BX1850 Mower Deck Issue

[splotkin]

My tractor has about 300 hours. A few weeks ago there was a vibration when mowing so I shut it down and pulled the belt covers. All of the four bolts on the pulley were loose and two were missing. It is a royal pain to get the bolt into place from under the pulley and then get a wrench on the bolt head, as it is on the underside of the pulley. The bolt is up in the pulley offset. I was finally able to get the bolt in just the right location by rotating the pulley, to get an open end wrench on it. I made sure to use red Loctite on it.

FYI this was the pulley on the side opposite of the discharge. The bolt is an 8 MM X 1.25, 35 mm long. and uses a 13 mm wrench. I also checked the other outside pulley as well and it looked OK.

Well I was mowing last night and felt the same vibration. This time it was the pulley on the discharge side. (see Picture). I went to put in a 35 mm long bolt and it did not fit. It was too long to clear the deck under the pulley, and start it into the pulley bolt hole. I got a 30 mm and it did fit OK but is still longer than the ones on the other side I already changed out. I looks like it should be 25 or perhaps 20 mm long. I figured that both sides were the same length. I did look in the shop manual and parts book. The part Kubota parts number was shown but the description was "BOLT" That is not helpful for a trip to the hardware store.

Has any one else had issues with these bolts loosening?

Also just to relate another incident this spring, I use the tractor to carry logs out of a sensitive area. The turf tires do little if any damage. I was driving along the trail and the engine sputtered a couple of times and dies. I ended up pulling the tractor out of the woods with the winch. The first thing I checked was to see if there was fuel in the tank. Next I checked and there was no fuel in the easy to reach fuel filter under the hood. OK, the next stop was the rear fuel filter. I went to lower the mid-mount mower deck which was in the up and locked position. To get to the rear filter, you have to raise the deck off of the stop to release the deck. I was unable to start the engine so I tried to lift the deck a bit by hand to release the lock. Still would not release. I got out a floor jack to raise it and it was really stuck. OK, I should have taken a picture! Somehow a 2 inch or so hardwood branch wedged between the frame, the mower deck and "The fuel line". Yup, the fuel line was pinched off. Once I was able to get the branch out, all was OK.

At least here in western ma it is time to start winterizing. Good luck to everyone with their pre-winter chores.

Thanks

 

[Mowbizz]

When it rains it pours, as the saying goes...hope your troubles are gone for the coming cold season! My Bx 25 60" deck has the same setup so I'll be checking the spindle bolts for sure when I take the deck off after the last mow next week...

 

[Raw Dodge]

My tractor has about 300 hours. A few weeks ago there was a vibration when mowing so I shut it down and pulled the belt covers. All of the four bolts on the pulley were loose and two were missing. It is a royal pain to get the bolt into place from under the pulley and then get a wrench on the bolt head, as it is on the underside of the pulley. The bolt is up in the pulley offset. I was finally able to get the bolt in just the right location by rotating the pulley, to get an open end wrench on it. I made sure to use red Loctite on it. FYI this was the pulley on the side opposite of the discharge. The bolt is an 8 MM X 1.25, 35 mm long. and uses a 13 mm wrench. I also checked the other outside pulley as well and it looked OK. Well I was mowing last night and felt the same vibration. This time it was the pulley on the discharge side. (see Picture). I went to put in a 35 mm long bolt and it did not fit. It was too long to clear the deck under the pulley, and start it into the pulley bolt hole. I got a 30 mm and it did fit OK but is still longer than the ones on the other side I already changed out. I looks like it should be 25 or perhaps 20 mm long. I figured that both sides were the same length. I did look in the shop manual and parts book. The part Kubota parts number was shown but the description was "BOLT" That is not helpful for a trip to the hardware store. Has any one else had issues with these bolts loosening? Also just to relate another incident this spring, I use the tractor to carry logs out of a sensitive area. The turf tires do little if any damage. I was driving along the trail and the engine sputtered a couple of times and dies. I ended up pulling the tractor out of the woods with the winch. The first thing I checked was to see if there was fuel in the tank. Next I checked and there was no fuel in the easy to reach fuel filter under the hood. OK, the next stop was the rear fuel filter. I went to lower the mid-mount mower deck which was in the up and locked position. To get to the rear filter, you have to raise the deck off of the stop to release the deck. I was unable to start the engine so I tried to lift the deck a bit by hand to release the lock. Still would not release. I got out a floor jack to raise it and it was really stuck. OK, I should have taken a picture! Somehow a 2 inch or so hardwood branch wedged between the frame, the mower deck and "The fuel line". Yup, the fuel line was pinched off. Once I was able to get the branch out, all was OK. At least here in western ma it is time to start winterizing. Good luck to everyone with their pre-winter chores. Thanks

My father in law has a Bx 1850 it just turned 282 hrs and the same exact thing happened last week! He didn't hear it until all 4 bolts were gone and th pulley was spinning on the hub,it trashed the pulley ,I checked the discharge side and it too was loose...but all 4 bolts were intact. Clearly these bolts were never tightened properly and no thread locker was used.His machine has been running hot recently too,and I removed the battery and cleaned the radiator spotless,I'm not impressed by the little Bx lately,too many issues for sub 300 hr lightly used by senior citizen tractor.

 

[splotkin]

Well, at least they torqued the bolts consistently between decks, even if it was not enough. I need to check my hour meter. I said around 300 hours but it could be 280 or so. It sounds like anyone with these decks should check the bolts at around 250 hour. Do they do tractor recalls based on hours?

 

[David_Kb7uns]

I have a BX2230 with the 6 bolt flange with no problems. But have several friends with the BXxx50 series and most of the 4 bolt pulleys have loosened up or gotten reamed out. Not sure why Kubota dropped the round flange adapter for the 4 way cross but it SUCKS best repair is new bolts lock washers and ny-lock nuts.

David

 

[wrooster]

i have ~250 hours on my BX1860, same BX23-type 54" deck above, and i check the spindle bolts every year when i lube the deck. no problems to date.

wrooster

 

[EKI]

Wrooster and other members.

Do you release the belt tension when the MMM is off for the winter season?

 

[meos1]

Wrooster and other members.

Do you release the belt tension when the MMM is off for the winter season?

Winter in SC last like three weeks....So no.

 

[bellweather]

I release the belt tension spring every winter. It's easy to do once you know the trick. I use a big lever (4' long heavy wood 2X2 so as not to damage anything) wedged between the idler pulley and the lift arm bracket (think that's what it's called) and pushing on the idler pulley, stretch the spring enough so I can slip the belt off one of the blade pulleys.

 

[EKI]

I release the belt tension spring every winter. It's easy to do once you know the trick. I use a big lever (4' long heavy wood 2X2 so as not to damage anything) wedged between the idler pulley and the lift arm bracket (think that's what it's called) and pushing on the idler pulley, stretch the spring enough so I can slip the belt off one of the blade pulleys.

Thanks for the reply. Dealer said it was not necessary, however, leaving the tension on all the time I do not believe is wise.