Deck - Float or Roll ?

[TractorLarry]

My 1864 has the 48" deck with the big out-riggers. It looks like it can be set up to either roll on the riggers wheels, or float using the deck suspension.

Which way is best as far as not tearing the equipment up?

Right now it more or less floats, with the outrigger wheels just barely kissing the ground.

-Larry

 

[JTKub]

You can let that setup ride on the ground, but if your terrain is rough, something will eventually give. If you don't loose a wheel, stamped steel decks will crack over time.

Joel

 

[Fordlords]

An old TBN mystery Wear and tear wise, probably better to float. Just my opinion that mid-mount mowers are designed to float with the wheels there to prevent scalping, but some understandably disagree with that.
-Fordlords-

 

[OhioGuy]

On my 5252 there is no stop to setup the deck to float. The manual refers to it as a ground engaging deck.

One advantage, It always tracks true, nothing in the mule drive or undercarriage to move or change the setup. No left to right or front to rear adjustment. The deck has about six bolt holes that adjust in 1/2 increments from 1.5 to 4.5 inches.

The same is true of the older 60" Haban decks for the Super Garden tractors. They are just about indestructable. Except for those pricey wheels!

Disadvantages, when the ground is really soft in the spring those wheels will rut in a bit. I've damaged deck wheels crossing a driveway, even lifted, they give less ground clearance.

The three point finishers are all ground engaging also, at least partially, most new ones have wheels on all four corners.

Curt

 

[Mickey_Fx]

Personally with my Cub and the deck I have, I use the casters, rollers to control cut height. Gound isn't the smoothest and the wider stance of the deck's front casters helps insure a more consistant cut heigth.

One does need a deck that is designed for wheel contact, i.e. casters and adj caster/roller height. Most decks are not of this design and will place a lot of lateral loads on the deck mounts when turning. The old JD/deck I had wasn't design for constant wheel contact and I broke one of the lift arms numerous times before I stopped being lazy and adj the lift down stop.

Larry from your avatar it does look like you have casters on the front. Can't quite make out what kind of support at the rear of the deck. I prefer the wheels/roller on the deck for controlling height.

 

[Dave01]

I've always used these decks in float mode. I ran the 3204 with ground engage just to try it out but the yard was uneven and it bounced around quite a bit. Also, if you go to back up without lifting the deck the back roller sometimes digs in. Unless you are really particular about cutting height I'd float it.

 

[TractorLarry]

It has casters at all 4 corners, plus rollers on the deck in the middle.

-Larry

Personally with my Cub and the deck I have, I use the casters, rollers to control cut height. Gound isn't the smoothest and the wider stance of the deck's front casters helps insure a more consistant cut heigth.

One does need a deck that is designed for wheel contact, i.e. casters and adj caster/roller height. Most decks are not of this design and will place a lot of lateral loads on the deck mounts when turning. The old JD/deck I had wasn't design for constant wheel contact and I broke one of the lift arms numerous times before I stopped being lazy and adj the lift down stop.

Larry from your avatar it does look like you have casters on the front. Can't quite make out what kind of support at the rear of the deck. I prefer the wheels/roller on the deck for controlling height.

 

[TractorLarry]

Here's a picture of the deck when I took it off to install the Gators last fall:

The 1864 does have the height stop adjustment at the back of the tractor.

Maybe a compromise is best. Set the deck to the height I want, then adjust the wheels until they are just above the ground?

-Larry

 

[daTeacha]

I just bought a JD 240 at auction last night. Was reading this morning about the deck. It has 3 positions -- up for transport, float for most mowing, and locked down for mowing rough uneven ground. The wheels basically only contact the ground when they are used to float the deck over a high spot. Other than that, it just hangs there.

On my Cadets, the decks have skids on the sides and mostly float rather than ride on the skids.

I guess I'm in the float camp on this one.

 

[Vernonator]

I float mine (I have a GT3235 w/54" deck) but have never been able to get the deck down stop to work - so it tends to float down as I mow (I just keep an eye on it and re-adjust every now and then). I even had my dealer "fix' the down stop when I had it in the shop. But now not only does it not work, but when I turn the adj knob it does not move the adjustment - it unscrews the knob!!!!!! I figure I am NOT taking it back in for that.....