DK 45 flywheel rubbing starter under a load

[intel]

When i have the tractor 490 hours (2003 DK45) under a load the flywheel rubs the starter nose. I have taken the starter off and you can see the signs of the rubbing, It sounds horrible. I suspect thrust bearings are bad on the crank.
The tractor starts fine and runs good.
The flywheel has an offset and the offset part is coming into contact with the starter nose.
They do make a smaller starter without the nose piece (I think).
Any suggestions?
has anyone else ran into this?
should i have rebuilt, trade off, or or new engine

I do not have any confidence in my local dealer.
I really like this tractor and i have worked her hard.

 

[ritcheyvs]

Would it help to just use a double or triple gasket between the starter and the bell housing? If this is just a tolerance stack and normal wear issue that may help, at least for a while. The online parts diagram:
OEM Parts
shows two starters (expensive) but I can't tell how they differ.

If you have a serious wear issue/bearing failure, more serious steps will eventually be needed.

Maybe one of the excellent dealers on this list will weigh in.

 

[intel]

It might but looks like it could be as much as an 1/8"

 

[Joe H]

Pair of pry bars, push front pulley back and forth. If it moves noticeable or says "thunk" when it moves it serious.

What to do? Up to you.......

Joe H

 

[seacap04]

I do not have time to check parts, But I am assuming the teeth are cut in to flywheel as opposed to a ring gear installed on flywheel:

Remove starter and use pry bar carefully against the flywheel to check end play. A prior post said front pulley, but would not be conclusive if rear main is bad.

Check engine to bell housing and bell housing to transmission bolts. They should be dowel pined. Should be no movement Make sure at torque. If loose, make sure hole are not enlongated.

If flywheel has a ring gear, remove starter and set a dail indictor on ring gear teeth and role engine over by hand. Note readings. jack up front of tractor. Note readings. Jack up back of tractor and note readings.

I am afraid you have a problem that involves spliting the tractor. I am trying to narrow it down to engine, transmission, ring gear or starter gear.

You also have to decide if you can fix the issue or hire someone to do it. If you are hiring someone compenent, let them diagnos the issue. You are paying by the hour, do not send them on wild goose chases. If they go on your chases, goto someone else. You do not have many hrs. This tractor has been severly abused or a defect in manufucturing. All I have is bad news for you, sorry.





I have had a long day and issues on much bigger equipment. I hope I have thrown out food for thought for others on this forum to narrow where you need to go.

 

[intel]

Thanks guys the the flywheel starter teeth is separate ring bolted to flywheel., i will continue to investigate, but it looks like a split the tractor time. I wish i had a good dealer down this way.

 

[intel]

with tractor off i took dial indicator and turned the flywheel a complete turn(no runout (not warped)), left dial indicator in place jack front end up tractor still off (used floor jack)) still no change. Jacked back end up still no change.

I could not move the crank via the front puller front or back. Could not much of a bit and did not wont to bend front pulley.

 

[MotorSeven]

I looked at the map, your right in the middle of some really good one's although it will be a bit of a drive. I'd give Rick Wallace a call and see what he says about your issue:
Wallace Tractor and Equipment NEPA Compact Tractors Lake Ariel Poconos Honesdale PA

He also might be able to recommend a closer dealer to you.

 

[seacap04]

Front pully can not take the torque. I was hoping you had enough room to carefully use pry bar on flywheel teeth with dial indicator set up. Still I think you have proved tractor is ridge between engine and transmission and not the problem. It looks like engine torque is deflecting the crankshaft.

Rick Wallace is very knowlegable, and a frequent contributer to this site. I would bounce this off him in a pair of seconds.

Food for thought. I am at sea right now and can not check my tractor. Could you drop oil pan and check and replace main bearings?

 

[intel]

Seacap04, I am pretty sure your have to split the tractor to replace the mains, I wish you could drop the pan to replace the mains and thrust bearings, if so i would tackle the project myself. I am studying my service manual and parts manual know.

 

[seacap04]

I feel for you. I figured thrust washes would negate just dropping pan.

 

[intel]

It looks like the front/forward thrust bearing is wore out it is on the back main bearing pack. It only has one thrust bearing forward (2 peace upper and lower) and one thrust bearing rearward (2 piece upper and lower) both on the last(rear) main bearing pack.

It looks like you have to do a complete tear down of the motor.

has anyone ran into this?
has any dealers went through this?

would it be cheaper to buy a new motor?

 

[seacap04]

It is not right to have a worn out thrust washers at only 490 hrs. I was just into the base of a 6 cyl. Cat marine engine, (D353), with 60,000 hrs. Thrust washer clearences were still in the upper limits of wear. I know I am comparing apples and oranges, but I would expect a least several thousand hard hrs. for the wear you describe.

When you do your tear down I would be looking for causes.Hope someone with some DK45 history can give some answers. Good luck.

 

[intel]

yes i agree seacap.
I am second owner. I bought the tractor from dealer (original dealer) with 233 hours on it but within a couple of hours of operation the tach meter cable would only work part time and dealer gave me a new one.

So that being said i suspect it has more hours then what is on the hour meter.

I done the maintenance by the book or even more often. I do not know about the first owner.

 

[IndyIan]

Would someone with a heavy foot resting on the clutch all the time cause this?

 

[MotorSeven]

Would someone with a heavy foot resting on the clutch all the time cause this?

It's a Hydro...no clutch. Even if it was gear I think you would just burn up the clutch by riding it....not the engine bearings. I have an Uncle in law in Canada with a bad knee(s). He has burned up the clutch in his JD about 4 times in 6 years all from riding it with his foot.

 

[intel]

No it is a 12x12 gear shuttle.

Yes I do not think a heavy foot resting on the clutch would cause the thrust bearing to wear out.

and I never rest my foot on the clutch.

I was hoping there was an easier fix then tearing the motor down let alone splitting the tractor.

I think it might be easier to buy a new engine.

 

[IndyIan]

No it is a 12x12 gear shuttle.

Yes I do not think a heavy foot resting on the clutch would cause the thrust bearing to wear out.

and I never rest my foot on the clutch.

I was hoping there was an easier fix then tearing the motor down let alone splitting the tractor.

I think it might be easier to buy a new engine.

From my basic knowledge of motors, I've got to think bearings at both ends of the rods aren't happy either from running at a small angle either? Or even all the crank bearings have been starting to take the thrust bearings load?
Or maybe the motor is designed to allow quite a bit of thrust bearing wear without damage?
I know a couple of my local Kioti dealers were independent mechanic shops first so they know engines, maybe one of your local dealers is the same? I'd talk to them first for options.

 

[ritcheyvs]

It looks like the front/forward thrust bearing is wore out it is on the back main bearing pack.

How did you determine this? Is there a spec?

 

[Ranch_Hand_Supp]

It would be interesting to know what reading a hand held oil pressure gauge would be?.