Mowing JD HX-15 Batwing Mower - Lost a u-joint

[ddivinia]

I hit a stump and lost a u joint. With all the clearing at my place - I am surprised I have not broken them more often. Clutches have been slipped - I think it was just due. The last time I broke one - it was the yoke. This time it was the u-joint.

Does anybody know how to get that taper pin out? I broke it last time and just had the dealer do it. Somebody educate me.

Thanks,
D.

 

[jenkinsph]

Darin,

Why not drive out the old cups and just replace the joint?

The spline is held in place with the single bolt as a keeper.



Steve

 

[ddivinia]

It is much easier to do it on a bench that to fight it on the mower.

That looks like a bolt, but is some kind of taper bolt or something. It is not just a bolt with a nut on it. I figured I would pull it of and redo the u-joint on my bench.

D.

 

[jenkinsph]

I would think where it is now it is held solidly in place and should be a 30 minute job.



Steve

 

[ddivinia]

Oh yeah?

You mean how it can rotate on both end of it - the hub and gear box?

I figure from your response you don't know how to remove that taper pin either.

I will probably just pull the bolts out of the clutch and leave the rest of it on the shaft.

D.

 

[jenkinsph]

Well if I was trying to remove the taper pin I would back the nut off about 1 1/2 turns and hit it with a hammer to loosen it without damaging the threads. Then back the nut off the rest of the way and push the pin out. I might add that with a taper fit moving it just a fraction of an inch will loosen it.


Steve

 

[ddivinia]

Right - might come out easy enough. I wish I had one of the old cups. I could size up the u-joint. Those yokes aren't the original ones. It originally had some lighterweight ones. I think they were all defective - they replace them with the CX ones. I figure it would be easier to take both parts down and make sure I get the right parts. I just don't want to break that bolt/pin, etc off in there.

D.

 

[jenkinsph]

You might be better off to remove it and take it to NAPA and see if you can get a match with Eaton parts. Stumps and large rocks can be tough on rotary cutters as I'm sure you are aware, thats why I tend to run mine at lower speeds as mentioned the other day. The clippings may not be cut up as fine but I rarely have driveline issues either.


Steve

 

[ddivinia]

I might do that. Only 2nd time in 5 years so I can't complain too much. I figured I would break something - we just cleared a whole bunch of stuff. Grinding up the stuff really helps it break down. I am going to spray liquid fertilizer in a couple weeks to help get it going. I am waiting on my new spray rig.

D.

 

[jenkinsph]

It would be good to know what papermills use in their digester tanks to reduce the wood pulp to a semi liquid form, whatever it is it works fast (as in hours). Might be simple bleach with a few additives but might be worth checking with a chemical supplier about.

One of the next things to upgrade is my small chipper, want to go with a large self feeder. A new spray rig is next year though.

Steve