here's a pic

 

You say you removed the deflector from the deck,Craftsmen have a big opening. You don`t get coved with clipping. I was over to Sear this past weekend and looked at the GT5000 w/50" deck and the blade tip was exposed, you`d think a sheet cover, just a small one would help. I use Gators all the time and I know lifting the defector to about a 45 degree angle helps spread out the clipping. Hate to see a rock fly up and hit you. :fing32:

 

MM42

Blade isn't that close to edge on mine. Might be because it's older? Never get covered with clippings. I think sears changed the shape of the deflector on the newer ones? Mine was long and flat and always dug in on turns.

Might be a good idea to put it and bungee it up! Thanks!

 

OK from the picture, it looks as if the back wheel has been replaced with an adjustable wheel? So I need four adjusters?

 

:bump9:

 

Splicer

All the parts needed are listed above. Those red bars are the gauge bars, ref # 103 and part # 155986X505. You need (4) of them.

 

Thanks. Can't find the nose roller though:

"We could not find the information you requested. Our online database does not contain any information on part number: 71.242971
Please verify the part number and try the search again. You can find your Part Number in your owner's manual.

Quick Tip: An example of a part number is 12345 or 3366R.

If you know the model number of your product, try locating the part using the model search feature located on the upper left corner of this page.

If you need assistance in locating your part number, then click here for help."

 

OMG its dirty,, I waxed my deck looks new on top
the underside is not as clean, I guess I wont bother trying, all the little stone chips and grass stains

 

I just ordered all the parts today:bannana: Worked out well, I got 25% off! :fing02: Parts will be delivered in 5 days, total cost $107! :bannana: I have 2 new sets of blades coming (not gators yet) this week as well. With the forcast for 60's by Wednesday, only be another week or so before the first cut!

Top of my deck is dirty too. Does the wax help repel the dust and grass topdj?

 

Splicer

That roller # is the # off the box. Ypu probably need to order it at a sears store.

You could order the roller and two brackets from sears as parts for the deck of the tractor I listed above and then just pick up a few nuts, bolts locally. That deck comes with the roller.

 

Yup I think I have it covered SC...I did actually go to the Sears Part center. They are closing in 3 weeks here so the 25% discount...the girl had a hard time locating the part but it came up finally as a 917 24297 KIT NOSE 1 $37.16

Is that right?

 

Splicer
Yeah that makes sense! 917 prefix for AYP since they make the deck. The 71. prefix is a sales code I think.

Hey 25% off is a great deal!

 

You say you removed the deflector from the deck,Craftsmen have a big opening. You don`t get coved with clipping. I was over to Sear this past weekend and looked at the GT5000 w/50" deck and the blade tip was exposed, you`d think a sheet cover, just a small one would help. I use Gators all the time and I know lifting the defector to about a 45 degree angle helps spread out the clipping. Hate to see a rock fly up and hit you. :fing32:

I was looking at that myself this weekend. Seems like a strange setup. not the normal shute style, but this huge hole starting at the top of the deck, and wrapping around. I would not want to use that one without the chute in place!!

 

I will leave the chute in place but tied up a bit so no clumping. My 30" RER I took the chute off and grass flew EVERYWHERE :duh:

 

Time to clear the air?

This thread was posted for the sole purpose of helping others upgrade the older 50" style deck. A deck that everyone describes as a POS! Sears upgraded this deck before they came out with the 54". They made a 50" 10 guage deck with 4 wheels and a nose roller. The older 12 guage 50" deck had only 2 rear guage wheels and no roller.

Here's a pic of the discharge side of the 50" deck. A deck that hasn't been sold since they came out with the 54" deck about what 2 years ago? So I'm not sure where anyone is seeing these for a comparison?

I really don't see where this any different than any discharge on any other deck. The original problem I had with this deck is the fact that it is too wide and too flat. Too wide especially with the deflector shield that adds at least anothe 6-8" if not more. When I would trim around a tree turning to the left, the shield would dig into the ground on the right. If I was mowing over uneven ground and turned left, the same thing would happen.

Adding the nose roller and additional guage wheels and removing the shield made all the difference. I could at this point put the shield back on but as you can see in the pic, I use the mow n vac with this deck. That white channel is a spacer for the mow n vac boot. I'm not saying everyone should remove the shield but keep in mind especially if like Splicer you are trying to build a reputation and earn a few $$, gouging someones lawn isn't going to give you the results you are looking for. Tying the chute would work also but that's just like removing it. 50" is pretty wide in some places. Removing the chute gives more clearance. Tying it up maintains the width w/o the protection. Guess it's whatever makes you happy?

As for getting covered in clippings, I don't aim the discharge at walls or fences so how/why would the clippings come back on me?

For comparison, here's the discharge side of an old Bolens 42" parts deck I have laying around. This opening looks bigger than the craftsman 50".

Also note in the top photo, I turned the blade to point at the discharge opening before taking the pic. The edge of the blade cannot be seen either in the pic or from where I was standing. Again I'm not sure where you guys are seeing and comparing?

 

BTW, the 12 guage 50" deck with 2 guage wheels and w/o a nose roller was last sold on the Grey GT5000 with the 22 HP B&S engine probably around 2003. The 10 guage 50" deck w/nose roller and 4 guage wheels was replaced by the 54" deck about 2 years ago.

 

Maybe I got covered because the 30" deck is so much smaller? I am not trying to compare really, just stating past experience with the 30" is all. :trink39:

 

So does the gauge of the deck effect the cutting job it does?

 

The stampings are exact only difference is the thickness. Can't see how it would affect cut? Only thing it might affect is rusting out.

 

Thats what I thought. 1 more question (I know I'm a PITA) I have is are all the 50" decks this shallow?

OK I lied. I have 2 questions:duh:

Do we know WHY they are made so shallow?

 

The two I mentioned are the both shallow. I think it is an old carry over design. Pure side discharge w/o mulching or bagging. Try the Gators when you get a chance. You will see a difference. No clumping, no windrows, no detectable clippings left behind, no need to sweep/rake.

 

and removing the deflector shield made a big difference.

Boy six you are so right...If you guys remember I had a GT3000 with the 50" deck on that I whined about...not only on the forum but to Sears as well...they ended up trading me a new GT5000 with a 48" 10 gauge deck for the old one after a year and a half....The new deck started clogging after a years use also...Inasmuch as this deck is set up for a vac system and the deflector cannot be removed, I ended up cutting the deflector shield back so as to not obstruct the discharge...A WORLD OF DIFFERENCE!!!

The pisser of the whole deal is that I liked the GT3000 tractor better than I like the GT5000...I could have saved myself a lot of grief by just removing the deflector but I was convinced the deck was a POS...

 

Got my parts today! :bannana: Idiots didn't pack 2 items. :duh: the Lefthand front wheel bracket and 2pk of Pin :fing20: . Will have to call tomorrow since I have to p/u my front mount dethatcher that is supposed to be in tomorrow.

Any way there are 3 new part #'s that are now substituted for the #'s Mr Chows has at the beginning of this thread and who may wish to revise the numbers:

OLD #: 155986X505, Bar.PNT.ADJU is now NEW #:155986X431

OLD #: 156941, PIN HEAD RIV is now NEW #:156941X008

OLD#: 184219, BOLT.SHOULDER is now NEW# 193406

The prefix '917' proceeds ALL part numbers with the EXCEPTION of the prefix of '980' for the part # STD624008, PIN 2PK.

 

Idiots @ Sears...Got my parts but not all of them :fing20: . Got the other bracket the next day. Am still waiting on a third delivery for 2 little pins. So I go and install the rest of the parts. Everything went smooth as silk till I got to the Right Front bracket. The bag the bracket was shipped in has the right part# but the wrong part! :banghead3 :duh:

So now I have to deal with them again...

SC I see you left the old wheel brackets on the deck. Any reason? I removed mine and replaced just the bolts.

 

Did this mod to my GT5000. The cut has improved amazingly. I used to get a bit of a lop sided cut despite my efforts to level the deck. In addition, I had hilly areas of the lawn where the deck would bite into the turf on turns. Not an issue any more.

I bought the nose roller with the tractor, but it wasn't enough. I'd highly recommend this mod to owners with a 50" or larger deck if there aren't independent wheels on the front side.