BX22 MMM on fire?

[manganos]

Well to make a long story short. I had my blades replaced and my spindles checked because I ran over a tow truck chain with the MMM and tore up the blades. The dealer installed 3 new blades and checked the spindles. I took it out to mow for the first time and one of the blades ended up getting wedged under the deck. I found out the blade was loose and tightened it up. Later in the day I smelled something burning and stopped the tractor. Looking under the MMM there was burning grass stuck in the spindle and HOT grease was dripping out. Again the blade was loose and would "freewheel" so I tightened it up and re greased all 3 spindles. What is going on here? Do you think the spindles are messed up? I'm trying to get some help here before I contact my dealer. I like going in with a little knowledge, especially if it was the techs fault. Thanks in advance. Chris

 

[k8ny]

Chris,
As I posted a reply to a similar problem a few months earlier, I had my blade loosen and then came off the spindle. However, I don't believe it was a loose blade problem initially. After the blade flew off, the spindle actually separated in 2 parts, laterally, one part was still attached to the deck and the other laying on the ground with the blade nearby. Also there was quite a bit of heat damage and thin grease all around the deck and pulley cover assembly. I took the entire pulley assembly back to the dealer, he inspected it and proclaimed that it wasn't rebuildable. I waited one week for the part to arrive.
Bottom line: the dealer came out to inpect the deck (just to make sure I was not the one responsible for the pulley failure by damaging the blades and pulley) and then he reinstalled a new pulley and the old blade.
My guess: the pulley was defective as built, bearings overheated, grease changed state and the pulley separated from overheating and my second guess is that you may have the same problem.
BTW the machine had 30 hours on it when this happened this past spring.
Bob

 

[manganos]

Well i went to the dealer today and I spoke with the owner. I feel that I am getting the Run-a-round. I told him what happened and he went and asked his tech if he tightened all the blades ( he was very hard on the tech and seemed angry at him from the start of his conversation). That leaves me to believe that maybe that tech has had some problems in the past. He suggested that maybe my bearings are bad on the spindle and that it would be very labor intensive for him to just take it apart to just look at them. I DID ask him to check out the spindles and replace the blades when I brought it in. I mentioned that and again he said it was labor intensive. He did write that they checked the spindles on the service order and I have a copy of it. He said if it was something he had done he would pay for it but he keeps insisting that I should just tighten up the blades and see if they stay tight. I guess I'll try it and if they come loose again I will bring it up to them for them to make it right. I'm going to refuse to pay for the same service again. If they don't fix it to my satisfaction or request payment what options do I have? Call Kubota themselves? Thanks Chris

 

[manganos]

Well I tightened the 3 blades, greased them up then put the MMM back on. I mowed for 4 hours this morning and all is well. I checked the blades about every 15 minutes and they were tight until the end. I'll call the dealer and tell him too Thanks guys. Chri