Bent output shaft on MX5 Cutter

[gfeke200]

Trying to weight options.

1) part out the mx5 and buy a King Kutter
2) Buy new shaft for $500 + labor
3) buy new 75 hp gearbox from agri supply for around $200 (this is where the built it yourself comes in)
- this would also require reworking the pto shaft from 21 sline to 6 sline and modifying stump jumper from 15 slpine to 12 sline. (work that I would have to pay a machine shop for)

Any thoughts or something I left out on option 3 (and/or 1, 2)

Ps- mx5 still cuts it just has a slight wobble which concerned me. How much wobble is too much. Maybe I came up with another option just now. Bend stump jumper to compensate for bend in shaft???

Thanks for reading and look forward to some replies.

 

[beenthere]

:welcome:

Curious as to how it bent. Any idea?

Not sure what value there would be to parting it out.

I'd look at the easy way out, and go with #2 (add the stumpjumper maybe? ).

How far out is it? i.e. have you measured the output shaft?

 

[gfeke200]

As I recall, the front of cutter fetched up on a protruding large rock causing it to lift up in the rear. I believe it then came crashing down on rock possibly hitting edge of stump jumper. The gear box is now removed but not disassembled. Spinning and eyeing the shaft it seems to be out by about an 1/8". A machinist said he could try to bend it back but it may break. That of course would be the least expensive fix. The flat bar on stump jumper is bent also. All this translate to about an inch of up and down movement on outside edge of stump jumper. Maybe I should straighten the stump jumper first and see how much wobble I have then. I also haven't maintained the slip clutch (not knowing it needed to be until reading some posts on this forum.). So that may have been a factor also.

 

[BHD]

depending on how it is bent, and to which side, one may be able to drill a hole in the stump jumper and bolt on some weight to re balance the shaft, bolt it on inside the jumper and if balanced right it should not vibrate much.

I posted this before or wile you were reposting the how it was bent and I do not think this would help you much,

you have little to lose to have the shaft attempted to get straightened

 

[sweettractors]

I would set down with my Deere dealer and have him explain how a gearbox that cost Deere $50-$75 can cost you $500. In addition, we are hearing way too much of this type problem with the MX series. These could be a batch of defective gearboxes to start with. Deere should bear some responsibility in this. We have a $3500 MX 7, and I guess our day is coming? Nowadays, You don't always get what you pay for. Ken Sweet

 

[bilrus61]

I have a MX6 on order, not what I want to hear! I've read about all the others with bent shafts and since my mowing is just grass and weeds I figured I would be ok with it. It has a combination of features I like. However I do plan to mow a frequently flooded bottom that has logs/stumps of all sizes wash up into it. I really wanted a Bush Hog 296 but my Bush Hog dealer said they just arn't shipping any product and they seemed to think Bush Hog is just hanging on by the fingernails. Looks like Landpride and King Kutter are about to corner the market on rotary cutters.

 

[gfeke200]

I had the stump jumper staightened some. The guy at the machine shop said to run it (at lower rpms). That there are enough u joints between the tractor and cutter that the gear box is what will go first. I haven't put things back together yet to see if the stump jumper work helped.

Its been a good cutter. For those in the market you may want to price replacement parts such as gear boxes and stump jumpers. The price of those 2 parts from my local dealer would buy a new cutter at TSC.

 

[bilrus61]

My new MX 6 which was just dropped off today has a gearbox made in China instead of Spain. Maybe Deere as addressed the weak output shaft with a heavier duty box from China. Where was your gearbox made gfeke? They used to have "made in spain" cast in big letters on the box and now they have a little tag with a teeny tiny "made in China" on them......

 

[sweettractors]

I had the stump jumper staightened some. The guy at the machine shop said to run it (at lower rpms). That there are enough u joints between the tractor and cutter that the gear box is what will go first. I haven't put things back together yet to see if the stump jumper work helped.

Its been a good cutter. For those in the market you may want to price replacement parts such as gear boxes and stump jumpers. The price of those 2 parts from my local dealer would buy a new cutter at TSC.

You have made my case for me, We sell the International by Hawkline and it is just as robust built as the Deere for 1/3 the money. Ken Sweet

 

[gfeke200]

The gearbox was made in Spain. They also changed the stumpjumper design by adding 2 cross supports.

The hawkline international 5' weights 585 lbs and the MX5 weights 832 lbs. If I recall TSC's weight's less than the hawkline. But I guess it doesn't matter what it weights if the gearbox is faulty.

Enjoy the MX6!