Is the 62D deck a floating or ground contact deck?

[OrangeRidge]

Thanks for that info and sorry it wasn't as I hoped for you .........

 

[KennyG]

Don't wreck your back to put the deck back on it's wheels. If I want to scoot it around on the wheels, I just use a pry bar to lift up the corners and put a block under the deck, then lower the wheels. It only takes a minute. I actually don't do this much anymore since I made wheels and axles to store it vertically.

I keep saying I need to try the wash out port, but I generally only mow when it's dry and, at the end of the year, mulch leaves with it. That cleans it completely for winter storage.

 

[smalltown]

KennyG Was that off the shelf items that you used for the wheel and axles to store your deck vertically?
Getting close for me to store my 62D deck for the winter and storing it vertically would save qute a bit of room.

 

[KennyG]

The dimensions work well with off the shelf items. 1/2" pipe or rigid conduit (not EMT) is a good fit in the deck sleeve that the wheel shaft fits into. A 5/8 inch rod will fit inside the pipe/conduit. 5/8" axle wheels are a standard size (think Harbor Freight). I built version one with 8 inch wheels and it worked but the clearance was tight. I then found a deal on some 10" wheels and that worked much better.

 

[dannyk]

Kenny,

What is the safest way to lift the deck, install the axles, and put the mower in the vertical position?

I was thinking of using my pallet forks and a strap that I have (rated for 6000 lbs). If I loop the strap around the front wheel supports, the deck is nearly vertical. Still, this involves working around the deck when it is hanging in the air, supported by the loader, and there might be safety concerns. Thoughts?

Danny

 

[thatguy]

I use a chain and the FEL (bucket removed, and i run the chain thru MMM quick hitch (now no longer offered)), leave the tractor running, and work from the side as quickly as possible

You probably could use a floor jack to lift the deck high enough while sitting on the floor to possibly get the axles installed. BUT the ground side is where the longest side of the axle needs to be..

Broian

Kenny,

What is the safest way to lift the deck, install the axles, and put the mower in the vertical position?

I was thinking of using my pallet forks and a strap that I have (rated for 6000 lbs). If I loop the strap around the front wheel supports, the deck is nearly vertical. Still, this involves working around the deck when it is hanging in the air, supported by the loader, and there might be safety concerns. Thoughts?

Danny

 

[KennyG]

I use the FEL and either a chain or a strap around the front wheel atttachments. It really doesn't seem to me to be dangerous. It's not like the deck weighs a thousand pounds. You only need to lift it enough to get the wheels off the ground and you don't actually need to get under anything to take the back wheels off and put the stand axles on.

 

[dannyk]

Urbandeere,

I had a Kubota with mmm that was a pain to slide out. It would clear the tires much easier if I drove the tractor up on blocks made out of 2 x 10s cut at a 45 degree angle on the drive on side. The 2 x 10s were stacked two high making a 3-inch ramp. This raised the tires enough so that the mower wouldn't hit them. Just a thought. - Danny

 

[Gobblin Tom]

I've been wondering why Deere removed the stow-and-go brackets from the more recent 62D decks. Someone suggested it was a cost cutting move, but I can't imagine that Deere would do that when they hyped it as a feature in all the videos and sales literature.

I think they were afraid of liability from people being injured by using the stow-and-go feature to pick the deck up and work underneath it to change the blades. I can see it being tempting to do exactly that, but also potentially dangerous.

My 2520 and 62D we're bought when they still had the brackets. With my iMatch hitch, picking the deck up and moving it around is a breeze. It's one of the reasons I wanted the setup I have, and it's a shame that more recent buyers don't have this feature.

Can you take a pic of your deck for the brackets? just wandering if can make something myself... I also was not told about the new tractors not having this feature...

 

[glc24]

Here's a few pics Tom.

Hmmm,I made a drawing of all the dimensions too but I can't find it right now.

Greg

 

[wooden]

Here's a few pics Tom.

Hmmm,I made a drawing of all the dimensions too but I can't find it right now.

Greg

I ordered the Hydraulic lift kit installed on my 2720 and I am so happy i did. I think it takes all the work out of it and can be done from the seat. Only way to go for me

 

[glc24]

wooden, I think we're talking about two different things here.

Greg

 

[damiang]

Uh, don't get me started!!!

The deck needs to be sitting flat on the ground, wheel pins released, when installing/removing the deck. Yes, this mean the deck cannot be rolled on the anti-scalp wheels to a storage location with the wheels up. Why the angry face? Because I thought my deck would be delivered with the "stow and go" lift pins, so this would not be an issue. NOT! So now I need to lift (my aching back) each wheel and lower it until all four wheels are carrying all the weight of the deck so I can roll it to a storage location. The other option is to use a chain (strap or pallet forks) to lift the deck with the FEL and move it to a storage location. Unfortunately, I keep the FEL off the tractor when I mowing. Oh, my back!!!

Let me ask this to those guys that have the 62D...Yes I am extremly pissed off that the Stow "n" go feature is not on there as the current web page for JD shows off that feature (as of 9-23-11) I called and bitched at them for still showing thta this is a feature but they took it off production back almost 2 years ago..
Any way my question is.. is there a trick to hooking up the deck after you take it off??? When I try to do it the arms are not exactly straight on when they hook up but they eventually both grab and when i go down to turn the spring pin in I ALWAYS have to wiggle the deck for a few minutes till the pin lines up with the hole... That usually happens to just one of them as the other seems to slide right in. I thought maybe there was a trick to it.
Oh and YES washing the deck with the house nipple does work pretty good, I actually go under there with the hose afterwards and try to get a nice stream of water off the hose hand nozzle and get the rest off then I take my hand (while the tractor is off) and peel off any clumps left. Yes I wash my 2520 every time i am finished with it, wax it here and there, tire dress the wheels, clean the engine compartment and also spray some tire dressing in there as well to shine it all up.. I am pretty **** about taking care of my investments b/c one day I will prolly sell it and want as much money out of it as possible... Just me I guess. Plus it looks new all the time.. Oh another trick I was told is to use Pledge on it as well.. works pretty good on the plastics.

 

[damiang]

Can you take a pic of your deck for the brackets? just wandering if can make something myself... I also was not told about the new tractors not having this feature...

Tom, if you do this and it works, keep the template.. I would be more than willing to ask you to make me a set for me... willing to pay a few bucks to cover materials and time to make!!!

 

[kude]

It's a drive over deck, why would anyone want to pull it out between the wheels?

 

[urbandeere2520]

It's a drive over deck, why would anyone want to pull it out between the wheels?

Why? Because to drive over the deck the anti-scalp wheels must be released and the deck drops onto the ground. After driving over the deck, the issue is lifting or raising the deck back up on the anti-scalp wheels so it can be rolled to storage. Some of us older dudes have a problem lifting the heavy deck, hence why we wanted and were expecting the advertised stow n' go feature which would eliminate the need to lift the deck (the 3-point hitch would do the lifting). The work-around I now use is a long bar to lift the deck so I can drop and lock the anti-scalp wheels, one at a time, in the down position. The deck can then easily be rolled to storage on the anti-scalp wheels.

Okay - some may say to just drive over the deck with the anti-scalp wheels locked down... well this is bad practice, because the anti-scalp wheels cannot support the weight of the tractor and the deck will be damaged. Two, the deck will probably slide on the anti-scalp wheels, especially on smooth surfaces, when attempting to drive over it.

Regarding pulling the deck out between the wheels with the anti-scalp wheels down and locked, well it can't be done on the 2520 tractor unless you jack up the tractor's front wheels so the anti-scalp wheel brackets will clear the tractor's front tires.

Yes, I'm not happy that JD is still advertising the Stow n' Go feature though it hasn't been offered for two years... and my dealer didn't advise me of this when I purchased the tractor and deck, since I specifically purchased a iMatch Quick Hitch for this purpose.

I contacted my JD dealer and JD customer service about this matter shortly after I purchased the tractor.. their response, "sorry". Didn't make me feel good after dropping nearly $20 grand. Your mileage may vary.

 

[pdp11]

Any way my question is.. is there a trick to hooking up the deck after you take it off??? When I try to do it the arms are not exactly straight on when they hook up but they eventually both grab and when i go down to turn the spring pin in I ALWAYS have to wiggle the deck for a few minutes till the pin lines up with the hole...

I always drive far enough ahead to drag the deck a few inches with the lift arms. Once the deck seems to be hooked on both sides, I set the parking brake, then get off to release the pins. I rarely need to wiggle the deck to get the pins in.

 

[urbandeere2520]

I always drive far enough ahead to drag the deck a few inches with the lift arms. Once the deck seems to be hooked on both sides, I set the parking brake, then get off to release the pins. I rarely need to wiggle the deck to get the pins in.

I use the same procedure... and it works fine...

 

[damiang]

I'll give it a shot again..

 

[smalltown]

urbandeere2520 Interesting I'll try that myself. My 62D deck acts the same sometimes it hooks right up and othertimes I need to "viggle" the deck to get the front latched.