Mowing Blades running backwards

[dodge man]

I think he bought it this way. I got the idea the previous owner put the gearbox on.

 

[JWR]

What is the basis for saying that ? Gearboxes I buy and the one for my F935 is in 3 case parts. Same with my Land Pride FD2584 rear mower. The main container and 2 end plates. The bevel gear and the pinion can be installed two different ways. I swapped them to run my front snow blower. I didn't have to buy a different gearbox, I didn't have to cut into the deck for a left side discharge like I know some propeller heads would do, and I don't need special blades. Putting the 2584 on my 1435 to make a large rear discharge front mower was to much for the 26 h.p. motor.

How did you figure it would be better to buy another $1400 part ? I would have sent it back for a refund or exchange if it was the wrong item.

I'm not following you. I made no suggestion of paying $1400 for anything. I suggested finding out from the manufacturer what the real facts of the case are before taking a gearbox apart and assorted other wild goose chases. The basis for saying that is called good judgement. And if you read this thread, the current owner had no apparent option to send anything back.

 

[DCNMVA]

How did you figure it would be better to buy another $1400 part ? I would have sent it back for a refund or exchange if it was the wrong item.

Correct. Sending the gearbox back is not an option. The gearbox has been on the machine for a year, AND, I'm not the original purchaser of the gearbox. And the original purchaser doesn't have the receipt.

The manufacturer of the gearbox states that there are 2 gearbox options, depending on rotation. The previous owner gave them the model and serial number off of the deck and they then sold him the wrong gearbox. The manufacturer has finally responded to me and they are still trying to sell me the wrong gearbox, even after I explained the situation and gave them a picture of the ID tag of the current gearbox.

 

[TORQUIN]

The manufacturer has finally responded to me and they are still trying to sell me the wrong gearbox, even after I explained the situation and gave them a picture of the ID tag of the current gearbox.

Ha, been there. I was trying to get the metal discharge cover for my RCK60P28Z deck and they sent me a plastic one, that didn't fit. This deck takes a metal discharge cover. Fortunately for me, the previous owner still had the old metal discharge cover. He had removed it to mount a grass catcher.

Chris

 

[SDT]

Correct. Sending the gearbox back is not an option. The gearbox has been on the machine for a year, AND, I'm not the original purchaser of the gearbox. And the original purchaser doesn't have the receipt.

The manufacturer of the gearbox states that there are 2 gearbox options, depending on rotation. The previous owner gave them the model and serial number off of the deck and they then sold him the wrong gearbox. The manufacturer has finally responded to me and they are still trying to sell me the wrong gearbox, even after I explained the situation and gave them a picture of the ID tag of the current gearbox.

"The previous owner gave them the model and serial number off of the deck and they then sold him the wrong gearbox."

Imagine that.

 

[TMGT]

Correct. Sending the gearbox back is not an option. The gearbox has been on the machine for a year, AND, I'm not the original purchaser of the gearbox. And the original purchaser doesn't have the receipt.

The manufacturer of the gearbox states that there are 2 gearbox options, depending on rotation. The previous owner gave them the model and serial number off of the deck and they then sold him the wrong gearbox. The manufacturer has finally responded to me and they are still trying to sell me the wrong gearbox, even after I explained the situation and gave them a picture of the ID tag of the current gearbox.

You said it was an aftermarket gearbox? What company is it?

 

[bgr]

From the exploded parts picture of the gear box, the housing is one piece. You can't disassemble and reverse rotation using the same interior parts. Might be easier to get a good used gearbox from an online tractor parts yard.

 

[DarkBlack]

Surplus Center can be a $ saver, if they happen to have what you need. Always worth a look:

https://surpluscenter.com/search.php?search_query=Gearbox+

 

[Fuddyduddy1952]

Maybe I think differently, but here goes anyway:
You purchased a mower deck from someone in good faith not as a paper-weight but as a working, functional mower deck.
It's established it's unusable because he (seller) installed the wrong gearbox.
Your resolution is with the seller. He may not have a receipt but unless he paid cash he has a check copy or most likely a credit card receipt. Me...I'd try keeping on good terms with the seller up to a point. He was sold the wrong gearbox then in turn sold it because mower wouldn't cut. It would be the sellers job, not yours to deal with the gearbox seller.
The gearbox seller should have a receipt.
I'm not a lawyer but I wouldn't think the "used as-is" would NOT apply to this.
Have you checked with your Kubota dealership? I'm betting they've heard of this before.
Me, at this point I'd want to work with the mower seller saying you didn't have the opportunity to test it and between the two of you contacting the gearbox people you should be able to get the correct one.
Worse case I'd probably advertise it for sale caulking it up to experience...but I'd be the honest seller explaining everything. Who knows, someone may need a good deck and spindles, but their gearbox is OK.

 

[DCNMVA]

You said it was an aftermarket gearbox? What company is it?

Flip Manufacturing

 

[DCNMVA]

The previous owner of the tractor brought me the old gearbox today. I have disassembled it and ordered parts to repair it.

It has been confirmed that the only difference between the 2 boxes is the location of the pinion gear, and the pinion shaft is the only part that needs to be changed to reconfigure from one direction to the other.

 

[JWR]

From the exploded parts picture of the gear box, the housing is one piece. You can't disassemble and reverse rotation using the same interior parts. Might be easier to get a good used gearbox from an online tractor parts yard.

I have not studied the parts picture bit I think you are on the right track. I bought a Kubota deck for a B2150 a few years ago used (found it on Craig's List) for $300. I've used all sorts of parts off of it and got way more good out of it than what I paid for it. It is worth an hour or so of web searching to see if you can find a used deck. Also use the phone on 2 or 3 salvage yards and see if they can help. I've found Wenger's of Myerstown in PA to be frequently helpful on such things and there are others.

WAIT -- the OP posted, while I was typing, that he has already disassembled the gearbox and ordered the parts to correct the problem ! Good for him.

 

[diesel85]

When I re-sealed my gear box on my MMM a few years ago, it was probably the easiest thing I worked on once I got it off the deck and up on to the bench. I took it all apart and inspected everything for lash wear. All looked great, and I re-assembled it and put new seals on it.

 

[TMGT]

The previous owner of the tractor brought me the old gearbox today. I have disassembled it and ordered parts to repair it.

It has been confirmed that the only difference between the 2 boxes is the location of the pinion gear, and the pinion shaft is the only part that needs to be changed to reconfigure from one direction to the other.

Thats good news, unless it was run without oil and the gears and shafts are destroyed, it's fairly easy and relatively inexpensive to repair them.

I am very conscious of checking/changing the oil in the gearbox on my mowers due to the cost of replacment.

I have a gearbox here from a ZD331 that lost the lower seal and ran dry. Gears are destroyed, and they cost approx $600 on their own.

 

[kjnes]

I bought a b7500 with a 60" belly mower last week. It's not cutting grass very well so I look under the deck and I see that the bladed are on upside-down. I ordered a new set on blades from kubota and I put the first one on and I realize it isn't going to cut because the forward edge, as the deck currently rotating, is backwards. I realize now that the blades are on upside-down because the blades are rotating backwards. What can cause this? The previous owner replaced the gearbox on the deck. Is it possible that the gearbox is the wrong one and is the problem? Thanks

recheck the deck belt pattern, make sure it is correct. it's placement can make the difference. some use a regular V belt, some are double V so gearbox drives on one side and blades run on opposite side.

 

[DCNMVA]

This mower is driven by a driveshaft from the mid pto. The middle blade is direct drive off of the gearbox mounted on the deck. There is no belt involved in driving the middle blade. If we only consider the middle blade, it is turning backwards. The only thing that will correct that is a gearbox that is proper for this tractor/deck combination. Unless someone knows how to reverse the rotation of the pto.

 

[JWR]

This mower is driven by a driveshaft from the mid pto. The middle blade is direct drive off of the gearbox mounted on the deck. There is no belt involved in driving the middle blade. If we only consider the middle blade, it is turning backwards. The only thing that will correct that is a gearbox that is proper for this tractor/deck combination. Unless someone knows how to reverse the rotation of the pto.

Oh heavens no, forget reversing the PTO rotation ! You were/are on exactly the best track with what you described in post #51. VERY OLD Kubota's (decades ago when they were a novelty, not a leader in US compact tractors) were made with PTOs that turned "the wrong way" meaning the opposite of the entire industry. Those days are long gone. Good riddance.

 

[dadohead]

I was a mower deck engineer a million years ago. This thread conjured up a memory I forgot all about!

I was at the test site in the cut quality plots making cuts with a prototype mower i was working on (proto'd in fiberglass before ordering $600k stamping dies).

An engineer one plot over was running his latest build commercial 7-iron deck prototype on a front mount mower. He'd make a cut then get off and swear.... alot. I could hear he was having trouble so I walked over there. "Look at this cut!" he said. He fired up and took a pass. I'd never seen anything like it... it was 'combing' the grass not cutting! WTH? A moment later I saw the drive sheaves spinning down as he shut off the PTO... CCW! Experimental assembled the deck using the wrong gearbox! Hilarious!

Back in the office I quietly 'borrowed' one of his drawings and stuck it back. He was less than thrilled years later at his retirement party when the drawing came back out! Engineering gold!

 

[DCNMVA]

Oh heavens no, forget reversing the PTO rotation ! You were/are on exactly the best track with what you described in post #51. VERY OLD Kubota's (decades ago when they were a novelty, not a leader in US compact tractors) were made with PTOs that turned "the wrong way" meaning the opposite of the entire industry. Those days are long gone. Good riddance.

I was kidding. I have the parts on order to rebuild the original gearbox.

 

[dodge man]

Good luck getting the gear box rebuilt. It cracks me up when people don’t read the entire thread and keep giving advice that won’t help because you already know what’s wrong.