Finishing mower - Make Model ?
- Thread starter Bdavis
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bp fick
Super Member
To my eye, it looks like the King Kutter, but I suspect it MIGHT be one of the knock offs, made in China. Just a total guess, because it sure looks similar to this one I had. Is it missing the front wheels?
OP
Bdavis
Silver Member
It is missing the front wheels. It does look just like yours BP. What brand is yours?
From other pictures I have seen , I thought it was a King Kutter too.
The only thing I have determined is that it has left hand threads on the bolts that hold the blade to the spindle. (I determined that by breaking one off)
They have one hole in each blade and a 3/4 inch head on the bolt.
A friend of mine thinks it is a rhino since they have left hand threads.
But it doesn't look like the pictures of the rhino's I have seen.
Thanks
From other pictures I have seen , I thought it was a King Kutter too.
The only thing I have determined is that it has left hand threads on the bolts that hold the blade to the spindle. (I determined that by breaking one off)
They have one hole in each blade and a 3/4 inch head on the bolt.
A friend of mine thinks it is a rhino since they have left hand threads.
But it doesn't look like the pictures of the rhino's I have seen.
Thanks
jb62901
Gold Member
If it is a 60" unit looks like My KK RFM with 20" blades, make sure the cutting edges are the same. This was not orange when I got it, but was new.
http://i47.tinypic.com/28qt7vb.jpg
http://i47.tinypic.com/28qt7vb.jpg
sweettractors
Advertiser
We have the 20 and 24 inch inch gullwing tip blades with 3/4 hole in the middle. Ken Sweet
OP
Bdavis
Silver Member
I am not sure I will ever determine the brand on this thing. But it looks like the blade will match a King Kutter 5 foot. Now that I actually have a blade I am going to check on the cutting edge.
One thing I have already found out, is that the length and bolt hole can be okay but the cutting edge could be different.
Thanks
One thing I have already found out, is that the length and bolt hole can be okay but the cutting edge could be different.
Thanks
jcliburn
Gold Member
You have a Farm Pro FM5, a Chinese unit. I have a PDF of the manual if you want it. Parts are available from Homier Distributing Co -- FarmPro Parts - Homier Distributing Company, Inc.. I've found that contacting them by email (using the Contact Us link on web site) is the best way to interact with them. Phone service is dreadful.
King Kutter 5ft blades fit; just make sure you get the left-hand discharge type. Blade bolts are reverse threaded, as you discovered. (17mm IIRC.) I use an air impact wrench to get them off.
The blade spindles have oil seals on the top and bottom; too much grease will pop them -- the upper ones, in my experience.
The metal for the wheel strut channels is too thin. Mine broke in multiple places. I ended up drilling through the struts and deck, then bolted the struts to the deck, more or less permanently.
My unit came with true pneumatic tires, which routinely broke bead and deflated while mowing. I replaced them with King Kutter semi-solid tires and spindles, but I had to drill out the spindle holes in the forks to make them fit.
I've had to replace multiple idler pulleys due to bearing failure. They're sealed, with no grease fittings.
There's a Napa equivalent for the drive belt. B133 is the Napa part number.
This year, two blade spindles suffered bearing failures, causing the blades to tilt and scalp badly. As I was removing one of the spindles, its pulley shattered. Sigh. Farm Pro sells only the complete spindle unit, not the piece parts, so while I could cobble together the bearings (6205-RZ) and oil seals from different vendors, the pulley would be difficult to find a match for. I've decided to bite the bullet and buy two new spindle units (pulley comes with each unit).
All in all, it's not a very good mower, but it's hung on (with lots of work on my part) for 7 years. When something isn't busted, it cuts well. I've been up, down, inside, and out of this mower many times (never inside the gearbox though). I just bought a new 6ft KingKutter a couple of weeks ago, so I'm prepping the Farm Pro for sale.
Good luck. Holler if you have any questions about it.
Jay
King Kutter 5ft blades fit; just make sure you get the left-hand discharge type. Blade bolts are reverse threaded, as you discovered. (17mm IIRC.) I use an air impact wrench to get them off.
The blade spindles have oil seals on the top and bottom; too much grease will pop them -- the upper ones, in my experience.
The metal for the wheel strut channels is too thin. Mine broke in multiple places. I ended up drilling through the struts and deck, then bolted the struts to the deck, more or less permanently.
My unit came with true pneumatic tires, which routinely broke bead and deflated while mowing. I replaced them with King Kutter semi-solid tires and spindles, but I had to drill out the spindle holes in the forks to make them fit.
I've had to replace multiple idler pulleys due to bearing failure. They're sealed, with no grease fittings.
There's a Napa equivalent for the drive belt. B133 is the Napa part number.
This year, two blade spindles suffered bearing failures, causing the blades to tilt and scalp badly. As I was removing one of the spindles, its pulley shattered. Sigh. Farm Pro sells only the complete spindle unit, not the piece parts, so while I could cobble together the bearings (6205-RZ) and oil seals from different vendors, the pulley would be difficult to find a match for. I've decided to bite the bullet and buy two new spindle units (pulley comes with each unit).
All in all, it's not a very good mower, but it's hung on (with lots of work on my part) for 7 years. When something isn't busted, it cuts well. I've been up, down, inside, and out of this mower many times (never inside the gearbox though). I just bought a new 6ft KingKutter a couple of weeks ago, so I'm prepping the Farm Pro for sale.
Good luck. Holler if you have any questions about it.
Jay
Last edited:
OP
Bdavis
Silver Member
I am going to put the blades on tomorrow and give it try. I can not tell you how much I appreciate the information Jcliburn. Until your post I was pretty well convinced it was a King Kutter and probably worth the effort.
Now, I am not going to spend a lot of time and money on this unit. I got the blades from Tractor supply and they were only 50.00 bucks. So , if it works with the new blades that will be great , if not , it is headed back to the brush where I found it.
Thanks Again
Bill
Now, I am not going to spend a lot of time and money on this unit. I got the blades from Tractor supply and they were only 50.00 bucks. So , if it works with the new blades that will be great , if not , it is headed back to the brush where I found it.
Thanks Again
Bill
jcliburn
Gold Member
You're welcome. Hope the mower works well for you. Let us know...
