Browneyesvictim
Silver Member
Yes. Those rods can and should come off. Although I have seen some folks leave them on the tractor with the mower off, I don't like to leave any more hanging off the belly than is necessary. Its only a few steps more to take them off. Those rods are what adjust the height of the mower deck using the 3PH lever. The video is almost accurate... However its not quite as easy to remove just the rear pins or re-align them into the mower deck brackets and if there is any weigh of the mower deck hanging on them. To remove the deck I do the following in sequence:
1. Raise the mower deck to full height
2. Remove the pin at the at the height adjustment bracket at the rear of the tractor below the PTO
3. Lower the mower deck so that it is sitting on the ground. * Depending on the anti-scalp wheel adjustment or height adjustment settings it may not release all the weight.
4. Release the front mount mechanism at the front of the tractor
5. Remove all 4 circlips and pins.
6. Remove the turnbuckle clips on the adjustment rods where they attach to the 3PH linkage
7. The adjustment rods can be removed completely at this point or left where they are.
8. Remove the PTO shaft at the rear coupling.
9. Drive off the deck.
I find its easier to drive over with the big wheels than the front wheels or it does sometimes scoot the mower deck. Not so much an issue in the grass, but no-way-Jose if doing it on flat concrete. I have a couple of short 2x4's that I put in front of the deck to help as a ramp.
1. Raise the mower deck to full height
2. Remove the pin at the at the height adjustment bracket at the rear of the tractor below the PTO
3. Lower the mower deck so that it is sitting on the ground. * Depending on the anti-scalp wheel adjustment or height adjustment settings it may not release all the weight.
4. Release the front mount mechanism at the front of the tractor
5. Remove all 4 circlips and pins.
6. Remove the turnbuckle clips on the adjustment rods where they attach to the 3PH linkage
7. The adjustment rods can be removed completely at this point or left where they are.
8. Remove the PTO shaft at the rear coupling.
9. Drive off the deck.
I find its easier to drive over with the big wheels than the front wheels or it does sometimes scoot the mower deck. Not so much an issue in the grass, but no-way-Jose if doing it on flat concrete. I have a couple of short 2x4's that I put in front of the deck to help as a ramp.
