Striping with a Front Deck?

[RayoVac]

Question for Walker, Grasshopper, JD owners running out front decks (or any other models with a trailing wheel).

Anyone getting nice stripes?

If so are you running a wide stance rear?

If running a single (stock) rear, can you get as nice a look with the width of the cut being broken up by the trailing wheel?

I have a stock rear (single trailing wheel) and notice my 52" cut looks more like a 21" because the of the trailing wheel breaking it up.

Any thoughts?

RayoVac

[swn]

I have an outfront grasshopper that is a wide stance and the stripes are great. It has the new deck that is 5.5" deep. The stripes are more defined than with my older one that was 5". I did have a grasshopper with a single trail wheel. Back then I wasn't too interested in stripes, but now I see some guys running them and I don't think it looks as good. What kind of mower are you running. Since I went to the wide stance I would never go back to 1 wheel in the back.

[RayoVac]

SWN,

I have a 618 with the SL9852 deck (5.5" Deep).

Does the Wide Stance kit put the rear wheels behind the front wheels?

Since you had previously run the single... did you find manuverabiltiy any worse with the wide stance? Specifically more prone to turf tear or hitting objects?

Thanks for the info...

RayoVac

[kbcjlc]

Where can you get the Wide Stance kit? I wonder if it will fit my JD F-725 front mower... Also wondering if any company full to make full width roller for front deck or attachment to the back

Keith

[RayoVac]

Keith,

At least with the Grasshoppers... the wide stance wheel kit is a GH option you can get from the dealer.

We are talking about a dual (separated) wheel kit instead of the standard single trailing wheel.

It looks like the JD 725 already has two separated wheels in the rear???

I have looked around for roller add-ons... have not seen anything commercialy made. Seems like most guys are custom making.... then others are claiming excellent stripes with no rollers, chains, rubber etc.

RayoVac

[swn]

Rayo Vac

I have a 725 and the tail wheels are behind to just a bit inside the drive tires.

As far as manuverabiltiy I find that it is no problem now. When I first had one it took some getting used to though. I don't know what type of yards you are in, but most of mine are at about an acre or more. The wide stance gives a much better ride. I have a friend that has a 618 with single wheel, I got on it the other day
and it was a lot rougher ride.

I also have a midmount grasshopper, and I actually find that the front mount is easier to manuver and it is just as fast in open areas as the midmount.

[kbcjlc]

can anyone of you post pix?

Keith

[RayoVac]

SWN,

So it would be safe to say that the wide stance kit would put the rear wheels at least far enough out to allow a much "wider" looking cutting path. Given the trailer wheel would not be dividing it right down the middle....

You mention the trailers sit just to the inside of the drive wheels. When you look at the cut... does it appear as if you have 4 tire marks (tracks) or just two big ones?

I called my dealer today, he has the wide stance kits in stock for $270. I think it might be worth it to get rid of that division making it look like I am mowing with a 21".

I mow some tight areas... my only concern would be running into stuff!!! :eek: Sounds like it probably would not be that much different though... as long as I am careful....

Thanks again for the info.

Keith... you can see what we are talking about on GH's web site The pics are not great... but this is one with one traililng wheel... http://www.grasshoppermower.com/products/FrontMount_Acc/decks/flipup96_MAN.html

And here is one with the wide stance kit http://www.grasshoppermower.com/products/FrontMount_Acc/decks/flipup98_MAN.html

I am guessing you probably thought we were talking about some thing cool and radically different.... Now you are thinking... Oh Yeah!!!! ;)

RayoVac

[LAWnENFORCER]

I just got a JD F510. Does JD make a wide stance kit. If so how much. Also what type of mulching blades would work best for a 38" w/17 kaw. I have found the same prob as RayoVac; which is the crooked center stripe from the third wheel.

Also does anyone know if I could put a larger deck on the F510.

Thanks
Kevin

KB LAWN SERVICE
Central TX

[RayoVac]

Kevin,

Have some info on your JD 510. I researched the F510 and F525 quite a bit before I got the GrassHopper.

The 38" deck is the only deck available on the F510. It appears as if the 48" would fit... but JD does not sell it for the 510. Note also the power difference between the 510 and 525.... maybe why they only offer the 38" on the 510.

As far as a wide stance... nothing available for the F510/F525... since both are steered by the rear wheel... it would take a complete change of the rear end and steering components.

The mowers I was referencing like the Walker, Grasshopper and larger JDs F680 and F687 steer with the drive wheels and the rear is just a trailing wheel. All of these offer kits that take the single fork traililng wheel and add a second on a frame so that the two wheels are much farther apart. They help distribute the rear weight of the unit and provide an improved ride.

Hope that helps,

RayoVac

[LAWnENFORCER]

RayoVac,

I see what you mean. So do you think, if I came across a used 48" deck, the 17kaw would have enough power. Also, do you know of any GOOD mulching blades that will fit my JD?

Thanks in advance

Kevin

[Brickman]

To the best of my knowledge with a Walker there is only one wheel option. Personally I have no problem with the way it looks. I would never spend $270 for wide stance unless it really did improve the ride quality, that is my biggest concern right now, is not getting beat to death by the days end.

[MOW ED]

The Walkers have the ability to change out the drive wheels or the tail wheel in the back, which has an effect on striping. The single wide tail wheel is the best for striping but it has the tendancy to tear turf on the turns. Say that 3 times fast:p
There is also a dual tail wheel option which still lays a nice stripe in my opinion. The drive wheels come in a few optional configs also but they have less of an effect on striping. The GHS istslf lays down a stripe that is the trademark of Walker. The counter rotating blades give the grass a unique look. Its looks almost triple striped. It is a look that lots of my customers love.

The perfectionist can get a tail wheel lock installed (thats next for me) to keep the tail stripe straight if the ground is less than flat. In my humble opinion, the Walker stripes in the top 1% of all mowers.

[RayoVac]

Kevin,

The F510 comes with a 14hp Kawi? Do you have a 17hp? If so, someone most have replaced it or you have a F525??? The F525 is availabe with either the 38" or 48" deck.

Not sure what the shaft size are for blades... but I am sure a local shop can help. JD has 4 different blades listed for that mower. They have the Standard blades, a low lift, high lift and mulching blades. Maybe others can comment on wether the JD blades are worth a darn or not.

RayoVac

[swn]

RayoVac
You are right, it just looks like 2 big tracks. I don't know about any of your guys properties, but I have some that aren't the smoothest nor the flatest. The wide stance gives a much more stable and comfortable ride. If you could find someone around that had it, it would be good if you could try it out.

[RayoVac]

SWN,

SOLD!!! LOL :cool:

I am not really concerned about ride quality... so if it just looks like 2 big tracks... that is defenitley what I want!!! If the ride improves... that will just be a bonus.

Now I just have to make sure I don't swing the wide stance around into things....

Once last question:

With the wide stance... is there any more or less tendancy for the trailing wheels to dig in when turning? I guess my thoughts would be they should dig less since the weight of the machine is now distributed to two wheels instead of one... Any thoughts? (not that I have it happen that often... but if it is really soft after a rain and doing a turn with little forward momentum.. sometimes I notice a little scuff.... from the trailing wheel pivot)

Thanks again for all the info,

RayoVac

[swn]

That is the only time I have noticed the trail wheels scuffing the turf. If I am going slow and it is really soft.

You will get used to having the 2 tail wheels just like you got used to having 1.

Now I do have bigger mower than yours and I do have the ag tires. I don't think that would change things too much.

If I can figure out how to put a picture on here I will show you some of the stripes so that you can see.

[RayoVac]

SWM,

Do you think they scuff any worse with two then with one?

Stripe Pics would be great!!!!

Thanks again,

RayoVac

[swn]

Sorry, I guess I should have cleared that up. No way do they scuff worse. You are right about the weight being distributed evenly. I will TRY to put some pictures on here later tonight. My stripes aren't as great as a lot of these guys but it will give you a good ideal.