Mowing Kubota BX23s MMM adjustment knob issues

[manosteel00]

Hey Guys,

Just took delivery of my BX23s this weekend.

The MMM was already installed so I lifted the mower up all the way and turned the mowing height adjustment knob.

I noticed I could only turn it clockwise and once I got to position 4, it won't move in either direction regardless of if the deck is raised to the highest position.

Any ideas? Kind of peeved that the dealer sent it to me this way unless it's user error.

Thanks!

 

[dodge man]

I've had the same problem off and on with mine and it's about ten years old. Usually I just lower and raise the deck a few times and it will move. I've even taken large channel locks to move the knob. I rarely change the height so no big deal for me.

 

[massey driver]

One thing to make sure is that you have the mower lifted all the way up with the hydralics then try and turn the knob the other way. If you don't have it all the way up you have the weight of the mower deck sitting on the adjustment dogs making it impossible to turn the knob back.At times even with it lifted all the way up I have to get off the tractor and grab hold of the knob with both hands and turn it.Don't know why but its done this since new.

 

[JWR]

One thing to make sure is that you have the mower lifted all the way up with the hydralics then try and turn the knob the other way. If you don't have it all the way up you have the weight of the mower deck sitting on the adjustment dogs making it impossible to turn the knob back.At times even with it lifted all the way up I have to get off the tractor and grab hold of the knob with both hands and turn it.Don't know why but its done this since new.

Dodge Man and Massey Driver are both right. Let me add that on my BX2200 I was ignorant of the need to raise it all the way before turning the knob, put too much muscle on it and broke the phenolic knob. So did my son-in-law on another BX. That error will cost you about $27 for a piece of plastic replacement knob.

If the knob does not turn easily DO NOT FORCE IT. Unless something is hung up and out of kilter, that knob turns very easily with the hydraulics all the way up. In older machines you may need to find a way down under there and get to the "notched cam" arrangement that facilitates the settings. I hear you can get in there with a WD-40 spray tube if you find just the right spot.

 

[Tractorrr]

I had this happen too and yes it is frustrating to spend so much money and then have to fix it or make adjustments right away. Basically your deck is not up high enough for you to turn the knob all the way around. You can try increasing the RPM's and raising the deck to see if that gets it up. The deck doesn't raise all the way up at lower RPM's. Or you can adjust the bolts for the side to side balancing of the deck in order to lower them and allow the deck to go up higher.

 

[warment]

Use some silicone spray on the shaft of the knob right behind the knob. The silicone will find it's way downward and it should turn easily after a good soak.

 

[CHDinCT]

IIRC, there's an adjustment to how far the deck raises by turning a nut on the linkage connecting the 3PH to the deck lift hardware. Should be right behind the back left wheel. Take a look while raising the 3PH and you should see what im referring to. I believe there's two nuts there with one being a jamb nut. Course this assumes they didn't change this on the 80 series. Had to adjust mine to get the deck to go all the way up.

 

[manosteel00]

Since this tractor has less than 5 hours on it, the dealer came to take a look. They could not fix this onsite either so they brought it back.

When I talked to them yesterday, they tried using a different deck with the same results. They are able to turn the knob but it doesn't go into the "top" position. They tried to brush it off saying it will be fine but I explained that this is clearly pointed out as potentially damaging to the deck as stated in the manual. Plus this is a new machine and I shouldn't be having to accept these kind of issues right off the bat.

Hopefully they have a workaround for this. Pretty frustrating this is an issue.

 

[JWR]

Stick to your guns -- don't accept it back until fixed.

I would not be surprised at all to find that the deck is not getting all the way up due to lift linkage adjustment as mentioned by CHDinCT.

The dealer may very well not pick up on that (and especially since they have gone to the trouble of installing a second deck they have not figured out the problem.) Dealers do not have a monopoly on knowledge. I would ask them point blank whether they have considered the possibility that the deck is not getting up high enough due to linkage adjustment.

 

[Tractor Dell]

IIRC, there's an adjustment to how far the deck raises by turning a nut on the linkage connecting the 3PH to the deck lift hardware. Should be right behind the back left wheel. Take a look while raising the 3PH and you should see what im referring to. I believe there's two nuts there with one being a jamb nut. Course this assumes they didn't change this on the 80 series. Had to adjust mine to get the deck to go all the way up.

I had to adjust this on my BX23S to get it to lock in the "top" position. It is very simple to do.... well, once I watched a youtube video of what to adjust and where....