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IH 3260 vs Woods L59

IH CUB Lo-Boy Series - 154, 184, 185 Forum -- Questions and answers to all of your Lo-Boy related issues.
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Dcroyle
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IH 3260 vs Woods L59

Postby Dcroyle » Sun Jun 03, 2018 11:05 am

Hello
Thanks again for all the help you all have been on my 184 . It's been running great. I finally found a 3pt assembly for it and while I was at the gentlemans place he gave me a great deal on a 3260 Deck with new belts and 2 sets of blades. My question is how well do they cut compared to the woods L59 that I've used for the last 6 years . The only real issue I have is digging the sod when I back up with the skids on occasion . Yes I mow as low as I can get it and the yard looks great. So has anyone used both decks. Is one any better than the other. My brother has been drooling over mine since I got it and he is getting ready to make the plunge and give one of his boys his Deere. He said he wants which ever Deck I'm not going to go with. Thanks all. Which would you keep

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Eugene
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Re: IH 3260 vs Woods L59

Postby Eugene » Sun Jun 03, 2018 12:34 pm

I have a 3260 mounted on a 154 numbered Cub and a 42" Woods mounted on a standard Cub. Both mow well, but then, I only cut the grass to about 3 or 4 inches in the black walnut plantation.

I only trim the grass to 1" under the black walnuts a couple of weeks before harvest. Then I bring in one of the Cub Cadets to blow the debris off the zone where the nuts fall and keep the grass at 1 inch.
I have an excuse. CRS.

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Dcroyle
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Re: IH 3260 vs Woods L59

Postby Dcroyle » Sun Jun 03, 2018 1:27 pm

Thanks Eugene

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Bill Hudson
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Re: IH 3260 vs Woods L59

Postby Bill Hudson » Sun Jun 03, 2018 1:51 pm

My choice would be the Woods 59.

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Dcroyle
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Re: IH 3260 vs Woods L59

Postby Dcroyle » Sun Jun 03, 2018 2:04 pm

Thanks Bill.
Like I said the L59 has been a good deck and is really robust .I have trails through the woods and I might chew up a stick or two on occasion without a problem . I didn't know with the rollers and baffles under the 3260 if it might mow better . I got the deck for the price of a set of blades. It just needs paint.

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Re: IH 3260 vs Woods L59

Postby Landreo » Sun Jun 03, 2018 5:46 pm

I have used both and have not noticed any cut difference. Spindle parts, seals, bearings, are still available for both.

The skids should not touch the ground when mowing and the back or trailing end of the Wood's' skid should be bent upwards so it does not dig in. Your skids may need to be adjusted.

The center pulley on the IHC mower is right under the oil pan and can be shoved upwards by hitting a rotten stump hard enough for the grease fitting to drill a hole through the oil pan as I experienced many years ago. The Woods' mower has the center pulley towards the back.

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Dcroyle
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Re: IH 3260 vs Woods L59

Postby Dcroyle » Sun Jun 03, 2018 6:26 pm

Thanks Landreo
Yes as I said I am mowing with the deck as close as possible.most of the time it's skidding along cutting great. I've adjusted it to mow as close as I can get it. I had this conversation with the guys on here and got chastised a long time ago but it works for me. It's just after looking at this 3260 deck I was wondering if it mowed any better having baffles and rollers on the deck and being an IH . The L59 is aftermarket. No baffles,sliders but appears allot stronger. Thanks for the replies

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Re: IH 3260 vs Woods L59

Postby outdoors4evr » Mon Jun 04, 2018 8:36 am

The center pulley on the IHC mower is right under the oil pan and can be shoved upwards by hitting a rotten stump hard enough for the grease fitting to drill a hole through the oil pan as I experienced many years ago. The Woods' mower has the center pulley towards the back.


There is a stop that mounts to the frame of the 184 on the right side forward of the rockshaft lift assembly that looks like a pipe pointing downward. This stop is supposed to keep the center pulley grease zerk from penetrating the oil pan.

On my 184 with a 3160a (different model) deck, the outer guide wheel would tear up the grass on corners because it was fixed in place and would not turn. I replaced the guide wheel with Woods swivel guide wheels but mounted them further outboard than the Woods design.
184 w/ Creeper & 3-Point
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Dcroyle
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Re: IH 3260 vs Woods L59

Postby Dcroyle » Mon Jun 04, 2018 5:14 pm

Thanks. That's kinda what I had plans to do with the L59. The woods deck does seam o be a stronger made deck so I'm thinking of going ahead with my plans. I've stripped the 3260 and it looks great so I'll give it a good paint job and moth ball it. Be a good back up if my brother don't need it. Are the blades the same between the 2. I know the belt won't work.

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Re: IH 3260 vs Woods L59

Postby mozer71 » Tue Jun 05, 2018 3:21 am

Not dismissing any of this information. The Woods is probably heavier but it depends on how you use these. My 3160A has nothing but a front roller attached to an iron nose plate. The deck is suspended by the rock arms' linkages and trailing arms. I try to maintain some acreage of different surfaces, so the deck is raised and lowered on the fly. There are no trailing wheels of set height because after crawling over a tall root ( of a tree I want to keep) the deck is lowered down to lawn level around a house. There is constant adjustment along the way of semi brush hogging and lowering down but the hydraulics lever is easy.

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Re: IH 3260 vs Woods L59

Postby outdoors4evr » Tue Jun 05, 2018 7:54 am

The lifting mechanism might be a factor in your deck choice. You mentioned mowing as "low as possible" and this may not be a factor in a yard mowing scenario, but may be in a field mowing situation.

The woods deck lifts the front of the deck and the back pivots at the rear mounts (between the rear axle). When mowing with the deck in a raised position, the front of the blades may be higher than the back of the blades (cutting the grass twice).

The 3260 lift mechanism is more of a scissor type so the deck stays level regardless of the height. (front of the blade can stay lower than the rear so grass gets cut once) This deck may be better suited for cutting taller grass or weeds.
184 w/ Creeper & 3-Point
IH 3160a Mower
IH Model 15 Tiller
IH-54 Blade

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Dcroyle
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Tractors Owned: 79 184
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Re: IH 3260 vs Woods L59

Postby Dcroyle » Tue Jun 05, 2018 5:51 pm

Hay outdoors
Thanks for that info, I didn't know that. I knew the woods deck lifted like that and just figured the IH did the same. I do have a bit more than an acre out back that's grown in with weeds that I'm going to start mowing and planting . I may ad some wheels to the corners and give it a go.

outdoors4evr
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Re: IH 3260 vs Woods L59

Postby outdoors4evr » Wed Jun 06, 2018 9:10 am

When adding wheels to a mower deck, be very careful of the clearances. Some people add the wheels to the back side of the mower deck so that there are not interference issues with the front tires (when turning while backing up).
Image

Here is a picture of my tractor that poorly shows the wheels added to my mower deck. I attached angle iron to the deck then bolted the wheel assembly arms to the angle iron. On the right side, I had to "limit" the wheels so they won't turn all the way around and hit the front tire. The left side had no clearance issues so it is left free to rotate 360 degrees.
Image

This is my favorite method that the later IH mower decks had for added wheels. This style shouldn't dig in when turning.
Image

Disclaimer: Not all photos are mine, photo credit goes to the photographer and original poster.
184 w/ Creeper & 3-Point
IH 3160a Mower
IH Model 15 Tiller
IH-54 Blade

User avatar
Dcroyle
5+ Years
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Posts: 11
Joined: Sun Jun 03, 2018 10:18 am
Zip Code: 16114
Tractors Owned: 79 184
44 BN
62 JD2010
78 WH
73 WH
Location: Mercer Pa

Re: IH 3260 vs Woods L59

Postby Dcroyle » Wed Jun 06, 2018 3:18 pm

I like the rollers on the last pic to but like my "73" 14 auto Wheel Horse they would not go over roots and bend down or catch and cause a big problem. I'm thinking rear wheels similar to yours , little thinner,little bigger diameter. As for the front I like the roller that's in the middle but I might try to copy my L59 setup,seems to work good. I might powder coat the deck for years of great service. Maybe. As good of shape it's in it might be worth it.

outdoors4evr
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Re: IH 3260 vs Woods L59

Postby outdoors4evr » Thu Jun 07, 2018 11:38 am

I am guessing that the wheels in the rear will also dig in and tear up the lawn when backing and turning. That is why I used swivel wheels.
Note: None of these solutions address the issue of driving over a root or a stump. The mower deck rollers roll over the obstacle then the blades hit the high item.
184 w/ Creeper & 3-Point
IH 3160a Mower
IH Model 15 Tiller
IH-54 Blade


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