I have a John Deere 345 riding mower witha 48 inch cutting deck. It is a real PITA to drop the deck,change out 3 blades,and then re-install the deck under the mower. Anybody come up with a easier/quicker way for this operation to be done? No I don't own a crane [img]/forums/images/icons/grin.gif[/img] [img]/forums/images/icons/grin.gif[/img]
Hey, no problem lm. You mentioned you didn't have a crane so I gave you my old solution to the problem. More recently, I use the FEL on my CUT as a crane to accomplish the same thing. Some safety concern but the thing isn't that high up, isn't that heavy and I generally work from the side so I'm not actually under it [img]/forums/images/icons/smile.gif[/img]
Best one I saw was the guy who installed a hydraulic cylinder to the front of the tractor. Comes changing time, he just uses the cylinder like a hydraulic jack. Has removable casters that mount on the front of his deck and he can just slide it across the floor and under the tractor.
<font color="blue">Best one I saw was the guy who installed a hydraulic cylinder to the front of the tractor. Comes changing time, he just uses the cylinder like a hydraulic jack </font color>
Sounds like someone who's day job is pit crew on an Indy car team [img]/forums/images/icons/smile.gif[/img]
Ours is a JD 455, 60" deck and when it's time to remove the blades or clean underneath I use a chain hoist attached to a 2x12 beam supporting a shed off my shop. The chain hoist isn't that expensive (don't remember the price) but it's simple and effective.