My Quick Hitch mower deck lift

5357 Views 21 Replies 12 Participants Last post by Dr. X-485, Dec 9, 2016

AOW162435

Discussion Starter · Jan 28, 2016 (Edited by Moderator)

My Quick Hitch Deck Lift

For the last few years I've stored my 54c mower deck in the garage once I've cleaned it after the Fall. This is not ideal, space-wise, and getting it into the tractor storage area behind our house is too much of a hassle.

Since buying a 54" Quick Hitch blade a few months ago, I've looked at the hitch and wondered if I could duplicate the blade-side bracket and create a mount that would allow me to transport the mower deck as needed. I examined the JD bracket and sourced some 3/16" cold-rolled steel plate, a length a 5/8" steel rod, miscellaneous hardware and a fistful of bits & pieces from my scrap bin. After many hours of thinking, measuring, cutting, welding and grinding, my invention is done - and works as intended. :fing32:

Andreas

1 - 20 of 22 Posts

brackishtractor

· #2 · Jan 28, 2016

slick!

How much of the weight is borne by the bolt/bearings/spindle , and how much by the little lip on the bottom?

Add a little cup/box to store the bolt/washer you take out of the center spindle.

The DeckTote ?

AOW162435

Discussion Starter · #3 · Jan 28, 2016 (Edited)

brackishtractor said:
slick!

How much of the weight is borne by the bolt/bearings/spindle , and how much by the little lip on the bottom?

Add a little cup/box to store the bolt/washer you take out of the center spindle.

The DeckTote ?

By my high-level calculations, all of the weight is carried by the precision-fit cradle. The spindle mount acts to keep the deck locked into position.

The M12x1.75 bolt runs through two 7/16" ID spacers that I fit within the section of pipe. Before inserting the bolt and the rearmost spacer, I placed a small weld around the bolt - between the spacers (should be visible in pic #5). Both spacers were plug welded in place by drilling two holes in the pipe.

Andreas

Diesel Powered

· #4 · Jan 28, 2016

Kudos for thinking outside of the box. :fing32:

mrbeef

· #5 · Jan 28, 2016

Nice work. :fing02:

The true test of skill is when you can put something back together and it works... not the dusty half disassembled pile of junk in the corner.... :dunno:

Tractors:
'17 JD 4066R, '08 JD 1445, '07 JD X748, '88 JD 318,'83 JD 214, '74 JD 140, '69 JD 140, 60's Power King, '57 JD 820

The Round Fenders: '67 JD 112H, '67 JD 112H, '67 JD 110H "The Frog", '67 JD 110, '66 JD 110, '65 JD 110, '64 JD 110
Former Machines:
60's Power King, '64 JD 110, '65 JD 110, '65 JD 110, '66 JD 60, '66 JD 110, '66 JD 110, '66 JD 110H, '66 JD 110H, '67 JD 112, '67 JD 112, '69 JD 112, '69 JD 140H3, '69 JD 140H3, '70 JD 112, '72 140 H1, '77 JD 212, '79 JD 212, '80 JD 317, '80 JD 317, '80 JD 317, uk Cushman 898807, '83 JD 318, '84 420, '86 JD 318, '86 JD 420, '87 JD 430, '87 JD 318, '88 JD 318, '88 JD 318, '88 JD 855, '89 JD 318, '90 JD 318, '91 JD 430, uk Cab Cadet 2140, '92 JD 320, '93 JD 320, '96 JD 445, '98 JD 425, '99 JD 3215A, '00 Sabre 2046, '01 JD 455, and '01 LX277

Want to watch a guy fumble through a project where he has no clue what might be next......
Kohler Light Plant

[sigpic][/sigpic]

Beast69x

· #6 · Jan 28, 2016

Re: My Quick Hitch Deck Lift

Cool! I also like the wheels on the deck so you can roll it around vertically. Also that is the cleanest underside of a deck I have ever see! Cleaner than new.

AOW162435

Discussion Starter · #7 · Jan 28, 2016

Diesel Powered said:
Kudos for thinking outside of the box. :fing32:

On occasion, a light goes off in my head.

mrbeef said:
Nice work. :fing02:

I think it's strong enough to lift the entire tractor without deflecting.

Beast69x said:
Cool! I also like the wheels on the deck so you can roll it around vertically. Also that is the cleanest underside of a deck I have ever see! Cleaner than new.

Thanks. I purchased the deck new around three years ago and immediately scuffed the underside, de-greased, and applied a spray-on bedliner. Each year I pressure wash the deck, touch up any chipped areas with etch primer and re-apply bedliner as needed. So far so good.

Andreas

brackishtractor

· #8 · Jan 28, 2016

well. . .?

DeckTote ?

QHDeck ?

QuickDeck ?

DeckHawler ?

ANDREASizer ?

X748SE

· #9 · Jan 28, 2016

Andreas,

This is a really cool idea and something totally new! :fing32::fing32:

Great workmanship on the bracket.

Roger

Turfgrower288

· #10 · Jan 28, 2016

Great Idea....Its the little light bulbs going off in people's heads that give us million dollar ideas like that. Might want to think about taking steps to the patent office. You never know. Thanks for posting.

pete504pvd

· #11 · Jan 28, 2016

I'm inspired!
Excellent craftsmanship Andreas.

Lan4cr

· #12 · Jan 29, 2016

I'm jealous...You have brain sparks, and I only get brain farts! Nice job! :thThumbsU

moondawg

· #13 · Jan 29, 2016

Lan4cr said:
I'm jealous...You have brain sparks, and I only get brain farts! Nice job! :thThumbsU

Better keep you guys separated... risk of explosion.

wizzo

· #14 · Jan 30, 2016

Nice Deere accessory! Love the idea and the engineering you put into it!

AOW162435

Discussion Starter · #15 · May 19, 2016

7

Shortly after posting this thread I did some research on patent protection, etc. After quite a bit of reading and discussing with an attorney, the up-front costs involved made no sense to me. So if you want to pirate my idea and sell it - have at it!

Andreas

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Dr. X-485

· #16 · Dec 2, 2016

AOW162435 said:
Shortly after posting this thread I did some research on patent protection, etc. After quite a bit of reading and discussing with an attorney, the up-front costs involved made no sense to me. So if you want to pirate my idea and sell it - have at it!

Andreas

IF someone made a bracket like this to help lift things, could it be attached to the quick hitch and could the quick hitch be used while the deck is on? This would be handy to hook a front mounted leaf blower on for fall leaf duty but I need this at the same time as I would need my deck on too.

AOW162435

Discussion Starter · #17 · Dec 2, 2016

Dr. X-485 said:
IF someone made a bracket like this to help lift things, could it be attached to the quick hitch and could the quick hitch be used while the deck is on? This would be handy to hook a front mounted leaf blower on for fall leaf duty but I need this at the same time as I would need my deck on too.

Yes, the Quick Hitch mounting & operation does not interfere with the deck.

Andreas

Dr. X-485

· #18 · Dec 9, 2016

how did you prep the underside of the deck to accept the undercoating spray? Do you remember the brand or color of the undercoating spray? I like the color a lot! I'm preparing to do this but the deck will come back from the sandblaster first. i'm trying to decide if it is best to have them sandblast and prime only, (I have to then figure out how to paint the top yellow and the bottom undercoating) or to sandblast, prime, powdercoat the whole thing (preferred) but have to get the undercoating to stick to the powdercoated undersurface.

AOW162435

Discussion Starter · #19 · Dec 9, 2016

^ I purchased the deck new four years ago. Shortly thereafter I degreased the underside, scuffed all areas with an abrasive pad, and applied Duplicolor 'Bed Armor' bedliner. It's held up great. In those pics, I had pressure washed the deck and found some areas worn to metal. So I sprayed etch primer before selectively reapplying bedliner.

So the color you see it the etch primer.

I would have your deck thoroughly painted (or powdercoated) top to bottom before applying any sort of bedliner product. Bedliner & undercoating are not the same product - undercoating will fail in short order.

Andreas

Dr. X-485

· #20 · Dec 9, 2016

Andreas, thanks for the reply. How many cans of the Bed Armor did it take to do a good coating under your deck, and what color did you choose, or maybe it only comes in one color?

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