Mowing For all those having trouble installing the mid mount mower (MMM) on BX

[KTucke]

I fought with putting on the MMM all last summer. If I hadn't always tried this process in the garage I swear I would have burned the freakin tractor. This year I found the youtube video below and a horrible project became bearable.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tk6acYfo0Hw

Don't remember what the directions said but the key is turn cutting height knob to "0" and "attach PTO last." Two things I would add when attaching the back mounts is push down mower height bracket with your hand while lowering it from the tractor height control so you can see where it is hitting the brackets on the mower and I use a 2X4 with something for leverage to raise the mower up a bit to get the tractor height brackets attached to the mower brackets.

 

[wrooster]

If the FEL is attached to your BX, it makes taking the MMM on and off A LOT easier.

I disagree with attaching the mid-PTO coupler last. By the time you get to that stage you have restricted your elbow room considerably.

So, to mount the BX MMM:

0) Chock rear wheels.
1) Turn MMM height control knob to lowest mowing height position ("0").
2) Start engine; Raise TPH and MMM carriage to highest position (the MMM carriage "arms" should be up and out of the way).
3) Raise tractor front end with FEL; stop engine.
4) If not already in place, align and couple the MMM jackshaft halves. There is one wide spline which needs to be aligned with the spline gap.
5) Roll MMM deck under tractor, placing approximately in position. Leave the MMM front support bracket and locking lever assembly aside for the moment.
6) Attach the MMM jackshaft to mid-PTO stub. It can help here to put the PTO select lever in rear-PTO-only position, as this allows the mid-PTO stub to free turn. Don't forget that the mid-PTO coupling has a metal collar which is first drawn back, then the coupling is mated, and then the collar is seated towards the rear of the tractor. Tug on the mid-PTO coupling to ensure that that it is firmly connected to the stub.
7) Using the FEL control lever, gently let the front end of the tractor down.
8) Using the TPH lever, gently lower the MMM carriage down until it is nearly in contact with the rear MMM support arms. Make a final alignment of the rear of the MMM deck with the MMM carriage.
9) Using the TPH lever, continue lowering the MMM carriage; it will make contact with the rear MMM support arms; continue lowering.
10) "Massage" the MMM deck and carriage into position such that the rear arms mate with the carriage; click locking levers into place.
11) Take the MMM front support bracket and engage it with the MMM front edge brackets; using the locking lever assembly, "cam" the front support bracket up into place and seat the locking lever.
12) Start engine, raise MMM deck, and visually check that all support points are engaged correctly and the MMM deck is level.
13) With MMM deck raised, turn skate wheels to face forward and set wheel running height per manual.
14) Turn MMM height control knob to initial mowing setting. Set the PTO control lever to mid-PTO-only.
15) Remove FEL.
16) Mow.

wrooster

 

[KTucke]

If the FEL is attached to your BX, it makes taking the MMM on and off A LOT easier.

I disagree with attaching the mid-PTO coupler last. By the time you get to that stage you have restricted your elbow room considerably.

So, to mount the BX MMM:

0) Chock rear wheels.
1) Turn MMM height control knob to lowest mowing height position ("0").
2) Start engine; Raise TPH and MMM carriage to highest position (the MMM carriage "arms" should be up and out of the way).
3) Raise tractor front end with FEL; stop engine.
4) If not already in place, align and couple the MMM jackshaft halves. There is one wide spline which needs to be aligned with the spline gap.
5) Roll MMM deck under tractor, placing approximately in position. Leave the MMM front support bracket and locking lever assembly aside for the moment.
6) Attach the MMM jackshaft to mid-PTO stub. It can help here to put the PTO select lever in rear-PTO-only position, as this allows the mid-PTO stub to free turn. Don't forget that the mid-PTO coupling has a metal collar which is first drawn back, then the coupling is mated, and then the collar is seated towards the rear of the tractor. Tug on the mid-PTO coupling to ensure that that it is firmly connected to the stub.
7) Using the FEL control lever, gently let the front end of the tractor down.
8) Using the TPH lever, gently lower the MMM carriage down until it is nearly in contact with the rear MMM support arms. Make a final alignment of the rear of the MMM deck with the MMM carriage.
9) Using the TPH lever, continue lowering the MMM carriage; it will make contact with the rear MMM support arms; continue lowering.
10) "Massage" the MMM deck and carriage into position such that the rear arms mate with the carriage; click locking levers into place.
11) Take the MMM front support bracket and engage it with the MMM front edge brackets; using the locking lever assembly, "cam" the front support bracket up into place and seat the locking lever.
12) Start engine, raise MMM deck, and visually check that all support points are engaged correctly and the MMM deck is level.
13) With MMM deck raised, turn skate wheels to face forward and set wheel running height per manual.
14) Turn MMM height control knob to initial mowing setting. Set the PTO control lever to mid-PTO-only.
15) Remove FEL.
16) Mow.

wrooster

Of course a matter of personal preference using the FEL to raise the tractor but I tried that route and got a bit squeamish about sticking my head under there. By using two 2X4's as leverage and a longer 2x4 as the handle I can move the deck both up and down and forward and back to align the brackets. I'm right next to it so I can see which way I have to go. Also by installing the PTO last I don't need the wiggle room just as you mentioned keep it in the rear PTO position to spin, cock the coupling and it goes on fairly easily. I use the hoe and FEL all the time and won't keep the mower on when I use them so I'm doing it a least weekly. Yes the amount of time I have done it has helped but of all the methods I have tried and I've tried yours this is the quickest and definitely the least frustrating.