FROZEN GRASS HEIGHT KNOB

[mrrog]

Just traded for an '05 Kubota BX1500. It has a few small maintenance issues. Previous owner did not keep up with them. For the most part tractor is in great shape. I rehabbed the mid mount mower deck, re-installed it on the tractor but the grass height knob seems to be frozen. I can't find anything on you tube or the mower manual that indicates what that knob does, or what it attaches to. ANYONE HAVE A CLUE???

 

[oosik]

On my '05 JD G100 the "grass height" knob adjusts(up or down) the stop point for the mower deck and thereby adjusts the height the grass will be cut at. You need to get your eyes where "no man has gone before" and follow that up with WD-40 or its equal.

 

[firemailwv]

Just traded for an '05 Kubota BX1500. It has a few small maintenance issues. Previous owner did not keep up with them. For the most part tractor is in great shape. I rehabbed the mid mount mower deck, re-installed it on the tractor but the grass height knob seems to be frozen. I can't find anything on you tube or the mower manual that indicates what that knob does, or what it attaches to. ANYONE HAVE A CLUE???

Is the deck lifted all the way up when you are trying to turn the knob?

 

[mrrog]

UHOH, Now that I looked at it, it appears that the deck is not totally in the up position. Started the tractor and don't think the deck is at the top. I probably did something wrong when I hooked it up. I think that I missed a knob adjustment step. What now??

 

[skipperbrown]

When you lift the deck with your hydraulics to max height, the knob should turn freely.

 

[Dan33Klein]

If the knob is stuck in the top position the adjustment rod at the back of the tractor may need adjusted. When you lift hydraulics to max night sometimes it doesn’t actually get the deck linkage high enough for the adjustment knob to be taken out of the top position. Usually this is noticed when your not able to get the height adjustment know into the top position from a lower position, but not always.

 

[BleedingOrange]

On my BX2370, I have to run my rpms at about 2500, and lift the deck til I hear the fluid bypass kick in.
Also, are you aware that you can only turn the height adjuster knob clockwise?
Try those couple of things on yours, and see if that helps.

 

[milkman]

I've heard of them sticking especially if not used for a long time. The height adjuster knob will just pull off and you can shoot some penetrating oil, I like Kroil, down along the shaft and it should loosen up. Make sure the lift is up and the linkage not resting on the adjuster stops when you try to turn it.

 

[mrrog]

I've heard of them sticking especially if not used for a long time. The height adjuster knob will just pull off and you can shoot some penetrating oil, I like Kroil, down along the shaft and it should loosen up. Make sure the lift is up and the linkage not resting on the adjuster stops when you try to turn it.

THANKS SO MUCH GUYS FOR ALL THE GREAT KNOWLEDGEABLE HELP. I'll try some of that stuff, but what I really need is a break away drawing showing me the linkage. I'm a totally image driven person. If I can SEE how something relates to its corresponding part, i can usually figure out how it works, or why it's not. ANYONE KNOW OF SUCH A DRAWING??? For now, I'll try some Power Blaster to see if anything happens. THANKS AGAIN, MrRog

 

[mrrog]

The knob is actually stuck between 1.5 & 2.0. Thanks.

 

[diesel85]

Take a look at the diagram.

It is a very simple cam and lever system.

1. Make sure that it's not rust frozen.
2. Make sure it's not bent.
3. Make sure there is no weight being put on the cam.

 

[mrrog]

Most excellent Diesel 185. That's what I needed to see to proceed. Now I'll start checking and lubing. Is that diagram from a shop manual, or did you find it on the web? Thanks again

 

[JWR]

When you lift the deck with your hydraulics to max height, the knob should turn freely.

Skipperbrown is correct but there is more to it than that. You MUST lift the deck to max height before you try to turn the adjusting knob. Early in the days I owned my BX2200 I didn't know that, turned the thing harder and of course broke the phenolic knob. The knob is ludicrously expensive.

Of course your enlightened lube job, etc. are the right moves but you might want to keep in mind the possibility that you got the parts in wrong, somehow.

 

[mrrog]

Milkman, can I just pull up on the knob and it will come off? I don't see a set screw or anything that secures the knob to the shaft. One of the other helpful guys on here has already warned me about how expensive the knob is. Just pull straight up???

 

[diesel85]

That diagram is off Kubota's parts website...

 

[anthonyv]

If you need to remove the knob, I use a slide hammer with a piece of flat bar bent in a "C" shape to hook the knob. Pops right off.

 

[JWR]

Milkman, can I just pull up on the knob and it will come off? I don't see a set screw or anything that secures the knob to the shaft. One of the other helpful guys on here has already warned me about how expensive the knob is. Just pull straight up???

I'm looking at the old broken one as we speak. Nothing holds it on except for slight spring tension ( a sort of thin piece of spring metal I think, missing on my old knob) and friction. The hole in the knob is round on one side and flat with a deeper flat channel on the other side of the hole. The hole very much resembles that of the old electrical knobs that used to pull on and off of car radios, only larger. Typical car radio volume controls and on/off knobs had a flat side on the shaft if you remember.

It should not come off the shaft too easy. If it seems almost loose and comes off very easy then someone has turned it by force and probably cracked the knob. That might even be why you cannot adjust deck height. If your parts are together right, then turning this knob & shaft should be moving a cam up and down along an inclined plane out of sight under the sheet metal. With the deck held up by hydraulics, the only weight being raised or lowered by the knob/shaft/cam is the weight of the linkage.

 

[milkman]

I just stuck the coated handles of channellock plires under the knob and pryed it off, nothing holding it on, no pins or locks.

 

[milkman]

I just stuck the coated handles of channellock pliers under the knob and pryed it off, nothing holding it on, no pins or locks.

 

[mrrog]

OK, i GUESS THAT i'M A DUMB ***!! AFTER ALL THAT, WD-40 OVER NIGHT FREED UP THE **** KNOB Now I just have to see that the unit adjusts properly up and down. This site has given me more insight to the inner workings of my last three tractors, than the manuals that came with them. Thanks again so much. Maybe some day I'll be able to give someone a hand in return.

OK now I need some adult supervision. The manuals are so totally vague! 1:Will the mower function without lowering the entire unit? In other words can I engage the mid PTO with the unit in the up position? I'd like to know before I try it.
2: Milkman said that the knob only turns clockwise. Once freed up, mine seems to turn either way. Problem? Wish I could actually see inside to see if the adjuster is doing anything.