What to do?

[oldtanker]

I've been using a Woods RM59 finish mower behind my 8N for a few years now. Because of the ground speed of the tractor in 1st at PTO RPMs and the obstacles in the areas I mow no one else will mow with it. Well the spindle bearing are about shot. No big deal, pull it apart, no pins or snap rings, everything is a very tight press fit. So toss a spindle assembly and try to press it apart and break the housing. Look it up and most people recommend not trying to change the bearings, They say just buy the complete spindle assembly. 155-170 each plus shipping! To fix a deck that no one else will use. So I'm retiring the deck. Went and bought a Husqvarna Z 248 F zero turn on Monday. Man is that thing sweet!

Now what to do with the deck? Except for the spindles it's in pretty good shape. Be easy to just send it in for scrap. Anyone in the MN area want it? I'd rather give it away than to scrap it. Located just east of Battle Lake MN.

Rick

 

[Ultradog MN]

I've never run a zero turn but hear they are
a joy to use. Good for you that you got one.
As for the Woods, it really isn't that hard
to put new bearings in one. Some do and some
don't have circlips.
I have done a few. If you go that route
spend the extra dough and buy the sealed
bearings. They will last much longer than
the greasable ones.
Then I'm sure you could sell it.
That said, if you're giving it away I'd like
to have it.
I have had a couple of 6' finish mowers but
had a chance to buy a 7' so I did.
I don't like it. It scalps more and you're
more apt to hit obstacles because of the
extra width. What I do like about it is it
has a double belt so you can put a lot more
HP to it without slipping the belt.
I think you have my email. Send me your #
and we can talk about it

 

[Fuddy Duddy]

I could use the wheels if you decide to part it out.

 

[TheOldHokie]

(quoted from post at 01:17:39 05/19/16) I've been using a Woods RM59 finish mower behind my 8N for a few years now. Because of the ground speed of the tractor in 1st at PTO RPMs and the obstacles in the areas I mow no one else will mow with it. Well the spindle bearing are about shot. No big deal, pull it apart, no pins or snap rings, everything is a very tight press fit. So toss a spindle assembly and try to press it apart and break the housing. Look it up and most people recommend not trying to change the bearings, They say just buy the complete spindle assembly. 155-170 each plus shipping! To fix a deck that no one else will use. So I'm retiring the deck. Went and bought a Husqvarna Z 248 F zero turn on Monday. Man is that thing sweet!

Now what to do with the deck? Except for the spindles it's in pretty good shape. Be easy to just send it in for scrap. Anyone in the MN area want it? I'd rather give it away than to scrap it. Located just east of Battle Lake MN.

Rick

Do what I am about to do with an old 4 foot finish mower that came with my little Kubota. It needs a deck repair and has been sitting beside the shop for over a decade. Going to put it on Craig's list in the "free stuff" category. I'm sure someone will come and take it off my hands ;-)

TOH

 

[RM-MN]

Put a price on it. People aren't as excited about something free and may claim to want it and never come to pick it up. Put a low price and people will brag to their friends about the bargain they got.

 

[Ken(Ark)]

(quoted from post at 06:27:40 05/19/16) Put a price on it. People aren't as excited about something free and may claim to want it and never come to pick it up. Put a low price and people will brag to their friends about the bargain they got.

Reminds me of the microwave someone was trying to give away . They sat it by the curb with a free sign on it . After days of sitting there they changed the sign to $25 . That night someone stole it , LOL .

 

[oldtanker]

(quoted from post at 01:33:52 05/19/16) I've never run a zero turn but hear they are
a joy to use. Good for you that you got one.
As for the Woods, it really isn't that hard
to put new bearings in one. Some do and some
don't have circlips.
I have done a few. If you go that route
spend the extra dough and buy the sealed
bearings. They will last much longer than
the greasable ones.
Then I'm sure you could sell it.
That said, if you're giving it away I'd like
to have it.
I have had a couple of 6' finish mowers but
had a chance to buy a 7' so I did.
I don't like it. It scalps more and you're
more apt to hit obstacles because of the
extra width. What I do like about it is it
has a double belt so you can put a lot more
HP to it without slipping the belt.
I think you have my email. Send me your #
and we can talk about it

Jerry it's yours then. No rush to get it I can hold it till you have time to come and get it. I'll give you a call this evening.

Rick

 

[oldtanker]

FD, Jerry spoke up first. Sorry.

TOH, That's why I put it on here first. Rather one of the people on here have it. CL was my next pick.

RM-MN, very true.

Ken, I've heard tales like that.

Rick

 

[Jim in Ma.]

Location is everything, I use a RM59 and would sure like to find one like that for extra parts.

 

[oldtanker]

(quoted from post at 06:24:49 05/19/16) Location is everything, I use a RM59 and would sure like to find one like that for extra parts.

They are a very good cutting mower. If I kept on top of the lawn I could mow in 2nd but with as many trees and stuff to go around that was a lot of really fast steering! Mowing 6" or so of grass gave pretty good results in 1st. Last year was what got me to thinking about the down side. Daughter and he family lives up the hill from us here on the farm, hubby drive OTR. So people that can mow weekly are me, my wife and the daughter. Even the SIL thought that the N was way too fast in 1st for them to be comfortable on it for mowing. Last year when they replaced my left knee I couldn't operate the clutch on it till late June and it still hurt to do that. So with deck problems it was time to get something everyone can mow with. Can't really say I'm going to miss mowing with it myself. At least not after mowing with the zero turn!

Rick

 

[touringsedan]

I also use the RM-59 behind my 8N. I replaced all the bearings last winter. Good little mower. I have been trying to find an original PTO cover that bolts on the front of the mower, anyone have one?

 

[oldtanker]

(quoted from post at 15:55:48 05/19/16)
I also use the RM-59 behind my 8N. I replaced all the bearings last winter. Good little mower. I have been trying to find an original PTO cover that bolts on the front of the mower, anyone have one?

According to what I found you can but that new as a replacement part. IIRC about 120 bucks.

Rick

 

[Royse]

(quoted from post at 07:05:50 05/19/16)

(quoted from post at 01:17:39 05/19/16) I've been using a Woods RM59 finish mower behind my 8N for a few years now. Because of the ground speed of the tractor in 1st at PTO RPMs and the obstacles in the areas I mow no one else will mow with it. Well the spindle bearing are about shot. No big deal, pull it apart, no pins or snap rings, everything is a very tight press fit. So toss a spindle assembly and try to press it apart and break the housing. Look it up and most people recommend not trying to change the bearings, They say just buy the complete spindle assembly. 155-170 each plus shipping! To fix a deck that no one else will use. So I'm retiring the deck. Went and bought a Husqvarna Z 248 F zero turn on Monday. Man is that thing sweet!

Now what to do with the deck? Except for the spindles it's in pretty good shape. Be easy to just send it in for scrap. Anyone in the MN area want it? I'd rather give it away than to scrap it. Located just east of Battle Lake MN.

Rick

Do what I am about to do with an old 4 foot finish mower that came with my little Kubota. It needs a deck repair and has been sitting beside the shop for over a decade. Going to put it on Craig's list in the "free stuff" category. I'm sure someone will come and take it off my hands ;-)

TOH

If you use the free section, be prepared for every thief in the county
to want to come kick the tires just to see what else you have. BTDT
I put what I had for free on the flatbed and parked it out by the road.
At least that kept them away from my buildings.

 

[Ultradog MN]

Well Rick,
Thanks for the offer, and the call.
When I read your post I was thinking it was
a 6 footer. But you explained that it's a 5'
So it won't do for me.
So I'm going to back out of this and let
someone else have a crack at it.
Thanks anyway. It was a generous offer.
Jerry

 

[oldtanker]

(quoted from post at 16:56:34 05/19/16) Well Rick,
Thanks for the offer, and the call.
When I read your post I was thinking it was
a 6 footer. But you explained that it's a 5'
So it won't do for me.
So I'm going to back out of this and let
someone else have a crack at it.
Thanks anyway. It was a generous offer.
Jerry

Yup, up for grabs. I'm not parting it out, all or none. I live on a farm so keeping it in place if need be isn't a problem. If it isn't spoken for in the next couple of weeks I'll haul it in for scrap.

Rick

 

[Colin King]

Rick, If you are still offering, I would gladly take it off your hands!

Thanks a bunch!
Colin

 

[oldtanker]

(quoted from post at 19:19:36 05/19/16) Rick, If you are still offering, I would gladly take it off your hands!

Thanks a bunch!
Colin

Come and get it,

Rick

 

[oldtanker]

Update: Colin will be picking it up sometime in the next few weeks. He's about 60 miles or so from me so not even a big road trip.

Thanks everyone for your interest, much happier that someone is going to get it and it's not going to go to scrap!

Rick

 

[Colin King]

Thank you, Rick, for your call this afternoon and for your generosity! See you next week!

Colin