To those who have opened up the discharge...

[Keith]

Pj sent me the instruction for this a year ago. I was going to do it, but never got around to it. I want to do it before it starts raining and the grass really takes off here this year (if that ever happens.) My question is this. I see in the instructions it says you may need to weld the top plate. I am not sure I follow this. Is this something that usually needs to be done? Or not usually? I don't have a welder. I have about everything else, but the shop I rent does not allow it, so it will be a bit of a problem. I'd like to see some pics of what actually needs to be done here.

[mowerconsultant]

There is a welded area you are cutting off when you open the discharge up, the weld we tell you make is to keep the steel from bending away from the top plate of the deck.
You should be able to have your dealer do this quickly for you.

[Keith]

So every deck will need this? I was not sure if it meant some would, some wouldn't. I had mentioned doing this at my dealer months back and the counter guy looked at me like I was speaking in a different language. I mentioned it again several months later and got the same reaction. I doubt seriously that I will take it there to have it done. The traffic mess between me and them, with the road construction over that way, keeps me from going over there too often anyway. I have not taken the trailer over that way since August 03.

We have several local welding shops that could do it, but the couple I talked to wanted me to take the deck off and bring it to them. This is precisely why I haven't done this yet. I mean other than getting the measurements for the cut right in the instructions that I have, and the welding part, there isn't really anything the dealer is going to do that is special is there? What, do they have a template or something to make this a whole lot easier?

I'm not to come off as a cheap A-hole here :laugh: I buy mowers from dealers, but they rarely ever go back. If they were right down the road, and I could drop it off and pick it up the next day...and they had a clue what I was talking about, it would be a different story.

[cbelawn]

I cut mine out last year. I used a cutoff blade in a air zip tool (muffler cut off tool) The weld is very small that hustler wants you to make, I believe 1" would do it. I would think if you pulled into a welding shop they would do it fast a cheep. Lunch money maybe. peace

[mowerconsultant]

It needs to be done, and it is a very quick weld.
As cbelawn stated, any weld shop should be able to do it quickly and easily.

Pj

[Keith]

I took a look at it last night and saw exactly where it is going to be cut and where it needs to be welded. There would only be roughly 1/2" of weld left when cut. I have the cutoff tool, I just need to get it welded first. I'll take it to a shop on Monday and see if I can get anyone to just do it.

One more observation. The strip of thick metal around the bottom edge of the deck will be cut too. It looks to me like it will need to be welded as well.

[mowerconsultant]

If you cut the bar past the weld, it will need to be re-welded also.

Pj

[TonyMeister]

Why are you guys doing this to your decks? I just got a Super Z about a month ago. Is this something that I need to do too? Thanks...

[Keith]

Just so I know I am looking at it right, this is the correct measurement, and correct location to measure from for a 60" right?

[gps_jetskier]

What kind of OCDC are you using? I've been thinking about getting one this year.

Thanks,
gps_jetskier

[mowerconsultant]

Why are you guys doing this to your decks? I just got a Super Z about a month ago. Is this something that I need to do too? Thanks...

The people doing this do not have the wider opening that the newer mowers have had for almost a year now.
If your unit is new, you don't have to worry about this.

Pj

[mowerconsultant]

Just so I know I am looking at it right, this is the correct measurement, and correct location to measure from for a 60" right?

Yes, that is exactly what it is, per the instructions I sent you.

Pj

[Keith]

Thanks Pj. I wasn't 100% sure I was measuring from the right spot, as it seems to take most of the weld holding the thick bar. I had not really heard that part mentioned before, only about welding the underside of the deck.

gps_jetskier, it was a Qwikchute. It got destroyed about two years ago when someone, other than myself, turned too close to a fence and ruined it :hammerhead: Oh well, once the deck is opened up, I will need a new one anyway.

[greasy_gun]

i have the instructions to cut out the d/c opening, for a mini_z,52" deck.
happened by a dealer tonite,had a look at the new deck with the cutout on a mini_z.
looks like the widest area to be cut, at the bottom of deck, is roughly 2", on a new mini_z.
the instructions i have say almost 3" at this spot...??
is the cutout size different for different decks/hustler models?

[TonyMeister]

Thanks for the reply PJ. Tony

[mowerconsultant]

is the cutout size different for different decks/hustler models?

It is different between the 44" and 52" and also the full frames differ in size also.
Go by what I sent you.

Pj

[mowerconsultant]

Thanks for the reply PJ. Tony

No problem

[Keith]

I did find a reputable welding shop that said they would be glad to weld it up for me in the morning. I may get them to go ahead and make the cut to save me some time and cutting wheels :) I already have the spacers, bolts and blades, in addition to a new deck belt and a couple new idler pulleys. It should act like a completely different mower.

[gps_jetskier]

Thanks. I'll look into Qwikchute. I was at the dealer last night (picked up a set of Flex Forks) and he is suggesting a Trac Vac DS100. It had a plastic shield though and I don't see that holding up as well as metal.

gps_jetskier