actually, is there any chance you can take a picture of your front hanger bracket? If so that would be great.

Thanks,

I have the manuals for Front Hitch, Front PTO Kit, and Mid-Mount Mower which may be helpful. The english portion of the Front Hitch manual is only 11 pages -- could try to scan & email to you or make hardcopy and send to you. Let me know what you'd like.
Will also take a picture.

 

[orlo]

I think a picture would be great. That would let me know if I have a different hanger bracket or the same one you have.

Thanks,

 

[sunnyside360]

I've got the pictures but have never uploaded on this site. Can you point me to the procedure for uploading/posting the pictures. Alternative is to email them if you give me your email address. My email address is sunnyside1203@windstream.net.

 

[Nuru]

sunnyside360, when you post a full reply or post a unique message, all you have to do is look down below the text entry box, and you will see a button that says "Manage Attachments" click on that , and you will see what to do at that point. You find the pic/graphic on your PC, upload it and the close the pop-up window, and then if you are finished with your text message you click on "Submit" or "Submit Reply" This does not work on quick replies.

 

[sunnyside360]

Nuru, many thanks for pix posting info. I'll give it a try.

 

[sunnyside360]

My first try at posting pictures, thanks to Nuru for info.
Since my tractor has front fenders, I have 4 or 5 pictures at different angles because fenders prevented good shots.

 

[sunnyside360]

Orlo, hope the pictures help. Geees, didn't realize the tractor was so dirty until looking at these pictures. Give me a yell if you would like any more info.
BTW, the Front Hitch manual has very good black and white photos also for each assembly step.

 

[orlo]

Sunny:

Thanks for the pictures. Your front mower hook up IS different than mine. the bar that connects each side of the 'pulls' that connect the mower to the drop mounts is offset so it can clear the PTO (looks like that). Mine is the original one (the bars are longer), and it's connected by a single rod dead center where they go in the 'J' slots so you can't do it without removing the PTO.

I'll have to talk to the dealer and I'm sure this front mower mount is specially made for the new drop brackets for the Front PTO.

 

[sunnyside360]

I was wondering about the possibility of being some differences because my 72" 7 Iron MMM manual has info that does not match my mounting set-up. For example, the front mount handle for locking hitch in place, and some dimensions for initially adjusting the rear yokes and front rods aren't even close.

One of my biggest gripes with the mower is the inability to raise it very far off the ground. I mow with it all the way UP and that is only 3.5 inches off the ground (blades) and that's with the rear yokes near turned all the way in. The book calls for adjusting to 1/8 inch below the "upstop" and mine won't adjust anywhere close -- more like 1.5 inch. I've talked to the dealer and he says nothing he can do. After two summers of mowing, I've learned to live with it since it does do a pretty nice job cutting grass.

Hopefully, someone else on the board has the same setup as yours and can help. Good luck.

 

[Nuru]

Nuru, many thanks for pix posting info. I'll give it a try.

No problem!

 

[Nuru]

I was wondering about the possibility of being some differences because my 72" 7 Iron MMM manual has info that does not match my mounting set-up. For example, the front mount handle for locking hitch in place, and some dimensions for initially adjusting the rear yokes and front rods aren't even close.

One of my biggest gripes with the mower is the inability to raise it very far off the ground. I mow with it all the way UP and that is only 3.5 inches off the ground (blades) and that's with the rear yokes near turned all the way in. The book calls for adjusting to 1/8 inch below the "upstop" and mine won't adjust anywhere close -- more like 1.5 inch. I've talked to the dealer and he says nothing he can do. After two summers of mowing, I've learned to live with it since it does do a pretty nice job cutting grass.

Hopefully, someone else on the board has the same setup as yours and can help. Good luck.

You got me wondering about mine, and the next time i take it out, i will take a look at the MMM height. Mine seems to go higher than 4 inches but i have not measured it at all.

 

[Nuru]

My first try at posting pictures, thanks to Nuru for info.
Since my tractor has front fenders, I have 4 or 5 pictures at different angles because fenders prevented good shots.

Oh yeah, good pics!

 

[sunnyside360]

You got me wondering about mine, and the next time i take it out, i will take a look at the MMM height. Mine seems to go higher than 4 inches but i have not measured it at all.

Nuru, I'd appreciate it very much if you would check the max mower height, and approx distance between upstop and mower.
My 3720 has the smaller R4 tires, so that does contribute to the lower mower deck height, but the adjustment mechanism should be able to compensate. Further, I cannot come close to the 1/8 inch gap between upstop and mower deck as specified in the manual -- more like 1.5 inch.

 

[Nuru]

Nuru, I'd appreciate it very much if you would check the max mower height, and approx distance between upstop and mower.
My 3720 has the smaller R4 tires, so that does contribute to the lower mower deck height, but the adjustment mechanism should be able to compensate. Further, I cannot come close to the 1/8 inch gap between upstop and mower deck as specified in the manual -- more like 1.5 inch.

Ok, I guess i will go out and do it today or early tomorrow.

BTW - did you get the draft arms kit (LVB24810 Mower/Hitch Draft arms kit) that allows one to keep the MMM on and the Front 3PT Hitch? Someone did purchase that kit and I was thinking of it, but wanted to see it first. Anyone got any pics?

 

[Nuru]

Nuru, I'd appreciate it very much if you would check the max mower height, and approx distance between upstop and mower.
My 3720 has the smaller R4 tires, so that does contribute to the lower mower deck height, but the adjustment mechanism should be able to compensate. Further, I cannot come close to the 1/8 inch gap between upstop and mower deck as specified in the manual -- more like 1.5 inch.

i was able to get it to about 1" difference. My mower can be adjusted so that it cuts at 4.5" at the lip of the mower, so I am guessing that if I measured the blades it would 4" or a little under? I manually lifted the MMM and it could go higher but as it is currently adjusted, it won't

 

[sunnyside360]

Ok, I guess i will go out and do it today or early tomorrow.

BTW - did you get the draft arms kit (LVB24810 Mower/Hitch Draft arms kit) that allows one to keep the MMM on and the Front 3PT Hitch? Someone did purchase that kit and I was thinking of it, but wanted to see it first. Anyone got any pics?

I'm not sure about the kit you are referring to, but my dealer delivered the tractor, MMM, and snowblower with front 3 pt hitch all connected and ready to go except for the drive shaft for the front 59" snow blower which he handed to me because MMM shaft was connected.