Mule drive hanger and deck questions.

[squatch]

I haven't mowed with my 1872 yet. Just getting finished restoring the deck but that's for another thread. Today I installed the mule drive in anticipation of the "new" deck. So my question is about the hangers. My mower frame has two hangers between the Hydro lift and the mule frame. Left side is fixed, right side is adjustable. If I adjust the right side hanger as extended as I think is safe(full thread engagement) the left side hanger still has some slop or open space in the slot above the stud on lift arm. This means the adjustable hanger is bearing all the weight of the deck. Is this correct? I would have thought that you extended the adjustable just until both sides are holding the deck weight evenly. However ther is not enough adjustment length for that. Maybe one of my hangers is really worn or the wrong one?

Also I assume that I set the deck height with the hydro lift to the height I normally mow and then level it with the two loop style deck hangers at the front of the deck. Is this correct? The deck(Blades) shoud be level in all directions at cutting height right?

How about deck wheel height from ground at mowing height. Should they be touching the ground or a little above it?
I'm adjusting everything on a level garage floor. Cub mounts things different from other mowers I have owned so no previous experience with the cub way of setting the deck up.

[ajgross]

I believe you are adjusting your deck wrong. The the two loop hangers in the front should be to level the deck front to back. Not side to side. You level the deck side to side with the one adjustable hanger. If they aren't sitting correctly, you probably have the front loops way out of wack.

The deck shouldn't be totally level. I think the front of the deck should be 1/4 lower than the rear.

The anti-scalp wheels might depend on the deck, but if you have a 50c deck ,then they should ride just above the ground. About a 1/2 above the ground at mowing height. if you have 54" or a 60", then I have no clue. I've never own one of those decks.

Hope this helps, and I apologize ahead of time if I gave any bad information.

AJ

[squatch]

Thanks aj. I haven't mounted the 50c deck yet just the mule drive. You answered most of my questions. I realize leveling the deck is couple of different operations. Does the adjustable mule hanger on the right do all the work. With that fully extended my non-adjustable hanger on the left is not supporting any of the deck frame. I would have to extend the adjustable hanger another 3/8' to get both hangers holding the frame. It doesn't have enough reach to do that.

Mark

I worked on a "master craftman's" house one time, drywall was not his craft, and he taught me this lesson-

"Do you want it to be right or do you want it to look right"


I say that because I refuse to go by the 'book' and I look at things like this and ask myself how can I fix my problem?

My carriage has adjustable hangers on both sides. Might I suggest that you find another adjustable hanger and level your deck as it suites you. You have a supplier near you and should have no problem getting that hanger.

I believe ajgross is correct about the front being tipped downward just a bit.

Scott

[ajgross]

Squatch I would guess that the hanger isn't working correctly because your front loops are our of adjustment. I really don't know how to properly adjust them either.

AJ

[aagitch]

If your mule drive/hanger assy is doing that even without the deck mounted, then I'd say your mule drive/hanger assy could be bent somewhere. Measure the distance from both your lift arms to the ground. Maybe your lift arms aren't even due to a sheared roll pin on the rockshaft.

[squatch]

Thanks all. I think the problem is I have the wrong adjustable hanger. I think it's too short by about 1/2" . My tractor was missing the adjustable hanger when I got it. It had a "yellow" fixed hanger on the right and a "white" fixed hanger on the left. Yellow was just what was in the toolbox of the mower guy I bought it from because adjustable was missing and he told me it wasn't right. The yellow one is shorter. I picked up the adjustable one from someone I bought some parts from. He said it was the right one for the SUPER. I checked today and the length matches the shorter "yellow" hanger. So I will pickup the correct one from dealer next week. My super has a "white" deck and mule drive.

Scott I understand. I'm a bit of a perfectionist but not a purist. For me stock anything is what the factory made to work for everyone OK. I like to mod just about everything I own to work the way I want for what I do. Just an old rodder at heart. I Don't think I've ever owned a perfectly stock vehicle in my life for long anyways. That's one of the reasons I fix up used stuff. Kinda dumb to buy new stuff so you can replace parts and pitch perfectly good EXPENSIVE parts. Much more cost effective to customize stuff that needs work anyway.

Originally Posted by squatch

Thanks all. I think the problem is I have the wrong adjustable hanger. I think it's too short by about 1/2" . My tractor was missing the adjustable hanger when I got it. It had a "yellow" fixed hanger on the right and a "white" fixed hanger on the left. Yellow was just what was in the toolbox of the mower guy I bought it from because adjustable was missing and he told me it wasn't right. The yellow one is shorter. I picked up the adjustable one from someone I bought some parts from. He said it was the right one for the SUPER. I checked today and the length matches the shorter "yellow" hanger. So I will pickup the correct one from dealer next week. My super has a "white" deck and mule drive.

Scott I understand. I'm a bit of a perfectionist but not a purist. For me stock anything is what the factory made to work for everyone OK. I like to mod just about everything I own to work the way I want for what I do. Just an old rodder at heart. I Don't think I've ever owned a perfectly stock vehicle in my life for long anyways. That's one of the reasons I fix up used stuff. Kinda dumb to buy new stuff so you can replace parts and pitch perfectly good EXPENSIVE parts. Much more cost effective to customize stuff that needs work anyway.

I thougt it had to be something simple. I looked again at mine and the Super carriage is much more stout than the standard and the hangers are longer. I wouldn't have thought the carriage would have been damaged, you'll rip that deck up first.

Scott

[squatch]

Well the deck that came on it has taken a couple of major hits. Looks like the left side regularly got buffed on a stone wall or something. That's why I bought another deck. The old one wasn't bad but the price I got on a real nice one made it kinda silly to waste time on a rough one.
That being said the mule drive and hanger are straight as an arrow. Didn't even need a tape measure to be sure as I can tell that by looking. But I checked it anyway. I wouldn't want to be in the seat and hit something hard enough to bend up that carraige. Pretty stout stuff on the super like Scott said.

[squatch]

It was indeed the wrong hanger. The correct one is much longer. Will post pic when I get a chance.