Another MX6 Brush Hog Failure

[beenthere]

Sounds like you are a purchasing agent. Recall them well..

 

[jenkinsph]

Thanks guys. Whatever we get, it will be new. I'm now under the impression that we may need to revert to Woods or some brand that's heavier than the JD MX6. A warranty is good and all, but I'd prefer to use an implement that's built well enough to not break in the 1st place. Having it repaired is time away from ones work, just to haul it to some shop and have it repaired.. Been there, done that.

The 609 is a good one, heavy duty in every way. Haven't heard any thing bad about them. A friend of mine has had one for about 10 years with no complaints. I sold my MX6 before it failed and have not needed to replace it yet.

 

[buickanddeere]

Many failures would be avoided if the operator made certain the slip clutch was not seized with rust .

 

[bumperm]

From what I've read the failures were due to a gearbox output shaft design flaw that had nothing to do with impacts or slip clutch failures but much to do with the mower being unsuitable for its implied and intended use. Some failed while mowing light duty grass etc. The real problem was how Deere dealt with their customers with what amounted to defective product.

 

[beenthere]

From what I've read the failures were due to a gearbox output shaft design flaw that had nothing to do with impacts or slip clutch failures but much to do with the mower being unsuitable for its implied and intended use. Some failed while mowing light duty grass etc.

That's what they all say...

Loaned my brush hog to a good friend, and it came back busted. Said he didn't hit anything while brushing out his woods trails. Later I walked his trails and was amazed at the diameter of the stumps that were ground down to zero height.

Fact is, no one really knows .. often including the operator.

Reminds me, I need to be sure the clutch on my deere brush mower is not rusted tight.

 

[bumperm]

That's what they all say...

Loaned my brush hog to a good friend, and it came back busted. Said he didn't hit anything while brushing out his woods trails. Later I walked his trails and was amazed at the diameter of the stumps that were ground down to zero height.

Fact is, no one really knows .. often including the operator.

Reminds me, I need to be sure the clutch on my deere brush mower is not rusted tight.

No, it's not what they all say. I think most are honest. I've never hit anything substantial with a brush cutter that I didn't *know* I hit. And like most, I've hit some big and hard stuff, enough to slip a clutch or shear a pin, but otherwise no damage as the two I've owned were properly designed so the clutch or shear pin would go first.

As to borrowing tools, I do that only rarely as mostly I have my own. When I do borrow, I try to return it in better condition than received, cleaner, better lubed, whatever. If I break it I fix or replace it. What kind of friend would break something on a borrowed tool and not own up to it?

 

[beenthere]

bumperm
Meant when going back for a fix under warranty... (comment.. "that's what they all say" ).
Not going to admit to abusing the implement.

As to my friend, he was the best friend I had for many years, and really don't think he thought he was abusing my brush cutter. To him, it was doing what it was meant to do. He was not "less" of a friend after that.

 

[JimR]

I've owned the MX6 with the Spain gearbox and sheared the shaft clean off at the snap ring in high grass and light brush. Yes, the pto shaft did slip on this one. I rebuilt the box with a new aftermarket gear set and sold the unit. I now own the newer version with the so called heavier Chinese box. Yesterday I was out hogging some 1" saplings and brush when that one did a clean snap off just like the first one. There was no heavy thud or anything. It just plopped off and you could tell that something happened as it went quiet. The shaft did slip a few times before that happened and I slowed down to a near crawl for the rest of my cutting. No stumps or rocks were in the way and no heavy saplings were getting cut. My blades were sharp. The gearbox is under 4 years old and was a replacement. JD only warrants the replacements for a year.

 

[Sawyer Rob]

I've owned the MX6 with the Spain gearbox and sheared the shaft clean off at the snap ring in high grass and light brush. Yes, the pto shaft did slip on this one. I rebuilt the box with a new aftermarket gear set and sold the unit. I now own the newer version with the so called heavier Chinese box. Yesterday I was out hogging some 1" saplings and brush when that one did a clean snap off just like the first one. There was no heavy thud or anything. It just plopped off and you could tell that something happened as it went quiet. The shaft did slip a few times before that happened and I slowed down to a near crawl for the rest of my cutting. No stumps or rocks were in the way and no heavy saplings were getting cut. My blades were sharp. The gearbox is under 4 years old and was a replacement. JD only warrants the replacements for a year.

DANG Jim, you are kind of a slow learner, aren't you?? lol

I would have bought a Woods cutter in the first place, let alone buying a second MX6 after the total failure of your first one!!

I'd kinda be like that woman in the tire commercial, throwing that cutter through the dealers picture window!! ha ha

SR

 

[JimR]

DANG Jim, you are kind of a slow learner, aren't you?? lol

I would have bought a Woods cutter in the first place, let alone buying a second MX6 after the total failure of your first one!!

I'd kinda be like that woman in the tire commercial, throwing that cutter through the dealers picture window!! ha ha

SR

I hadn't heard any bad issues with the Chinese gearboxes. The gearbox is a 2013. I contacted JD to see if there is anything they can do about it. Corporate got back to me on the mower and gearbox. The mower warranty expired in June 2014. The gearbox shortly afterwards as a one year replacement. I'll replace the shaft myself and this will be the last JD product that I ever own. I'm now glad that I bought a Kioti NX4510 tractor instead of the John Deere tractor that I was looking at recently. My thoughts go like this. If you warranty a mower for 5 years, the new replacement gearbox should have a 5 year warranty also since it is the main item on these mowers and the only thing that breaks.

 

[milkie62]

I have been in the market for a new 6 foot brush hog.Guess I will be going with a Rhino or Woods.I have a Land Pride 7 foot offset but I want to leave a mower on my Ford 800 for the summer.The 7 foot is a tad big for it.Like I have said in older posts my 50 yr old Ford brush mower has used 1 set of clutch discs and 2 sets of blades in 30 years without a problem.Granted I only mow about 15 acres twice a year.

 

[GreatWhitehunter]

I hadn't heard any bad issues with the Chinese gearboxes. The gearbox is a 2013. I contacted JD to see if there is anything they can do about it. Corporate got back to me on the mower and gearbox. The mower warranty expired in June 2014. The gearbox shortly afterwards as a one year replacement. I'll replace the shaft myself and this will be the last JD product that I ever own. I'm now glad that I bought a Kioti NX4510 tractor instead of the John Deere tractor that I was looking at recently. My thoughts go like this. If you warranty a mower for 5 years, the new replacement gearbox should have a 5 year warranty also since it is the main item on these mowers and the only thing that breaks.

Jim, I'm sorry it turned out this way for you. But I'm glad you posted on the rev 2 gear box failing. I've been looking for a newer MX6 with the good gear box and was hesitant to pull the trigger based on how mother deere handled the last round of failures. I'll be crossing the MX6 off the list all together at this point.

Matt

 

[bcp]

CL ad tonight reminded me of this thread.



Bruce

 

[bitternut]

I started out this summer looking for a new mower and checked out the mx6. With the treatment Deere gave owners of this mower I stopped looking at them real quick. Ended up with a Bush Hog BH26 that comes with a 130HP rated gear box and 3" cut capacity. It cuts nice and looks good hooked on the back of my green tractor even though it has orange paint. Time will tell if I made a wise choice.

 

[VirtualTractor]

Does the Frontier line of rotary hogs have the same issues as the JD MX line?

 

[JimR]

Jim, I'm sorry it turned out this way for you. But I'm glad you posted on the rev 2 gear box failing. I've been looking for a newer MX6 with the good gear box and was hesitant to pull the trigger based on how mother deere handled the last round of failures. I'll be crossing the MX6 off the list all together at this point.

Matt

The MX6 is all rebuilt with a new shaft and seals. It has worked fine for me over the past few days. I was out cutting up 1 - 1 1/2 inch trees and brush with no issues. I loosened up the clutch a bit to make sure it slips a little bit easier. The MX6 is capable of cutting 3 inch trees according to the JD website. I'll use a chainsaw on anything over 1 1/2 just so I don't have to replace the shaft again.

 

[Sawyer Rob]

I'd be dumping that cutter ASAP!!

SR

 

[JimR]

I'd be dumping that cutter ASAP!!

SR

If I sold it for let's say $2200.00 like the other one I had. What can I buy for that money to replace it? The Landpride and Woods decks are up over $3K new.

 

[Sawyer Rob]

If I sold it for let's say $2200.00 like the other one I had. What can I buy for that money to replace it? The Landpride and Woods decks are up over $3K new.

"IF" it was me, I'd "gladly" pay the difference and chalk it up to a learning experience to get rid of a terd!!

SR

 

[TomSeller]

You can buy a lot of used cutters for $3000