2305 62" MMM noise

[rvtech]

I have a grinding noise and vibration occassionally with mower running while mowing on a slant or hitting bumps. It happens most often when the mower is on a tilt or unlevel while the tires are on a different level. An example is when I mow a ditch by my road. When I enter the ditch, the mower drops off the wheels at one end while the other end is on higher ground. I can feel a bad vibration at the same time. I posted about this shortly after I purchased this tractor. Some replies were about possible mower wheels causing it. I knew at the time it only happens when the mower is turned on, so it couldn't be the wheels. I have been looking for the source every time I service the tractor and every time I remove or install the mower. Today I found the problem.

The mower drive shaft is contacting the brake linkage. The end of the universal joint on the end that comes out of the mower gear box is hitting the tractor brake linkage. The clevace where the brake linkage attaches is getting worn where it is hitting. It has clearance under normal circumstances, but when the mower deck moves a little sideways to the left, the shaft hits causing the grinding noise and vibration. I checked my mower adjustments and changed a few with little or no improvement. The sideways movement seems to be minimal, but it is enough to let it make contact. It appears that one of the contributing factors is some up movement of the mower. The driveshaft apparently gets closer to the brake rod when the mower is lifted.

I'm not sure what to do at this point. It has done this since new. I don't think adjustments will help. I guess I'll contact my dealer to see if they have answers. The brake rod clevace will eventually be ruined.

 

[bigtiller]

Let us know what the dealer does. Mine has been doing it when I mow the ditches too.

 

[orlo]

Interesting. I don't get that noise while mowing but if I go to transport and forget to turn off the PTO before I raise the rockshaft/mower to the top I recently started getting it. I'll have to look underneath. I figured if I just needed to adjust the lift rod to slightly lower the max lift height.

 

[rvtech]

I called my dealer. My service guy said he has not heard of or seen this problem. He said there is nothing in the tech service updates about it. He will search other tech bulletins and let me know if he finds anything.

 

[cast_and_blast]

I haven't notice this on mine, but I haven't really mowed any serious slopes with it either. Keep us posted.

Scott

 

[Lobo56]

Has anybody had this mower problem with a 2210, the 2305 is basically the same tractor?

 

[GordNovo]

I have had the same issue cutting my ditches too! I thought maybe it was a slightly bent blade hitting the underside of the deck, but I'll have a look at the shaft and see if any adjustments help our case.

Please let us know what your dealer says, or what they happen to find a solution. This is quite an issue for us as we have approx 1/4 mile of dyking around the property. Considering we need to cut around both sides of the dyke, I have approx 1/2 mile of moderate slope to cut every couple fo weeks.

Thanks for bringing this up!

 

[rvtech]

It's not just an issue on slopes. Mine does it when turning on level ground if the mower bounces. It is moving enough sideways to hit. I was very surprised to see where it is hitting and how bad the clevace has been ground off. I too thought the blades were hitting something.

It looks like poor engineering to me. My Deere service guy said the same thing. I will have to replace my brake clevace soon. It will eventually grind through and fall off. Seems like a possible safety issue to me. Maybe there should be a recall. Maybe I'm the first to have the problem and complaint.

 

[b1877]

I am having a different issue with my 62c deck on my 2210. Ever since I hit a hidden rock with the blades, the center blade makes contact with the outside blades when the PTO is engaged. I have rotated the blades so the center one is 90 degrees from the outside blades, but once I engage the PTO, it happens once again. No matter how tight I get the blades, the center one always hits the outside blades. Has anyone had this issue or knows what is going on? I am out of idea
Thanks,
-Eric

 

[rvtech]

The blades are close when everything is right. Maybe a blade is bent slightly. It may be hard to see, but it wouldn't take much of a bend to hit.