Help! 3 problems and just 11 hours in. Warranty? Insurance? Me?

[gocards1177]

So after this weekend, I've not got 11 hours on my new 5083E and MX10. Almost all of it was bush hogging. I have three problems, and would like some advice on how to address these with the dealer when they open tomorrow:

1. The tires aren't set wide enough. I requested they be set as wide as possible, but the dealer recommended about half as much as what could be done so they wouldn't stick out past the fenders. My land isn't mountainous, but it's not flat either. I could really use an extra foot in width. As I understand it, this would require a trailer ride back to the dealer, which I would have to have them do for me. But because of the next two items, it might be going to the shop anyway.

2. The E540 is activated with a lever behind the seat. I tried to use this primarily on Saturday, but on a few occasions after stopping the tractor, the PTO wouldn't engage. I talked to the saleman and he suggested pulling up on the lever harder. It appeared this helped, but it still wouldn't engage right. It shaft would just rotate for a few seconds and then stop. I'd try to go back to the regular 540 PTO, and it would do the same thing! After messing with it the regular 540 PTO would work so the mowing got done. Wish I could have saved some fuel on the E540 though - grr.

3. Lastly, (a two parter) while I was going perpendicular over a shallow ditch, I thought I had enough clearance, but the MX10 bottomed out and the tractor stalled. Shouldn't the slip clutch prevent that? After I restarted the engine and engaged the PTO, the whole cutter rattled and shook like crazy so I shut it off. I poked around it and looked underneath and everything appears to be normal. I think maybe the long PTO shaft between the splitter and the shaft that connects to the tractor PTO spindle got bound up or something and is now bent? But I couldn't figure out how to get this apart easily to verify.

So in summary, I know the first one isn't a warranty issue, but I still think the dealer should widen my tires. Point "2" is definitely a warranty issue, unless it's operator error. Is point "3" a warranty issue? I feel like a failure of the slip clutch is the contributing factor. I have the JD insurance, so if it's not a warranty issue, should the insurance cover?
Thanks,
GoCards1177

 

[breaksteel]

#3 when the blades stopped they could have been facing the same direction putting the blade bar off balance. Enertia (sp?) kept the free blade moving while the blade that hit stopped where it was. When you started it back up the shaking was this unbalance. Eventually they straitened back out and no more balance problem. I'm going to guess that after you shut it off it worked fine on the next start.

 

[gocards1177]

#3 when the blades stopped they could have been facing the same direction putting the blade bar off balance. Enertia (sp?) kept the free blade moving while the blade that hit stopped where it was. When you started it back up the shaking was this unbalance. Eventually they straitened back out and no more balance problem. I'm going to guess that after you shut it off it worked fine on the next start.

No the blades were all freely rotating. I started it several times and the shaking happened each time.

 

[whistlepig]

May have bent the stump jumper. The plate that the blades are attached to. Both blades should be level when measuring from a flat surface.

 

[breaksteel]

Another thought could be a bend in some frame parts under the deck. Usually there are corner braces that can run close to the blades and bend easily. Could be brushing up against one of those.

 

[whistlepig]

Or maybe the mounting bolts for the gearbox are loose.

 

[sunnyside360]

3. Lastly, (a two parter) while I was going perpendicular over a shallow ditch, I thought I had enough clearance, but the MX10 bottomed out and the tractor stalled. Shouldn't the slip clutch prevent that? After I restarted the engine and engaged the PTO, the whole cutter rattled and shook like crazy so I shut it off. I poked around it and looked underneath and everything appears to be normal. I think maybe the long PTO shaft between the splitter and the shaft that connects to the tractor PTO spindle got bound up or something and is now bent? But I couldn't figure out how to get this apart easily to verify.

The purpose of the slip clutch is to protect the cutter, tractor and linkage when something like that happens but the clutch must be adjusted properly. I'd wager that the slip clutch needs to be adjusted. The cutter manual should specify how to do this.

Excessive cutter vibration usually occurs when the blades strike an object as you did, but it should balance itself out as the rpm's are increased and the cutter blades swing back out to normal position. You may not have run the machine long enough for the blades to swing back out into position. Hopefully nothing is damaged.

Good luck with your new tractor.

 

[gocards1177]

All good suggestions. To my untrained eye I didn't see anything wrong. So regardless of the culprit,under the circumstances if it doesn't end up being an equipment issue/warranty covered, would this likely fall under insurance?

 

[gocards1177]

Yeah I'm not trying to get out of anything that's truly my fault. I read the manual and am aware of the adjustment on the clutch. I assumed on a brand new machine this was already done.

I got the cutter up to speed and let it run, but about 2 minutes was as long as I could bear. I didn't cut with it again though. It was stationary while I was trying to figure it out.

 

[sunnyside360]

No the blades were all freely rotating. I started it several times and the shaking happened each time.

I would raise the cutter, block it and look at the blades to make sure they have returned to straight out position. Being a new cutter the blades may be somewhat tight. Also, disconnect the PTO shaft to tractor and check to ensure the blades are running straight/level when turning by hand.