Massey gc1705 model 2326 60" MMM question

[sevenvalleys]

I am seeing different views on the 2326 deck on the 2018 gc1705 . What is the proper way to mow : float the deck , wheels not on the ground except maybe rough terrain etc . or Deck wheels always riding on the ground ?? .
I just bought my tractor and my dealer says option # 2 .... Deck wheels always on the ground .... On you tube some of the western dealers say the opposite , float the deck ??
Thanks for all feedback

 

[Mattsy Fergy]

The main reason I bought mine, instead of green or orange, was the ability to mow with the deck on the ground, rather than suspended. The dealer said a customer found it in the manual, and dealer verified it. I need to look it up. It does a real fine job!
The only issue is that the wheels are a bit narrow, and will dig in soft/wet ground, just raise the deck a bit and continue.

 

[sevenvalleys]

The main reason I bought mine, instead of green or orange, was the ability to mow with the deck on the ground, rather than suspended. The dealer said a customer found it in the manual, and dealer verified it. I need to look it up. It does a real fine job!
The only issue is that the wheels are a bit narrow, and will dig in soft/wet ground, just raise the deck a bit and continue.

Did your dealer also tell your the height increments on the knob really mean nothing at all ? Set your wheels etc. to the height chart setting desired and lay it on the ground ? It just seems like an easy way out for properly setting up the deck IMHO . My manual doesn't say much at all and the linkage diagram must be from an earlier model as the obscured images doesn't seem to match the my new deck . I think Ill put a call in to the agco rep and see what he says . I don't want to bust the dealer if he is correct .

 

[Fiziksgeek]

Just a little terminology correction. A floating deck is one that rides on the ground, a suspended deck is one that hangs from the mower. Floating decks in theory will provide a more even cut, as the mower height is always referenced to the ground. A suspended deck will be referenced to the mower and will change as the wheels pass over uneven ground. The wheel of a suspended deck are there only to prevent scalping, and the wheels of a floating deck are supposed to be in contact with the ground all the time.


I run my mower deck as a floating deck, meaning the 4 main guide wheels are touching the ground all the time. I set the mower lift height to the minimum, so that I can drop the deck all the way down. As pointed out, the wheels are not really designed well for this. You definitely need to be careful on soft ground, or the guide wheels will dig in and tear the turf.

 

[charlton289]

I use mine with the wheels on the ground that's what my dealer told me and I think it also says it the manual yes the wheels do dig in and tear up the yard in the soft places but over all you can't even tell that were even on the ground if it's dry.

 

[SteveM70]

I used too mow with wheels on the ground as my dealer told me.

Once I learned of the cost to replace those wheels, I set my deck height by the knob and use my wheels to keep from digging in the ground.

I found that the ladder works way better in my situation anyhow. "Pushing" that heavy deck on those small wheels up my steep hills was causing lots of wheel spinning that is no longer an issue.

 

[sevenvalleys]

This is bringing out good conversation about the deck specs ... floating on ground or suspended off the ground !!!
Now I would like to go the next step and talk about the linkage . I did see a gentleman here with a you tube video on how he changed his deck linkage , adding washers etc. I am not in to all of that right now .
My question is my deck is setup in the 3rd notch , I believe just shy of the 3 " cut level . The only position on the dial to where the wheels do not touch the ground is #5 which is the so called lock position and it still drops about 1+ inches from the all the way up position . All the other 4 positions at least touch or even out pressure on the deck . It also does sit level side to side . Out about 1/2" left to right on a level concrete floor.
The only adjustment that is in plain sight is the adjusting bracket on the left side ONLY ... none on the right side . Do all decks have the one adjusting bracket on the left only ? My manual shows it looks like 2 adjustment brackets one on each side ??
These are just some questions and comments as I have only mowed with mine one time every thing brand new . I would like to make it right in the near future . Thanks for all the feedback and lets keep this thread going . I feel Massey (Agco) shouldn't have 2 standards on this deck . I feel that Doug on you tube the Missouri dealer ( Vahrenberg Implement ) has the better method when he says the deck should be suspended off the ground .
Thanks John
Thanks John

 

[WranglerX]

I deleted my original post because I think I got it wrong...

To me it looks like mower should operated suspended and not floated, reason being wheels look very anemic for float operation, to me grass area would have to be ping-pong table smooth to operate on those wheels....

IF one were to look at a 3PT finish mower and you look at the substantial wheels on them and then if the 2326 had those then I would say it's a floater...

Dale

 

[SteveM70]

Mine also has one adjustment and it is also on the left.

I think you should be able to set your deck wheel height adjustments high enough that the wheels will be off of level ground when you're cutting grass to 3".

 

[sevenvalleys]

Mine also has one adjustment and it is also on the left.

I think you should be able to set your deck wheel height adjustments high enough that the wheels will be off of level ground when you're cutting grass to 3".

The only side to side is the one adjustment bracket ?? Maybe the mule drive adjusting nuts ?? Have you ever checked your blade height side to side for accuracy ??