Swisher Rough cut 52 only cutting one side

[MarDawgVT]

All,

We have a Swisher rough cut 52 inch with a 17 hp B&S motor.

It will cut great on the right side and leave the left side partially cut.

I have contacted Swisher and they have been very responsive but have yet to figure out why

To date we have done the following:
- New drive belt
- confirmed the belt is tight
- installed brand new blades, then installed new high lift blades
- blades swing free
- blades are installed correctly
- new spark plug
- we have tried mowing a 1 mph, 2 mph, 3 mph, 4 mph, and 5 mph - all the same
- we have tried offsetting the mower to the tow ATV - both right and left - all the same
- we have tried all the way up for elevation, front middle setting - back up all the way, front low setting back middle...

The customer service person has worked with engineering and there is no resolution

Any advice would be greatly appreciated or if there is another forum where I can seek assistance please let me know.

 

[tomplum]

Welcome to TBN. I rarely see one of these, so technically I'm not much help. One would think that However either a blade hub or spindle pulley are located on the shaft IE a spline or key- has spun and isn't driving. Time maybe to swap part positions and if you can't see what's what.

 

[MarDawgVT]

This is a single spindle driven off the B&S motor.

On the cutting spindle there is a stump jumper and has 2 swinging blades that come off that single spindle. Very similar to how a Woods brush hog is configured

 

[Eagle1]

In that case I would expect the blades to hit something to cause them to swing inward. Centrifugal force should keep them extended unless they encounter something. Ever try just mowing where only the problem side is cutting? or vice versa?
Blades are not hitting the deck (top or sides) on that side?

 

[tomplum]

Post the actual model number. This may help ID what you have.

 

[ning]

Honestly I'm not sure what the pictures are showing; looks like there's like 1' getting cut to the ground and very little else, though without anything else for scale it's hard to see what's what.

If there's really a left/right issue I don't think it's front/rear elevation but instead left/right height is not level - be that deck or spindle. Something really bent?

Can you clarify what we're looking for in your pics?

 

[MarDawgVT]

In that case I would expect the blades to hit something to cause them to swing inward. Centrifugal force should keep them extended unless they encounter something. Ever try just mowing where only the problem side is cutting? or vice versa?
Blades are not hitting the deck (top or sides) on that side?

no blades hitting the deck as they would make serious noise.

I am thinking of doing a test where I extend the blades out and then tighten them so that they would not swing inward and see what happens,

Do you see any downside of doing that as long as I don't hit something hard?

Thanks

 

[Thomas]

Interesting...looking forward to updated.

 

[Eagle1]

If you stay away from rocks, stumps and stuff that should prove something. If they do move you know something as well. I would make just tight enough to stay but give if something solid comes up

 

[ning]

no blades hitting the deck as they would make serious noise.

I am thinking of doing a test where I extend the blades out and then tighten them so that they would not swing inward and see what happens,

Do you see any downside of doing that as long as I don't hit something hard?

Thanks

The likelihood of them moving inward only on the one side - every revolution - without hitting something (and making a huge racket) is vanishingly small.

Can you verify that the blades are level when extended at a stop, and the spindle driving the blades is vertical and perpendicular to the plane of the blades?

 

[1 of U]

I would switch the blades and try it again ,

 

[MarDawgVT]

Post the actual model number. This may help ID what you have.

Model is Swisher RC17552BS

Hope that helps!

 

[MarDawgVT]

The likelihood of them moving inward only on the one side - every revolution - without hitting something (and making a huge racket) is vanishingly small.

Can you verify that the blades are level when extended at a stop, and the spindle driving the blades is vertical and perpendicular to the plane of the blades?

I agree that the likelihood of the blade swinging is remote.

I do know that the blades are extended when it stops.

I have not checked the level of the blades I will do that on the flat garage floor.

I do know that I replaced the spindle assembly including the shaft, upper and lower bearing.

The deck adjustment is all in the up, but I have not found that raising or lowering the height makes any difference.

 

[Eagle1]

Only other thing that comes to mind is that mower can not clearing the cut grass well enough my finish mower will do that in really heavy grass. Not sure how a rough cut mower would react, I only use mine in brush and really overgrown areas, so I have go over it few times anyway.

 

[tmcj]

I'm assuming that you are running the motor at full throttle? Those are designed to run wide open when cutting, especially with thicker weeds or brush.

 

[MarDawgVT]

As an update, Swisher has recommended that I take the unit to a service center to have them do a test and evaluation. This is a bit of a challenge since Swisher does not have a local, within a couple of hours driving distance to me. So the Swisher customer service rep had a discussion with nonSwisher service center that I have used and trust for other things and the unit is now there going under evaluation.

The professionals mowed and got the same thing. Forward, backwards at any speed except a very slow walking speed. Swisher had them check everything, tire pressure, shaft stability, motor, blades and they still come up with the striping.

The next step in discussions with Swisher is that they are going to have a discussion with Swisher engineering and get back to me today.

I just want a unit that will work and not have to mow like this is a 27 inch mower. I have asked if they would send me a new unit and they are reluctant to do that, or to give me a significant discount on a new one. This will be a good test to see how committed they are customer service and customer satisfaction.

So we will see what they come up with as the next step.

I will keep this group updated when we figure out a path forward.

My neighbor has a DR pull behind mower and that cut the same field just great, so it's not the tow vehicle or the field, it's the mower.

 

[BleedingOrange]

Can you give some back history ? When did this problem start ?

 

[leonz]

Your problem sounds exactly like a sheared key to me.

 

[tomplum]

It is good to know that Swisher is still hands on with consumer issues. For me it's been along time, but they were responsive a couple decades ago as a dealer. Not a lot of corporate crap to slice through. Pretty much like you were talking with your uncle Ernie on the other line.

 

[MarDawgVT]

Can you give some back history ? When did this problem start ?

I hope that the beginning of the thread would give sufficient history.

I am not the primary user of the machine but it has been a long time