Mowing Easy Modification to the Mower Deck

pequeajim · Dec 22, 2004

I think Charlie did this earlier but I thought I would post what I did to my mower deck to get it lower to the ground. There are some situations where I need to cut the grass VERY low ans the stock PT wheels are too large. I went to Harbor Freight and picked up some smaller caster wheels for around $12.00 each. They come with a sleeve and a greese zerk. They fit the PT bolt and when installed, allow me to lower the deck almost where it is touching the ground.

They are a hard rubber tire with a cast wheel. I picked up some 10" hard rubber replacement wheels while I was there for the front. $6.00 each and heavy duty!!

Notice that they are pretty blue too, ooooh... /forums/images/graemlins/ooo.gif

johara1 · Dec 23, 2004

i added 1/2"thick steel plates between the front casters and the deck that lowers it 1/2" per plate. just add longer bolts,i had two more holes in the back to go,lower it back there. this works very well /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif

pequeajim · Dec 23, 2004

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( i added 1/2"thick steel plates between the front casters and the deck that lowers it 1/2" per plate. just add longer bolts,i had two more holes in the back to go,lower it back there. this works very well /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif )</font>

Go any pics?

MuncyBob · Dec 23, 2004

I'm surprised that you need a loer cut than the lowest location on the deck itself....if I put my mower deck on the lowest cut I would scalp several areas. You guys must have a much more level cutting area than I do!

johara1 · Dec 23, 2004

the lowest mine would go was 3"i don't have pics of the mod to the deck but it's simple, a spacer between the caster mount and the deck.infact i tacked the 1/2"plate to the caster mount to drill it on the drill press. because the plate PT. used wasn't square. /forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif

pequeajim · Dec 23, 2004

My yard is not very level and I would not use the lower setting for that, but I fly RC airplanes, and will be cutting our runway part of the time this year. We like the grass as short as possible as this let's the little planes take off and land on it too.

My Ventrac would get it down almost like a golf green. For most of my mowing at my place, the standard PT setup is great. Every now and then, when it's my turn, I will mow the flying field. It would be pretty easy to slap a different set of wheels on for that.

Anyway, that's the only reason that I want to get the cut that low.

Happy Holidays /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

MuncyBob · Dec 24, 2004

OK..makes sense to me. It happens that I'm looking at a RC plane for my birthday in May...always wanted to try that...perhaps I'll ask for sme hints from you since you have some experience.

johara1 · Dec 24, 2004

i found that the front needs to be lower than the back,so it doesn't leave piles of grass when it wet and high.by lowering the front i can use the spacers that pt. has to make tha height adj.down to two ins. up to four with the pull of a pin. on the back you still have to remove a bolt. /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif