bent my BX deck need some help

[chucky79]

I went to my inlaws to help out and mow her field since it was getting pretty tall. it was the first time ive done it and didn't see a large root growing above ground. It grabbed my front deck roller by the discharge chute and bent the deck in. After I got home I used a bottle jack and some wood cribbing to open the discharge chute back up and bend the deck/guide wheel back to what looked correct. I took some pics and measurements for you guys and was wondering if anyone bout be kind to measure their 60" for me when they get a chance to see how close I got it. Looks like the wheel is at the proper angle and the chute flap seems to fit the contour again so I think im close enough for government work but if I need to tweek a bit more I can. Please see the attached pics. I measured from the back edge of the deck to the same front edge and got 20 and 5/8 total inches (I measured the flat tall end inside the rolled lip but you will see in the pic what I mean by that). I thought at first It needed to go farther but even after pushing it farther with the bottle jack it likes to spring back to this as the natural position and it also seems to fit the shape pretty well with the black discharge guard so that leads me to think ive reached the max based on the design of the stamped deck. Thanks for all the help gang.

 

[TripleR]

I wish I could help, but my wife bent the snot out of ours and broke the wheel off twice, so our measurements are eyeball/government standards too.

 

[butlmd]

Just measured my deck, it is 20 5/8 inches, outside edge to outside edge. Looks like you got it in one!

 

[chucky79]

Awesome! I expected it was close. The gauge wheels were sitting about where I recalled when set to 3.5" cutting height and the deck kept wanting to flex back to this point no matter how much I stretched it out. Good to know I'm all set. Thx guys. I thought about welding a flat stock support across the lower edge of that opening to brace this area because I'm sure over the next ten years in bound to hit something again. My old lawnmower decks aren't cut out so I assume the amount of grass that would get caught in a 1/4 piece of flat stock would be minimal and really strengthen that front right corner. Thoughts?

 

[beckmurph]

Looks like you could use a bush hog. They are made to withstand those bumps like your mmm deck received.

 

[chucky79]

yea, I plan on adding a 4ft bush hog some day just haven't yet. Ive mowed that pasture many times with moms commercial bob cat zero turn but never with the grass this high. my brother n law and I agreed this year he would keep the yard up around the house and trim if I would drive the tractor over once a month and mow the pasture and hill. I just got a little quick on speed and low on my cut height trying to save time and it cost me. wont happen again.....