Your BX MMM PTO shaft fall off yet?

[Henro]

Mine hasn't, but I did have an interesting conversation with a guy who works at a Kubota dealership today.

Seems not too long ago a BX2200 owner came in with a tractor that was still in warranty. The drive shaft came off the mid PTO and some damage was done to the tractor, but it was not major. Punctured oil filter and some other small stuff.

They doubted the owners claim that it came off on its own and charged the owner for the repairs. The owner was not happy about that, but I guess had no choice in the matter.

Not too much time passed [maybe a couple weeks] and the owner was back in and steaming. The same thing happened again. Apparently this time more serious damage was done, including a broken casting where the mid PTO shaft comes out of the housing.

Turns out that the root problem was a bad bearing fit inside the housing. One of the bearing that the mid PTO shaft turns in was loose in the casting. This allowed the bearing, and therefore the mid PTO shaft, to bounce around a bit, I think he may have said 3 mm, but that is about 1/8 inch so I am probably wrong there. Maybe he said 0.3 MM.

Anyway, it was enough to cause vibration at the end of the mid PTO, and this vibration caused the sleeve that locks the end of the PTO shaft in place to vibrate loose [to the remove postion]. After that it was just a matter of time until the shaft fell off.

For those not familiar with this sleeve, it is not really spring loaded like a lot of them are. Rather, it is a two position thing, that you slide towards the PTO shaft to lock, and away from the PTO shaft to unlock. There is a little snap action, but not much at all.

I found this discussion EXTREMELY interesting, since there were several reports here recently about BX mid PTO shafts coming off when MMMs were in use.

If this happened [or happens] to anyone here...you may want to keep this in mind. I have a VERY high degree of confidence that what this person told me is accurate.

 

[Junkman]

I remember reading about that and I even asked the dealer about any that he has sold having a problem. He replied that they haven't experienced any as of yet. I wonder if what we are seeing here is just the tip of the iceberg and that when enough of them fail, there will be a recall? In the meantime, how is the best way to check your machine to see if this is a manufacturing problem or just a fluke of luck that is only effecting a few machines..... Also wonder if it has anything to do with the size of the deck??? Right now, more questions than answers...... Post showing filter guard and mention of the problem posted here......

 

[TresCrows]

The MM shaft on my BX is identical to the one on my 2410. Neither have ever come off because I clean and grease them and because I fully reinstall them and tug on them to be sure they are locked. I also on occasion--with the tractor not running--check the lock collar to be sure it is still locked. Better safe than sorry. J

 

[JWE]

I had my shaft come off several months ago and it took out the hydro filter and damaged the brake linkage on the left side (lost all of my hydro fluid). I am certain that the shaft was seated prior to it coming off. I finally got Kubota to replace the sleeve under warranty. One thing that I noticed is that the mower deck is much quieter since I replaced the PTO sleeve.

I think there are two chronic problems with the BX tractors:
1) The MMM PTO sleeve is designed and constructed poorly compared to the rest of the tractor.
2) The Hydro pedal sticks on some units. (mine sticks)

http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/showflat.php?Cat=&Board=owning&Number=295914&page=14&view=collapsed&sb=5&o=186&fpart=all&vc=1

John

 

[KRECKER]

Bill,
Been there done that with my BX2200 which I purchased in April. Just about two weeks into breaking MMM in same thing happened to me ( which I posted earlier). MMM have been off and on a couple of times, just to make sure that I knew how to do it. After cutting about 2 acres and taking a breaking, got back on tractor and went about 10 feet and heard terrible noise, thought I have run over a large limb or something. At that time shut it down and saw all of the hydraulic oil streaming out. Was able to get back to my shop and called dealer. Came out the next day and replaced filter and oil and checked for other damage. Mechanice told me that the yoke was not was not working correctly and said that he would have dealer order me another yoke. Well after fussing and fighting with dealer for three months, finally got new yoke and it works much better than original.
There have been several other post on this yoke problem with the 60"MMM on the BX2200. I agree with you, there is a Kubota problem here and hopefully they will see it and fix it.

Don

 

[Henro]

Just to clarify what I was trying to say...

A poor machining job inside the case, where a bearing seated, resulted in looseness, which allowed the bearing and PTO shaft to develop a vibration.

This vibration apparently caused a properly attached PTO shaft to come off.

So one may be doing everything 100% correct and still have the pto shaft come off in use

If it happens to me I'm going to have the dealer check my my PTO shaft for side play. Actually, will probably do it myself too as I have a dial indicator and a magnetic base...might even do it when I have the mower off next time, just for insurance.

Not that I am smart enough to find the problem though, even if I know what I am looking for... /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif

 

[Henro]

<font color="blue"> The Hydro pedal sticks on some units. (mine sticks) </font>

JWE,

Mine started to start to stick with about 10 hours on the hour meter...originally it snapped back to center, then it more like drifted back to center and the tractor started drifting to a stop, rather than stopping quickly.

Mine has a grease fitting at the base of the pedal, accessable from the deck top. Greasing it did not help [might have, but not right away]. I sprayed all the linkage under the tractor with LPS2 and it soon was back working normal again.

I remember your mentioning this before, I think. You probably already tried lubricating all the linkage under the tractor...but if not, all it took for me was some of that light LPS spray to return things back to normal. /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

 

[JWE]

Bill

My hydro pedal has a grease fitting, I apply grease weekly. I talked to Kubota about it and they said to take it to the dealer and have them rework it according to a recent service bulletin. I did that and the pedal still sticks (but not as frequently). I've learned to live with it; I think it is a design problem.

John

 

[surfran]

Henro,

Is LPS2 silicon spray? I am just starting to notice that the pedel isn't coming back as quickly from forward. Snaps back fine from reverse. I was planning on looking at other points to lube besides the grease zerk.

Thanks,

 

[Henro]

Surfran,

Actually I am not sure what it is exactly. I just had it and so I used it. I don't think it is a solicon or teflon spray...

My guess is any light lubricant would have the same effect.

The can says it produces a non-drying film, long-lasting lubrication, loosens rusted and frozen parts...for what that is worth! /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif