Mowing Looking for thoughts on free floating my mower

[Mechanos]

I just picked up a well used JD 272 finish mower. It's design uses fixed mounting pins for the lower 3pt arms and the U-shaped floating top link bracket. It does have the optional front casters, but they are fixed (no height adjustment) and I believe they are only intended as anti-scalp casters. It's design relies on the lower 3pt arms to set the height. I am thinking about modifying the mower so that it has 4 casters that ride on the ground at all times and adding "floating lower link brackets" so that the mower deck can articulate side to side a little independent of the tractor.

 

[beenthere]

I would expect to get a poorer cut with all four casters on the ground (short distance), rather than the cutting being done between the rear tractor wheels and the rear deck wheels (longer distance).

 

[Mechanos]

Could be... I intend to try it as is before doing anything to it.

 

[Willl]

Though I haven't done it myself, I think it's completely do-able Mechanos.

For independent tilt/twist from tractor, just replace one lift link with short chain.

I'm not following what beenthere is talking about ?

 

[HalseyGreen]

I have a Woods rear finish mower, it has 4 caster wheels, early this year when I went to attached it I didn't have a pin for the top link, so I left it off and let the mower float. I beleive I got a better cut that having the top link attached. Only drawback is if you should back up, the mower tends to ride under the lift arms.

 

[Glen Watkins]

Another good reason for a floating HTL!:thumbsup:

 

[dmay]

I consider all post-purchase modifications to mowers that involve chains, to be accidents just waiting to happen. My advice is to keep your mower in factory original configuration. They design'em that way for two pretty important reasons; efficiency and safety.

The U-shaped device that Roy pointed out is called a floating toplink bracket. If it's missing, get one. Because when you want to transport the mower, you tighten up your tractor toplink (screw it in) as far as it will go Assuming you've got the correct toplink, that should ideally point the open end of the U at the tractor. When you get to where you're going to mow, you lower the mower so all four wheels are on the ground. Then extend (unscrew) the tractor toplink until the open end of the U is pointed straight at the ground. When you're done mowing, adjust the tractor toplink so that the floating bracket is once again in the transport position.

//greg//

Actually I have a GM3060 RFM. The John Deere factory quick hitch kit option for the GM3060 replaces the fixed metal frame supports with chains: