Mowing Finish mower disappointments

[toolz_not_toyz]

Apparently there was a rogue assembler in the factory (he is no longer there) that made some mistakes. Hopefully, reversed motors is a problem of the past.

In other news, blades should be tightened to the hub to 60ft/lbs. The correct bolt is Grade 5, 3/8" x 1 1/4", 24 (fine thread), and you should always use a lock washer. The info is correct for at least the 48" finish mower but I imagine it is the same for the other decks.

 

[toolz_not_toyz]

Apparently there was a rogue assembler in the factory (he is no longer there) that made some mistakes. Hopefully, reversed motors is a problem of the past.

In other news, blades should be tightened to the hub to 60ft/lbs. The correct bolt is Grade 5, 3/8" x 1 1/4", 24 (fine thread), and you should always use a lock washer. The info is correct for at least the 48" finish mower but I imagine it is the same for the other decks.

 

[funpilot]

So, was your spinning backwards as well?

 

[funpilot]

So, was your spinning backwards as well?

 

[stray]

Hay guys I have really been putting this thing to use this year. It cuts moving in one direction better than the other. If I have it swung to that side I end up backing up some to smooth the cut. This thing is a real weed eating saver. With some practice you can do well down over the pond fills and around things.

 

[stray]

Hay guys I have really been putting this thing to use this year. It cuts moving in one direction better than the other. If I have it swung to that side I end up backing up some to smooth the cut. This thing is a real weed eating saver. With some practice you can do well down over the pond fills and around things.

 

[toolz_not_toyz]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( So, was your spinning backwards as well? )</font>

Still haven't checked. But got an acknowledgement from the factory that there were some (ahem) assembly problems. I really do need to cut the grass around here but have been so busy working on several other projects...

 

[toolz_not_toyz]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( So, was your spinning backwards as well? )</font>

Still haven't checked. But got an acknowledgement from the factory that there were some (ahem) assembly problems. I really do need to cut the grass around here but have been so busy working on several other projects...

 

[toolz_not_toyz]

Well, it just goes on and on. The hydraulic motor on the mower was connected backwards. Switched the hoses and wow, it sure cuts better when the sharp part of the blade hits the grass! /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif

Before I started cutting I reattached the problem blade (the one that's been falling off) with a new blade adapter, new washer, new lock washer, and a new bolt (1 1/4" this time, which I had already purchased but Terry confirmed it was the correct length--the original was only 1" and didn't penetrate very far into the hub). Then I checked the bolts on the other blades; they were also 1" bolts, and they were loose, so I replace them. It helps to have an impact wrench to do this work.

One thing I found about tightening those blades down is that you get into a problem with the hubs spinning as you go tighter. You can't really torque those bolts down unless you can get the hubs to stop spinning. On my old JD lawn tractor the blades has two little nubbies on them so that once the blade retaining bolt was tight, the blade couldn't spin; it was also easy to jam a black of wood between a blade and the deck to get them to stop spinning while you're trying to loosen or tighten them. Can't do that with the PT.

So then I was mowing and thought this is working great! And then one of the mower deck wheels fell off. /forums/images/graemlins/mad.gif Of course, the nut was long gone. Luckily I had spares (1/2", coarse thread) in the garage thanks to my ongoing automobile work...... To be honest this one was probably my fault since I had lowered the deck a few weeks ago when the cut was unsatisfactory.

So (yup, there's more) I'm mowing along and have to move to a different section so I turn the PTO off and raise the deck. Drive to the other place, lower deck, turn PTO on .... NOT ... PTO has stopped working. /forums/images/graemlins/mad.gif /forums/images/graemlins/mad.gif /forums/images/graemlins/mad.gif !!!!!!!

Probably a dead solenoid I suspect. Of course, this being Saturday there is no way this is getting fixed soon.

 

[toolz_not_toyz]

Well, it just goes on and on. The hydraulic motor on the mower was connected backwards. Switched the hoses and wow, it sure cuts better when the sharp part of the blade hits the grass! /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif

Before I started cutting I reattached the problem blade (the one that's been falling off) with a new blade adapter, new washer, new lock washer, and a new bolt (1 1/4" this time, which I had already purchased but Terry confirmed it was the correct length--the original was only 1" and didn't penetrate very far into the hub). Then I checked the bolts on the other blades; they were also 1" bolts, and they were loose, so I replace them. It helps to have an impact wrench to do this work.

One thing I found about tightening those blades down is that you get into a problem with the hubs spinning as you go tighter. You can't really torque those bolts down unless you can get the hubs to stop spinning. On my old JD lawn tractor the blades has two little nubbies on them so that once the blade retaining bolt was tight, the blade couldn't spin; it was also easy to jam a black of wood between a blade and the deck to get them to stop spinning while you're trying to loosen or tighten them. Can't do that with the PT.

So then I was mowing and thought this is working great! And then one of the mower deck wheels fell off. /forums/images/graemlins/mad.gif Of course, the nut was long gone. Luckily I had spares (1/2", coarse thread) in the garage thanks to my ongoing automobile work...... To be honest this one was probably my fault since I had lowered the deck a few weeks ago when the cut was unsatisfactory.

So (yup, there's more) I'm mowing along and have to move to a different section so I turn the PTO off and raise the deck. Drive to the other place, lower deck, turn PTO on .... NOT ... PTO has stopped working. /forums/images/graemlins/mad.gif /forums/images/graemlins/mad.gif /forums/images/graemlins/mad.gif !!!!!!!

Probably a dead solenoid I suspect. Of course, this being Saturday there is no way this is getting fixed soon.