Mowing mower deck stalling tractor

[studway]

I think that you might be expecting too much of your MMM. You may want to switch to a RFM with a slip clutch if the objects are a concern.

All I'm expecting is that an unforseen obsacle will not destroy the tractor. As I pointed out in an earlier post, a homowner with an immaculate, obstacle-free lawn could turn up a rock or run over a toy or tent stake or baseball bat or whatever. In my experience, the tractor stalls. From what others have said it seems there is some built in slip, but the stalling still worries me.

I have a bigger tractor that I put a box mower on the back of for the heavy stuff, but when I use my swisher offset to get under the branches I like to use the BX at the same time. I can do an 8' swath. We have pick your own apples so the orchards require a finish mow throughout the season.

 

[radioman]

studway- I get it. I am just not sure how to make it better for you. Since the MMM pto shaft is splined, no slip clutch nor no shear bolt, tough belt- no room to add a slip clutch. looks like your options are limited.

By the way, just out of curiosity, the swisher mower has its own engine correct ? what RPMS are you normally running at with MMM on? Are you running the rated pto speed due to tall grass?

 

[leonz]

All I'm expecting is that an unforseen obsacle will not destroy the tractor. As I pointed out in an earlier post, a homowner with an immaculate, obstacle-free lawn could turn up a rock or run over a toy or tent stake or baseball bat or whatever. In my experience, the tractor stalls. From what others have said it seems there is some built in slip, but the stalling still worries me.

I have a bigger tractor that I put a box mower on the back of for the heavy stuff, but when I use my swisher offset to get under the branches I like to use the BX at the same time. I can do an 8' swath. We have pick your own apples so the orchards require a finish mow throughout the season.

two words-flail mower; flail mowers are used in a lot of orchards and vineyards for what you are dealing with.

Buying a land pride flail in kubota colors and trading in the swisher for it would be an option or:


The Agrisupply folks have an internet special sale price with their flail mowers
and shipping to your door.

A Caroni three point mower with grass or hammer knives will chop everything including branches and larger limbs the year round.


flail mowers chop everything to a very fine cutting that composts quickly


All depends on your aggravation level as I mentioned earlier, and using a york rake on the tractor you own.

 

[studway]

By the way, just out of curiosity, the swisher mower has its own engine correct ? what RPMS are you normally running at with MMM on? Are you running the rated pto speed due to tall grass?

Yes, I always run everything at the recommended pto speed.

 

[Argosy]

You can do some serious damage by hitting hidden objects. I just changed a bunch of parts on a RCK 60-27B deck which had obviously hit something and lost.

There was a very big crack in the casting inside the mower the gear box bolts to and for the center blade shaft.The blade shaft is splined to the gear in the box and has a snap ring, half the splines were broken off. The shaft and blade had to be vibrating like crazy, the seal was shot and the gear lube poured out (original complaint was a leak).

Seeing that I wouldn't count on the belt slipping to protect the deck. The best comment I saw is you're using a finish mower and should be using a brush hog or flail mower. The fact the grass is only a foot tall isn't as important as the branches, dirt, etc., you know is going to be there. Eventually I think it will be expensive.

 

[studway]

I just changed a bunch of parts on a RCK 60-27B deck which had obviously hit something and lost.QUOTE]

Alright, this is good. Sounds like parts in the deck will go before any parts in the tractor do. I can live with that. Of course I don't want to have to do a big repair job on the deck, but it's a lot better than a big repair to the tractor.

Given the fact that this mower/tractor combo can easily cut down thick, foot high grass, I think Kubota should have put a shear pin somewhere.

Next question:

How bad is it for the engine when it stalls out in this way? Usually takes a couple of cranks to stop, tons of shaking, and a big plume of black smoke.

 

[leonz]

I just changed a bunch of parts on a RCK 60-27B deck which had obviously hit something and lost.QUOTE]

Alright, this is good. Sounds like parts in the deck will go before any parts in the tractor do. I can live with that. Of course I don't want to have to do a big repair job on the deck, but it's a lot better than a big repair to the tractor.

Given the fact that this mower/tractor combo can easily cut down thick, foot high grass, I think Kubota should have put a shear pin somewhere.

Next question:

How bad is it for the engine when it stalls out in this way? Usually takes a couple of cranks to stop, tons of shaking, and a big plume of black smoke.

NO real worries other than burning up a belt eventually. The diesel chugs a bit more than a gas tractor before it dies because the diesel fuel will burn until its gone but no harm done.

Buy a spare belt to have on hand and if you have a zip lock bag big enough put it in the bag to help it avoid ozone damage.

 

[TripleR]

With all due respect, having used two BX mowers in very rough conditions since 2003 and "mowing" rope, wires, T posts, limbs, rebar twice and one boat anchor, if you routinely stall your engine, you are seriously exceeding the design parameters and using the wrong equipment for the job. MMM's are not designed to act as bush hogs. Even with slip clutches, I have seen and had gear box failure through exceeding design parameters. After blowing them on our Woods 10' 121 several times, we upgraded to a Woods DS1260 10' 6". It too will eventually break if we mow too many saplings beyond that for which it was designed. Nothing is indestructible.

 

[studway]

With all due respect, having used two BX mowers in very rough conditions since 2003 and "mowing" rope, wires, T posts, limbs, rebar twice and one boat anchor, if you routinely stall your engine, you are seriously exceeding the design parameters and using the wrong equipment for the job.

Sooooo, running over a matted down sweatshirt that had been in the grass since there was snow on the ground is "seriously exceeding the design parameters", but running over rebar and an anchor isn't?

 

[TripleR]

Sooooo, running over a matted down sweatshirt that had been in the grass since there was snow on the ground is "seriously exceeding the design parameters", but running over rebar and an anchor isn't?

No, it is not and neither is the sweat shirt. As I have detailed in past posts on belt slippage, non keyed shafts etc. You seem to be looking for something that will do this on a regular basis when describing what you run into mowing your orchard etc.; perhaps I misunderstood.

I used those examples to demonstrate, they will withstand the occasional "immovable object". Stalling your motor a few times, is not going to hurt anything, but as with any machinery, the harder you use it the quicker it will fail or wear out. That is why anytime I am going to mow a really rough area with a good probability of hitting limbs etc, I put my rotary cutter on or use a bigger tractor.

My post was not meant as a slam, just friendly advice I myself had to take when I bought another bigger tractor. If I offended you, I am truly sorry as I hate to see this turn negative.