Deck Swap !!

[AltaLawnCare]

I'm thinking about swapping out my 52" deck for a 36" Floating deck on the Toro. Already called dealer and he said he'd do it, but it might be over powered with the 15hp Kaw - but I think this is a good thing ;)

This should make it handle better and be better for hills. Then I can go to a 60" Z, and use the Toro for the smaller places and gated yards.

Any opinions.....

[Crabgrassman]

The 15 is not overpowered for the deck. I have a 14 Kaw on my 36 and it will handle just about anything. The 15 Kaw twin is optional on a bunch of 36's in 2002. I have a 36 and a 60 and there isn't hardly a yard that I can't do.

[TGCummings]

You can do this??

Is it possible, then, to swap my 36" Exmark deck for a 32"? Boy, would that suddenly make my big mower useful...

[TGCummings]

Or not, now that I think about it. The tires would still be 36", so I still couldn't get it through most of my gates. ;)

[gorrell]

Alta, is this machine a member of the family? If not, why not just trade for the machine you need. What are you going to do with the 52" that is to be removed? Personally, I don't see the logic in this switch. MHO.................Lynn

[AltaLawnCare]

I haven't looked closely at the exmarks,..
But on the Toro, the front frame carrier is bolted mid way back, so I'd be getting a whole new front frame asmbly too. ;)

The main reason is that even with the "brake fix" they did, the toro handles too 'heavy'. Also, I should also be able to get away from the 21". :)

Hopefully the toro will be easier to back up with the smaller ans lighter deck, so I can put it to the front of the trailer, and set a 'Z' on last (if I get one).
:biglaugh:

[AltaLawnCare]

Lynn,
Good point, that was my first idea - but the dealer said I would be better off to trade decks only with him.

He'll make out better selling a used 52" deck than a whole mower, I guess. He may thro some outragious numbers at me anyhow.

[awm]

i like the ideaof the mower having 36. it should last forever.
i would hope part of the deal is very little cost involved.
good luck

[Runner]

How many gates do you have that are narrower than 36"? I didn't know there WAS such a thing! That odd that you can't even get the wheel width between the gate.

[EJKane]

You can never have too much power!! That 15 Kaw will last a long time on a 36, if you maintain it properly.

[Crazygator]

Standard to new Exmark 36" is the 15 HP kawasaki. So it would be a good match for you also!

[Crabgrassman]

Crazygator,
The 12.5 Kaw is still the standard engine on the 36 Metro and the 36 Metro HP. The 15 is standard on Exmark hydros.

[DanG]

I switch decks on my one walk behind all the time.
It came with a 37" recycler( which I hate) I picked up a 44" SFS deck at a dealer near me for $200 came with the front frame and caster wheels.
I don't have to change those when I swap decks.
Takes less then 5 minutes to swap them over.

I like the 44" on the hills better because there's less paths across the hill side and more overlap.

Dan

[TGCummings]

Originally posted by Runner
How many gates do you have that are narrower than 36"?

Virtually all of them! Things are so crammed together in California, particularly where I live, that most houses in town are only like 10' from each other at best. Put a fence five feet in between, throw a 30-35" gate on the fence and that's what you get.

Often there are places with 36-40" gates, but not enough room to get a big machine through to the backyard because the small alley leading in is packed up with stuff on both sides.

When I first got onto Lawn Forums (or it's distinguished competion;) ), I couldn't believe what I was hearing about measuring properties in acres or putting 5' wide mowers onto residential lawns. Whoever heard of such a thing!

A buddy of mine online recently wrote me and told me "we just have to do things differently in California".

I couldn't have said it better myself. ;)

[ceaman]

I had 2 yards this year with 35" gates.... one is now missing the post, the other was widened to 48"

Jeremy

[AltaLawnCare]

I sold the Toro..;)

My problem wasn't gates,
The problem was the deck seemed too heavy for the mower, I put larger rear tires on it, helped some, but it would still slide the braking tire when turning..especially on hills. The Toro also had the brake retrofit done too!

The exmark doesn't have these problems.:D

I would like to eventually put on a 36 or 48 walk behind.

[Lance]

my 32 has a 15hp kohler o ya and it doenst get into all of the backyards here and most are 32 or 33"... :D

[cpmayhewinc]

My 32 Metro has a 10.5 B/S engine and I can't see having to need any more power than that. She's a hoss, hell I've used it to pull my Z 60 out of ditches with no help.

[Tony Harrell]

I bought a 32" Bob-Cat minus the engine for $400 and put a practically new 12hp B&S ($400, came off my lawn tractor) on it. It's perfect except for not having pressurized oil and it's electric start! It pulls my big @ss around on Jungle Wheels just fine. I haven't used my small trim mower at all since getting it. I'll probably always have a 32" since it's so versatile. I also bought a striping flap from eXmark and put 1/4 threaded rod in the bottom for weight. It works great to stripe the grass. Here's a pic of the flap, about $20 total: