Cast End Mower Deck

[john.knutson]

Picked up a new (to me) mower deck last week. I have a non-cast deck as well but it's not in the best shape, and I have 2 acres to mow so I figured if nothing else it would be good to have a backup.

I'm not certain of the size, it was sold as a "46 inch" deck which I do not believe exists, and I cannot locate a serial number or any other meaningful markings on it. So far I have mowed 1/2 my lawn without any sharpening to the blades and it cuts great (and makes a bit less noise than my other non-cast deck). I did mix the QA front part of my old mule drive with the deck hanger that came with the non-QA mule drive that came with the cast end deck.

 

[digger]

Picked up a new (to me) mower deck last week. I have a non-cast deck as well but it's not in the best shape, and I have 2 acres to mow so I figured if nothing else it would be good to have a backup.

I'm not certain of the size, it was sold as a "46 inch" deck which I do not believe exists, and I cannot locate a serial number or any other meaningful markings on it. So far I have mowed 1/2 my lawn without any sharpening to the blades and it cuts great (and makes a bit less noise than my other non-cast deck). I did mix the QA front part of my old mule drive with the deck hanger that came with the non-QA mule drive that came with the cast end deck.

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Measure blade tip to blade tip and you'll know. Looks like a 38 to me.

 

[john.knutson]

Measure blade tip to blade tip and you'll know. Looks like a 38 to me.

Always wondered how exactly they were measured, thanks!

 

[IHinIN]

Sure looks like a 42” to me. This is my 100 with a 42” deck and 23/8.5 tires. The 38” doesn’t have enough room between the gauge wheels to clear 8.5” wide tires.

 

[john.knutson]

I'm thinking it is a 42", granted the blades don't line up perfectly for the measurement.

Either way, it's a good size for me, hangs out of the mower enough for good coverage but not so far that I bump the trees with it (well, maybe one or two, but it was my first time with this deck and first time on this lawn).

 

[snicklas]

IH, and even up through the present day MTD CC's measure the actual width of cut, not the sheet metal.

So this one being listed as a "46 inch", the seller measured the sheet metal, which would be about right, looking at your picture and tape....

I'm not sure what the 2 blade deck is considered, but IH 3 blade decks were:

"Triangle" Decks - 38, 42, 48: not sure if they made a "cast end" deck in 48. I think the 48 was "only" for the 12/14 horse tractors......

"Stamped" Decks - 44, 50. The "A" Designation was a 1/2" belt for the 1x8/9 and Quietline, The "C" Designation was the 5/8" Belt for the 82 Series and up... The only real differences was the center pulley, and the location of the front lift "eyes". I currently have a "44C deck on my 1450, that has the original center pulley (actually I swapped the entire spindle, but same result) from the 44A that it came with.

The "38 A/C" was the same "Triangle" Deck. IH never made a "stamped" 38......

 

[IHinIN]

Wow! That’s a really solid old deck. Most of those have holes rusted through them and the baffles are long gone. Mine was in rough shape when I got it.

 

[john.knutson]

Wow! That’s a really solid old deck. Most of those have holes rusted through them and the baffles are long gone. Mine was in rough shape when I got it.

My wife found it on Facebook (I don't have one myself) but it was a great deal I think!

I'd like to put some new runners on my stamped deck and set one of them up for my Peco Vac.