2305 / LX4 problem

[davkir]

I have been having an occasional problem with the LX4 blades getting stuck together in the middle when starting the PTO.
I was at the dealer today and he told me that J.D. has a fix for it.
It apparently involves welding a pair of stops to the pan to keep the blades from turning in.
I will let you know how it works.

 

[RalphVa]

This happened to me a couple of times, but only when the LX4 was relatively new. One time, I got out of the problem by speeding up (not to full speed; too much vibration!) and slowing down (to idle) the engine with PTO going. Don't try speeding up beyond about 1500 rpm and engaging the PTO to correct it, you might shear the shear bolt. The other time, I had to use a pry bar to get them apart.

Ralph

 

[prosperity]

You mean they stay stuck even when the disk is turning at rated speed?

I've had a few cutters, and some have had the blades fold like that, but always pulled themselves out with the centrifugal force.

 

[davkir]

They stay in the middle even after you turn off the PTO and let it come to a stop. It's sort of a pain in the barn, but out in a field full of weeds, it's annoying!

 

[DieselPower]

Well doesn't that just suck. Looks like the engineer was snoozing the day he designed that.

I would think adding stops to prevent blade to blade contact would work as a fix.

 

[davkir]

This post is mainly for entertainment purposes. I assumed the dealer would update the LX4 @ J.D.'s cost. The dealer said since it was out of warrenty, they would have to charge me and J.D. wouldn't pay for it.
The pictures of the "repair" are self explanatory, but I was shocked they attempted to get me to accept it that way. My first bad experience with this dealer.

 

[kennyd]

HOLY CRAP BATMAN

My 4 year old can weld better than that

 

[RalphVa]

Pretty awful fix.

Wonder what JD does at the Canadian factory where they're made to fix this?

Hasn't happened on mine since those couple times when new.

P.S. a friend of mine with a 2210 and an LX4 swears his says "made in China" on it. My LX4 says "made in Canada".

Ralph

 

[dbdartman]

I'd be bloody ashamed to actually charge money for a job that looks like that! Looks like it was welded by a one-eyed non-welder drunk without a shield.

I could do better than that, with my right arm tied behind my back, without a shield, drunk (& I haven't been drunk in some 20 years or more)!

 

[GordNovo]

I'd be bloody ashamed to actually charge money for a job that looks like that! Looks like it was welded by a one-eyed non-welder drunk without a shield.

I could do better than that, with my right arm tied behind my back, without a shield, drunk (& I haven't been drunk in some 20 years or more)!

<LOL>.....<snort>....<grunt>.....<LOL>.......<snort>

 

[AKfish]

Whoa... that was bad!! There was even a chunk of wire from the MIG that was still stuck in the weld!

If the local manager was actually convinced that this "repair" was satisfactory ---- I'd be havin' a long conversation with the Regional manager from Deere!

Pronto!

AKfish

 

[davkir]

Copies of JD Solution # 73305 for anyone that's interested.

 

[davkir]

After two more attempts, it appears the JD dealer finally got it right. The blades bang around a bit when you start it, but so far the modification seems to be working.
In hindsight, I wish I would have just left it alone!

My friendly local independant JD dealer is now part of a group of dealers in the central Indiana area.
This is pure speculation, but I have to wonder if the bad workmanship and lack of concern about their customer has something to do with it???

 

[AKfish]

Glad to hear that your cutter is up and working again... Gotta ask if they rewelded those stops or what solution did they finally use?

Too bad that your local guy has been "assimilated"! I can imagine that that could be a wet blanket on the local guy's incentive to go the extra mile for his customer's.

Unfortunately, that sends those once loyal folk's over to another tractor brand or to another state for their next purchase.

AKfish

 

[davkir]

Just rewelded it in the "correct" place. (The second time they rewelded it, they put the stops against the blades so they couldn't turn at all.)