Tail wheel does not swivel well....?

[SteveM]

I have an older KK 5' hog in very good condition with a tailwheel that curiously does not always track correctly. I will try to explain what it does: first, on this model the tail wheel shaft is not perfectly vertical - it leans forward 15 or 20 degrees. The result is that when the wheel swivels 360 degrees (like when backing up) the wheel actually lifts the cutter a bit. When you start to go forward, the wheel swivels around and the cutter lowers an inch or so. The problem is that sometimes the wheel does not fully swivel back - and even though you are mowing in a straight line the wheel is actually dragging slightly turned....

Now in most of my field mowing situations, I dont care. But accross grass it definately leaves a scuff mark. I greased the shaft, and with the cutter completely raised (no weight on the wheel) it rotates fully. Any ideas? should there be bearings in there?

I bought the cutter used. /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif

 

[MikePA]

I don't have a KK, but on my BB60, there's a grease fitting on the vertical shaft as well as on the tail wheel axle. Does the KK have grease fittings?

 

[normde2001]

Is the cutter sitting level, side to side? The shaft must be vertical to the ground, side to side, and completely free to spin with no binds.

 

[Bird]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( wheel is actually dragging slightly turned )</font>

I had a brush hog (different brand) do that once. I stopped to see why and found a broken weld. I knew I should have checked it over carefully after letting my son-in-law use it. /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif

 

[JazzDad]

Steve, my Bush Hog has shafts that also are mounted at an angle. This allows the wheels to "caster" or seek the proper rolling geometry. I also see the lifting of the deck in reverse, but have assumed this is a drawback of the design. If the wheel is not righting itself, remove the shaft, clean it well, reassemble and grease it. Remember, too much grease can be bad (it will collect dirt and make things bind up worse). Always work safely.

 

[Gil]

"I will try to explain what it does: first, on this model the tail wheel shaft is not perfectly vertical - it leans forward 15 or 20 degrees. "


This bothers me in that it will effect the way it turns and the load on the coaster yoke shaft. Have you checked to see if the mount has been turned up-side-down? (The long piece of metal, that holds the yoke, to the deck) If this is mounted up-side-down it will put the angle in that you are describing. This also will put undue stress on the yoke shaft, maybe bending or breaking it. The yoke shaft should bee vertical for ease of turning.

I wish you well

Gil

 

[Slamfire]

You'd expect to have ball bearings somewhere between the wheel and the place it attaches to the tractor. Check to see if they are all there, or some are flattened. /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif

 

[OkeeDon]

My Rhino SE also has caster built into the tail wheel.

Caster tends to keep the wheel going in the same direction. This is great when mowing a long straight section; without caster the mower would tend to wander back and forth to the limits of the 3PH sway stailizers. You could hold the tractor perfectly straight and have a pretty crooked mowing path.

Caster doesn't affect gentle turns much; the wheel tends to follow the turn. But, when making a sharp turn, or reversing direction, the caster angle tends to resist the change in direction. It will scrub until it finally gives up and spins around to a new orientation.

Caster is built into almost every suspension where the wheel can turn. Every vehicle on the road has caster to help keep the car straight and to help return the wheels to straight after turning.

So, part of your problem is that caster is fighting the ability of the tail wheel to swivel. That's the way it's supposed to work. But, another thing that would fight it would be weight, or pressure. Make sure your top link is not adjusted so that it's pressing the tail wheel into the ground, making it harder for it to change direction.

 

[mopar]

we got a new 5' kk brush hog this spring,the tail wheel was frozen both for turning and spinning,we just greased and pried and banged until it freed up now works fine,there are no bearings in the tail shaft for the turning on our either so i don't beleive there are supposed to be any

 

[jinman]

I have a TSC King Kutter rotary cutter that I have to keep full of grease or the tailwheel will refuse to rotate.

Steve, here is how I've seen that problem resolved when greasing is not sufficient. Take out the tailwheel and put a large washer on the shaft. Grease the shaft while it is removed and then reinsert the tailwheel into the mower. The washer will act as a bearing and help to stop some of the friction between the tailwheel and the mower frame. If you already have a washer on the bottom of the shaft... /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif