Cut or re-weld

PaulT · May 7, 2001

Ron,

The black bar that crosses over your driveshaft is the same part as the orange bar in my picture. Everything looks the same except for the bar color. Looking at the left side of the bar, just before the orange sleeve with the grease fitting, is the flange I am referring to. Can you please measure the following distances for me??
1) the length of the orange sleeve (on both sides)
2) the distance from the flange to the cotter pin hole on the left side
3) the overall length of the black bar that crosses over the driveshaft

Do you have any play between the orange tube in the photo and the cotter pin that holds it on? In my instruction book, it shows a part on the end called a link stopper. It is just out of the picture you posted. My parts leave me with about 3/8" of play between the end of the tube and the cotter pin when the tube is against the flange like it is in your picture.

PaulT

PaulT · May 7, 2001

Cuda,

Thanks for the pictures. They confirm that I am not crazy. Everything is identical to my setup, except that my bar seems to be shifted about 1/4" to the right (looking up from the bottom, like your pics). Could you also measure the distances I asked Ron to measure? I really think the Kubota guys welded the flange on the bar 1/4" off.

I appreciate everyone's help.

BTW, I didn't do anything rash today. Instead, I took off the mower linkages I had put on already, and I went out and back dragged gravel out of the ditch on my 750 ft. driveway with the FEL. It took a while, but I think I learned some things about how to use the loader. I had so much fun, and it worked so well, I didn't even think about the mower deck until just a little while ago. Love this new machine!!

PaulT

Anonymous Poster · May 7, 2001

Von,
My 2710 has the factory Turf tires on it. I'll have to get back to you on the brand. I put some more pics on my web page of the whole tractor. http://www.fdl.cc/pivot.htm

Von · May 7, 2001

CUDA,
You have different turfs than I do. I have Firestones on the back and some cheap crap tires on the front. Yours look a lot more aggressive than mine. Also the Firestones have a more rounded tread instead of flat like yours. I would like to know the brand, I know I will be switching the fronts soon, as they are not holding up at all. Thanks for your help.

Pks · May 7, 2001

RonH,

Is that picture: <http://www.tractorbynet.com/forumfiles/2-44279-hangerbracket.jpg> the underside of your tractor? Are those metal filings I see near the slip joint? I can't see any grease in the photo-it looks dry.

ronjhall · May 7, 2001

Peter
Its fresh grease that reflected the flash from camera./w3tcompact/icons/tongue.gif Thanks for the concern./w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif

Anonymous Poster · May 7, 2001

PaulT,
I have made the following measurements:
"1) the length of the orange sleeve (on both sides)" The right sleeve is 5.25 inches long and the left sleeve is 4.75 inches long.
"2) the distance from the flange to the cotter pin hole on the left side." The flange outer edge (away from center of tractor) to the cotter pin hole is 5.125 inches.
"3) the overall length of the black bar that crosses over the driveshaft" Length overall (my bar is orange) is 18.75 inches.
Hope this helped.

Von,
The turf tires, front and rear, on my 2710 are "Titan Multi Trac c/s". Rears are 13.6-16 and fronts are 24 x 8.50-14.

frank_f15 · May 7, 2001

paul: i would not cut and weld till u talk to dealer. it may be a simple fix, something that u just might be missing or that was not assembled right. once u modify it, u may lose your warrenty. i can understand your frustration, but don't be hasty. it is monday night now so tell us how u made out. frank

Von · May 8, 2001

Cuda,
There is a size difference on the fronts, mine are 23 x 8.5 - 12 and that is the size posted in my owners manual. They must have changed when the B2910 came into play. Thanks for the info.

PaulT · May 8, 2001

To all who posted:

Thanks for your responses and help! I am really grateful that I have found such a valuable resource as TBN, just when I purchased a tractor! I guess I will have to reapy others with whatever I learn as I go along. Now, as for how it all worked out.

Cuda was kind enough to measure his bar, and he responded "The flange outer edge (away from center of tractor) to the cotter pin hole is 5.125 inches." As I posted earlier, my bar measured 5 1/2" for this same distance, and my overall length is the same at 18 3/4". This means that the factory weld was off by 3/8". It so happens that a friend of mine bought an identical 2710 from the same dealer at the same time (we didn't have to pay freight AND we got great prices). His bar measures the same as mine. I spoke to the dealer today, and he said he would send 2 more bars to us ASAP, and that I should cut and weld whatever I had to now to get it working. I just got back from another friend's house, where we gound off the factory weld and re-welded the bracket. Everything should work fine now. I just finishsed priming the bare metal, so I will read the thread on touch up paint now.

My conclusion is that there is a quality control issue in the factory where this bar is getting welded. I haven't noticed any other QC issues, and I am really impressed with the engineering. Still very happy overall.

Thanks again,

PaulT