Poor mower LOL.

[FrankenScagMachines]

Well, last fall I "inherited" a 1989 Toro 8-32 RER (rear engine riding mower). This thing has a 32" single blade mower, 8hp B&S I/C engine and a 5 speed Peerless tranny. You wouldn't beleieve how well this thing cuts and stripes! It is nice to operate too! If I looked at the lawn after I cut it I would not think it was mowed with a RER, knowing how lousy they are. Anyhow, this thing didn't come with a bagger or mulcher or anything fancy, and had a turn radius of about 39" according to the book. Well, long story short, last fall I of course wanted a catcher for leaves. So I made one. 8 bushel, all you do to empty is lift the hopper and it dumps. Cool. So then earlier this year I want a mulch plug. No problem, this thing has a round deck setup for mulching, and it turned out to be simple to make and it would go round and also direct the clippings down into the blade again. Cool. So later I wanted a full length roller for even better stripes. So I made that too. Then same day I wanted a blowout lip because this thing has such high airflow that it sounds like an airplane down there and blows out everything it gets down there. So I take a peice of landscape bed edging (flexible plastic) and bolt it to the deck with 1/4"x20's. Works OK. Then I want tighter steering cause it's not too good at that. This isn't something i've ever done, but everything else has come out ok and this can't tear it up too bad, so just now went out and looked it over and unbolted one of the steer rods (off of the spindle arm) and move it toward the spindle axle to see if I need to shorten the rod. Nope, just make the hole alittle closer to the middle of the mower (steer gear box) so I drilled a hole on that side and bolted it on. Looks good. So I cut off the stop on the axle to let it turn tighter. Still good. Then I do the same to the other side, leaving the stop on that side cause it's the discharge side, and I don't need it to turn as tight on that side, just the trim side, and put it all together and it works great. Steering is alittle stiffer but it was real easy to begin with. Oh yea, I also put new rings in the engine. This thing is pretty good now. NO pics since i can't post them right.
Eric

[FrankenScagMachines]

Found out why it wouldn't let me post (my new digital camera saves them as JPG instead of jpg) so i renamed them as jpg 's and here's some pics.
Eric
Here's the blowout lip:

[FrankenScagMachines]

oops...

[FrankenScagMachines]

here's the deck roller

[FrankenScagMachines]

here's the steering modification, see how I moved it up about halfway? I had to cut off the left hand steering stop so it could turn tighter but the right one I left because the right is the discharge side. This really helped alot.

[FrankenScagMachines]

here's the mulch plug, just two 1/4"x20's holdin' it on, so i can take it off quick and easy. works pretty good.

[FrankenScagMachines]

here's the catcher

[FrankenScagMachines]

here's the finished product:D :D :D

[FrankenScagMachines]

and one more...

[stslawncare]

looks good

[FrankenScagMachines]

thanks! this is a super mower and nice to operate surprisingly, and cuts so well (as you see) but I think in the near future it will be semi-retired (put as backup mower) being replaced by a newer commercial mower hopefully. HOPEFULLY..... If anyone will just call saying "come mow my lawn for the summer, please??"

Darn, someone please call.......

[FrankenScagMachines]

Here's what I did today:
built a foot pedal control for our '92 Wheel Horse 520H hydro tractor. All from scratch, but part of the main pedal I already had. Took a couple hours or maybe 2 1/2 after all the adjusting... Very simple, anyone who wants more info to build one I can help hopefully.
Eric

[David Gretzmier]

I yearn for the day i can spend time doing what you are doing. Daveg

[David Haggerty]

Thanks for the pics. I especially like the use of landscape bed edging for a blowout baffel.

You'll miss that 32" blade when you trade up. The shorter blades just don't have the ability to carry thru without clogging and bogging as well as the 32"s do.

I enjoy "improving " mowers too. I've made quite a few modifications to my equipment.
Your ingenuity is commendable. Keep up the good work.

Dave