Mowing GC1710 Mid-Mount-Mower Problem - Design of Left Rear Wheel Bracketry

[jonathancase]

This is one of those posts that may wind up becoming convoluted. Let's hope I can get through it and still have it make sense.

I have an MF GC1710 with the accompanying MMM that I bought new in 2014. I just have one substantive complaint, that is the design and survivability of the left rear support wheel mounting hardware that is welded onto the mower deck. The left rear wheel placement of the support wheel, coupled with the curved design of the left-side mower deck leave the left rear wheel an open target for imperfect left turns. With the discharge on the right, the left side tends to be the one that gets nudged up against trees, walls, telephone poles, etc., anytime there is a hazard to mow around, you wind up mowing with the left side up-close-and-personal against the hazard. If you don't turn just perfectly, and happen to make contact with the hazard, then the rear wheel typically takes the punishment and the mounting hardware tends to bend and eventually break the weld. If you look at the design of the rear left wheel mounting hardware, it is a less strong design with no flexibility for making contact. The right rear mount is more robust and strong.

I'm not a perfect driver, although I watch carefully, even an eighth-inch mistake winds up causing the same bend and weld-break conditions. I've had my mower back for re-welding twice and just last Saturday, I put another nudge against it and the weld is breaking loose again. In this owner's opinion, it is a bad design. The survivability of that wheel mounting hardware is simply poor unless you're a perfect driver.

Curious as to whether any other owners have encountered, analyzed, solved this issue? Would welcome your thoughts and experiences on this subject. My thoughts are to have a local welding shop redesign the mount and make something custom for me, or reinforce the weld one more time and mount a 'guard' of some kind that will help compensate for my lack of turning perfection.

Thanks in advance to anyone that takes time to respond.

 

[Fiziksgeek]

Do I occasionally bang it on stuff, yes. Is it a problem...Not really. I certainly haven't broken any welds. If you are concerned about the strength, weld on some additional support...

 

[cdaigle430]

I would bring it up to athe local AGCO rep, sure sounds like something needs to be imporved to me.

 

[jlgurr]

Haven't had a problem with mine but will check it out this weekend. I'll post a pic too and you can see if yours is like mine.

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[Ed of all trades]

I mow around over 60 trees a week for 4 years and have had no problems with mine. (I am told we have the same mower) Could you redesign it and move it in a little?

 

[jlgurr]

Here's mine. No problems but does your design look the same?

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[irvingj]

Curious.. my 2310's mower has the left rear wheel mounted behind the apex of the curve, apparently far enough "back" that I haven't hit it on anything (yet). I do occasionally clip/cut things with the outward-bent flange on the bottom edge of the deck, but not with the wheel. (?)

Looks like mine is the same design as jlgurr's.

 

[Ed of all trades]

I mowed for about 3 hrs today and was thinking about your post. I bumped my wheel bracket a couple of times but because i was going slow I did no damage. I would have to think that you are going to fast when you are close to solid objects. If you slow down it might help.