BX2380 mower deck won’t lock out on “top”

[Bruh44]

I watched a YouTube video on this. I found the adjustment in the back next to the rear left tire. I bottomed it out. It still won’t lock in the top position. It will adjust 1-4 with no issues.
I’m not real sure where to go with it from here. I took the deck off so I was able to scrape my road with a box blade. I won’t lock in top with the mower deck off either.
Any ideas where the issue is?

 

[skeets]

You have to run the deck all the way up till the pump starts to bypass and then turn the knob,, some times it can be a PIA so run it all the way up turn it off and get under and look at the piece, you can push up on the deck as you turn the knob,, If its is really new they seem to put a lot of paint on things and it wont let it lock in place. I am sure there is a deck adjustment for it but I dont know what it might be

 

[PaulL]

On my B2601 (yes, a bit different design) mine won't lift all the way up if the hydraulic fluid is a bit low. Top off the fluid, it then runs all the way up and can lock it.

 

[Sawdust&Shavings]

I watched a YouTube video on this. I found the adjustment in the back next to the rear left tire. I bottomed it out. It still won’t lock in the top position. It will adjust 1-4 with no issues.
I’m not real sure where to go with it from here. I took the deck off so I was able to scrape my road with a box blade. I won’t lock in top with the mower deck off either.
Any ideas where the issue is?

Try to adjust it again, normally a very small of adjustment (-1/4 turn) is all that is needed.

 

[Bruh44]

I was running it while lifting. Tried pushing it up too. Still no go. I will check the fluid.
I have no more room to adjust 1/4 turn, I bottomed it out trying half turns.

 

[Sawdust&Shavings]

I was running it while lifting. Tried pushing it up too. Still no go. I will check the fluid.
I have no more room to adjust 1/4 turn, I bottomed it out trying half turns.

How close to the recommended “L” measurement did you achieve? See attachment, the range is small.

 

[Bruh44]

I haven’t had a chance to work on it. One issue is that I really don’t have much for a perfectly level place to work on it. My car port where I keep it is the closest.
I think I need to get under it and clean it thoroughly to see what I’m working with.

 

[Mmanders6]

That's odd that it won't rotate into "top" even with the deck off. Usually the deck is what hangs on the ramp to prevent it from turning.

You'll have to get under there with a flashlight and see what's up. With the deck off does the knob spin easily and then hit a hard stop, or is it hard to turn at all?

 

[Bruh44]

That's odd that it won't rotate into "top" even with the deck off. Usually the deck is what hangs on the ramp to prevent it from turning.

You'll have to get under there with a flashlight and see what's up. With the deck off does the knob spin easily and then hit a hard stop, or is it hard to turn at all?

It’s semi difficult to turn the whole time. I’ve been thinking I either need to clean the whole mechanism out or possibly replace it. But I have to get some time to lift the thing up and look first.

 

[PaulL]

My old BX was also very very stiff. I'm trying to recall the cause, but it basically comes down to gunk and rust from memory, they're not complex. I think I recall it being quite difficult to take apart.

 

[DustyRusty]

It’s semi difficult to turn the whole time. I’ve been thinking I either need to clean the whole mechanism out or possibly replace it. But I have to get some time to lift the thing up and look first.

Send the parts to Joesmith123 for cleaning and he will have them back in the mail to you in less than a day. :ROFLMAO:

 

[Bruh44]

When I’m able to get in there to mess with it, I may send it off if it really needs it. I have sonic cleaner and some good cleaning solutions for gun parts. I would imagine that would do it after all the gunk is cleared up. I’ll see how it looks in the next week or so.

 

[PaulL]

When I’m able to get in there to mess with it, I may send it off if it really needs it. I have sonic cleaner and some good cleaning solutions for gun parts. I would imagine that would do it after all the gunk is cleared up. I’ll see how it looks in the next week or so.

I think the hardest part is getting it apart. Again, it's not a complex mechanism, so cleaning it's not rocket science. I seem to recall the plastic knob was a press fit, so getting it off without breaking it is harder than you'd think.

EDIT: This diagram at Messicks https://www.messicks.com/ku/194178?sectionId=376078&diagramId=3732258 suggests you can disassemble without removing the plastic knob. Looks like there's a nut on the bottom, undo that then all the bits should slide off the shaft, the whole shaft should pull out the top. Also looks to me like the bolt/nut 070/080 need to come off to make it easier. Perhaps just loosening this may solve your problem - they look a bit like a friction assembly to hold it in a given setting. Then again, maybe 060 is a clicker to hold it at each of the settings. These diagrams sometimes aren't as clear as they could be when you don't have the physical machine to refer to!!

 

[fransser]

This post is a bit late from the others but I had a similar problem with mine. Turned out one of the three point lift arms has a tiny crack in it and would "open up" when trying to get the deck to the extreme top position necessary to engage the top lock. This may not be your problem but something to look at perhaps.

 

[Bearcatrp]

On my BX1880, had to set it to 1 with RPMs high to drop all way down, then lift it all the way up, then crank to top. Found the dial is a notch off so the arrow shows just before 4. But look underneath to make sure those rods are not bent from hitting stuff with the mower. The slightest bend will stop it from going all the way up. Good luck.

 

[Grandad4]

You guys have me scratching my head about this. I ran my BX from 2005, when I bought it new, to 2019 when I sold it with 1,100 hours, and the entire time that height adjuster never went into the top position. I just used it like that and the deck worked perfectly fine for mowing and also raised up for transport Ok. So what did I miss out on by not having the deck height raise up to that last notch?

 

[PaulL]

You guys have me scratching my head about this. I ran my BX from 2005, when I bought it new, to 2019 when I sold it with 1,100 hours, and the entire time that height adjuster never went into the top position. I just used it like that and the deck worked perfectly fine for mowing and also raised up for transport Ok. So what did I miss out on by not having the deck height raise up to that last notch?

A bit more height. On my B2601 it sometimes won't go into top. Top is quite a bit higher than 4. When my mower isn't all the way up it grabs the sill as I drive into my shed.

 

[WI_Hedgehog]

My bolt adjusted for underside armor alternating with 60" mid-mount mower.

 

[Tractor Gal]

You guys have me scratching my head about this. I ran my BX from 2005, when I bought it new, to 2019 when I sold it with 1,100 hours, and the entire time that height adjuster never went into the top position. I just used it like that and the deck worked perfectly fine for mowing and also raised up for transport Ok. So what did I miss out on by not having the deck height raise up to that last notch?

From my experience, when the mower doesn't lock in at the top to stay at the top, it affects the use 3-pt hitch implements. For example, if I want to use the rotary tiller, the mower can drag in the soil if it's not locked in at the top because when the tiller is lowered, the mower deck also lowers at the same time. Locking at the top, keeps the mower at the top height but allows the 3-pt hitch to lower to desired level.

Tractor Gal

 

[Grandad4]

Ok, thanks for explaining. I never mowed with the FEL or 3pt attachments on the BX and likewise always removed the deck for "tractor chores". But if folks need to leave the deck on while doing those "tractor chores", getting it a little more out of the way is a good idea.