J-Series Mid mount mower

[jacob59]

Does anyone on this post have a J-series with a mid-mount mower. If so could you take a few up close pictures of the rear of the tractor where it engages the lift arms and send them to me or upload them here. I'm having issues with mine.
Jacob59@yahoo.com
Thanks Jack

 

[Silverside]

I will try to take some photos of the rear lift engagement. I too have an issue with the deck lift but its not at the rear lift points. My issue is directly above the deck. For some reason the deck is contacting the underside of the tractor and is lifting unevenly. I can't even get the right side wheels off the ground where as the left side goes up about 2 inches. I just bought the J2023H it only has 21 hours on it so far.

Would you like me to post the photos or email them?

Regards, Geoff

 

[jacob59]

Thks Geoff for getting back to me. You can email them or post what evers best for you. I don't have any problems with my mower lifting or lowering properly. My issues are with the lift flanges on the rear of the mount. If you like send some additional pics of your mower and the mid point attachments and we can compare installment. I've got a new 2030 and had the dealer install a new deck.
Jack

 

[Silverside]

Jack, Take a look at the attached photos of the rear links. I took a few different angles. My links sit below the flanges and are not physically connected. There is some rubbing that occurs and thus the paint is worn away. I have a drawbar attached and it pushes the links out far enough that they contact the spring bars (blue springs) on each side. So far that hasn't been and issue other than more rubbing.

Geoff

 

[jacob59]

Hey Geoff, thks for the pics. The drawbar I had was not long enough and was causing one of the two flanges to slip past the lift arm. I replaced it with a longer bar 28 " and it seems to be working properly now. I do have one question though. On the thrid pic there is a chain link on both sides attached to a blue what looks like a tension spring. I dont have this and it doesn't show it in the manual. What are they there for. Hard to tell from the pics. Did you get your deck figured out yet? Let me know if you need some pics of mine.
Thks Jack
ps. Do you drive over your deck when you remove it or pull it out from the side?

 

[Silverside]

Jack, The chain link is for locking the deck in the up position when using the 3pt hitch. In theory, the chains latch to the little holes in the flanges and when the links go down the chain prevents the deck mechanism from dropping any further. I haven't tried it so I am not sure how well it works.

As far as the deck raising issues. See attached pics. When I raise the deck, the underside of the tractor frame contacts the gearbox of the deck. If you look at the one picture of the cruise control latch you'll see that there isn't much room. In fact, I think the deck mount is preventing the cruise control latch from actually latching the pedal pin. I have contacted by dealer and they said that the unit they have works fine and they would fix it when I bring it in. This is a separate issue from the deck being able to raise all of the way up. That's a new one. Maybe you can look at your mounting an let me know if you see anything different.

I haven't removed my deck yet. I figure on that being a seasonal thing. While we are asking other questions....do you have an issue with the engine bogging down while mowing uphill or in thicker grass? I have only 21 hours on the unit so I am not running at 2700 RPM. I am keeping it at 2400 or below till the 500 hr break-in period is over.

 

[jaydee325]

I am keeping it at 2400 or below till the 500 hr break-in period is over.

Do you have an extra 0 on that break in time? Mine was 50 hours.

 

[Olympus]

I don't recall anything in my manual that said keep the engine below 2700 rpms for break in. I just remember that 50 hours is the first service interval for fluids and filters.

 

[jacob59]

No I havent had bogging issues and I have been thru some tall fescue dry thou. I take it slow and cut high when in thick stuff. I'll look at my mower when I get home and check it out.
Jack

 

[antlers125]

There is no break-in time on the J2023 just maintenance schedule.

 

[jacob59]

Hey Geoff when my deck is in the fully up position it clears the underside of the tractor including the cruise control and parking brake components. Not by much though.
If this helps when my deck is fully raised there is 2 3/4 inch distance from the top of the mower belt cover and the bottom of the step on the left side of the tractor.
Jack

 

[Silverside]

Thanks all. Yes, I had one too many zeros in my break-in time. Its not 500 its only 50. And yes you're right, the LS owners manual does not indicate a break in time. My dealer only mentioned the required break-in period for the first 50 hours when he dropped off the unit but did not furnish the engine owners manual. Interestingly enough, Mitsubishi does require a 50 hour break-in for the S3 series industrial engines. I have found a few different versions of the S3L manual (engine on the J2023H) and they all have a short paragraph that states, "Break-in the engine: To break in new engines or overhauled engines, operate the engine at a speed lower than the rated speed in a light load condition during the first 50 hours of operation. Operating new engines or overhauled engines in a severe condition during the break-in period shortens the service life of the engine."

Jack, The top of the gearbox is directly hitting the cruise control linkage when the deck is raised. I talked to my dealer today and it turns out the cruise control is a separately boxed kit that is delivered with the tractor to the dealer and they must install it. It is not factory installed. I am having my dealer stop by to take a look at it and make any adjustments needed. I am not going to mess with it right now as its under warranty. They did indicate that the unit they have in the showroom works fine so I think its just an adjustment issue.

Thanks again everyone. I am liking the tractor so far. It seems pretty durable and with proper maintenance should give me years of trouble free operation. I hope you all feel the same way.

 

[Silverside]

Antlers, I noticed you were in my part of the world. Where did you get your J2023H?

 

[antlers125]

Hey Silverside,

Believe or not I drove to Waterbury Ct. to get it. I found an excellent Dealer that would work w/me on repairs plus I saved around $2k.

Antlers, I noticed you were in my part of the world. Where did you get your J2023H?

 

[Silverside]

Did you ever talk to the guys at Weaver Turf Power in Lancaster, PA? They are a bit closer...

 

[Kenn1320]

My tractor bogs when in high gear going up hills or cutting tall grass. I run mine at 2000rpms max. I'm here posting cause I just had my mower deck fail and I'm under 100hrs. The center blade has somehow shifted and the blade hits the deck(radially). I have a suspicion the spindle shifted or the bearing went out, no warning. I will remove the deck and inspect shortly.

 

[Silverside]

Mine bogs down in high gear also. Occasional drop in RPM in low gear in high grass but nothing I would call unusual. Apparently, the high gear on these units requires quite a bit of hydraulic flow. I had the same comment to the dealer and he said that its designed to cut in low gear not high. I generally cut in high but feather the hydro pedal. Hills and high grass get low gear. I always keep the RPM while cutting at 2400 RPM. No load is just above 2500. 2000 seems too low to me. In general, the grass flow path in the deck is not a high volume design. Its provides a pretty nice and even cut but can't get rid of the grass quickly enough when it's high. The higher the RPM the better it does. I used to cut the grass with a Kubota GF1800 and it could really throw it out and didn't get bogged down as much.

Your situation is most unfortunate, sorry to hear it. I removed my deck about 15 hours ago (30 hours) and made sure to grease the center spindle because its nearly impossible to get a grease gun to with the deck installed. The manual calls for the spindles to be greased every 24 hours. Mine definitely needed some lube. I also made sure to lube everything labeled for grease or oil on the maintenance diagram.

That being said...I am not sure why your blade would have deflected that much, even if it was low on grease. The only problem that I ever had with blade alignment was on a small John Deere garden tractor. The blade hit a stump and bent the deck around the spindle mount as it was the weakest point. Let us know what you find out when you get the deck off.

 

[ozley]

My tractor bogs when in high gear going up hills or cutting tall grass. I run mine at 2000rpms max. I'm here posting cause I just had my mower deck fail and I'm under 100hrs. The center blade has somehow shifted and the blade hits the deck(radially). I have a suspicion the spindle shifted or the bearing went out, no warning. I will remove the deck and inspect shortly.

What to you guys call high grass?

 

[Kenn1320]

Good news guys, turns out I hit an exposed root and dented the deck. It doesn't take much, cause I put a heavy duty crescent wrench on it and straightened it out. Sorry if I scared anybody, I thought the issue was more serious. Pic is orientated so left side of pic is front of deck.

 

[jacob59]

I used to call it Maryjane.