Bent Wheel Yoke on RCR1860

[PhilHtx]

Can the wheel yoke shaft be bent straight? I backed down a steep slope while mowing and the wheel broadsided a stump that was cut slightly above ground level. Yoke shaft appears to be the only bent part and I don't see metal cracking in the weld area. Wheel still rotates freely.

I was tempted to straighten out the yoke with another broadside hit but didn't want to sever the shaft since I had more to mow.

 

[SDT]

Can the wheel yoke shaft be bent straight? I backed down a steep slope while mowing and the wheel broadsided a stump that was cut slightly above ground level. Yoke shaft appears to be the only bent part and I don't see metal cracking in the weld area. Wheel still rotates freely.

I was tempted to straighten out the yoke with another broadside hit but didn't want to sever the shaft since I had more to mow.

View attachment 155595

Such damage, which is not uncommon, is nearly always caused by backing into an immovable object. Yes, it can be repaired with the proper facilities, but the easiest solution is a new yoke.

 

[Spam Bot]

Bending it back in place isn't an option. I would remove it and place the pin in a large vise, and use whatever tool you have that can grab the upper part of the wheel and bend it till it is straight. Without knowing exactly where it is bent is the problematic part. Most likely, it is the flat steel part. I prefer not to use heat in this type of operation, as it may weaken the metal.

 

[William1]

Replace it. Then see if you can straighten and reweld the bent area, grind, then save it for an emergency back up.

 

[Runs With Scissors]

I would attempt to straighten it. You really don't have much to lose at this point.

I would however, remove it, and try the straightening procedure when its off the RC.

Off the top of my head, I would remove the wheel, and use some heat and get "creative" with your hydraulic press to "tweak it" back a little.

 

[Runs With Scissors]

Replace it. Then see if you can straighten and reweld the bent area, grind, then save it for an emergency back up.

oooo, thats a good idea too. Anything that involves welding is a good idea!

 

[SDT]

Bending it back in place isn't an option. I would remove it and place the pin in a large vise, and use whatever tool you have that can grab the upper part of the wheel and bend it till it is straight. Without knowing exactly where it is bent is the problematic part. Most likely, it is the flat steel part. I prefer not to use heat in this type of operation, as it may weaken the metal.

Nope. It will almost certainly be the shaft.

BTDT, multiple times.

 

[PoTreeBoy]

Can the wheel yoke shaft be bent straight? I backed down a steep slope while mowing and the wheel broadsided a stump that was cut slightly above ground level. Yoke shaft appears to be the only bent part and I don't see metal cracking in the weld area. Wheel still rotates freely.

I was tempted to straighten out the yoke with another broadside hit but didn't want to sever the shaft since I had more to mow.

View attachment 155595

I managed to straighten mine with a big propane torch and 36" (48"?) wrench, but an oxy/acetylene torch would work much better.

 

[TheOldHokie]

I managed to straighten mine with a big propane torch and 36" (48"?) wrench, but an oxy/acetylene torch would work much better.

I buy new ones in pairs

Dan

 

[GreensvilleJay]

remove from cutter, remove wheel, put 'yoke' part in vice with 'spacer'(fills gap where wheel was),so it's FIRMLY held.
select appropriate piping(snug and long), slide over 'pin' and gently straighten the pin. Usually have to go past '90* 'as metal will relax a bit.

 

[GeoHorn]

A Shop Hydrualic press should be able to straighten that… if you don’t have access to one… check with a local machine shop or body shop. $20 will fix that.

 

[PhilHtx]

Thanks for the replies. I'll drop by the dealer and get another yoke and have a machine shop look at the bent one.

Will more 3-point side-to-side motion lessen yoke bend risk? I upgraded the stock turnbuckle 3-point stabilizers with the EMP ones a few months ago. These were set for minimum play when the yoke got bent.

 

[PoTreeBoy]

Thanks for the replies. I'll drop by the dealer and get another yoke and have a machine shop look at the bent one.

Will more 3-point side-to-side motion lessen yoke bend risk? I upgraded the stock turnbuckle 3-point stabilizers with the EMP ones a few months ago. These were set for minimum play when the yoke got bent.

Don't think so. Ours has generous play, and I managed to bend it.

 

[chim]

Not a bush hog, but I've bent a few on my finish mowers. It usually happened when swinging the deck into the edge of the road or a raised sidewalk. I have a simple setup made form a piece of 1" thick steel welded to a pair of 3" channels. A bottle jack easily straightens the 1" shaft.

 

[PhilHtx]

Great idea. Going to give that a try one of these days.

 

[NCL4701]

Apparently unpopular opinion…

No cracks; and no busted welds per OP. On a bush hog I wouldn’t bother with it unless it’s causing a functional problem or I was really bored. I would check it routinely for any cracks that may show up in the next 50 hours or so and fix it if any changes. Of course if there are functional issues it needs to be fixed or replaced.

Yes, it doesn’t look “right”. On a show car that’s a problem. On a bush hog it just proves you’ve used it at least once.

 

[PoTreeBoy]

Apparently unpopular opinion…

No cracks; and no busted welds per OP. On a bush hog I wouldn’t bother with it unless it’s causing a functional problem or I was really bored. I would check it routinely for any cracks that may show up in the next 50 hours or so and fix it if any changes. Of course if there are functional issues it needs to be fixed or replaced.

Yes, it doesn’t look “right”. On a show car that’s a problem. On a bush hog it just proves you’ve used it at least once.

On mine, it caused an annoying shimmy, shaking the entire cutter.

 

[PhilHtx]

Used the cutter again recently and no major issues with the yoke bend, which does lend a sort of "street cred." Or is that "field cred?"