Kansas Slim,
One thing I was concerned about was the clearance issues with the 7-iron. Even with the deck fully raised, I am concerned it wouldn't be more than 3-4 inches off the ground.
Anyone know if there's adequate clearance with deck raised? The 8 acres I'll be mowing is kind of damp & bumpy in places. Concerned about scalping, but need the 7_iron to keep the deck from clogging.
:confused3:
Check this link for some pics I posted last year when I got it.
http://www.mytractorforum.com/showthread.php?t=99735 The ones you may be more interested in start with entry #14. My yard is still pretty rough, and I do have areas where the tractor dips on one pass, then dips the otherway the next pass, so you're left with a different cut hieght. Purely a function of my messed up yard, but we're getting there. There is less clearance since the deck is deeper, but I have not had any issues of having the deck hang up on me...except that one time I was in the ditch! I shouldn't have tried to cross that sharp a dip just to cut a 2 foot area! But the diff lock works great! Just stomped on it and backed right out.
I have not had any issues with the machine sinking into wet areas (of which I have a couple). I think the tire size/weight distribution works out pretty good. I do take the deck off for gravel work/snow plowing. It's just too easy.
As for the deck you found, I don't know if the 7 Irons designed for the Z-turns have the same mounting points or not. There should be two hooks on the back that the draft arms slide into and the hooks in the middle of the front where that the U-shaped hangar bracket mounts. If the ramps are not mounted above the outer mower spindles where the rear tire drives over, I'm sure they can be purchased separatley, as long as the bolt holes are fore and aft of the spindles where the ramps actually mount. I guess what I'm saying is, I don't think there is such a thing as a 7 Iron designed for the tractor that is not a drive over deck. If the ramps are gone for some reason, replace 'em. Mine also has a metal shield near each rear hook to help guide the draft arms into place and keep them from hanging up where they are not supposed to. I'm not at home looking at it right now, but maybe you can tell from the pictures.
p.s. There are also more deck pics on entries #16 & 17 if they happen to be on the next page of the thread for you like they are for me.
Edit: Checking to see if you had responded, I noticed that you found a tractor with the deck, not just the deck. My mistake. As I mentioned, if the ramps over the spindles are not mounted, I'm betting you can just buy replacements. There should also be a piece of iron welded onto the leading edge of the deck in the wheel tracks so that the tire has a place to grab on to as you back up over the deck, and a piece of bar steel welded to the deck over the discharge chute that sticks up a couple inches and serves as a right rear tire guide as you back up over the ramp. It all works pretty slick. The bar can be seen in the pic where the tractor is backing over the deck and the leading edge pieces are easily seen from the pics of the deck standing up.
:laughing: