What did you do on or to your LS Tractor today?

[Diggin It]

Broke it (again). Fixed it (again, sorta).

Mowing my steepest hill, uphill, so barely crawling. Caught a spot hard enough that the gauge wheel dug in rather than rolling over. Shoved the edge of the deck back into the blade edge enough to slash through the deck.

Was able to use that chain wrapped around a tree to work it back out. Had to move the chain a few times to different places on the deck and back up very very gently. Blades run clear now, but I'm still not sure what, if anything else got messed up.





I had been looking at the spot a while back thinking there was no reinforcement. My two riders have a bar that goes to the back side of the discharge chute. Not sure if I can add that here or not.

 

[mred2]

That hurts just to look at. I think every time I start a job, I get something to break. Fixing is no longer any fun.

 

[sodamo]

I’d say it gets easier, but actually just hurts a little less each time.
On my wife’s craftsman which had that reinforcement as you described, she bunged it up so bad the only fix was to cut out the latest bent area until she needed a deck replacement.
And not even gonna show what shape my brushhog is in.

 

[Diggin It]

Thing is, at close to 300 pounds, I hoped this deck was stout enough that this kind of thing wouldn't happen.

 

[Doofy]

These things should be taken to a competent welder when brand new for reinforcement if you can't do it yourself. Mower decks look tough and pretty when new but we tend to keep this type of equipment long past its useful life. Things are no longer built to last forever.

 

[Doofy]

I have an old John Deere 40 loader attachment sitting in the back 40 that is still in fairly good shape for something made in 1950. It has lived outside for 70 years.

 

[SJJIM]

I have had my new XR4150H for little over two weeks now. Yesterday I attached a new WoodMaxx 62H flail mower and went out and did some mowing. Both tractor and flail performed flawlessly. I was cutting dry grass and weeds anywhere from 6" to 4' tall using Y blades. I set the cut as high as I could the first time out to avoid hitting rocks. Things are getting pretty dry here in Northern California and there is always a risk here of starting a fire with a spark off a rock. I could have easily run a 78" WoodMaxx on the 4150, but, I also plan on using the flail on my John Deere 420 crawler on steeper terrain. The crawler's pto HP is only 24, and the 78" requires a minimum of 30 hp at the pto.

 

[BBHomestead]

Broke it (again). Fixed it (again, sorta).

Mowing my steepest hill, uphill, so barely crawling. Caught a spot hard enough that the gauge wheel dug in rather than rolling over. Shoved the edge of the deck back into the blade edge enough to slash through the deck.

Was able to use that chain wrapped around a tree to work it back out. Had to move the chain a few times to different places on the deck and back up very very gently. Blades run clear now, but I'm still not sure what, if anything else got messed up.


View attachment 658409


I had been looking at the spot a while back thinking there was no reinforcement. My two riders have a bar that goes to the back side of the discharge chute. Not sure if I can add that here or not.

You may find a jack used inside the mower with blocks and some clamps will push that back out better than trying to pull with a chain! I hit big rock with my old 4ft hog and it bent the deck where the gearbox sits on top so that the blades were hitting bottom of deck on one side and dirt on other I was able to get a car jack between the blade hub and deck.and make it straight enough that it still beats down the brush!

 

[sodamo]

Had planned on mowing today. Only got about 4 rounds on the flail.
As I was coming into a turn point I noticed and commented to self about the wet grass, not recalling that it had been that wet. Looked back as I completed turn only to find flail covered in oil. Looked under tractor and hydro fluid is spewing like a garden sprayer. Naturally, I’m at far point from tractorshed but decide to head there. Got maybe 50 ft and lost steering etal, tractor coasting downslope into the fence. Trudged up to the house, got wife, chain, and Ridgeline. At least needed to get tractor where I could get under it.
Chained Ridgeline to flail and attempted to pull. Only minor gains before I’d lose traction. Headed upslope of course. Got it clear of fence when John came down and offered his assistance. Trick was to gain a little, hold that gain by braking tractor while repositioning Ridgeline.
View attachment 658777View attachment 658778

Once in a clear area, able to disconnect the flail and reposition to front with hopes of getting it turned toward the house. Success, me in Ridgeline, John on tractor for the brakes, got it up to the driveway.
Crawled under and found the problem - the hydro filer. Not unusual that I hit the loose gravel, but I do remember hearing an unusual clink. Must have been a rock hitting the filter.
View attachment 658780
Only 1115, time to get to my dealer before he closes at 1200.
Half way there by time I learn none in stock. Couldn’t cross reference at NAPA either.
Came home, ordered online, done for day.

 

[brs78660]

Made some videos of it.