LT1042 Bent spindle or Deck?

[rrey199]

Hi all.
Have a 2006 LT1042 lawn tractor. Hit a garden tool left lying about and stalled the tractor. After restarting, noticed it is cutting unevenly. Seems to be cutting closer to the ground on the inside of the L blade. Replaced the blades with new set and no change noted. Pulled the deck off and I can see that where the blades come close together that blade is 1/2" lower than the other one.
Removed the spindles and stripped the deck down, but I can't spot where the bend happened. The spindles appear straight, the deck sits squarely on all 4 wheels, and when I measure from each spindle mounting hole to the level floor, they are all even as far as I can see.
I'm considering replacing the deck and spindles to be done with it, as the grass is still growing, while I scratch my head.
Any thoughts on how to proceed besides replacing spindles only and try again?
My assumption is that a bent spindle would wobble, which they do not.
Thanks for any input.
rusty

 

[rcbe]

Rusty - it sounds as if you may have ended up with one of the 2 quill assemblies cocked relative to the other.
Since the right blade seems to be doing OK, use it as a reference along with a good, flat section of paved driveway or garage floor. First turn BOTH blades so They are pointing straight ahead as the tractor is and take measurements from the underside of each blade flat to the floor where it is sharpened to cut. Turn blades 180 degrees and repeat measurements. Big differences there on either blade indicate a bent blade.
Then, turn BOTH blades so they are exactly crosswise to the tractor's direction of travel and repeat all the measurements above.
Look at the results. If one blade assembly is tilted badly relative to the other, you should see it in those measurements..... or a bent blade.

PS: If hitting that tool fully killed your engine, be aware you MAY have partially sheared your engine's crankshaft to flywheel key. Will show up by hard/no start.

 

[gladiater]

remove the spindle (the one you think you hit and check to see that the mount holes in the deck have not been dented down ,or up ,you might have sheared the flywheel key buy EXTREMLEY rare on a tractor

 

[rcbe]

BACK OFF GLADIATOR. Let him complete the measurements with deck intact first befroe ripping apart and losing track of what is bent where!!!!

 

[gladiater]

the blades should be 1/4" lower from front to back when measuring. most of the lt,ltx rider blades pretty well show the bend when hit,it should be obvious,quick check just change the blades from side to side to see if prob shows up on the other side

BACK OFF GLADIATOR. Let him complete the measurements with deck intact first befroe ripping apart and losing track of what is bent where!!!!

 

[Gator6x4]

Rusty - it sounds as if you may have ended up with one of the 2 quill assemblies cocked relative to the other.
Since the right blade seems to be doing OK, use it as a reference along with a good, flat section of paved driveway or garage floor. First turn BOTH blades so They are pointing straight ahead as the tractor is and take measurements from the underside of each blade flat to the floor where it is sharpened to cut. Turn blades 180 degrees and repeat measurements. Big differences there on either blade indicate a bent blade.
Then, turn BOTH blades so they are exactly crosswise to the tractor's direction of travel and repeat all the measurements above.
Look at the results. If one blade assembly is tilted badly relative to the other, you should see it in those measurements..... or a bent blade.

PS: If hitting that tool fully killed your engine, be aware you MAY have partially sheared your engine's crankshaft to flywheel key. Will show up by hard/no start.

If you have a John Deere dealer close by, stop in and purchase one of the plastic gauges to measure blade height before starting the measuring of the blades. It only cost somewhere around ten dollars and will save you a ton of skin on your hands and a box of blood pressure pills. Also if this is a two blade deck you could have tweaked the deck on one side.

 

[tommyp1972]

I did the exact same thing on my LT1042 and ended up that my adjuster nut loosened up on the left side of the deck and dropped my left side down a bit..the locking nut was NEVER tightened tight enough..these blades that are on the LT1000 series are WEAK...so you may have also just bent it a hair..it doesn't take much

 

[rcbe]

remove the spindle (the one you think you hit and check to see that the mount holes in the deck have not been dented down ,or up ,you might have sheared the flywheel key buy EXTREMLEY rare on a tractor

baloney, imho. partially shearing flywheel key during a shock load is not "extremely rare".

 

[gladiater]

so i take you have done "many",maybe on a push mower yes

baloney, imho. partially shearing flywheel key during a shock load is not "extremely rare".

 

[rcbe]

9 blind men and the elephant. We agree to disagree.