Tiller Yanmar RS1303 tiller, help! Something is binding internally

[jas67]

I guess I should have been more thorough when I bought my tiller.

I knew, going into this, that it needed tines. I bought those, and am almost ready to start using the tiller. This morning, while replacing the tines, I discovered that it is binding internally at one point in the rotation of the tines. I can not turn it through, by hand. If I turn it the other direction, it binds about 30 degrees from the same point.

It seems like maybe a shaft is bent or something internally. The main tine shaft doesn't seem to be bent, and the PTO shaft turns freely between the binding points.

Next, I'm going to pull the chaincase cover off, and investigate.

Are parts available for these tillers? I assume that I'm going to need a shaft, or a sprocket or something like that.

I'm really bummed about this, as I bought this to prep a new area of lawn that I'm putting in. I need to mix some compost into my otherwise infertile clay soil so that the grass will grow nicely. I don't want to have to resort to the walk-behind. Besides, my new (to me) B7610 wants to exercise its 24HP engine via the PTO (the only other PTO implements that I have are my snow blower, and PHD (which I only have a few holes left to do here, then I'll be done with that too).

If this ends up not worth fixing, I may have to rent one (as everyone here knows, good, used 3PH tillers are hard to come by, and new ones are expensive).

I was hoping to use it for my immediate needs, and then sell it later to get my money back out of it.

I'm in South Central PA. Anyone know where I can rent one around here?

Thanks,
Jay

 

[cowboy357]

I,d pull the cover first it may be very obvious . I had an Iseki tiller that had sit out several years in the weather & when I pulled the cover off it was full of muddobber nests & the chain was froze straight . a Good cleaning & soaking & it worked like new.

Might not be Your problem. but I,d check first before looking for parts or reanting one. Best of luck. Bob

 

[jas67]

Cowboy357 -- I'm hoping I have the same problem. There is no drain plug, but when i split the case, only a little water came out. I still don't have the side cover off yet. I think there might be a hidden bolts somewhere on the inside cover, obscured by the tine shroud. I am going to look for a parts/service manual online that might show me what is still holdin' it together.

Jay

 

[jas67]

Cowboy357,

THANK YOU!!!

That was the problem. I was able to free it by rocking the tine shaft back and forth pretty hard, and eventually freed up the chain. I'm going to put new lube in it, and then run no load for a little while, and then drain it and fill it again.

Thank you very much!

Jay

 

[cowboy357]

You bet Jay , Glad it worked out for You .

No matter what some say about grey market tillers or tractors , They were built to use & tough as nails. not to mention about 20 cents on the dollar of the Perty tractors when You go to buy a used one .

I,ve had no repairs needed for several years , other then the tines wearing out on the tillers . There built tough, Yes Parts might be hard to find IF You ever needed any .

Enjoy Your tiller & hope it does You well . Bob

 

[LBrown59]

Cowboy357,

THANK YOU!!!

That was the problem. Jay

Glad you got er cranked up.
Bet that made ya feel good.

 

[DavisHollow]

Cowboy357 -- [...] There is no drain plug, but when i split the case, only a little water came out. [...]
Jay

Actually, there is an oil drain plug. I have an RS1303, had it for several years, bought with new tines, used it a little, worked pretty well. PTO shaft would bind up when I turned while tilling (probably not smart), so I only till in a straight line, no damage.

So I started to use it again recently and I noticed a bullet hole in the chain box, I guess a ricochet since I tend to target practice in the same area.

So I had to pull off the chain box cover. That was not easy, given the age, I had to destroy a few bolts, but one of the bolts is an oil drain plug. At the bottom, there are three screws on the front, three on the back, the middle front bolt is an oil drain hole. Pictures of the cover attached, I put the oil drain screw in so you can see it.

The chain appeared to be in good condition, despite water in the case, and a pile of sludge in the bottom. I was surprised by the amount of sludge. The bearings sounded a bit noisy but that may be normal.

I will reseal with RTV. But the chain box is in three pieces (a center piece and a cover on each side) and to take off the center piece (to seal between it and the inside cover) I would have to take the chain off and sprocket, I think I'll just let it leak a little for now, that's way more work than I want to do.

Also, surprising to me the gear box is made of aluminum. To fix the hole I'll just screw a plate over it and seal it. I might weld but I've never welded AL. I did find a little shrapnel (magnetic material) in the sludge at the bottom, hopefully from the bullet and not a failing bearing. I think lead and AL are non-magnetic so this would be copper, but it was so sludgy I didn't clean it off to see what material it was.

 

[kebo]

Also, surprising to me the gear box is made of aluminum. To fix the hole I'll just screw a plate over it and seal it. I might weld but I've never welded AL. I did find a little shrapnel (magnetic material) in the sludge at the bottom, hopefully from the bullet and not a failing bearing. I think lead and AL are non-magnetic so this would be copper, but it was so sludgy I didn't clean it off to see what material it was.

Actually, Copper is also non-ferrous meaning it will not stick to a magnet. What you found had to be a ferrous, or made from iron. Sounds like maybe it was part of a gear, a chain, or maybe part of a bearing?

 

[DavisHollow]

I should have known that. Will have a better idea when I get it back together. Its possible something like rebar just bumped up against it and cracked the AL cover.

 

[DavisHollow]

Pictures of the RS1303 with the cover off. Slightly rusty from being filled with water, but the rust is very superficial. No chance I'll every find a gasket so I'll use RTV for the first time ever.