Redesigned OCDC

[GreenQuest Lawn]

Well I FINALLY got my OCDC from YSM (I won't go in to that story in this thread).

I liked it but I am a rather small guy and I thought it was a long reach. So I redesigned it.

Now its perfect, no leaning I can sit back and everything is good.

Let me know what you guys think

[KirbysLawn]

Send it down to me and I will try it out. :)

Looks good.

[watatrp]

Do you have a website for YSM? How much did it cost?

[EJK2352]

watatrp,
York Sheets web site is www.yorksheet.com The director costs $175 + shipping & handling. Check out the striping roller they offer, I have one & wow I can really lay down some nice stripes w/ it. ;) ED

[Eric ELM]

Originally posted by greenquestlawn
Well I FINALLY got my OCDC from YSM

You got your director from them, not an OCDC. ;)

[TLS]

Todd,

I looked at your pic nice modification, and noticed that you have your allen headed carriage type bolts on upside down. The smooth allen head part goes up from underneath with the ny-loc nuts on the top. This prevents the big nuts from grabbing too much grass underneath. Just a hint!

[Keith]

Hmmm, wonder if this will fit my Kees ZTMax?

[Lawn-Scapes]

What was involved with your mod?

I see two bolts on the flap... what are they for?

I need one of these...

[GreenQuest Lawn]

Eric,
Sorry to steal the coveted DC name. It won't happen again :D

Dixie1,
Ya know, I wondered about that. The instructions they send are not very complete. In fact the pics on there instructions were different from mine. THANKS

TSG,
Well they sent me a rubber flap, and the two holes were pre drilled. Honestly I have no clue. I though the rubber flap was to go all across the flap (reducing blow out) but the rubber they sent me only covers half of the flap. Of course nothing in the instuctions about that.:confused:. The one hole was drilled wrong and caught when closed, so I had to re-drill it to move it over so the flap would close all the way.

My welder did the work, I just told him what I wanted. He cut the main support bar and added the curved piece (they are normally straight up) Then had to extend the control rod. Also we added a support brace since once it became so long it moved alot.

Here is a side shot. It does clear the control levers on the "Z" Just barely.

I also added some heavy duty weather striping around to edge of the flap which cut down on the blow out when fully shut (since the rubber they sent me was of no use as far as I can see).

Anyone else that dealt with YSM, how was the service? How long did you wait for the product?

[Lawn-Scapes]

Thanks Todd.

Does the door or flap flip all the way up or back? My Lazer just fits in my trailer... So I cannot have any part of that sticking out beyond the deck.

If it does flip all the way back so that it lays against the mower deck...maybe the black rubber piece is supposed to go on top to prevent the metals from clanging together??

Thanks.

[guntruck]

The mods look nice, we need to get something rigged up like that too. Your welder did a good job and it looks nice!!

[Eric ELM]

TGS, here is the type you need then. This one raises up so it is out of the way of anything on the chute side. This one is about $100 more, but looks like it could be built $100 better. :)
greenquestlawn: Here is an OCDC :D

http://www.elmlawnsite.com/images/ocdc.jpg

[Richard Martin]

Eric, I removed the bolted on lower "lip" from my OCDC. I got tired of it dropping material all over the deck where the OCDC lands when it's closed.

[tomoaktree]

I've been using the deflector for about 6 wks now and it works pretty good , though the handle on it is about to break at the crimp. I called ysm and they said they will send me a redesigned replacement. I'm still thinking about getting the striper. There are two lawns I cut @ 2 1/4 " , the rest I'm cutting @ 3 1/4 right now . I'm not sure how the striper is going to work with these variable heights. The striper looks good but how much better is the stripe than the one my lazer already puts down? @ $ 280.00 that could go for a deluxe seat.

Greenquestlawn; What other attachments do you have for your lazer and do you like them?

tsg; yes , the delector goes all the way up or down and will not get in the way of your trailer.

Eric; What is the purpose of the holes in the ocdc ? May I should drill some in my deflector.:cool:

[Eric ELM]

tomoaktree
The only thing I can think of is to let air out, so the deck can pull in more air. If yours works fine the way it is, don't mess with it. ;)

[MJB]

Tomoaktree: I would save your $280 for the good seat. I have the striper and I like it , it's a great scalp roller , as far as stripes go the Exmark stripes very well without it. Some lawns will stripe better with it, but over all I would put the money into the seat first. Your back will thank you.........

[TLS]

Here is a pic of the proper placement of the rubber flap, it tucks under the hinge rod.

This was taken when it was still able to be "muddy"!! Yuck, I hate dirty mowers! Note that I replaced the actuation rod with allthread and heim joints.

[EJK2352]

I have to disagree w/MJB I bought the stripping roller for my Lazer and it strips much better w/ it on than it did without it. My customers have even noticed a difference & have asked me how I get their lawn to look like a professional baseball field. I think the striper is a well built unit & well worth the money. :) ;) :) ED

[MJB]

Don't misunderstand me the striper is a nice attachment for striping, but it is not really as critical as having the seat if you have any back problems. The seat is a must as far as I am concerned. I can work without the striper before I would go without the seat, in fact I had to take my striper off and redrill the brackets so I could raise it up more, it took out a couple of sprinklers that were to high on 1 job, the roller has the deck weight on it and something had to give. I took it off a month ago and my stripes are just about as dark as with it, In fact I haven't put it back on yet. I guess it depends on your area, grass height, etc.

Both are nice to have, in fact now I'm ordering the Director for my 60" Lazer ....

[GreenQuest Lawn]

Dixie1,
Thanks again I needed that pic in my instructions:) .

that would help with the blow-out.

mabey you should hire yorself to YSM to re-write their instructions WITH PICTURES! (at least complete pictures)

As far as my striper (which you can see in the second pic I posted) this is not a YSM striper this is one my welder made.

I will tell ya trading him lawn care for welding is the best thing I have done. He will drop what he is doing if something breaks, not to mention he can build anything. Next is trimmer racks and a gate assist.

[Runner]

That's pretty cool, the way that's custom fitted like that! Unfortunately, that would be right in the way of my light right there, though. When I first installed my Director, I thought I could get by without the rubber flap. Boy, was I wrong! It was great until I would close it all the way, then I would be getting a face full. When I installed mine, I was able to set the angle and position of the holding bracket just right for length, that it allowed me to open the chute all the way, and come to rest against the control rod. When it does this, the handle sort of "cocks" to the first notch down on the adjustments. This holds the steel chute tight against the rod so it doesn't shake around. When I go to put it down, I just quickly pull the handle up to the top, and the rod pivots on the chute and allows the chute to go downward to to whatever desired height. When I want to raise it all the way again, and pivot it out of the way, I just quickly lift on the handle all the way up to the top, and the momentum of the chute pushes it back over toward the inside of the deck again, snugging against the rod and being held by the tension of the rod pushing down as it is put into the #2 notch again. Works pretty good like that. I WAS getting a little clicking from between the chute and the rod, but I put a little foam tape on the rod where the chute hits, and it took care of it.

[tomoaktree]

Greenquestlawn,
How has your redisiged director been working?

[GreenQuest Lawn]

I gotta say its great. Being that I am a small guy I do not have the reach so that was my main reason for changing it. Now I can sit all the way back and reach the director. No more leaning. I found that after about a month It became like second nature to use it.