which mower jack or...?

[cheechi]

When I first bought my riding mower (54" Husqvarna) Lowe's had one of their display models jacked up with a mower jack and it was just left like that through the whole season. I had meant to go back and buy it but they don't sell that one anymore.

I looked at reviews of the HF one for comparison and they basically all say the bottle jack is junk and things don't align right.

I was looking at this at northern and it gets pretty good reviews.

So I'm not going to drop the deck often but when I do have to work on it I want something safe and convenient. I'm not using it as a snow plow or probably much (if at all) in the winter either. What should I get to do the scheduled maintenance on a mower this size?

 

[jakemac]

I don't have a mower lift, but you could check out these models at Tractor Supply. They seem to have good reviews.

http://www.tractorsupply.com/tsc/product/pro-lift-lawn-mower-lift?cm_vc=-10005
http://www.tractorsupply.com/tsc/product/pro-lift-heavy-duty-lawn-mower-lift

 

[cheechi]

Thanks Jake. How do you do stuff underneath the deck? I'm still new to having one of these.

 

[jakemac]

I set up a pair of small stands and then strain my back lifting the mower on and off of them.
Alternately, I drive the mower halfway up a pair of trailer ramps and hope it doesn't slide down while I'm working underneath.

FYI - Always remember to pull the spark plug wire when working on the mower.
(my problem is remembering to plug it back in when I'm done, and then wondering why the mower won't start)

 

[bindernut]

I work at a john Deere mower dealer. There are one or 2 jacks kinda similar to that one linked above but are hand cranked on a screw vs. hydraulic. Work ok but most of the time we just use a floor jack to work on them. Put it under the front deck hanger and lift it up. Jack stands are ok but I prefer some big heavy timbers under the tires to support it. Gives a little more room under it this way..

 

[cheechi]

Thanks bud. My floor jack & stands are more than adequate for the weight I just wasn't sure if it was that simple.

 

[bindernut]

Thanks bud. My floor jack & stands are more than adequate for the weight I just wasn't sure if it was that simple.

Yep it's that simple. Just make sure you don't bend anything when you jack it up. But like I said, the bracket on the tractor for the front deck hanger works real well..

 

[jimindm]

I have an old car jack that works good. It is the type that has a bucket that went on the bottom of the chrome bumpers. It kind of has one leg that hinges back and the leg that does the jacking has a screw that runs inside, that you turn by a handle at the top.

I just put a bolt in the hitch hole of the tractor, and drilled a hole in the jack saddle. Mine will raise about 42 inches

You can usually find them on craigslist, or flea markets, swap meets.

Servicing the underside of the mower has not been a problem for me yet. I can get it in the air enough to comfortably work under the deck. In the air the deck will lower a little more, that you can service most things above it, or on top of it.

 

[Dog Garage]

I find an ATV/motorcycle jack/jack stand works great with my machine, for lubing or removing blades. I find it to be safer and more stable than when I used a 3 1/2 floor jack with 1 1/2 ton jack stands.

 

[ekeller]

My exmark has a trailer jack on the front, flip it down and crank it up. Easy to work around as well, and very stable.

 

[bobcatdan]

In a perfect world, an overhead hoist is the greatest ever to lift a mower. A cherry picker is a good compromise.

 

[cheechi]

Thanks guys. So the floor jack lifts it plenty stable which was my main concern. But my stands aren't tall enough for how high I needed to get it. Going to try a bottle jack next time, but for now just for visual check it was fine.

 

[Charles (in GA)]

 

[cheechi]

You know I should have thought of that. I keep one of those in the closet.

Congrats though yours is still bigger.

 

[dodge610]

You know I should have thought of that. I keep one of those in the closet.

Congrats though yours is still bigger.

Hf carries a mower jack just like the farm and fleet. I have had mine for 3 yrs. with no issues. gets my lawn tractor off the floor with ease.

 

[morgaj1]

Been using the Jungle Jack for years:

http://www.junglejimsap.com/displayItem.php?pkey=5