Mowing Loud Gearbox- FarmPro mower

[SteveM]

I purchased a FarmPro 4' cutter from Homier last week, travelling show - anyhow, all is well except that there is a pretty loud howl to the cutter- in fact when you turn the shaft by hand there is a tick tick feel - and if I turn it by hand as fast as I can, a rough growl is audible. At PTO speed, it is a reverberating wow wow wow etc. I put in 90wt gear oil, greased the shaft and wheel zerks. Did I forget something? Are the gears simply rough cast? Should I contact Farmpro for replacement parts (seems like a big pain)

Thanks

 

[greg_g]

PTO driven mowers/cutters are almost always operated with the tractor PTO speed set for 540 RPM. If you've mistakenly selected the 1000 RPM speed, it might explain the noises that you consider unusual.

//greg//

 

[JohnS]

Steve,

When I turn my 5' KK rotary cutter, by hand, it is very smooth and do not have any ticking or howling. I do that check before mounting to tractor, each time. Make sure you don't have the U joints at any extreme angle. If the sound is coming from the gear assemby, sounds like a bearing to me. I would call Homier, and start the discussion. If coming from below deck, make sure there isn't a stick or something else the blades are hitting on (ticking).

 

[RICHARDG]

Don't sound right,but never heard a farm pro one before,,probably somebody here has one and could say,,,,my 5ft kk,doesn't make a lot of noise,,but the blades spinning do make a pretty good sound,,yeah,make sure its on right pto speed and run it an hr or two,,,maybe it will get better or worse,either way,you'll know more,,,if its defective,and brand new,,to **** with parts and trying to fix it,,,get your money back or a new one,,,surely even farm pro won't expect you to keep a defective new mower,or try and fix it???? Let us know what they say when you talk to them,,,may help somebody else decide what to buy,,or what not to buy. thingy

 

[Soundguy]

Seems like I replied to this earlier this morning.. now the post is gone.... hmmm...

Soundguy

 

[markct]

dont worry soundguy, your not losing your mind, it was in a different forum that he also posted the question

 

[SteveM]

THanks for your replies so quick - sorry Soundguy, I knew you would repond - I wasnt getting much play up on the rich end of the board so I thought I would run down here where people actually know how to fix stuff /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Additional information:
I was running at 540 RPM, and turning by hand at 10 RPM I can hear the growl building
I have a 5'KK on my Ford 9n - turns with no 'texture' by hand, way quieter in operation.
I ran it for 2hrs Sunday, no change in the sound, but I did get used to it /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif My wife kinda looked at me funny accross the field when I kicked it in the first time....sounds like a train is comin' at ya....at least it will motivate the deere to get out of my way!

I will call Homier tomorrow and test their customer service...to be frank, I cant be sure it is the gears or a bearing in the blade assbly. I had read here that the farmpro tractor gears gave quite a whine when new, thought maybe this is the same issue....either way for $340 I am satisfied.

 

[RICHARDG]

Well,thats the main thing. thingy

 

[bluechip]

The noise is normal and unfortuneate, but you cant beat the price!

 

[Soundguy]

Ok.. cool.. I was really wondering about that.

If you don't get a new one, and the nose is bothersome.. try some heavier oil like I mentioned. like outboard lube.. or even a pourable grease.. but not plain grease as that box wasn't meant for grease ( though the new HD howse boxes are.. )

Soundguy