Up to you, some take them off to ease blowing their decks off with a leaf blower. (100% recommended blowing machines off after mowing).

 

I wouldn’t bother with it. If you found some to buy for cheap, I guess it would be nice to have for completeness. Sure wouldn’t fabricate them, though. They just seem to collect cut grass/leaves/dust on top of the deck. Having the covers in place makes it hard to clear the debris. I don’t run mine with my belly mower or my rear finish mower.

 

Thanks guys, I figured there was a good reason that the shields were missing. It woild be a bit of work to fabricate some new ones. The new deck on my x730 have plastic flip up covers that sure make it easy to blow out the debris after every mowing, They do make some imprivements over the years...especially if it does not cost them much to do it.☺

 

The flip-up guards are nice. My only comment concerning the shields would be make a similar "flip-up" shield to protect from contact with the spindle/belt (safety). Otherwise I agree, factory shields are debris collectors.

 

I did my first rattle can rebuild on my deck in '82. I put the covers back on, mowed for the '83 summer and removed the deck in prep for "winter attire". I removed the belt covers for a general inspection and the pulleys were completely enclosed/packed with clippings! My covers haven't been on since the fall of '83! I keep my tractor near my compressor and after 4 or 5 minutes of 100 psi air, pulleys...and remainder of deck.. are spotless after EACH mowing. Bob

 

I agree with most. The shields are a pain. Most 50 in decks usually have the right guard notched out for a power flow drive so that usually defeats the safety side it. Which is something to definitely consider. Things do fall into those open belts. sometimes feet sometimes brush. I was mowing right against the foundation when a twig from someplace hit the belt on the open pulley I mentioned above. It flipped the belt off and as "Murphy" would have it, it ricocheted right into my face. I leave them on and often blow them out. One way or the other, that area needs to be kept clean if you want it to last. But the number one factor is safety.

 

Yes, I agree about the safety issue here. I believe that the pto shuts off when you get off the seat but the possibility for an accident is still there. I wonder if the flip up plastic shields could mount on this old deck. I bet the flip up shields would not be that expensive although I have not looked how they are mounted. I have them on my X730 and they are handy for blowing out. I have lots of
Oak trees, branches etc end up on the mower deck. Anyone tried something like this?.

 

Never tried hinging the shields. I think one would have to weld a couple tabs to the fixed end for attachment points, then cut and hinge the mobile end. Seems like it would hinder cleaning on my 332, couldn’t raise them very high to get your hand in there and remove debris. But I haven’t tried it, so that’s just me thinking out loud.

 

I have restored various decks and see no value in hinging the covers. The only way I can see them working for me would be to double hinge them. Once in the middle and once on front or rear. Still not sure if that would work. Best solution to me is to remove covers in fall to clean up and repaint if necessary before putting away for the winter.

 

Picked up a 314 w/ a 50" deck with covers. This is what I found after removing the covers and the reason why so many of us leave them off.

 

(In teacher voice) And that is what is called a fire hazard, to see potential effects, view: Fendt Ideal 9T Fire...

 

I compromised when restoring my 60 deck. I shortened the covers to only cover what is outside the foot pads. And I opened up the ends for clearing debris. I use a leaf blower after every mowing.

 

Jay,

This is an excellent approach to the issue and is essentially the way the covers on later decks like on my X495 are done. Below is a representative image of such a deck.

...Maybe a photo is better than a line drawing...

Chuck