Lifting zero turn mower to remove blades?

[mikester]

Don’t worry, I haven’t forgotten my roots.
View attachment 133940

Time to top up your life insurance policy and update your Power of Attorney for Healthcare and your Will...

What did you do to or on your Kubota today?

Doing some yard cleanup before a few retaining walls are built. No action shots, unfortunately.

www.orangetractortalks.com

 

[GreensvilleJay]

I installed a 23' long 4by8 I-beam across the garage,under the ceiling, sits on jack posts.
started with 2 chain hoists, now have an electric one as well. Push of a button is MUCH easier than a zillion pulls of the chains !!!
beam is near center of garage and works great to split tractors.

 

[notforhire]

I noticed that my neighbors Toro ZT has a pivoting trailer tongue jack (factory?) mounted to the frame.
I don't know how high it lifts.

 

[Flintknapper]

Since I already have an Engine Hoist (useful for tasks other than removing engines) I just hook it to the front of mower (eye bolt) and jack it up.

At roughly a 45° angle I can easily get to the blades or clean underneath the deck.

 

[D2Cat]

Some are easier then others.

 

[Daren Todd]

Some are easier then others.

Show off

 

[Kurtee]

I have used a hi-lift jack on my Exmark for years without a problem. I decided that I might be pushing my luck so I purchased a Kubota accessory that is no longer available. I had one at the farm and figured my life was worth the price of another one. I scrape my decks every time I mow. I have gone to the green side for a zero turn and it works for that as well. I have used the jack on my zero turns, the Kubota BX and the John Deere x590 and x739. I was happy to find my local dealer had one left last spring. I am leery of the screw type jacks as my brother had one that the nut wore out. Just my take on this. Do not go the Hi-lift method as I think I am somewhat lucky that nothing bad happened doing that.

John Deere offers the tongue type jack as an option on their zero turns. It would be something to look at. I figure you could source the jack for less money at an ag supply store.



]

Kubota Standard Duty Multi-Purpose Mower Lift
Item #77700-03669
Quickly and safely raise mower to comfortable working height. Easy access to under deck for cleaning, lubricating, sharpen/remove blades. Complete protability and flexibility ideal for the shop or on the job site. Equipped with 4 point positive engagement lock system. Accommodates most brands, makes and models.

• Lift Capacity: Wheel Stirrups: 350 lbs
• Width: Minimum Inside Wheel Width in Stirrups: 19.25 Inches
• Width: Maximum Outside Wheel Width in Stirrups: 51.5
• Inches

 

[trevoroni]

Not quite a zero turn but one of the features I like best about my Husqvarna R322T.

 

[lugbolt]

2 post at home
2 post at work, just bigger.

the home lift is a maxjaxx that's set up to work with a 10 foot ceiling (i.e., garage). Works fine for SxS, UTV, ATV, mowers, etc--but not quite enough lift for doing a lot of car work. I will change oil on the Mustang with it but that's about it. It don't pick up but about 48".

I used a fork lift for years at the old store, all we had to lift things up with. That or one of those motorcycle lift table things which was a pain in the butt, and half the time the cylinder was too weak to pick up anything heavier than about 500lb. Most of the mowers were done on the concrete floor, jack and jack stands. Is it any wonder my knees and back hurt constantly? Later on they bought a second fork lift and we used that if it wasn't busy. Right before they shut down (or sold out), a former salesperson came in and he had a bunch (16 I think) of those old style fork-over-leg, 12 volt battery powered (takes a standard 27 or 31 series "car" battery) pallet stackers. Boss bought 3, $200/each. Those things were as handy as a pocket on a shirt!! I wish I'd have bought one for the house.

 

[jyoutz]

I have used a hi-lift jack on my Exmark for years without a problem. I decided that I might be pushing my luck so I purchased a Kubota accessory that is no longer available. I had one at the farm and figured my life was worth the price of another one. I scrape my decks every time I mow. I have gone to the green side for a zero turn and it works for that as well. I have used the jack on my zero turns, the Kubota BX and the John Deere x590 and x739. I was happy to find my local dealer had one left last spring. I am leery of the screw type jacks as my brother had one that the nut wore out. Just my take on this. Do not go the Hi-lift method as I think I am somewhat lucky that nothing bad happened doing that.

John Deere offers the tongue type jack as an option on their zero turns. It would be something to look at. I figure you could source the jack for less money at an ag supply store.



]

Kubota Standard Duty Multi-Purpose Mower Lift
Item #77700-03669
Quickly and safely raise mower to comfortable working height. Easy access to under deck for cleaning, lubricating, sharpen/remove blades. Complete protability and flexibility ideal for the shop or on the job site. Equipped with 4 point positive engagement lock system. Accommodates most brands, makes and models.

• Lift Capacity: Wheel Stirrups: 350 lbs
• Width: Minimum Inside Wheel Width in Stirrups: 19.25 Inches
• Width: Maximum Outside Wheel Width in Stirrups: 51.5
• Inches

That Kubota jack looks like the same mower jack sold by HF.

 

[jyoutz]

Thanks for all of these ideas. After reading them all, I think I have an idea I’m going to try: lock the rear wheels with the steering bars, then put an axle strap on the front axle. Lift the front axle with a chain hoist attached to the axle strap and a steel truss on my barn. Then block the front axle with jack stands. Good plan or not?

 

[mikester]

View attachment 134116
Not quite a zero turn but one of the features I like best about my Husqvarna R322T.

I think I want to go this style of mower when I replace my ZD326. Deck cleaning is one of my biggest gripes, getting harder to do the older I get.

How do you like it for mowing and maintenance?

 

[fried1765]

Thanks for all of these ideas. After reading them all, I think I have an idea I’m going to try: lock the rear wheels with the steering bars, then put an axle strap on the front axle. Lift the front axle with a chain hoist attached to the axle strap and a steel truss on my barn. Then block the front axle with jack stands. Good plan or not?

Good plan!

 

[trevoroni]

I think I want to go this style of mower when I replace my ZD326. Deck cleaning is one of my biggest gripes, getting harder to do the older I get.

How do you like it for mowing and maintenance?

I really like it for mowing, it's not quite a zero turn but it only leaves like an 8" circle of uncut grass if you crank the wheel.

The R322T has all wheel drive which gives it loads of traction on my hills.
With the snowblower on in the winter it'll go through pretty much anything.

It's really easy to work on with everything accessible. There's a couple of known issues with the belt system but they're well documented on another forum.

 

[lugbolt]

Some are easier then others.

used to be a grasshopper dealer. That was a selling feature. I never used it at work unless the RO said "deck tilt not working".

Some of the Kubota's have a pivoting front axle that will jack the machine up high enough to get a wrench in there. It locks too, so it won't fall. Pretty slick setup if you ask me.

after working on the floors for 20 some years and my knees getting achy, when the funds was available I immediately bought a 2 post lift. It's got a SxS on it now, working on it for a customer, but I use it for a LOT of stuff. Pulled the deck out of my ZG127 this past winter and had it on the lift (just tied it to the arms so it wouldn't fall off) and did the deck bearings. Also had the boat on it but that's an interesting ordeal where I have to put the pads at the very back of the trailer and the front pads just in front of the tires. All the weight is in back. Works great but sucks for doing trailer bearings because the posts are right in the way, being it has to be lifted that way. BUT....I made a set of lift eyes that fit in the arms' holes, that will hold hooks that fit under the gunwale, to lift the boat off of the trailer. Roll the trailer out from under it and work on it if need be. I work by myself 99% of the time and with that, no help--so often gotta "make" ways to get stuff done. Wife is of no help in the shop. Or very little anyway.

 

[jaxs]

View attachment 133938
View attachment 133939
I’m a bit spoiled at work.

Well you told us how you do it but from the looks of the deck the question is WHY YOU NEED TO DO IT?

 

[MOOTS]

Well you told us how you do it but from the looks of the deck the question is WHY YOU NEED TO DO IT?

We had 5 new mowers delivered. I was just going over them before releasing them to the asses… I mean masses.

 

[MOOTS]

Time to top up your life insurance policy and update your Power of Attorney for Healthcare and your Will...

No reason for all that, I wasn’t under it. Was pressure washing to find a leak, I was off to the side with the wand shoved up in there.

 

[Kurtee]

That Kubota jack looks like the same mower jack sold by HF.

Not on the HF website I looked at

 

[Magicman]

I have and use the same lift that Daren Todd showed in Reply #15. I bought it after my back yard neighbor's mower fell and killed him while changing blades. He was not strong enough to lift it off and his Son found him.