BX-2200 Grass Catcher

[firec]

Hello All,

I've been monitoring this forum for a long time and have found it to be a great source of information. I finally have a question for you all. My BX-2200 that keeps breaking the sheer bolt on the grass catcher. I mow in low range with the throttle wide open, also with the unit off you can spin the catcher blade and pto with no resistance. I've gotten to the point of keeping extra bolts on the tractor to replace when it breaks. Is it possible that the mower puts out to much grass for the catcher to handle? Let me add the other day it broke twice and I was cutting about 4 inches of grass down to 3 inches. /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif

 

[Junkman]

I can't see the mower putting out too much grass for the blower to shear the pin. Are you mowing at full engine speed? It the blower isn't turning fast enough, then the grass could be binding it up. Since this has been an ongoing problem, I would contact Kubota and get them involved in resolving it. It isn't normal to keep breaking shear pins. There has to be something that is causing it to happen. Possibly check for a loose part that rotates that might be being thrown off balance at high speed. Are there any vibrations in the unit that would indicate a off balance situation? There is a reason that the shear pins are breaking. The hard part is determining what that reason is.

 

[noreault]

Try reducing the throttle before engaging the PTO. I think the start up at full throttle causes stress on the sheer bolt and eventually weakens it.

 

[Junkman]

The grass catcher and the mower deck both engage at the same time, and I am certain that he doesn't engage the mower deck at full throttle. I don't know of anyone that does. Running the mower deck and grass collection system at less than full throttle is probably the reason for the shear pins breaking. That is my opinion based on the science of grass cutting/collecting. I have an extensive collection of grass clippings.. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[botalvr]

I thought I saw in a thread about tachs that the BX would be happier if mowing at less than full throttle.
Do you mow at full throttle? Just wondering...

 

[botalvr]

I don't have a grass catcher, but when I sheared the bolt on my tiller by catching a root I was suprised to find it was a grade "8" bolt.
Perhaps your situation calls for a grade 8 bolt and you replaced it with a "regular" one?
Just a thought....
/forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

 

[firec]

Thanks for the replys, Junkman is correct, I never engage the pto unless the unit is throttled down. I have always mowed at full throttel, same with snowblowing. The bolts are a grade 8, and I have replaced them with ones from the dealer and from the local hard ware store with the same effect. I just can't figure out why it will free spin and then when running snap the bolt. The sound of bagger running is the same as it was when I purchased it 4 years ago. I love the unit along with my l3830 and wouldn't trade them for anything (yet) but this is becoming an pain.

 

[qqq]

I recall a previous post that I think raises the same problem:

GCK60-BX loves to eat shear bolts. Any ideas?

I don't see a final answer, but if you take it up with Kubota, you can point out that others are having the same problem you are.

 

[Junkman]

You have just given me more information that wasn't in the original post. Now, my question is... is it now just starting to snap shear pins or has this happened all along? I am surprised that the unit uses grade 8 bolts. They are quite difficult to shear and I wouldn't think that they would be of much protection to the gears of the unit. Possibly there is a gear problem in the gear box or a defective bearing that is seizing or binding? It isn't normal to keep replacing shear pins, and if all the grass catchers were breaking shear pins as often as yours, there would be a major design change at Kubota to remedy this. I suggest that you contact Kubota Corporate Headquarters and speak to technical service representative.

 

[bluecon1]

I've had my catcher for 3-4 years too, and shear the bolt about once a month. My lawn is quite thick, so slowing down may be the answer. I have had the odd stick go through.

On another note, I have just replaced my fan. One of the 4 blades was cracked. Might be something for you to check from time to time. I'll get the blade welded, and keep it as a spare

 

[Junkman]

If you have the blade welded, have it balance as well. A blade spinning at high speed needs to be balance.

 

[brinet]

UMMM, my fan is PLASTIC. Where did you get a metal fan?? Is it for a BX2200?

BTW, I haven't had any shear bolt problems, close to 400 hrs now (4 seasons) except for the stick in the fan. Caused shear bolt AND fan blade to break. As stated in a previous post, shear bolt was cheap, fan was $80. I always mow at full throttle and usually in high gear (unless the grass is wet).

An interesting note: I have a 48" tiller that I have NEVER broken the shear pin on. However, every time a friend of mine borrows it, he seems to break about 2 shear pins an hour.... I buy them by the 10 packs for his usage. I have watched him, but haven't seen him do anything different than me. I'm sure it's a procedural thing, but haven't place a finger on it yet.

 

[bluecon1]

I've a local fellow here who welds plastic. Not sure what the process is actually called, but it involves heat and filler material. I'll sand the weld smooth. It turns somewhere around PTO speed (540+/-) so by sanding any ridges, I should be close to balance. Hopefully, I won't damage the new one I just put on. /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif

 

[surfran]

I've had my unit for over a year, but mostly only use it in the spring and fall for early mowing and leaf pickup. The first time I used it, I broke the sheer pin, but I thought I hit a stick so it didn't phase me. I didn't know the hardness, so I picked up grade 5's at TSC. I put a grade 5 in it and haven't had a problem since.

Now I have sucked up leaves at 12" deep last fall after my son was done playing in the pile and I was too lazy to rake them back out. Mind you I went very slow and had to empty bags a few times to complete this, but it still beat raking them again. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

I always engage my PTO at low rpm's when just mower or both mower and bagger.

I would think if you are breaking them as often as you are, something is wrong with the unit.

Hope you figure it out soon.

 

[firec]

I would think if something was wrong with the unit it would make a some type of sound to indicate that. I'm going to see the dealer tomorrow and see if they have a better manual to show how to get at the internal parts, so far it looks like a real joy to take it apart.

 

[Junkman]

copy and paste this address into your browser or click on the link.....
http://www.tractorsmart.com/Books/GCK60BX.htm

 

[Tom_H]

I engage at low RPM. I quit usin' my grass blower & catcher. I just hated them. The mulch kit & blades are a marvel. Anybody near central CA wanna buy my blower & catcher?

This is unlikely but is there a chance you bought a box of shear pins from a little known aftermarket supplier? Sometimes unreputable manufacturers use defective alloys in an effort to save money. If this WERE the case, you could break one after another. Did you buy pins with the right specs? Again I DOUBT this is the answer, but when all else fails, look for alternative possibilities.

 

[firec]

I've used bolts from the Kubota dealer along with the local hardware stores - same story... In the process now of taking the blower apart. Question, where did you find a mulch kit for the bx-2200? I didn't think Kubota made one.

 

[Tom_H]

Yep, Kubota parts. Came from the dealer when I bought the tractor. I love it. Some people on here don't. You gotta' get the conditions right. There are some old threads you can go back & search for with a lotta' good info. Always good to do a lotta' readin' before you make up your mind.

 

[blackmajicwoman]

First off, I apologize for the long post. I know this thread is old, but I have to chime in hear. Last year I experienced this problem twice throughout the summer. I chaulked it up to the lawn being too think and probably a little wetter than I normally like to cut...but sometimes you have no control over the weather.

Anyway, the other night I cut my 30,000 sf lawn. Height of the mower was at 3", and the lawn was at a sporadic 4"-4 1/4". Lawn was not wet, but a little moist in spots, as moist turf is in New England this time of year. After only 2 passes, I new that I had already snapped my shear pin on the "PTO" gear box side of the transfer shaft. So, having a number of spares, pulled into the garage, replaced, and 15 minutes later, back to mowing. About 20 minutes later...same thing, except it was the shear bolt I had just replaced. Back to the garage, repair, back to mowing....about 20 minutes later...guess what??? Replaced with my last remaining spare, but noticed the "PTO" side gear box was really hot, while the "fan" side gear box was only slightly warm.

I managed to finish mowing my lawn, but decided to perfrom an oil changed on both gearboxes. On the "PTO" gear box, oil level was at about 3/4 and was very black and somewhat thin. On the "Fan" gearbox, oil was full and still had quite a bit of color to it. Not sure why this was such, as I had not yet performed an oil service on either gearbox, so this is how it came from the "factory". Topped off both gearboxes with fresh SAE 90 (that exceeds GL 5) and ran the grass catcher at full throttle for nearly 20 minutes (while tractor was parked). I know I didn't have much of a load on the grass catcher, but neither gear box got beyond slightly warm.

I am thinking that the deficient gear oil cause the gear box to heat up substantially, causeing the shear bolt to heat up and weaken. I guess I will find out the next time I mow the lawn. Has anyone else experience anything like this?

Also, I disagree with mowing at 1/2 throttle...manual says to mow at full throttle in low range (for BX series). I would think there would be less of a "load" on the bagger drive chain at full throttle...just my 2 cents.