62D gage wheel shafts breaking on 2520

[curley]

I wanted to post the question here and see if anyone else has had issues with the gage wheel shafts on the 62D breaking? I have had both front shafts split through the center of the lowest adjustment hole, and earlier in the month one rear shaft sheared where it is pressed into the arm. I own one of the first 2520's off the line (delivered Nov 2005), and the deck has a serial number that ends in 00014. I think it was #14 off the line by the looks of it. The machine has been out of warranty since Dec 2007, and each front shaft was $50 and the rear $25. This was the first year that I used the deck for a full season, the previous time was spent with the loader and bush hog mostly.

I believe that the flat wheels did a number on the front shafts when they did not turn correctly. The front shafts broke within 2 weeks of each other which was also odd. I called the 800 number for Deere and reported the issue and they quickly handed it off to the dealer who has yet to call me back on the issue. I will have to talk face-to-face with them when I pick up the rear shafts. Also the rear shafts took 3 weeks to arrive to the dealer.

Thanks to this board I did get the modified wheel kit for the 62D and the dealer worked with me for them.

The only issue I have had with the machine is with the 62D. I just don't want to have to spend $150 a season on parts that should be engineered to be used on a tractor of this size and not break in a single season.

Anyone else break a gage wheel shaft?

 

[goodbyeNJ]

Curley
Got my 2520 in July 2006 and have 340 hours on it, a lot of the time mowing.
I have not broken any of the shafts, but I've bent them pretty good a couple of times.
The times I have bent the shafts have been when I've gone on rough ground ( not to mow) and didn't bother to remove the deck. With all those large holes, for height adjustment, the shafts are fairly weak.
The fronts swivel around and on slightly side sloped terrain they will be sideways to the direction of travel. A rough spot will catch the wheel and take a divot or worse. The newer rounded wheels should be a big improvement.
I keep the wheels adjusted above the ground, so they don't dig in, but still pick up the high spots in the lawn to prevent scalping. Keep everything greased.

 

[gfd_703]

Your wheels are not gage wheels they are anti-scalpe wheels. They should be running 1/4 to 1/2 in off the ground. If you do run them on the ground you will have the problems you describe. The deck will mow a lot smother yard with the wheels off the ground also.

 

[curley]

I do have them adjusted properly. They are at least 1/2 inch above the ground when I setup the height over the shop floor before mowing. I do have many contours on my property but nothing really hilly. Also I remove the deck when I am doing anything else with the machine (Bush Hog/Tiller/Box Blade/Loader). I try really hard to not abuse any of my equipment like most of us on this forum. We pay a lot for these machines and expect them to last for many years. When I think that I paid as much for a mower deck for this machine as an entire throw away riding mower from Lowes or Home Depot I guess I expect it to perform. As I said before the 2520 has been great and never let me down with the exception of the deck (wheel shafts and cable for the ind. lift). I am just really disappointed in the setup of the 62D on the 2520.

As for calling them gage wheels, the part from deere is called out as a front and rear gage wheel in the online parts catalog. Also I know this is a "floating" deck and don't let it ride on the wheels when mowing.

From now on I will have the adjustments for the wheels up a notch higher than needed so that the part of the shaft below the mount is solid steel and not a open hole. I hope between this and the improved wheel design with grease fittings installed will keep this from happening again. I will cross my fingers!

 

[wingsaircharter]

I have had one of the shafts bend and also feel the 62MMM wheel system is a weak system with POOR engineering.

My 2520 with the 62" MMM deck rips up the lawn. I have had the new round profile wheels put on it and it still does it. Not as bad as the old square profile wheels, but it still does it. There is not enough offset in the axel to make it caster correctly. Today I put on the three bag power bagger system. You are supposed to run the right set of wheels 1 hole lower to help support the weight of the blower. Now it is worse again because the deck doesn't sit level with the power blower on it so the right wheel tears up the lawn. It gets sideways and won't straighten out till it makes a trench. Does anyone have a fix for this or have they had any luck with JD. I have another complaint into them but haven't heard back yet.
I love all the attachments with the exception of the deck and bagger system.

 

[kb2520]

Sounds like some of you guys have been through this before. I caught the front left wheel (as you sit in the operators seat) on my 62D on the ramp as I was backing into our barn. When I parked, this is what I had. No loud thud, no forcing in my part. I back into the building at like 0.01 mph. Guess it just got on the wrong angle this time.

Anyone have any suggestions on bending it back? I have tried beating it with a hammer as well as apply heat plus the hammer, and I'm impressed with its stubborn inability to bend back. I bit the bullet and ordered another shaft from my dealer, but it would be nice to be able to at least keep this one as a spare for the future.

 

[beenthere]

Just buy a new one.

I press could be used to bend it back, but then it would be pretty weak (if bending it back didn't break it).

 

[ipwanab]

kb250

I did the same thing to both fronts, priced them at deere and left empty handed. I stopped by a machine shop where two old guys were talking. I asked if they thought the parts could be straightened. They said we will try for free and if it works five dollars. One man put the part in a press and the two guys discussed how far past straight they should bend it so it would return to straight when released. After two trys on the firstand one on the second I leftwith two repaired shafts for 5 dollars.

 

[kb2520]

Thanks for the replies. If I get a chance I'll see if I can stop by a machine shop. Otherwise I'll probably just wait for the new one.

 

[RRILEY]

Did you read the entire thread? Is this one that explains how to install grease zerts and how the deck should float, not ride on the wheels on the deck.
I was disappointed with the set up also and had to replace the wheels on the deck and install the grease zerts and works fine now. Have you operated this without it riding on the wheels?
It has been quiet a few years since this has been discussed.