Another MX6 Brush Hog Failure

Turbys_1700 · Sep 2, 2013

I will be 54 years old tomorrow and my dad sold Bush Hogs in the day...
We currently run Bush Hogs and Howse cutters...
I have never had this to happen...
Ever...
With that said, outsourcing parts where QC can be an issue will tend to have these type consequences from time to time...
Deere can make this right by replacing or repairing those units...
If they don't and I had one it would be a cold day in Hades before I would ever darken the doors of a Deer dealership...
And I would tell the so...
With that said, all manufacturers from time to time have issues with design problems, casting issues, or part failures...
This is where the dealership and manufacturer can shine from the customer's point of view...
Case in point...
Back in 84 my dad sold a 150 HP tractor to a farmer...
After 2500 hours or so the darn thing twisted the drive shaft off...
The dealership repaired it for only the cost of the labor...
They ate the shaft cost with the manufacturer...
Even-though the tractor was out of warranty that shaft should not have sheared...
But it did...
And they did the customer right...
We now have that same tractor sitting in the shed used as a mowing/bush hog tractor with a little over 4600 hours on it...

Red Horse · Sep 2, 2013

Turbys_1700 said:
I will be 54 years old tomorrow and my dad sold Bush Hogs in the day...
We currently run Bush Hogs and Howse cutters...
I have never had this to happen...
Ever...
With that said, outsourcing parts where QC can be an issue will tend to have these type consequences from time to time...
Deere can make this right by replacing or repairing those units...
If they don't and I had one it would be a cold day in Hades before I would ever darken the doors of a Deer dealership...
And I would tell the so...
With that said, all manufacturers from time to time have issues with design problems, casting issues, or part failures...
This is where the dealership and manufacturer can shine from the customer's point of view...
Case in point...
Back in 84 my dad sold a 150 HP tractor to a farmer...
After 2500 hours or so the darn thing twisted the drive shaft off...
The dealership repaired it for only the cost of the labor...
They ate the shaft cost with the manufacturer...
Even-though the tractor was out of warranty that shaft should not have sheared...
But it did...
And they did the customer right...
We now have that same tractor sitting in the shed used as a mowing/bush hog tractor with a little over 4600 hours on it...

just out of curiosity, what brand was that tractor and is the dealer still in business??

3brownbaydogs · Jul 17, 2014

Mine just failed yesterday, The output shaft broke right in two. It's an '05, but it has +/- 100 hrs on it. I hit a low cut stump in tall grass and done.

beenthere · Jul 17, 2014

Curious, but was the slip clutch adjusted before this seasons' cutting began?

Reminds me that I should do just that on my 513 rotary cutter. Something will break if the slip clutch is rusted tight and won't slip when hitting a stump... and I hit several yesterday along with a 15" diam boulder that I coughed up and couldn't get off of fast enough.

kebo · Jul 17, 2014

3brownbaydogs said:
Mine just failed yesterday, The output shaft broke right in two. It's an '05, but it has +/- 100 hrs on it. I hit a low cut stump in tall grass and done.View attachment 383134 View attachment 383135 View attachment 383136

Man, those are some sad looking pic's there! I hate it that you have become another "victim" of JD's greed to increase their profit margins. I've only owned three JD tractors and have been pleased with them, but I only have one JD attachment, and that's just a disc harrow. All this makes me glad that I have an Int'l medium duty mower! I hope your JD dealer can help you get some satisfaction with the repair/replacement. Good luck.

beenthere · Jul 17, 2014

I don't see JD "greed" here. I do see trying to mow down a stump. And doubt the IH med. duty mower would handle it either.

Ken · Jul 17, 2014

beenthere said:
I don't see JD "greed" here. I do see trying to mow down a stump. And doubt the IH med. duty mower would handle it either.

beenthere. Look at the shaft where the cut for a lock ring is ground into the shaft. Some said the Spain gear box were at fault
a box from China was used. same design fault.
The greed is not selling a shaft but wanting a total replacement of parts. so if seal goes out buy everything or the shaft pay for it all.
Maybe a little bity chance of greed here.
Sounds like you are defending the j.d. co. by suggesting maybe the buyer did not test a new MX 6 slip clutch or was careless in using .
It is a rotary cutter (Often called bush hog) and purchased to cut weeds brush and small trees .
Mine broke with the paint still on the flywheel or stumper cutting clover on level ground . could of used a lawn mower.

For myself I purchased a 286 Bush Hog by brand name and Have no worries of losing the lower stump jumper.
Also will not purchase a new j.d. tractor or equipment just because of the method of chincy cost management that will not honor a fault that has become a issue to several owners.
I do buy parts to keep my equipment running. but if can locate at other parts dept. I do.

Just because it is green might be moldy underneath the shiny parts.

ken

arlen4720 · Jul 17, 2014

I have yet to hear of a failure of the updated gearbox, which carries a 5 year warranty. I believe they went into production 2010 or 2011. I do think JD should have recalled the early ones, or at least fixed the ones that failed out of warranty.
I have hit many stumps and even 2 steel fence posts with my 2012 vintage MX-6. I do slip and adjust the slip clutch every spring. I back the clutch all the way off for winter storage also.
To the OP, there is an outfit that will retrofit a new gearbox. I think a new JD gearbox is around 1600 bucks. Good Luck

3brownbaydogs · Jul 18, 2014

I wasn't trying mow the stump and it is cut pretty close to the ground. I believe the slip clutch is ok, adjusted properly. Looking at the shaft, I feel like what ever I hit then would have been the demise. I had a 4300 with an MX5 previously, and that thing was pretty much bullet proof. I have no idea where that gearbox was made.

JD told me the new gearbox would be $2600, and I'd have to change the stump pan as well @ $200-250...