60" MMM Scalp Rollers

[TomPh]

60\" MMM Scalp Rollers

I know there has been some previous discussion about anti-scalp rollers melting if they are used to bear the weight of the mower for extended periods. I have some steep ground that I mow and need to keep the rollers down to do a better more even job of mowing.

I wonder if anyone else has a similar problem and also wonder if there are any type of replacement wheels available that can be greased or that might have sealed bearings that will stand more punishment than the standard anti-scalp rollers.

Thanks,
TomPh

 

[Hogkeeper]

Re: 60\" MMM Scalp Rollers

What are scalp rollers? I may be purchasing the BX machine with a 60" MMM and I need all the info I can get.

 

[Hoosier_Daddy]

Re: 60\" MMM Scalp Rollers

Scalp rollers on the 60 " are used so the deck does not contact the ground. Book says adjust then so they are at least 1/2 inch from a level surface. I have a BX2200 and cut at 3". On this BX the deck is completely supported by the tractor. In other words, the wheels (rollers) on the deck should not drag on the ground. They are on there just to touch the ground if for some reason the deck drops down like if you dropped a tractor wheel in a hole... They are adjustable and when you remove the deck you turn them sideways lower the deck unhook the drive shaft and lift pins and the deck just rolls out from under the tractor like a giant skate board.

I am sure you have seen the MMM with big swivel (dolly type)wheels on all 4 corners of the deck. These types of decks actually roll on the ground with the wheels and basically the tractor just drags the mower around. There is also a front center scalp roller on the deck that is not adjustable...

I wish these decks had a floating deck system like the Simplicity garden tractors.... Those decks hook to the front of the tractor and the back of the deck drags the gound on rollers. Can't beat that cut so long as your front tires are properly inflated.

So, that's a scalp roller on a Kubota 60" MMM for the BX..

It does cut real nice..... But can still scalp on the crest of a hill. Tom

 

[Hogkeeper]

Re: 60\" MMM Scalp Rollers

Thanks for the input Hoosier Daddy. You have cleared up some confusion on how to mount a 200lb + mower deck under a BX machine. I was told to raise the front end using the bucket.

 

[Gomez]

Re: 60

<blockquote><font size=1>In reply to:</font><hr>

I wish these decks had a floating deck system like the Simplicity garden tractors.... Those decks hook to the front of the tractor and the back of the deck drags the gound on rollers. Can't beat that cut so long as your front tires are properly inflated.

<hr></blockquote>



/w3tcompact/icons/grin.gif Been there!

I still use a 7114 to cut the lawn at my mother's house. I remember last year driving along and noticing the cut of the last pass I made not looking right. The front tire was pretty low. /w3tcompact/icons/blush.gif

You're right, the Simplicity deck does do a nice job.

 

[Hoosier_Daddy]

Re: 60\" MMM Scalp Rollers

No need to raise the tractor, it rolls out just fine... In fact I pulled mine off the other night and then went to put the loader on and when I came back the deck had rolled to the edge of the slab it was sitting on. moves around too easy... One thing you have to watch for though. When the deck is mounted back on the tractor make real sure the drive shaft is firmly snapped back on. I have a friend with a BX2200 and he told me the other evening that he put his deck on and his wife started mowing and it came off... He said it did no real damage, just banged around a little bit and chipped some paint. He lucked out......

The BX2200 deck is comparable to the simplicity deck in ease of installing and removing. Of course, the simplicity doesn't have rollers you can turn sideways either.

I still have my Simplicity 7119 and will continue to use it for mowing and all the other things I have for it that work so great.. Like snow blower, tilling, belly blade scrapper...

 

[rlk]

Re: 60

I had a similar experience with the BX mower, however, had worse luck.

I had taken the mm mower off for the winter. When attaching it last week, I did not know the drive shaft was not firmly snapped back on. (For me it is very difficult to get to the snap ring and ensure it is firmly attached. I pulled on it several times and thought it was firmly attached.) I mowed about a half acre at a slower engine speed. Got into some thicker grass in the front yard, and added more power to the engine. The mower drive shaft came off, and made a heck of a racket. Figured out right away what the problem was. Reduced power and tried to drive the tractor back to the garage. Never made it, as there was hydraulic oil being sprayed all over the place. Shut it down and looked underneath to see what was wrong. Apparently the drive shaft flopped around enough to punch a hole in the hydraulic filter.

Before I could get a container to catch the hydraulic fluid, about a gallon had leaked out. Did not have another filter or any more hydraulic fluid. It was late Saturday afternoon and none of the local dealers were open, so had to pull it to the garage. Monday morning got a new filter and more fluid.

Apparently the PTO had rusted enough over the winter that the drive shaft would not easily snap into place. Had to oil/grease it well, then use a small hammer to lightly tap it into place. All is well now, except for the dead grass in the front yard where the oil killed it. My wife has made several negative comments about me killing her grass. Anyone know how long it will be before grass will grow in that area again? The Super UDT worked faster than RoundUp.

Bob

 

[TresCrows]

Re: 60

Hogkeeper, it is not needed to lift the front end with the FEL on the BX to remove the MMM. I have done it many--many--many-many-times. On the 2410 it is almost mandatory though I have managed it by driving the front wheels up onto a set of bricks. Most of the time my FEL is in the garage--I mount it --I use it --and then I remove it. I have almost decide that the 2410 FEL removes faster than the BX FEL, to bad the same cannot be said for the MMM.
Anti scalp rollers are the plastic wheels and rubber center roller on the BX SUSPENDED type deck. These when adjusted properly skim along about 0.5 inches above the ground only contacting when there is a bump etc. The ground contact type have larger rubber wheels with bearings and they carry the weight of the deck--an entirely different system and in my opinion inferior to the suspended type. Here is a pic of my B2410's ground contact MMM. Note both rubber castor wheels and anti-scalping rollers and wheels. J

 

[wdn]

Re: 60

I have the BX2200 and my anti scalp wheels are melting. I have it adjusted to 3" cut and the scalp rollers adjusted as per the book which should be position C in the owners manual, i.e. put the pin in the 3rd hole from the top. The wheels spin enough of the time to melt. My dealer is ordering a new set of wheels and I am going to move it down a couple of notches to E. This will raise the anti scalp rollers so they don't hit the ground. When I mow. And yes that is higher than 1/2" above the ground on a concrete floor. But when I did it as per the book they melted the wheels.

I think mowing at higher speeds the wheels are rolling on the surface of the grass if not the dirt below it, they spin way fast and they melt.

This seems like a snafu in the user manual my wheels hit the ground even on level ground and melted. If other people have this issue can you point me to the topic that discusses it? My dealer is going to get me a set of wheels, Kubota should revise the operator's manual I think.

In my optionion these wheels are a little lame they could have just as easily but ball bearings on them or at least a decent bushing, the wheel should spin freely. Even after spraying with WD40 they do not spin freely, not even the 'un-melted' ones.

But this is such a small issue in the grand scheme of things and the dealer is going to fix it for me. Just one of those little mechanical engineering issues where the real world grass mowing does not match up to what the specs would predict.

 

[TresCrows]

Re: 60

I would roll my jaunty BX out onto a freshly mowed representative section of my lawn and set the 1/2 inch measurement above the grass. There is no need for them to be rolling constantly along. Yeah, I agree, a bushing would be an improvement. J

 

[DannyWilliams]

Re: 60

Ya know, I had the same problem. I pulled all the anti scalp wheels off and greased them. The next time I mowed, the right front was making noise again. I'll admit that I run with all the anti scalp wheels on the ground. However it certainly appears to me that I get a better finished lawn. I have since located some wheels with stainless steel roller bearings and I'm currently testing two different ones in an effort to offer the wheels as an upgrade kit for the BX 2200 MMM as well as others. In addition, I'm developing a canopy as well as a hydraulic top link for the BX2200. If you have any questions you can email me at dannywilliams_52@hotmail.com. I'll have a Web site up shortly offering the above mentioned products.

 

[jphipps]

Re: 60

I have the same problem with my BX. I have only owned it for 4 weeks, and my front left scalp weel is already starting to eat the center out of the wheel. All of the other wheels seem to be fine. I did notice that the wheel does not seem to be straight, but pointing a little left when they other 3 wheels seem to be straight. I guess I will try replacing the scalping wheel mount with the wheel to see if that corrects the problem.

 

[k8ny]

Re: 60

Can't figure what all the fuss is about. The BX MMM is a Suspension type mower deck. It runs suspended above with the anti scalp wheels about 1/2" above a level surface. If the wheels encounter uneven surfaces their job is to lift the deck to move it up from the uneven surface preventing scalping of the lawn as well as potential damage to the deck and blades.
The adjustment procedure calls for the anti scalp wheels to be 1/2" above the surface at whatever height the deck is set to.
Bottom line: Antiscalp wheels should not be contacting the ground on normal level operation.

K8NY

 

[kujaneckinga]

Re: 60

Take the anti scalp wheel and drill a hole at a 45 degree and tap it and put a grease fitting in it. I did it to mine and give it 1 or 2 shots of grease once or twice a year and keep it adjusted to 1/2 inch and no squeaks and no wear and no melting. Its 3 years old and still no wear on the wheel/bolt area.

 

[NY_Yankees_Fan]

Re: 60

Great idea, can you post a picture, and or what size fitting did you use and where on the wheel did you drill, and the size of the drill? Sorry for the questions but it sound like a good fix!

Thanks

Tom

How about those Yankees!!!

 

[Will_C]

Re: 60

I find on my deck, that the 2" setting on the anti-scalp wheels corresponds nicely with the 2.5" setting on the mower. It took a bit of experimenting to got this setting. The rollers still touch the groung very lightly, but when you turn the tractor, they scoot sideways, not even leaving a mark. After 2 years and 368 hours, I notice no wear.