Kubota F owners: Maybe a weak pin should be replaced, I am going to.

[JOHNTHOMAS]

Consider replacing the pins holding the front wheels on if your doing much rough land mowing. I've had 2 break which I didn't notice and had to replace two front tires over the past year after the mowing blades cut them up and sure not good on the blades and the sound is terrible. I'm going to replace mine with hardened steel bolts from the Industrial Supply store we have here. One could be an oddity but 2 is a warning to me. I have used the machine on pretty rough ground so may never happen to anyone else and I plan for it to never hap[pen to me again.

 

[Bigkrank]

Common problem, way I fixed ruining the tire/wheel from falling out was I made clamps to go over the top of the shaft so they can't fall out. Similar to this.

McMaster-Carr

Had to do something similar on my B2630 on pivot pins for mower lift.

 

[EastTexFrank]

Common problem, way I fixed ruining the tire/wheel from falling out was I made clamps to go over the top of the shaft so they can't fall out. Similar to this.

McMaster-Carr

Had to do something similar on my B2630 on pivot pins for mower lift.

I did something similar on the ol' Befco 60" mower that I used behind the B2400. I got tired of hunting for the wheel and the having to cut new spacers. Never thought of it being a problem on the F2680 though. I'll have to look at it although mine isn't used used on any really rough ground.

 

[TailDragon]

On mine the pins are secured by a ring that is threaded through the hole on the end of the pin. I have noticed the rings are no longer round but have stretched when I have been mowing under bushes/trees.
If they are pulled out you can lose the pin. I keep both rings towards the center so I can watch them.
Have dropped wheels on a rear finish mower before when the linch (sp?) pin was lost.
Have 900 hours on original pins but this is a 3680.

 

[jcummins]

On the ZD326 I have, the lynch kept coming out. I replaced them with a bolt and double nutted it. No problems since then.

 

[JOHNTHOMAS]

On mine the pins are secured by a ring that is threaded through the hole on the end of the pin. I have noticed the rings are no longer round but have stretched when I have been mowing under bushes/trees.
If they are pulled out you can lose the pin. I keep both rings towards the center so I can watch them.
Have dropped wheels on a rear finish mower before when the linch (sp?) pin was lost.
Have 900 hours on original pins but this is a 3680.

I think it's more a deck thing that a mower model, almost sure the deck of same size would be the same deck for all Fs. I to thought the retaining ring must have worked loose some way but I used a Dring on the last one and went under no trees or anything to hook it sooo determined the force beating against the pin from drops and push ups must be breaking the pins, maybe not but that's my conclusion

On the ZD326 I have, the lynch kept coming out. I replaced them with a bolt and double nutted it. No problems since then.

I'm going to try the hardened steel bolt on both of mine and see. Gary at Barlows also told me that is what most people do when I told him what my conclusion was about them breaking but I'm sure he was talking about mowers on different/all models and not specifically the Fs.

 

[Rip]

This is a good heads-up......what is dia of the guide wheel shaft on the F decks? I am not near my machine but would like to pick up a couple shaft collars ahead of time.

FYI, my well-used 1500 + hour machine had the rear deck support shafts severely wore though, but hidden by the rubber rings and adjustment collar .....I got the worst one welded up before it completely broke and will do the other soon.