Mowing 5252 Deck

OhioGuy · Aug 2, 2010

I took my deck off this weekend to clean and sharpen blades. I noticed the original belt tying the three spindles together was a little worn , so I thought i'd get a backuo at a local belt shop. It looks like you need to loosen the gearbox to get the belt clear for removal.

I discovered the nut holding the pulley to the gearbox was off and the threads are hogged out on the nut and worn off on the pulley shaft.

If you have a 52, You might want to check this next time you have the deck off.

There are several possible solutions, but I just reassembled and am hoping the pulley stays in place, It seemed quite firmly attached to the shaft.

Curt

bur1196 · Aug 3, 2010

OhioGuy said:
I took my deck off this weekend to clean and sharpen blades. I noticed the original belt tying the three spindles together was a little worn , so I thought i'd get a backuo at a local belt shop. It looks like you need to loosen the gearbox to get the belt clear for removal.

I discovered the nut holding the pulley to the gearbox was off and the threads are hogged out on the nut and worn off on the pulley shaft.

If you have a 52, You might want to check this next time you have the deck off.

There are several possible solutions, but I just reassembled and am hoping the pulley stays in place, It seemed quite firmly attached to the shaft.

Curt

I gotta admit that the 5000 series decks don't hold up really well. We just took ours back again to get another part welded that broken off. So far, it has been about 3 times to get different pieces welded on...

Cub5k · Aug 3, 2010

bur1196 said:
I gotta admit that the 5000 series decks don't hold up really well. We just took ours back again to get another part welded that broken off. So far, it has been about 3 times to get different pieces welded on...

I've had my 60" deck for 7 years without any problems at all. It has over 600 hours of cutting on it. I have whacked it against curbs hard enough to bend the hangers, cut up fallen limbs that I should have moved and it still keeps going. Seems to be built like a tank. The blades are more like the thickness of a bush hog blade. Very thick and very expensive to replace. I have had to replace all the spindles but that is to be expected.

Cub5k · Aug 3, 2010

OhioGuy said:
I took my deck off this weekend to clean and sharpen blades. I noticed the original belt tying the three spindles together was a little worn , so I thought i'd get a backuo at a local belt shop. It looks like you need to loosen the gearbox to get the belt clear for removal.

I discovered the nut holding the pulley to the gearbox was off and the threads are hogged out on the nut and worn off on the pulley shaft.

If you have a 52, You might want to check this next time you have the deck off.

There are several possible solutions, but I just reassembled and am hoping the pulley stays in place, It seemed quite firmly attached to the shaft.

Curt

Will def check that one. Thanks

OhioGuy · Aug 3, 2010

I've welded mine twice, it started cracking at the discharge.
And I do about three sheer bolts a season on the deck, they seem to fail when I disengage the deck. At least they are cheap!

Curt

jnelson · Aug 4, 2010

they seem to fail when I disengage the deck

I've noticed that with my rear 3 pt finish mower. However, though the shear bolt drops out when the PTO is disengaged, I suspect that the bolt actually shears during engagement or during operation but the sustained torque keeps it from dropping out until it is disengaged. I've successfully mowed for several hours only to have the shear pin fall out causing the PTO shaft to free-wheel spin on the gearbox shaft after I have disengaged it. The pin definitely was sheared - IE I didn't simply loose the lock nut.

JN

Mlawson · Aug 4, 2010

I shear bolts on mine like crazy, anyone reccomend something different? also had a piece break off that needs to be welded as well. Not the most well designed mower deck in my opinion.

bur1196 · Aug 5, 2010

Mlawson said:
I shear bolts on mine like crazy, anyone recommend something different? also had a piece break off that needs to be welded as well. Not the most well designed mower deck in my opinion.

Check the box where the PTO (I believe that is the proper term), attaches to the deck to see if any metal parts are loose/broke. We didn't notice anything until AFTER we had to get the belt removed. Once we did that then we notice the end piece where it bends was broke...Once that was welded, we have not broken a bolt yet...

tomincicny · Aug 6, 2010

I have to admit, the decks on the 5252 are pretty much junk. I have 150 hours of fairly hard use on my deck and Ive had to weld six different area including the bracket that holds the grearbox. I strongly recogment that anyone removing their deck check it over very well for stress cracks.