Tractor mower deck

[Harry Bloomfield]

Lawnflite 703. It's a twin blade cutting deck, and it's basically shot. It discharged via a slot in the deck at the rear, with a plastic duct, leading up and over the back axle, into a big collector bag hooked onto the back, which I never used - simply because our grass is so thick and heavy, it would usually choke up the duct, then the deck itself.

Other than that, it works fine...

There is/was a bit of steel duct rusted out, on the rear edge of the deck. However, it now discharges all over the rear belt drive, due to leaks on the duct, so my idea is to fashion a short bit of duct, out of stainless steel, bolted in place, to have it discharge straight out, and onto the ground, as per the green lines. Anyone see any reason why this would not work?

 

[jj4091]

Our old one used to just blow out of the side of the deck because it never came with a collection mechanism (second hand) so it might be easier to do it that way. It was only a problem when you had a stong wind behind you and the grass cuttings would blow upward faster than you were driving and give you a shower. I guess that would be the same if they were blowing out the back.

 

[Harry Bloomfield]

Our old one used to just blow out of the side of the deck

No, out of the rear. It is a wide oval, with contra-rotating blades.

It was only a problem when you had a stong wind behind you and the grass cuttings would blow upward faster than you were driving

It discharged out of the duct, at the rear, via a square duct, about 2 feet up from the ground. The wind would then blow it all over. I'm thinking if it discharges straight onto the ground, it will perhaps not be blown about so much.

 

[Burnerman]

The sculpting of the deck will tend to throw the grass upwards towards the missing chute, but what you propose will work. With contra rotating blades, a side discharge isn't as successful.
It may cover the transmission with grass though!
John

 

[Harry Bloomfield]

It may cover the transmission with grass though!

That is my main concern. In which case, it might be useful to extend the duct to further back. Suck it and see I guess.