2017 BX23S drive over mower deck stuck at "top" dial position

[climax102]

I bought this BX23S equipped with loader, backhoe, and drive over belly mower. The previous owner used it only 200 hours mowing 4 acres. I do not intend on using the mower here in the Ozarks because I have only trees, and rocks. I needed to remove the fancy drive over mower, and that is where my problems started. I raised the mower to the top, and could only turn the cutting height knob clockwise to "top". It would not go to "zero" like instructed. I have spent hours reading suggestions, and more hours trying to get the height knob to zero. I have turned the adjustment bolt behind the left tire down, and up, but no luck. I can feel the cutting height shaft jamming up against metal when attempting to turned. I even tried jacking up the mower deck to take the pressure off of the height knob shaft. At this point I just want the mower deck off. I think I was in better shape to remove the deck when it was set at 3", than top. The height knob only turns clockwise. My question is can the deck be removed without driving over it. Will the PTO shaft present a problem ? Suggestions appreciated


UPDATE:
If you are ever have the problem of the "Mower link cam" is stuck in the "TOP" position, while your deck is attached, and you have tried everything else do the following.

1. Detach any rear end attachment, and safely jack up the rear end enough you can see the mower link cam. It is located just in front of the left rear axle, almost against the frame. (see picture)

2. Remove the nut in the center of the "Mower link cam". This will require a 14 mm socket, and extension. I used my battery powered hammer drill. It took just one short pull.

3. From the deck, pull the Cutting height knob straight out of the "Mower link cam"

4. You can then take anything like a small dowel rod, and push the cam out from the top. You could also get under the rear end again and pull the cam out. I am 74, and every trip saved to getting on the floor is avoided.

5. Now you can lower you mower deck down, and remove it normally. Once removed you have easy access to the area where the hangup problem is needing fixed.

Here is some pictures of the "Mower link cam" in, and out of the tractor

 

[JWR]

At least on other BX Kubotas that height knob cannot / should not be turned except when the hydraulic has lifted it to the top. Myself and many others have broken that knob trying to turn it harder. The problem is that the full weight of the deck rests on that adjusting mechanism UNLESS you have it lifted all the way up. So....

It sounds to me like you don't have it all the way up (but you have jacked it up to release the load...) OR the linkage underneath is not adjusted such that the lift system raises it high enough to ease the load off the knob-connected adjuster. Maybe the knob does not really have to be all the way to zero? I don't own one of that type driveover deck.

I see no reason why you can't unfasten the deck from the hanging attachment hardware and slide it out sideways like we all used to do before the later fancy mechanisms.

 

[eddieirvine]

what JWR said also i blew air in every where i could to clean the adsjustment gears, i then sprayed a light lube over everything in there and this made it a lot better, it catches a lot of dirt in that area on the discharge side, so try that clean it good and lube the hell out of everything that knob turns you'll be good

 

[climax102]

At least on other BX Kubotas that height knob cannot / should not be turned except when the hydraulic has lifted it to the top. Myself and many others have broken that knob trying to turn it harder. The problem is that the full weight of the deck rests on that adjusting mechanism UNLESS you have it lifted all the way up. So....

It sounds to me like you don't have it all the way up (but you have jacked it up to release the load...) OR the linkage underneath is not adjusted such that the lift system raises it high enough to ease the load off the knob-connected adjuster. Maybe the knob does not really have to be all the way to zero? I don't own one of that type driveover deck.

I see no reason why you can't unfasten the deck from the hanging attachment hardware and slide it out sideways like we all used to do before the later fancy mechanisms.

I also can see no reason it can't be connected like the standard deck, except the PTO shaft connects different, and since I am now stuck in the "TOP" cutting height knob setting, I have very little clearance. Also since the height knob only turns clockwise my deck frame only lowers to about 4" above the floor stuck at TOP. I am afraid if I disconnect the wrong thing it can cause damage. Tomorrow I will detach the loader, and backhoe so I can jack the rear end up, and place safety jacks under. Then I should be able to tell more about how it all works. This is much more complicated than the standard mower deck. About 60 years ago I worked with new stubble mulch plows in Western Kansas. At that time the rules were never tighten down any bolts, and always have a long alignment punch, with a huge hammer. Today this method could cost me hundreds of dollars.

 

[climax102]

what JWR said also i blew air in every where i could to clean the adsjustment gears, i then sprayed a light lube over everything in there and this made it a lot better, it catches a lot of dirt in that area on the discharge side, so try that clean it good and lube the hell out of everything that knob turns you'll be good

I sprayed silicone, and white lube lithium grease everywhere I could see something moves. What I am hearing, and feeling is the stair case type gear, at the bottom of Grass cutting height knob, is hitting against solid metal. If I can get the deck off I should be able to see the problem.

 

[JWR]

I understand your predicament. I doubt there is much chance of you doing damage under there. If you are stressing something during the dismount you'll be able to tell it & stop.

 

[07wingnut]

What works sometimes if your deck has been adjusted a little to tight with respect to the TOP position is this. Lift the deck hydraulics up to the maximum, get off the tractor on left side. Use one hand to put some tension on that knob in the direction to get to zero, and with the other hand yank up on the edge of the deck. That will usually momentarily take the load off that knob and allow it to turn. Works everytime on my BX23.

 

[climax102]

What works sometimes if your deck has been adjusted a little to tight with respect to the TOP position is this. Lift the deck hydraulics up to the maximum, get off the tractor on left side. Use one hand to put some tension on that knob in the direction to get to zero, and with the other hand yank up on the edge of the deck. That will usually momentarily take the load off that knob and allow it to turn. Works everytime on my BX23.

Today I got under the tractor, and took a few pictures of the height control gear. I tried to adjust the clearance on the gear, but no luck. I am beginning to think removing the gear by removing the nut in it's center, and loosen the nut on the lag bolt holding what appears to be a spring that holds the shaft in a set position. This would allow the deck to go to zero, or even a little lower so I could use the normal steps to remove it, or just slide it out like normal mower decks. As a retired design engineering manager, I would fire the idiot that designed this problem gear.

 

[climax102]

What works sometimes if your deck has been adjusted a little to tight with respect to the TOP position is this. Lift the deck hydraulics up to the maximum, get off the tractor on left side. Use one hand to put some tension on that knob in the direction to get to zero, and with the other hand yank up on the edge of the deck. That will usually momentarily take the load off that knob and allow it to turn. Works everytime on my BX23.

Thank you for the suggestion. Yesterday I was able to get the original dial setting from 3 to "top" by this method, but it would not go past "top". I went under the tractor this morning, and that gear is a mickey mouse setup. My suggestion to anyone buying a new BX would be buy the cheaper deck, the drive over can be a real problem removing it. I bought the tractor for the loader, and backhoe that seem to be well designed. Once this deck comes off it will probably go on the market.

 

[climax102]

At least on other BX Kubotas that height knob cannot / should not be turned except when the hydraulic has lifted it to the top. Myself and many others have broken that knob trying to turn it harder. The problem is that the full weight of the deck rests on that adjusting mechanism UNLESS you have it lifted all the way up. So....

It sounds to me like you don't have it all the way up (but you have jacked it up to release the load...) OR the linkage underneath is not adjusted such that the lift system raises it high enough to ease the load off the knob-connected adjuster. Maybe the knob does not really have to be all the way to zero? I don't own one of that type driveover deck.

I see no reason why you can't unfasten the deck from the hanging attachment hardware and slide it out sideways like we all used to do before the later fancy mechanisms.

Getting under the tractor this morning, the (let's call it a stair step gear) starts at zero, and as you turn it (while the deck raised to the top) every notch increases the cut height. When lowered back down the piece of heavy, welded steel ( pictured in lower right) sits on the gear, causing a bar it is welded to set the height. If I could turn it just one more notch the bar would return to the lowest possible setting, and the deck could be removed. I would thought Kubota would have had a redesign, and recall on this problem many seem to have.

 

[JWR]

Wow. Good pictures and verbs to go with it. I had this issue with a much less complex older BX2200 of my daughter's. Not a drive over deck. I tried jacks and jumping up and down on it and several other crude attempts to get it loose. Finally gave up and took it to a nearby (other manufacturer's dealer's) shop. They put the whole rig up on a lift and removed enough obstructions to where they could reach/work on/get at the circular gear thing you show. Some call that a cam. When I questioned them about how the heck they got it loose they had no better story than that they lubed the heck out of it, jarred it with mallets and rods and eventually jarred it loose. That was about a year ago. No problems this season.

I imagine the drive over deck is more complex in the hanging hardware (not an automatic connect design is it? I shudder to think what that might involve.) Even so, if you have need for mowing capability on this machine you are surely better off to learn to cope with the MMM than to even consider pulling the backhoe, adding 3pt hitch hardware, and all that.

 

[whitetiger]

I bought this BX23S equipped with loader, backhoe, and drive over belly mower. The previous owner used it only 200 hours mowing 4 acres. I do not intend on using the mower here in the Ozarks because I have only trees, and rocks. I needed to remove the fancy drive over mower, and that is where my problems started. I raised the mower to the top, and could only turn the cutting height knob clockwise to "top". It would not go to "zero" like instructed. I have spent hours reading suggestions, and more hours trying to get the height knob to zero. I have turned the adjustment bolt behind the left tire down, and up, but no luck. I can feel the cutting height shaft jamming up against metal when attempting to turned. I even tried jacking up the mower deck to take the pressure off of the height knob shaft. At this point I just want the mower deck off. I think I was in better shape to remove the deck when it was set at 3", than top. The height knob only turns clockwise. My question is can the deck be removed without driving over it. Will the PTO shaft present a problem ? Suggestions appreciated

There is no reason the knob should not turn counter-clockwise. I have encountered very few units that the cam catches the arm at the very top and will not let it pass.
I just jack up each side of the deck end the rear corners, grasp the knob, and roll the knob and shaft outward in a circular motion while turning CCW. So far I have turned every one of them with little trouble. Some of the decks will contact the Raise stops before the cam and arm clear each other. I just remove the cam, grind a millimeter or two off of the top and reassemble when out of warranty.

Myself, if buying a new tractor with MMM, I would pay extra to NOT have that stupid mess of a drive over deck. I can put the standard deck on and off a lot quicker and easier

 

[climax102]

Wow. Good pictures and verbs to go with it. I had this issue with a much less complex older BX2200 of my daughter's. Not a drive over deck. I tried jacks and jumping up and down on it and several other crude attempts to get it loose. Finally gave up and took it to a nearby (other manufacturer's dealer's) shop. They put the whole rig up on a lift and removed enough obstructions to where they could reach/work on/get at the circular gear thing you show. Some call that a cam. When I questioned them about how the heck they got it loose they had no better story than that they lubed the heck out of it, jarred it with mallets and rods and eventually jarred it loose. That was about a year ago. No problems this season.

I imagine the drive over deck is more complex in the hanging hardware (not an automatic connect design is it? I shudder to think what that might involve.) Even so, if you have need for mowing capability on this machine you are surely better off to learn to cope with the MMM than to even consider pulling the backhoe, adding 3pt hitch hardware, and all that.

I found a great video on youtube that shows the problem.

Kubota should redesign this "Mower link cam", and do a recall on all of them. The part number is K258144410. The guy that made this video only had 5 hours on his mower, and the dealer had to replace this cam. My BX23S is a BX23S with only 204 hrs. The previous owner only used it to mow 4 acres.

Looking at messicks parts manual, and other sources, I should be able to remove the nut on the bottom of the cam. Then I should be able to pull the knob, and shaft attached straight out. Then loosen the bolt holding a "plate retainer", and slide the cam out. This should allow me to drop the deck down to a position even lower than zero, and remove the deck I don't even need.

Kubota BX23S Parts Diagrams

Kubota Parts Catalog Lookup. Buy Kubota Parts Online & Save!

www.messicks.com

 

[climax102]

There is no reason the knob should not turn counter-clockwise. I have encountered very few units that the cam catches the arm at the very top and will not let it pass.
I just jack up each side of the deck end the rear corners, grasp the knob, and roll the knob and shaft outward in a circular motion while turning CCW. So far I have turned every one of them with little trouble. Some of the decks will contact the Raise stops before the cam and arm clear each other. I just remove the cam, grind a millimeter or two off of the top and reassemble when out of warranty.

Myself, if buying a new tractor with MMM, I would pay extra to NOT have that stupid mess of a drive over deck. I can put the standard deck on and off a lot quicker and easier

"Myself, if buying a new tractor with MMM, I would pay extra to NOT have that stupid mess of a drive over deck." I totally agree. I bought my BX23S for the loader, and backhoe. I am 74, grew up in the Kansas City area, and now live on Lake of the Ozarks. We just mow rocks, and trees. I would suspect that John Deere has problems with their drive over mower also. It does make a great commercial with the lady making it look so simple. They should show her taking it off

Thank you for the great advice. From your knowledge can I just remove the nut off the bottom of the cam, pull the shaft straight out the top with the dial handle. Then loosen the spring retainer, and slide the cam out. ?

 

[climax102]

There is no reason the knob should not turn counter-clockwise. I have encountered very few units that the cam catches the arm at the very top and will not let it pass.
I just jack up each side of the deck end the rear corners, grasp the knob, and roll the knob and shaft outward in a circular motion while turning CCW. So far I have turned every one of them with little trouble. Some of the decks will contact the Raise stops before the cam and arm clear each other. I just remove the cam, grind a millimeter or two off of the top and reassemble when out of warranty.

Myself, if buying a new tractor with MMM, I would pay extra to NOT have that stupid mess of a drive over deck. I can put the standard deck on and off a lot quicker and easier

Whitetiger,
Could you show me on the picture below where you " just remove the cam, grind a millimeter or two off of the top and reassemble when out of warranty." I numbered the two areas I believe you are talking about. My cam is not broken, or damaged. I notice that Kubota sprays what looks like a industrial grade coating on about 2/3 of the cam side, and the bottom where the steps are. on a side view I can see a lobe where the cam was being jamed from trying to return to zero.

 

[whitetiger]

The area you have labeled 2

 

[whitetiger]

"Myself, if buying a new tractor with MMM, I would pay extra to NOT have that stupid mess of a drive over deck." I totally agree. I bought my BX23S for the loader, and backhoe. I am 74, grew up in the Kansas City area, and now live on Lake of the Ozarks. We just mow rocks, and trees. I would suspect that John Deere has problems with their drive over mower also. It does make a great commercial with the lady making it look so simple. They should show her taking it off

Thank you for the great advice. From your knowledge can I just remove the nut off the bottom of the cam, pull the shaft straight out the top with the dial handle. Then loosen the spring retainer, and slide the cam out. ?

Yes, you can remove the nut and pull the shaft up out of it, then remove the cam. Beware, when you remove the cam, the deck will fall.

 

[climax102]

The area you have labeled 2

Thank you. This will be helpful

 

[climax102]

Yes, you can remove the nut and pull the shaft up out of it, then remove the cam. Beware, when you remove the cam, the deck will fall.

I had it raised, and it did not fall, but after I lowered the deck, and removed it. When I raised the remaining (orange) attachment frame it did fall. Since I have no intention of using the deck, this gives me more ground clearance. I will have to create a skid type protector attachment to protect the power steering cylinders from getting damaged.