Lift ball popped out

[Z-Michigan]

I was detaching my cutter today to put the blade on and stopped when I discovered that one of the lift balls had popped out of the lift arm it should have been attached to. The linchpin was still holding the cutter to the arm but I couldn't get the pin out nor do I see any way to get the ball back in.

Has this happened to anyone? What causes it? I had been using it for mowing and don't remember hitting anything with the mower, much less hitting something hard.

I am assuming I need to have the dealer pick up my tractor to fix this unless someone tells me differently. It is still under warranty and the dealer has been good to work with. Do they press the balls into the arms with a hydraulic press or how?

 

[BTDT]

Can you just unpin the lift arm from it's location on the front and take the arm to the dealer for replacement, rather than the whole tractor. I would say it was just a faulty part. I have heard of this happening to older units, how old is your tractor?

 

[Z-Michigan]

The tractor is a 2006 model 5105 purchased brand new this February.



Not sure how easily/safely I can get the linchpin out of the LX cutter pin in order to start getting the lift arm off the tractor. My dealer has also been really good about free transport for warranty items so there shouldn't be any cost to me. I would do them a favor and take the part in if it was easy to get off but I'm not sure it will be here.

 

[JerryG]

Some utility tractors are made so that the balls come out. They have to be turned a certain way to put them in and take them out. Try that before taking it to the dealer or look in your manual.

 

[BTDT]

Can you unscrew the lift pin on the cutter? Put the pin in a vise (loosely) with the ball resting on top of jaws, then drive it out with a hammer. A pic or two would be nice.

 

[Z-Michigan]

I looked in the manual and it shows a pin that holds the ball in. However, examining the lift arms reveals no such pin. I think the design must have changed since the manual was printed (which has been true of several other minor things; for instance, my hourmeter is mechanical and not the digital LCD showed in the manual).

I called the dealer and they said given that it's nearly new they will just order a new arm and bring the tractor in when the part arrives.

My BIL who is a mechanical engineer was over this afternoon and noted that the one that popped out had an arm that had a much smaller flange around the ball than the other side that is intact. Looks like a manufacturing defect. I will take bets on whether this part of my tractor is made in the USA or another country far west of here.

 

[AKfish]

Sounds like a manufacturing defect... Like BT stated, older arms that have a great deal of use will get sloppy and the ball will pop out --- like a worn shoulder joint!

Gotta have a good metal rim along the outside of the "socket" or the ball will pop out.

You should be able to block up the mower and take the weight off the lift arm and remove the arm. I'd think that the dealer would/should have another arm in stock, no? Maybe a search on the JD parts site would tell you if another arm for any of the 5000 series tractors would work.

If you know someone that's handy with a MIG and a grinder -- have them run a small bead along the edge of the arm and then grind it down.

Won't likely be as pretty as the rest of that new Green beast; but it would get you going again. Could keep it as a spare when the new arm comes in.

AKfish