So I am in need of a mowing deck for my old 420. It would have originally came with a 50" or 60" shaft drive deck. I bought it without a deck and am trying to decide if I want a 50 or a 60. I had a 430 with a 60 and honestly thought it was too big for my yard. I don't have an acerage or anything big I just like the older bigger garden tractors. I have never used a 50 or seen one for that matter, but I do know a guy that has one for sale, at a premium of course. I am wondering if anyone on here had used both and how they compare. Do they both mow good? Is one preferable? I know the 50 isn't much wider than the tractor wheels, is that an issue? Is there anything bad about a 50 other than its not as big as a 60. I am thinking maybe the 50 wont scalp my yard in places the 60 did, and will fit it tighter places. Were the 50" decks just no popular because most people wanted to mow bigger areas or is there something else I'm missing?? I even talked to a guy who has been buying and selling this stuff for 26 years and had only ever seen one 50" deck! Also, wondering if a 50" from a 318 or similar would be able to be retrofitted with the shaft drive assembly or not. Thanks.
50" mower deck for JD 420-430
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With some work you could fit the gearbox on the 50 in deck BUT the spindles are larger on the 60 in deck so you would need 2 different blades and then the height of the blades would have to be addressed,it would be different,.
I think the smaller decks leave a better cut than the larger one but Its from past experience but others might be of a different opinion.
I think the smaller decks leave a better cut than the larger one but Its from past experience but others might be of a different opinion.
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I have bought 3 420s over the years. 2 had 50 decks, one had a 60. The 50 shell itself is the same as a 50 from a 318 or similar, but the various welded-on brackets are different. It would be a lot of work to make a 50 deck from a 318 fit a 420. The 50 decks on a 318 cut nice, so there's no reason a 50 shouldn't cut well on a 420.
you pretty much nailed the pros and cons. the decision is yours.
on note on converting a 50 deck, the gearbox is not the same on a 50 deck and a 60 deck. your blade speed would either be dangerously fast or too slow to be useful. I also think the drive shafts are different. but I could be wrong. as other have said its not practical to convert to 300 series deck for the 420/430 tractors
on note on converting a 50 deck, the gearbox is not the same on a 50 deck and a 60 deck. your blade speed would either be dangerously fast or too slow to be useful. I also think the drive shafts are different. but I could be wrong. as other have said its not practical to convert to 300 series deck for the 420/430 tractors
I have a 430 with a 60" deck that I have never mounted cause I am using it for other chores, but I have a 140 with a 54" deck and what most would consider a "why bother" yard cause I can mow it easily with a regular push mower. Didn't get into JD garden tractors for that anyway. The 54" deck is a pain in my yard and we don't have much landscaping to negotiate around. It's fast, yeah, but unless you have double gates or have widened them the size can be a pain. Mows good, but I'm on the lookout for a smaller deck, like a 48, so I can extend my tractor/lawn/greenspace therapy time and I consider mowing part of that. The 430's previous owner was using it and the big deck to mow a sizable ranchette-type acreage and I see where it is perfect for that. Good luck finding the deck you want...or upgrading to another tractor in the herd just for mowing.
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Just installed a 50" deck on my 420, works well but doesn't give as nice a cut as the 46" deck on the 317. My yard isn't flat and the wider decks seem to scalp a bit easier compared to the narrower decks.
Why? The 60 smokes anything from that era. 50'S are rare for the same reason 41's are. To small for tractor is bad.
My front lawn is 55" wide, ill still take the 60.
So you're saying a 50 is too small for the tractor? Does that hurt the tractor somehow? Honestly I am open to all advice on this subject, I don't wanna spend $600 on a deck just to be disappointed. Without ever owning a 50 I think I want one because my yard is small. The only downside I can think of is that the 50 will only stick out past the left edge of the tractor about 4" so if mowing around a bush or something you might be rubbing your leg and the side of the mower up against the bush.
I think 4" overhang is being generous. that is the big issue. its so much easier to trim near things with a 60. the other thing is I have cut with a 430/60 in the middle of a thunderstorm and the yard still came out great they move alot more air then a 50
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The 50 inch deck on my 420 is even with outside of rear tires (rims in wide position), Works fine for me. Really depends on the deck you can find, either size will work good.
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