Good bye GR2120. Hello F2690

[Poopdeck Pappy]

I didn't know the tilting process was so involved on these. Looks to me like the Grasshopper front mount mowers with the PowerFold decks are the cats meow when it comes to tilting the deck up for service. It's a 10 second job that requires no manual lifting.

But, then again, the Grasshopper is 2wd only and has steering levers instead of a steering wheel. So, it's a bird of slightly different feather.

 

[JOHNTHOMAS]

I didn't know the tilting process was so involved on these. What are you saying is so involved? That the deck is heavy and has to be manually lifted? There are a couple of pins to push to let the rear deck wheels move, make sure the drive shaft is aligned straight, a shock pin to pull and a lever stored on deck to fit in a slot and push/pull to release pressure and then lift. Yep, it's more than pushing a single button and it just stand straight up but shure that would add a big price increase to a over $20000 machine Looks to me like the Grasshopper front mount mowers with the PowerFold decks are the cats meow when it comes to tilting the deck up for service. It's a 10 second job that requires no manual lifting.

But, then again, the Grasshopper is 2wd only and has steering levers instead of a steering wheel. So, it's a bird of slightly different feather.

Always able to find something that has a different feature that is better than another brands especially when money doesn't matter.
One feature can often make the difference between picking a specific item. I had or chose to buy a 2 seater sports car based on my ability to get my fat butt out of it without having to crawl on the ground and then try and get up. The SLK230 maybe isn't as good or better than the other ones I tried but I can get in and out of it fairly easy where the others I tried were a struggle. I did try a SC430 a few days ago and it will work to if a decent trade comes along.

 

[Pete6114]

Hello Pete,

I'm on John's page with this one. The manual is asking you to remove the shaft to be on the safe side in the event that a non-mechanical person tries to tilt up the deck without first aligning the u-joint. You can certainly leave the D shaft connected. Just lift up the spring loaded guard and ensure that the drive shaft yoke (the one which is connected to the input shaft of the mower deck) is in the horizontal position, so that you're not fighting the u-joint. As for a one man tilt, I find these decks to be heavy as **** (maybe I am becoming a wimp in my old age)... in any case, I'm working on a 4 or 5 foot leaver arm that will permit me to stand on the left side of the machine, and just pull back to tilt the deck. I find that going up is heavy but letting it back down is a real task!

Dan

Hi Dan.
Went to lift the spring loaded guard up 90 degrees to look at the u-joint, but it's hitting the front of the machine just a little bit and dont want to force it up, scratching things up. (must be the height setting) For what it takes, i can disconnect/reconnect the the driveshaft in seconds, no issue...
Washed the deck again yesterday, but put the front wheels on some 2X10's, which saved me from having to tilt the 2 scalping rollers up (never touched the ground). It also made lifting the deck even easier and gave a slightly better view of the deck. I'll double up on the 2X10 next time and see how that works.
John and you must have the 72 inch deck!? I'm guessing here, but i figure the lifting weight for tilting the deck up, to be close to 40-50lb for my 60 inch deck. I too have to lift with my legs being that i have a bad back myself and need to be very careful, or i'll slip a lower disk, and i sure don't want that!

 

[Pete6114]

I didn't know the tilting process was so involved on these. Looks to me like the Grasshopper front mount mowers with the PowerFold decks are the cats meow when it comes to tilting the deck up for service. It's a 10 second job that requires no manual lifting.

But, then again, the Grasshopper is 2wd only and has steering levers instead of a steering wheel. So, it's a bird of slightly different feather.

I don't find it a chore at all, but rather enjoy the tilt up feature. I can keep the deck clean throughout the cutting season and just take the blades off and loosen the belt for winter storage.

Besides taking the driveshaft off, of which some say, isn't even necessary, i just pull the 2 Lock pins to release the deck from the mower link and pull the tilting pin, which locks the deck in the upright position (automatically once the pin and hole line up) once i get the deck lifted up. Simple and easy as pie.

 

[Poopdeck Pappy]

What are you saying is so involved? That the deck is heavy and has to be manually lifted? There are a couple of pins to push to let the rear deck wheels move, make sure the drive shaft is aligned straight, a shock pin to pull and a lever stored on deck to fit in a slot and push/pull to release pressure and then lift. Yep, it's more than pushing a single button and it just stand straight up but shure that would add a big price increase to a over $20000 machine.

Always able to find something that has a different feature that is better than another brands especially when money doesn't matter.
One feature can often make the difference between picking a specific item. I had or chose to buy a 2 seater sports car based on my ability to get my fat butt out of it without having to crawl on the ground and then try and get up. The SLK230 maybe isn't as good or better than the other ones I tried but I can get in and out of it fairly easy where the others I tried were a struggle. I did try a SC430 a few days ago and it will work to if a decent trade comes along.

I'm just saying that Grasshopper has the automatic deck lift down pat. Takes about 10 seconds and no manual lifting or aligning things or pulling pins. But, I as I pointed out, the Grasshopper is a different machine that doesn't have some of the features that the Kubota "F" series has. I was hoping that the "F" series had a powered deck lift system that was closer to the Grasshopper system.

Just to put this in context, I had a riding mower with a deck that clogged up all the time and it was a PITA to take the deck off, clean it and reinstall it. And now I've got the BX with a mid-mount deck, and it's somewhat of a PITA also. (Which is why I'm now using a Woods rear finish mower.) I want my next mower to be a front mount with a deck that's easy to tilt to clean, remove and reinstall the blades.

I'm not bagging on the "F" series. I still lust for one of them. I didn't know how the deck lift worked (thus, my question), and was just hoping for something different.

 

[Sigarms]

I'm just saying that Grasshopper has the automatic deck lift down pat. Takes about 10 seconds and no manual lifting or aligning things or pulling pins. But, I as I pointed out, the Grasshopper is a different machine that doesn't have some of the features that the Kubota "F" series has. I was hoping that the "F" series had a powered deck lift system that was closer to the Grasshopper system.

Just to put this in context, I had a riding mower with a deck that clogged up all the time and it was a PITA to take the deck off, clean it and reinstall it. And now I've got the BX with a mid-mount deck, and it's somewhat of a PITA also. (Which is why I'm now using a Woods rear finish mower.) I want my next mower to be a front mount with a deck that's easy to tilt to clean, remove and reinstall the blades.

I'm not bagging on the "F" series. I still lust for one of them. I didn't know how the deck lift worked (thus, my question), and was just hoping for something different.

I was going to get a grasshopper just because of thier deck.

I still own a country clipper that I thought was very easy to access the deck, as it was one primary reason I bought the mower (along with joystick control).

Man, old pic it still looks so clean LOL

That said, all in all, the F mower is easier IMO to access the deck then the Country Clipper. When you read what you have to do with the F mower to lift the deck, it does seem like a lot, but once you do it a couple of times, it becomes pretty easy and fast.

I, as you, liked everything I saw about the grasshopper system. Fact is, if I hadn't stumbled upon a good deal from the guy who I still swear could be a employee of Kubota or Barlow's on this forum, I would of bought a grasshopper. Everything I've read and heard about them (Grasshopper) told me they were a great mower, with their deck system being second to none.

 

[Pete6114]

Had some scraps of 4 inch angle laying around and turned out to work well for my hitch.

 

[Dan W]

Had some scraps of 4 inch angle laying around and turned out to work well for my hitch.

Nice work Pete, that's exactly what I'd do as well...

Dan

 

[Moosetracker]

Nice work Pete. What size/weight trailer are you intending to pull?

 

[Pete6114]

Nice work Pete. What size/weight trailer are you intending to pull?

I've got a 12X6 and a 20X7 down in my shed without good access, and don't want to drive my pickup down there to get one of the trailers when i need one. (all grass with 3 trees near by, and the Septic tank's leach bed)
They would be empty of course and i'll just be pulling them up to the driveway.