Dropped Blade

[cryptobrian]

Tractor delivered yesterday, took it out to mow this afternoon. All was going well, heard a sound like a ran over something so I stopped to see what it was and found these in the grass:

Is the thing that looks like a can a part from deck? It looks like it has been hit by the blade either way, and the bolt holding the blade sheared right off, dropping the blade! Holy cow!

 

[armylifer]

That can looking thing is installed as a part of the blade assembly. Look under your mower and you will see how it is assembled.

Did you hit a big rock or something? The fact that the bolt sheared may mean that it was over-tightened to begin with. Anyway, something compromised the metal before-hand for that bolt to shear that way.

If the mower is still under warranty, you should be able to get it fixed from the dealer for free.

 

[moondog933]

Glad no one was hurt. I have this same blade , bearing cover and bolt on my Kubota zero turn, just on a smaller scale. I never have thought of torquing the blade bolt but I never thought I`d see a bolt sheared either. I would think this happened from over torquing.

 

[skeets]

By being just delivered I have to assume that it is a new tractor,, in that case the phone would be ringing off the wall at the dealers

 

[Bluegill]

Ya call the dealer yet???

 

[cryptobrian]

Yes, I called the dealer first thing this morning. They agreed that it didn't seem right that the bolt should have sheared that way. They sent a driver out to pick up the tractor, take it back to the shop to repair it and check the other bolts as well. It will be delivered back before I get home from work.

Though my conversation with the dealer was interesting:

Me: I think I hit a tin can and the lousy bolt couldn't stand up to it and sheared right off.
Dealer: A tin can? (referencing photo) Do you mean the spindle dust cover? That's part of the tractor.
Me: Are you saying my tractor is made from tin cans?

;-)

 

[olthumpa]

Yes, I called the dealer first thing this morning. They agreed that it didn't seem right that the bolt should have sheared that way. They sent a driver out to pick up the tractor, take it back to the shop to repair it and check the other bolts as well. It will be delivered back before I get home from work.

Though my conversation with the dealer was interesting:

Me: I think I hit a tin can and the lousy bolt couldn't stand up to it and sheared right off.
Dealer: A tin can? (referencing photo) Do you mean the spindle dust cover? That's part of the tractor.
Me: Are you saying my tractor is made from tin cans?

;-)

Absolutely priceless!

 

[beckmurph]

Speaking of sheared mmm bolts:

http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/kubota-owning-operating/287981-breaking-bx-blade-bolts.html

 

[armylifer]

Tractor delivered yesterday, took it out to mow this afternoon. All was going well, heard a sound like a ran over something so I stopped to see what it was and found these in the grass:

Is the thing that looks like a can a part from deck? It looks like it has been hit by the blade either way, and the bolt holding the blade sheared right off, dropping the blade! Holy cow!

Cryptobrian, I just noticed that you hail from Maple Valley. Is that in Washington? I sent you a PM.

 

[Kubota_Bob]

Hi Guys,

I just read this thread and followed the link to the TBN site....

I posted the info below and thought OTT users could also benifit

Bob

**************************************************

Hi,

I just came across this thread and thought that my 2 cents might help.................

The purpose of the bolt is to apply clamping force between the blade and the spindle which causes the friction that drives the blades...

If the blade is distorted and doesn't have 100% contact between the blade and the spindle the blade will not be driven by the by the total area of the spindle and the blade could slip causing the bolt to over over-torque and break......

Take a straight edge and use a feeler gauge to check if the spindle and the area on the blade that contacts the spindle are flat.......

There should be no lube between the spindle face and the blade because this will allow the blade to slip...

An example is the wheel on your car or tractor..If the bolts are under torqued or there is lube between the hub and wheel, the wheel will want not be driven by the hub but rather by the wheel studs and they will fail.....

I drag race and the best way to have your rear wheel come of is to under torque the rear wheel studs?

Just something to check because it might fix the problem

Good luck,
Bob