G1900 - destroyed a new pair of anti scalp rollers today!

[ancho]

--G1900 with 60" deck--

I was mowing my property as usual today, and looked down about halfway through, noticed that neither of the anti scalp rollers on the leading edge of the deck were spinning. Instead, the axle of each roller had wallowed out the plastic roller so that the hole through the center was at least an inch in diameter. The flimsy metal bushings were completely gone. Messick's is going to issue me replacements as a warranty item (I just bought the rollers 3 weeks ago, this was the 3rd cut using them) -- but I want to be sure that there's nothing I'm overlooking in terms of installation or operation that could have contributed to such an early failure here.

Possibly related, when I bought this machine last year, the deck had much smaller rollers on it (maybe 2 1/2" diameter), but the ones we're discussing now are definitely the correct part according to Kubota. The smaller rollers appear to be correct for the 54" and smaller decks.

Thanks!

 

[johnems]

I have recently had the same problem. I am looking at the deck set up to see if I did not mount something correctly. Please let us know if the new ones work better. Thanks John

 

[Gator6x4]

--G1900 with 60" deck--

I was mowing my property as usual today, and looked down about halfway through, noticed that neither of the anti scalp rollers on the leading edge of the deck were spinning. Instead, the axle of each roller had wallowed out the plastic roller so that the hole through the center was at least an inch in diameter. The flimsy metal bushings were completely gone. Messick's is going to issue me replacements as a warranty item (I just bought the rollers 3 weeks ago, this was the 3rd cut using them) -- but I want to be sure that there's nothing I'm overlooking in terms of installation or operation that could have contributed to such an early failure here.

Possibly related, when I bought this machine last year, the deck had much smaller rollers on it (maybe 2 1/2" diameter), but the ones we're discussing now are definitely the correct part according to Kubota. The smaller rollers appear to be correct for the 54" and smaller decks.

Thanks!

The first thing to determine if the deck is a "Float Deck" or a "Ground Contact Deck". The anti scalp rollers are supposed to be raised up and not constantly in contact with the ground on "Float Decks". On "Ground Contact Decks" a wheel is at each corner of the deck with a roller in the middle of the deck on the rear. It sounds like the deck is resting on the anti scalp rollers when in use, forcing the anti scalp rollers to carry the weight of the deck, something they are not designed to do. . Something else to check is grease fittings, do the anti scalp wheels have grease fittings?

 

[ancho]

Thanks for the info!

The anti scalp wheels do not have grease fittings - only the large casters at the outboard rear corners of the deck have grease fittings. These are substantially larger heavy-duty wheels, and this would fit with what you're talking about in regards to the anti-scalp rollers not being intended to bear the full weight.

 

[nc redneck]

Recently went through same type of thing with my BX Tractor 60 inch deck. After 570 hours of hard use anti scalp wheels did the same thing. Kubota sell cheapest replacement for about $ 8.00 ones with grease fittings are $ 20.00. Bought 4 of the good ones and installed so far good but only 20 hours of use.
Good Luck