Needs some help with new tiller.

[Dingo Man]

I finally got some time on my new tractor and tiller yesterday evening. I have a 72" Sundown tiller which I believe is basically a King Kutter. I turned the tiller on and could hear something rubbing slightly. Never having owned one I assumed it was a couple of the tines hitting the cover. I made two passes on new ground. It was starting to get dark (thankfully). I looked back and observed some sparks so I shut it down.

I found that one of the plates on the slip clutch was hitting the cover of the tiller. The plate is the one closest to the gear box. This put a pretty good gouge in the cover. I noticed the gear box is attached with four bolts going through a steel plate with slotted holes. The gear box was sitting directly on top of the cover. I loosened the four bolts and pried up on the box and tightened the bolts back up. This eliminated the rubbing. Is this sometimes a common thing or could there be something else wrong.

The only other thing I noticed that looked out of place was the above mentioned slip clutch plate was not perfectly centered around the PTO shate that hooks into the gear box. Here are some pics.

[jonyyuma]

I guess this is enough rubbing to make You a little sick. If it was mine, I would be irritated? You said new? Are you close to dealer? Looks like maybe shims were left out of gearbox, that would have created clearances for clutch?You could shim it your self and go about the tilling?

[spruce Deere]

Hmmmm...... new tiller and this happens. Call the outfit that sold it to you for sure explaining the problem.

So... Did you buy it from a box store or a dealer?

I would, if bought it from a chain box store I would do what you just did, fixed it. Course if you did call them on the carpet about it, ya might get a whole new tiller.......

A dealer, I would have made a phone call to them explaining the issue before putting a wrench to it. A dealers reputation is on selling this stuff, so they MIGHT be more helpful.

Sometimes with a bigger store, One customer's complaint or loss of there patronage is replaced by another customers cash rather quickly.

[Dingo Man]

I spoke with my dealer today and they advised they have seen this in the past. He advised me he would take care of it. I told him not to bother and that I would shim it up myself. No biggy. I tilled for an hour with it today and all was fine.