too many implements at one time

[joebrocato]

I have a BX 2660 which I use primarily for mowing the lawn. I also have several implements including a tiller, backhoe, bushhog, and box blade.
I like to keep the box on because counterweight and occasional road repair.
Problem is, when lowering the mower deck, the box also lowers.
Is there a way to lock the lift arms in position, and still raise and lower the mower deck?

 

[JOHNTHOMAS]

You can adjust the upper arm on the BB to the top and when you lower BB it won't go down. 3ph has no down force, it just drops allowing the object to fall to bottom or steps in between. If arm still lets it drop then a chain with hooks could be used to hold it.

 

[/pine]

Not sure if this will work because I don't know how the mower deck lift cylinder is plumbed...but you might try raising the bb and then closing the 3ph drop speed valve ??

 

[joebrocato]

I don't think the 3ph lift arms have a Top stop as the mower deck does. I tried the chain method, but the mower deck stops when the bb stops, and judging by the tension in the lifting strap i was using for a chain, the 3ph lift arms are actually powered down, not just gravity. I appreciate the suggestions and would welcome any others.

 

[joebrocato]

The 3ph drop speed valve controls the speed on both. closing the valve keeps either one from dropping. I appreciate the reply.

 

[CHDinCT]

There is a solution but not real elegant. You should see two ears near the top of the vertical lift links on your 3PH with holes in them. They are for unpinning your 3PH vertical lift links and pinning them to the frame. With them pinned to the frame, any implement on the 3PH will stay up while the lift arms move up and down (so you can drop the mower). The only problem is moving the pins to the fixed holes with the weight of the box blade on. I will see if I can find a pic of the holes I'm talking about. Take a look at your BX2660

 

[TripleR]

In short, no. The MMM is lifted by the 3PH, so if it doesn't move neither does the MMM. The "work arounds are about as much trouble as just taking the 3PH implement off.

I have weights on my 2660 and fluid in my 2200 which help a bit.

Our John Deere 2305 has a separate cylinder for the deck as an option, so we can use MMM and 3PH separately. The downside is a new lift cylinder ran us $1000.

 

[CHDinCT]

Take a look at the second pic for the hole just above my hydraulic top link. Ignore the first photo which doesn't show the holes, but I couldn't figure out how to delete it. Move your vertical lift links to these holes to keep the 3PH up.

 

[Finnster]

Did you check the manual? I don't have a BX, but the manual for my B something about pinning the MMM in the up position to the tractor. There are vertical brackets on the mower which should meet up to brackets on the underside of the tractor to pin the mower in place. then the 3ph lift arms are free to move without dropping the mower. Obviously have to drop it to mow.

At least that's how it sounded in the manual. Just read it, haven't done it, and may be wrong/ not applicable to BXs.

G/L

 

[TripleR]

Did you check the manual? I don't have a BX, but the manual for my B something about pinning the MMM in the up position to the tractor. There are vertical brackets on the mower which should meet up to brackets on the underside of the tractor to pin the mower in place. then the 3ph lift arms are free to move without dropping the mower. Obviously have to drop it to mow.

At least that's how it sounded in the manual. Just read it, haven't done it, and may be wrong/ not applicable to BXs.

G/L

You can do this on the BX and use the 3PH independent of the MMM, but not the MMM independent of the 3PH unless as mentioned by others you do a rather awkward work around; no simple way to do it.