F3080 72" deck one blade loose AGAIN!!!!!

[JOHNTHOMAS]

You still haven't replaced those front tires yet? That was on problem I had with your old mower. Replaced them with the "no air" tires, and after greasing before each mowing session, still going strong after 100 hours.

No, I foamed one last year with house foam in a can and it's still on the wheel. I have a new tire in my garage somewhere and may find it and install it soon. I'm going to foam it and skip the air. The tire that was flat was a drive wheel. I Slimed it and as of yesterday evening it is still holding.
I looked at Kubota parts site and it shows only 2 blades for 72" deck and does show what looks to be 2 cupped washers (K5651-34350 Spring, leaf/K5651-34352 spring, plate for later/higher s/n) and it shows the higher part of the cup against the bolt that tightens down.
Blades, in my vehicle, sun coming up and due second cup of coffee and poop around for a bit and go forth and determine what's what with my F.
Considering buying a 6' RFM for tractor and talked/priced with Steve Barlow yesterday who has recently been using a trade in F2690 on a 7 or 10 acre field and he has fell in love with it but it's still for sell :laughing:. He told me to just use the F to mow it all. He's always trying to talk me out of buying additional attachments but I usually win out and give CC number and pick my new implement up. :cool2:

 

[JOHNTHOMAS]

The rest of the story. Left blade was spinning loose. Replaced it along with the two others so 3 new blades. One of the blades I took off is a bit different from the other two with no idea why since I had replaced them a couple years ago, I think. Any way all three of the new blades are the same. They mowed great until I was returning to garage after test run and was trimming under a tree on the right side (opposite side of the free spinning blade) and the grass was not being cut at all on that blade!!!!! Pulled back up to bank by garage and back under deck and right blade spinning free. Took off and noticed the washer that was cupped was cupped to where there was only center contact between washers and it would not tighten the blade down in this direction. Reversed cupped washer and then tightened down and even got torque wrench out and air wrench had them tighter than the 90lbs by a bit.
Wife has just came in from finishing mowing the remainder of the yard.
OK, the cupped washer has to be facing in the right direction or it won't work!!!! Hope I can remember that.:confused2:

 

[gordyy]

Those cupped washers act as a safety clutch is why they are there. I mow about 45 acres of not real lawn. I always carry spares as you hit something they spin. Get hot. Loose tension. Also if your grease cups get worn replace them. They help to keep spacing tight. I mow about 500 hours a year and usually burn through 2 sets of blades as you sharpen em a dozen times they leave lines on tight corners

 

[TMGT]

Cup washers should be spring steel, overtighten them and they can distort and lose their functionality.
Proper torque is important on them or else you'll run into problems.

 

[radioman]

well -- i had same problem with my BX 60" deck 3 weeks ago. the left blade keeps getting loose so i used impact to tighten it. at first i couldnt figure out why it keeps getting loose. later when it got loose again, the bolt got stuck in the spindle so impact wouldnt budge it so i use a breaker bar. . SNAP!!!:muttering: the blade bolt broke!! i tried drilling it to retap it , but i gave up after drilling it half inch in then it wandered off center :mur: after looking up how much it cost for the whole assembled spindle - i ordered the internal parts for it. new bearings, seals,shaft,bolt, NEW CUPPED WASHERS (notice the capitals?) and rebuilt the spindle. it was like night and day with new parts. no more loose blade. when i compared the old and new cupped washers there was a significant difference. if i were you , I'd order new cupped washers for the whole deck.

 

[JOHNTHOMAS]

if i were you , I'd order new cupped washers for the whole deck.

I have replaced the cup washers on the one blade that started free spinning a couple of years ago. Told Gary at Barlows to just give me another set and before he rung it up I asked how much thinking I may get a third set. At $19 a set I told him one set would do me. Some years later and I've had some issues with another blade and may be time to get another set for "if" it starts spinning loose again but I won't be buying $60 worth of washers for that maybe problem that may happen some years in the future after I may be dead. Nope, not going to happen and I don't change my hydro fluid very 50 hours either or oil every year if I don't have the hours on the machine.

 

[milkman]

Nope, not going to happen and I don't change my hydro fluid very 50 hours either or oil every year if I don't have the hours on the machine.

And all this time, I thought you just traded it in when time for an oil change.:laughing:

 

[JOHNTHOMAS]

And all this time, I thought you just traded it in when time for an oil change.:laughing:

If that were true I'd be trading now since I'm due an oil change. I mowed today and it felt like it was vibrating and I stopped mowing blades and it seemed to be in the engine which was puffing smoke. Blew out air fliter and seemed to smooth it out but later it started dying when going down steep hill. Almost 200 hours and I've never changed a fuel filter so that's next to do. Runs OK going up hill and on level but just going down hill it starts dying. Are you ready for an F yet, I could be persuaded rather than change the oil and maybe trans fluid, I'll have to check the owners manual on hyd fluid time to change. It has 3 new blades!!!!!

 

[milkman]

The only way I could afford an F is to trade my RTV, and that ain't happening. I've got 170 hrs on it now.

 

[JOHNTHOMAS]

The only way I could afford an F is to trade my RTV, and that ain't happening. I've got 170 hrs on it now.

Glad you brought trading that RTV up. I was going to ask if you were ready to sell it yet and have you maintained it like Ron did? He still says he hates he sold it and has bought a, I believe, Cub Cadet UTV.
I've bought the 25 acres mountain/hill behind me and need a smaller than my RTV1140 two seater to ride the trails sooo when can you bring it over?