BX Mower Arms Won't Lower – Manufacturing Defect?

n00b

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BX23S, RCK60B-23BX, SGC0554 Grapple, Rankin TC96-40 Rotary Cutter
Aug 4, 2022
9
2
3
Issaquah, WA
There's not even a real question here. This is essentially just a rant, but hopefully it might help someone else having the same problem know what to look for.

I've had my BX23S for about a year now, and I've had issues with the mower deck occasionally not lowering (usually after installing it), despite the height adjustment not being in the "Top" position and the 3pt hitch lowering speed at a reasonable setting (which doesn't get changed). When this happens, I have to jiggle the arm a bit to get it to lower.

The cause seems to be pretty evident in the pictures below. I don't know what this type of joint is called, but it's pretty common, and obviously meant to retain the lower arm onto the pivot pin provided by the upper arm, while also allowing the two to be separated when rotated into the right orientation. The problem is that the retainer head of the pivot pin isn't doing its job, and the lower arm is trying to "cam out"/pop off (and from the looks of it, very nearly succeeding). That retainer end should obviously be rotated as close to perpendicular to the slot in the lower arm throughout the range of motion to ensure retention (i.e. it should ideally be horizontal, like it is on the "good" side).

This seems to be a manufacturing defect to me. I intend to take these pictures to my dealer tomorrow to discuss the issue and warranty coverage, but the initial response when I explained the situation over the phone was that I pay $200 for pickup/delivery and let them see what they can find in 15-30 days (while my meadow grass is already too tall) at $145/hr plus parts.

Bad:
IMG_20230512_182600973.jpg


Good:
IMG_20230512_182710078.jpg


Exploded diagram (note the nominally horizontal orientation of the retainer head on 010 at "(A)"):
Screenshot 2023-05-12 at 11.32.28 PM.png
 

GreensvilleJay

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BX23-S,57 A-C D-14,58 A-C D-14, 57 A-C D-14,tiller,cults,Millcreek 25G spreader,
Apr 2, 2019
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wow, that's sad ! That 'joint' reminds me of how tailgates on old trucks were attached, same oval tab-oval hole idea. I'm thinking there's a lot of side stress on the joint to do that damage. Say a lot of same turns with the deck at a certain height BUT it should have been designed for that.
The dealer should offer to ship you the '010' and 'K131xx' pieces for free,unless he wants to eat the pickup/replace/delivery next day himself. The replacement of parts looks like a 1-2 hour job for someone who has a lift and good lighting based on the drawing.
 
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Russell King

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I don’t see the other side similar attachment point (A) in the diagram.

If it is a similar assembly (through the frame) perhaps one is installed on the wrong side or the one you have trouble with should be rotated and bolted into the correct position to make the attachment become horizontal.

I would look at similar tractors at the dealership and see if they are all horizontal or not just to see how they are aligned on new tractors that are probably correctly assembled
 
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xrocketengineer

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BX1880, FEL, Grapple, 36 in. Forks, 48in. MMM, Quick Spade, Ripper
Nov 14, 2020
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Merritt Island, Florida
That looks defective based on the orientation on the first picture. I do recollect that somebody in Hawaii was having the same issue about a year ago. I do not know what was his resolution.
 

JimDeL

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BX2380; R4 tires; 54" MMM; FEL w Pirahna bar; Ballast Box; BXpanded skid plate.
Aug 31, 2022
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I just went out to the shed to check mine, and the tab/slot orientation looks the same as yours, with the deck height set at 2". What's yours set at?

Perhaps it's lacking a bit of lube?
 

n00b

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BX23S, RCK60B-23BX, SGC0554 Grapple, Rankin TC96-40 Rotary Cutter
Aug 4, 2022
9
2
3
Issaquah, WA
I believe (but am not certain anymore) that I took that picture at the "Top" position. It's a good point that it of course can't be literally perpendicular to the slot in the lower arm as the two arms rotate through their range of motion, but you can clearly see that the retainer head and the slot have become deformed, which I don't think would have been due to a lack of lubrication alone – I have to imagine that would have taken some misalignment and a good amount of torque.

The service center at the dealer basically told me to call back on Monday to talk the supervisor. The people I was working with at the time suggested the possibility of filing a KTAC insurance claim instead of a warranty claim, but I honestly didn't think that would have been covered (we only got it because my wife insisted, due to their coverage of collision, theft and rollover damage – with me having been new to operating a tractor, and given the hilliness of our property).
 

DustyRusty

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2020 BX23S, BX2822 Snowblower, Curtis Deluxe Cab,
Nov 8, 2015
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KTAC covers just about anything and everything, including the stupidity of making a wrong decision such as cutting the grass across the slope instead of up and down the slope. I know someone who ran the snowblower into a large rock and destroyed the snowblower. KTAC replace the snowblower for him.
 

GrizBota

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You might get more satisfaction, faster and cheaper, ordering the damaged part from Messick’s and installing it correctly yourself. That way, you’ll know who to blame and the guy that is installed it won’t lie or overcharge you.

I’m my opinion, for easy stuff, the warranty on most new products is essentially a tail light warranty. If they can’t see the tail lights anymore as you leave, the warranty’s effectively over (e.g. for easier and much less hassle and lying to just do it yourself).

Maybe I’m just pessimistic and it’s a self fulfilling prophecy. YMMV.
 

JimDeL

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BX2380; R4 tires; 54" MMM; FEL w Pirahna bar; Ballast Box; BXpanded skid plate.
Aug 31, 2022
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Austintown, Ohio
I believe (but am not certain anymore) that I took that picture at the "Top" position. It's a good point that it of course can't be literally perpendicular to the slot in the lower arm as the two arms rotate through their range of motion...
I took another look at mine, with the mower deck raised this time. In the 'full up' position the lug on the arm is horizontal - at 90° to the slot in the lower (fixed) arm on the deck.
 

lugbolt

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ZG127S-54
Oct 15, 2015
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at some point in it's life the arm was not fully inserted to the jackshaft and that's why the joint is all screwed up. I have done it, and can speak from experience. Might also be other damage. Look it over well.

When I say "at some point", it could have been when it was assembled new off of the crate (decks are shipped uninstalled but under the tractor) or it may have been after the sale-who knows. That linkage has enough force that an operator may never have known of the issue.