ZG23 deck vibration

[aggc]

We purchased our ZG23 mower this last spring and have already put 130 hours on it over the summer. Its a great mower and makes lawn maintenance almost enjoyable.

I changed the blades on it at around 100 hours. I keep the grass cut pretty short so the blades did take a beating. I changed the blades with no problems other than a sore back from having to flip the mower deck over by myself.

There now seems to be an intermittent vibration coming from the deck area. It seems to build and then dissipate and then repeat. It only occurs when the blades are engaged and the mower is moving. Its seems like something is going out of balance. I have taken the blades off a couple times since and reinstalled them but the problem remains.

Are the blades out of balance? The deck out of balance? Both?

 

[kbotaman]

Have you checked for a bent blade ? If it is a deck problem I can't see why it only occurs when the mower is moving . You might also want to check the u joints on the mower drive shaft.

The ZG23 is equipped wth a jack to lift it up to service the under side of the deck, while I realize it doesn't give you a lot of room it should be enough to remove blades.

 

[Travelover]

The vibration may be coming and going due to phasing of the blades. Twin prop airplanes do this, as an example.

In any case, check blade balance and if OK, then look for a bent shaft. You can check this with a dial indicator gauge or if badly out of round, you'll see it when you turn the shaft by hand.

 

[art]

I'd remove the belt, spin each part seperately and see if any are harder to turn or when turning don't spin evenly or come up to some resistance and might go free. Be sure that the belt pulleys are clean of grass or other debris and that the belt is also clean. Grease of coarse is always important and from time to time the intervals need to be increased do to the work.

 

[Yankee Clipper]

Do you get the vibration only when the deck is lowered? If so, possibly the u joints are feeding back some torsionals which get amplified via the driveline.

To solve this, you can pitch the deck forward (lower at front) to keep the u joint angle from being so severe.

This works - try it if it happens when the deck is lowest.

 

[haybaler9]

Mine has 325 hr's and no problems. Double check the dust shield that goes over the bottom spindle on each blade. loosen and retighten bolts.

 

[aggc]

I'm not very up on mower maintanance and repairs. How do I lower the front end of the mower deck to get rid of the vibration?