Advice On How To Straighten Gearbox. Deck Mounting Point Bent Slightly.

[wirlybird]

Do not pull on gear box, its most likely cast iron and brittle, you can shatter it..... I'm in favor of the already suggested heat and beat to straighten mounting deck...

You may not even need to heat.... Got 8lb sledge, a few good whacks may solve the problem....

That is what I am thinking. Got her flipped back upright so now to remove the gear box and see what we have.

 

[Xfaxman]

I nave used a chain and a jack to straighten many things. Put the jack on the high spot and push it down:

Or pull up where it is too low:

 

[wirlybird]

I nave used a chain and a jack to straighten many things. Put the jack on the high spot and push it down:

View attachment 740737

Or pull up where it is too low:
View attachment 740738View attachment 740739

Interesting idea.

 

[rScotty]

First you need to flip it over and rotate the blades by hand to see if the gearbox shaft is bent as well. It would be a bad move to change things if the lean was providing the clearance because of a bent gearbox shaft. Also the same applies to checking for bent blades.
Frankly if everything clears and the only problem is a bent deck that the gearbox bolts to then I'd either remove the gearbox and bend the deck itself back straight with a long cheater through the gearbox mounting hole...., or else just leave it as is and use it as a leaner.
First step is the same though. Find the bend.
rScotty

 

[Beaver Cove Deere]

I'd weld a plate to the deck and reattach the gear box with longer bolts. All of my RC's had more than enough space to do it.

OR

Just leave it. Doesn't look to be worth the fight myself.

 

[WranglerX]

I nave used a chain and a jack to straighten many things. Put the jack on the high spot and push it down:

View attachment 740737

Or pull up where it is too low:
View attachment 740738View attachment 740739

That works too....

Chain and jack method may work with out even have having to remove gear box.... Get frame work up on jack stands and apply pressure till you can see blades running like you want...

 

[ROUSTABOUT]

If you try to jack it, you could bend the whole thing. If it bent one side up, is the other side bent down? You may not have hit anything. Heavy grass is tough on one.

I'd cut with a torch on the high ridge and try to beat it down. Torch cut will give it relief to collapse down. Then I would hit the scrap yard and buy some 1/2" plate minimum and make as big a washer as it will stand. Weld torch cut up. Cut holes for gearbox and bolts. Cut some holes in the washer so you can stitch the bottom to the top. Fill with weld and grind smooth. Leave a little reveal around g box hole so you can weld it. Weld around the plate washer. Use scrap to beef up your hitch. Then it will be the heavy duty hog you always wanted.

 

[ericm979]

You could also try shimming the gearbox to correct the alignment.

 

[wirlybird]

So, the end result.

Pulled the gearbox. Measured on the deck at the mounting holes and one side about 1/8 inch higher than the other.
Beat on it with a 10Lbs sledge but it had little effect. The U channel underneath is just too thick and strong to really bend much. Got it better but still off.
A couple properly sized shims on the opposite side between gearbox and deck and we are as good as it is going to be.

Now measuring from edge of stump jumper to frame rail underneath then spun 180 and measure other side and it is 1/16 off.
Pretty good for a few hours and no cost.
Thanks for all of the suggestions on this. Very much appreciated.

 

[Gord Baker]

The Gearbox mount area itself is still flat, that's important. Try using a sledge hammer with a block of wood on the deck to straighten the high side on the underside. Heat the entire area may possibly shrink it. Don't use water to cool it.