Snow BX2200- snow plowing with MMM still attached

[kaz]

Hello,

The dealer just brought back my Kubota from it's 50 hour service. He said he put the 60in MMM in the top position and that is was ok just to leave it there all winter. For some reason, I cannot get the deck to lower b/c I wanted to take it off. My PTO lever that switches from front to mid to both PTO is stuck in the mid position. However, when I lower the lever on the right hand side of the tractor (by the speed lever), then rear blade goes down but not the MMM. How can the rear blade drop when my PTO lever is not even in a position to allow it? Any suggestion on what to do? We're expecting about 6-7 inches and dealer is closed until Monday. Also will it hurt to leave the deck attached? My tractor is stored in a garage so any snow that accumulates on the deck should melt off.
Thanks in advance.
Mike

 

[BIGUN]

The PTO lever has nothing to do with the hydraulic lift, it only controls which PTO shaft or shafts will turn when engaged.
The reason your MMM won’t lower is the dealer placed it in the “TOP” position which locks it all the way up, allowing your rear blade to move while keeping the MMM in the up position.
To lower the MMM, first raise your blade, then turn the height adjustment all the way down, then lower the blade and the MMM will also lower. You can then remove the MMM.

 

[Deerlope]

It will not hurt to leave it on but why subject it to all that winter abuse. If it were me I would take it off.

 

[sandyc]

Kaz:
I have a 2200 and after my last lawn cutting, seems like a year ago, I dropped the mower and have it standing up against my barn wall. I have also removed the tension from the belts, and sharpened the blades as well.
As Deerlope said, why subject the mower to the elements. Also, with the mower off, it makes it easier to get in and out of the tractor.
Happy plowing!

 

[BPD239]

It doesn't say what part of the country you live in on your profile, but if you live in an area where you get a lot of snow it could be a problem pushing with a 60 inch MMM. If you get a lot of snow you have the potential to be pushing snow with the sides of the mower deck. 60 inches of mower deck behind a 48 inch plow or bucket.

I tried to save some time this summer pushing some process gravel when I build my garage. In the end it was more of a waste of time trying to push with the MMM on than the time it takes to remove it. I found my mobility limited making it harder to get into areas where I needed to push.

 

[surfran]

I would just add to BIGUN'S and say make sure you lift your rearblade all the way up or you won't be able to turn the deck control knob off from TOP. On my BX1800, if you use the lift lever, it will stop automatically but will not be at the fullest height, so you need to do it again.

I also agree with taking the deck off, why get all the extra moisture on the mower.

 

[Will_C]

I would add be careful when you lift the rear blade up, and hold the lever past the auto return. Depending how the 3pt hitch is adjusted, you could run the top link into the cross member between the fenders. My brother has a dent on his B2400 from doing that /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif
Will

 

[MadReferee]

Here is a story I posted as a reply in another thread. Interesting solution to a problem that might also apply to a MMM.

This past October we had a few inches of snow in NH. That day Gilford High School was hosting a soccer playoff game. I was the referee. The field had no snow when I got there but it was wet and sort of muddy.

I asked the coach how they got the field plowed. He told me that the maintenance guy hopped on the lawn tractor they had with the belly mower and ran over the snowy field. It seems the mower blades sucked up the snow and blew it back out the discharge chute as water. Instant cleared field.

 

[art]

There area stops that you fasten to hang the deck under the tractor to free the three point hitch with the deck on... Haven't worked on a BX but the rest of them all have them.

 

[Jim_Becker]

IMHO, the MMM is a big liability when working with snow unless it's only a slight amount. Since the mower is so easy to remove, especially with the FEL available to jack up the front of the machine so that the MMM can slide out easier...just take it off and stow it for the winter.