Stress Cracks in Mower Deck - Gravely ZT HD 60

[Gil A]

Bolt holding "Mower Drive Belt Idler" pulley broke plug out of deck. Just back from delivering to a welding shop to be repaired. Welder checked deck and found several other stress cracks in the deck. They are at random locations all over the deck, but mostly near the pulley mounts. Advertising for this mower states it is made of 10 gauge metal. Mower is used to mow approximately two-three acres of personal property, not for commercial use. Purchased new June 2010. Have had other mowers over the years and have never had this problem with any other mowers. Anyone else have this problem? Could it be a batch of bad metal? Why? Normal mowing and have had no other major problems with mower. Very unhappy with Gravely at this time. Pulleys and blade mounts breaking away from deck are SAFETY problems. Any recommendations.

 

[farm boy00]

Bolt holding "Mower Drive Belt Idler" pulley broke plug out of deck. Just back from delivering to a welding shop to be repaired. Welder checked deck and found several other stress cracks in the deck. They are at random locations all over the deck, but mostly near the pulley mounts. Advertising for this mower states it is made of 10 gauge metal. Mower is used to mow approximately two-three acres of personal property, not for commercial use. Purchased new June 2010. Have had other mowers over the years and have never had this problem with any other mowers. Anyone else have this problem? Could it be a batch of bad metal? Why? Normal mowing and have had no other major problems with mower. Very unhappy with Gravely at this time. Pulleys and blade mounts breaking away from deck are SAFETY problems. Any recommendations.

I'm guessing outs a stamped deck to right

 

[SPYDERLK]

I'm guessing outs a stamped deck to right

fer shur maybe

 

[Deere Dude]

6 acres a week is quite a bit of lawn even if not a commercial application. If it is a big box store type of mower I can see it crapping out in 5 years. Just weld it up.

 

[Mysfyt]

If you are going to weld it, drill a hole at the end of the crack to give it some relief. 3/16"-1/4" should work. Sorry to say, but it's the steel that is the issue. In my experience, when you start seeing stress cracks on stamped steel parts, you can expect more to follow.

 

[Ford850]

It's not a stamped deck. Gravely decks are fabricated/welded using 10 ga steel. It sounds like some bad steel.

 

[Mysfyt]

It's not a stamped deck. Gravely decks are fabricated/welded using 10 ga steel. It sounds like some bad steel.

Just went to their website to look at the decks. I'm seeing a main part that came out of a vertical press at minimum, maybe even a transfer press. Either way you are looking at stresses introduced into the steel that is not going away. Is there a lot of vibration with the mower blades engaged? If not, might be worth a try to contact Gravely about your issue. If indeed it was a bad batch of steel, they might be willing to throw you a bone.