RE: (ET) mower deck questions-- Simple customizations!

["Elie, Larry (L.D.)" <lelie ford com>]

OK, so I've had a few decks.  I think now is a good time to mention a 
simple and USEFUL customization!

The deck is heavy.  Sure, the springs and the lift CAN lift it, but would 
you like a simple improvement?  
No wiring necessary, and the lift will work better too.

The normal way of positioning the lift strap is fine but marginal.  If you 
look at the page SteveS pointed us 
to with the manual, looking at Figure 4, you have the normal webbing 
mount.  If you go down to a good hardware 
(finding a good hardware is probably the handiest ET thing you can do) you 
can buy a 5/16" x 2" long hitch pin 
with a small head.  You can also get a 5/16" ID x 1" bronze bushing, and a 
couple of 5/16" ID by small OD stainless flat washers.  You also need a 
5/16" x 1-1/2" stainless bolt and locking nut.  Replace the old 
pin/bolt on the deck with the new hitch pin, using the bronze bushing and 
2 stainless washers and pass the 
lift strap UNDER the bushing doubling back up to the lift bracket.  Use 
another hole on the tractor lift 
bracket to mount the new stainless bolt in the loop of the lift strap.  
You have just made a "poor-man's" 
block and tackle.  This is much the way the tiller lift is set up, and it 
works very well.  If the old lift 
procedure lifted say 150 lbs. 6" in 10 seconds, the new will use 12" of 
strap to lift the same 150 lbs in 20 
seconds; you are lifting a LITTLE slower, but you won't really notice.  To 
be honest, the only down side I 
know is that you may have the lift power to pull the lift pin right off 
the deck if it's too rusty.  If you 
are real ambitious, you could add a SECOND pulley on the lift bracket of 
the tractor and add another mount 
to the deck and you will lift easier still.


Another customization?  Why not?

I have strawberries.  I have weeds.  The weeds are taller than the 
strawberries, but the deck won't lift 
high enough to clear the strawberries and just cut the weeds.  A simple 
fix is to remove the black bumper 
(you gain about an inch and a quarter) but that might not be enough.  What 
to do?  Well, how about 
LENGTHENING the 2 arms?  All you have to do is remove the two roll pins 
(may be rusty.... and you have to 
compress the springs to do this...) and add another section of rod and 
tube.  Again, you need a good hardware 
store.  About 10" longer arms and now you can raise that deck a FOOT!  
What about the lift?  You need to 
lengthen the lift bracket 8" or 10" with another bracket.  Beware!  the 
lift position of the deck is tricky 
or you will tip the deck at an angle.  It is also much more dangerous to 
hands and feet.  The casters will 
be nowhere the ground, so if the thing hits a hole it WILL tip.

Larry Elie