Mower deck repairs

farmall fred · #1 07-15-2016, 10:15 AM

Last time I mowed with the 1872, #1 I noticed that the deck was getting noisy so yesterday I took it off and checked it out. I found that it had some bad spindle bearings and also bearings were getting noisy in the idlers. Blades were shot also. Ended up spending more time than I planned but the deck is now good as new. I am using a 811 60 inch deck from a newer 7000 series that I adapted to use on my 1872. It is a great cutting deck but because it is a high lift style it is hard on blades because of the sandy soil have. The sand will cut the lift wing off of the blades. A new blade set is over $100.00 so I did some research and found the blades from a newer Cub Cadet zero turn 60 inch deck will fit if they are shortened 3/16 on each side. They are about 1/2 the price of the correct blades so it was worth the time it took to adapt them. I may also see if I can adapt the mule drive and lift arms from a 60 in Haban deck while I have it down. To adapt this deck I modified the lift arms from a 46# GT deck and also added the hangers and mounting points from the GT deck. The deck cuts very well but the hanger is light and is easy to bend or twist. I think the Haban hanger will work better and I can also use the rear centering guide to keep the deck better centered under the tractor. Will see how it all works out. I should probably try to find a 60 in Haban deck, but all I have found are in very bad shape or the sellers want a small fortune for them. When I bought this one from Small Engine Warehouse about 15 years ago it was like new and I only gave $325.00 for it and it still looks and cuts great. Biggest issue is since it is a high lift style like a GT type deck it is prone to plugging if the grass is damp. I really do not know if a Haban would be any better.
Later
Tom

ken6x6 · #2 07-15-2016, 01:21 PM

sounds pretty interesting, lets see some pictures of this unit.

zippy1 · #3 07-15-2016, 11:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by farmall fred

Biggest issue is since it is a high lift style like a GT type deck it is prone to plugging if the grass is damp. I really do not know if a Haban would be any better.
Later
Tom

No issues with my Haban collecting grass. Cut the high ground, low and wet grass around the pond, and clean as can be, except for a handful by the exit.

farmall fred · #4 07-18-2016, 10:47 PM

I mowed with the deck Saturday and after the work and repairs I done to it along with the different blades that I modified to fit it cuts very nice. The blades I used seem to have less lift than the blades that it is supposed and they seem to cause less issues with plugging. I was very happy with how it performed. I took some pictures of the deck with my new phone but I need to figure how to move them to my computer to post them.

farmall fred · #5 07-28-2016, 10:08 PM

I was mowing with the repaired deck the other day and all of a sudden it started wobbling from side to side. I checked and the modified under carriage I had adapted to hang the newer deck had broke. I had a undercarriage for a Haban I bought a couple of years ago so I dug it out and proceeded to see if I could make it work. A couple of hours of shortening the arms and putting a arch in them so they would clear the deck and I am back in business. The Haban undercarriage bolted up to my existing mule drive and is much heavier than the ones for the GT style deck I first used. While I was at it I made up some chains to use to lift it so it could float up and down without binding. I mowed my ditch bank with it today and It really works well much smoother and is rock solid and stable. It amazes me how these old Cubs with some upgrades and repair work as well as any of the plastic junk they are selling today and they will still be working when the new ones are in the scrap yard. Here are some pictures of the deck and modified undercarriage mounted on my 1872 #1. I was able to find a genuine Cub Cadet belt to drive the deck so I can buy a belt at any Cub Cadet dealer. After the mowing season is over I will sand blast and repaint the deck and undercarriage and install it on my 1872 #2 that I am currently rebuilding and repowering with a Command Pro 28 hp EFI engine transplant. See my thread in the Customized Cub Cadets section.
Later
Tom

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Modified 811 60 in deck with GT deck attachment points and jack shaft assy.
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Left view on tractor.
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Top view of deck.
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Modified Haban undercarriage and lift chains.
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Right front view