New Rotary Cutter, Stump Jumper, Blade Pan out of alignment, Thoughts?

[shovelmike]

Wow, those are some considerable issues to have on a brand new cutter. We will be following this thread, and hoping the manufacturer makes it right.

 

[xcgreene]

Your assuming that the surface you are sitting on has been machined perpendicular to the bore. If it were mine, I would check the SJ in multiple positions mounted on the shaft, while recording TIR each time. That is real info you can use. You should be able to tack it within 0.020" if you are eyeing it while spinning on the box.

You're right,

Mounted to the new shaft and taking measurements to the deck is real world and best. I had done exactly that when troubleshooting the first time, and have video/pictures of that too. But, I found the bad gearbox and seal, I assumed that's why the jumper measurements were off. When the replacement gearbox arrived, I mounted, and could no longer clunk the jumper back and forth, and no oil was leaking, which I was very happy about, but the run out appeared exactly the same, and the blade tips still resting way out from one another, and had the same aggressive wobble while running. So in frustration, I removed the blades and jumper, again.

So, I just whipped up a benchtop test. The 2 photos I posted at the beginning, are screen shots of a video which would inspire a bit more confidence in the method than pictures. This method depends on the jumper pinion collar top being perpendicular with its shaft bore, which it should be. Spinning the jumper 180 degrees in place, collar down and flat, taking a measurement from the exact same reference point on the table, and nothing else changing, I can determine the 1/4" difference from hole to hole.

I'm not really concerned with any other points on the jumper but the blade pin holes at the ends of the blade bar.

Thanks for discussions and comments so far, all.

 

[JDAOWNER]

I THINK I WOULD TAKE IT BACK TO THE DEALER AND TELL HIM TO MAKE IT RIGHT.

 

[xcgreene]

I THINK I WOULD TAKE IT BACK TO THE DEALER AND TELL HIM TO MAKE IT RIGHT.

I've been working on that. Its actually a mower I purchased that had to be shipped to me. It would be over a 1000 mile drive. In regards to the Jumper, we bickered for a while on the phone a few times, they continued to say that this run out is fine, and if I wanted to exchange for a new one, I would have to pay shipping both ways. $100. Now, they did ship me a good gearbox and paid for return shipping of the bad one. But in my opinion, this jumper is out of mfg spec, and should be replaced.

This mower really seems to have been thrown together on a Friday before the holidays. (which I did order it just before the holidays) Maybe they grabbed the last gearbox and jumper from 2019 stock. all crappy looking and not quite right, but its all they had. Even the new exchange gearbox that arrived had rusty shafts, but the bearings were solid, so that's all that really matters there.

At any rate, I wound up paying the $100 to exchange this jumper, with the promise that if they also find it bad, they would credit me the $100. It's just been a big hassle to tool and coordinate all this with a cutter that I paid for to be brand new.

 

[JDAOWNER]

I KNOW HOW IT GOES, I'VE BEEN THERE AND DONE THAT. A GOOD CASE OF WHY TO WORK WITH A NEAR BUY DEALER EVEN IF IT COST A FEW BUCKS MORE.

 

[xcgreene]

I KNOW HOW IT GOES, I'VE BEEN THERE AND DONE THAT. A GOOD CASE OF WHY TO WORK WITH A NEAR BUY DEALER EVEN IF IT COST A FEW BUCKS MORE.

I lean this way more and more these days. Perhaps I "fanboyed" a bit when I made this purchase. Seems like it may have turned into a situation where I "met my hero" and its not quite what I thought it would be.

But in all fairness, things are still in motion. We'll see when its all said and done.

 

[JDAOWNER]

I EXPECT ALL WILL BE GOOD IN THE END. GOOD LUCK AND KEEP US POSTED.

 

[LD1]

Is it too early to ask where/who made MFG'd the cutter?

 

[xcgreene]

Is it too early to ask where/who made MFG'd the cutter?

I pondered a while about whether or not I should mention the Mfg. After a think or two, I guess it seemed wrong. And yet, at the same time, I'd hate for others to get burned like I have so far.

At any rate, I'll just leave their name out of it for now, until the dust clears.

 

[LD1]

Just thinking that perhaps someone else has the same cutter and can take some comparison measurements for you? Or perhaps recently got the same cutter and having the same issue but hasn't investigated the cause to the extent that you have?