GF1800 Blade Slipping

[Arcticcat340]

Hi,

I have a 94? Kubota GF1800 with at 60 inch deck and i just got it back from the shop because my middle blade had slipped and wouldn't tighten or loosen. It mowed great when I was mowing but now the middle blade has slipped again and once again it won't tighten or loosen. I just got the mower back yesterday. I really don't want to bring it back again so I'm seeing if any of you know what to do.

Thanks for any help!
Andrew

 

[skeets]

I maybe wrong on this but I think that there are 2 Belvil ( sp) type washers they are not flat they have a curved look like a shallow dish which is the spring action holding things tight, and after a time they will loose their spring to them and then start to slip. You might want to check them and if they are not put on right things will slip.. And Im not sure how they go up or down

 

[Arcticcat340]

I maybe wrong on this but I think that there are 2 Belvil ( sp) type washers they are not flat they have a curved look like a shallow dish which is the spring action holding things tight, and after a time they will loose their spring to them and then start to slip. You might want to check them and if they are not put on right things will slip.. And Im not sure how they go up or down

Thanks for the response skeets, but i doubt as though thats the problem because i just got it back from the dealer Thursday and they fixed the problem that I am again having after only 2 hours of use. I was mowing deep grass so that may of caused it to slip. When i try to tighten them is the problem. The gearbox and other blades and the belt still spins. I read elsewhere that an impact wrench works but i don't have access to one. I also read that you can block the center blade and side blade and then use a wood clamp to pull the belt really tight and then use your wrench to tighten the bolt hoping that the gearbox won't spin. Any thoughts about that?

 

[bemota]

Hi,

I have a 94? Kubota GF1800 with at 60 inch deck and i just got it back from the shop because my middle blade had slipped and wouldn't tighten or loosen. It mowed great when I was mowing but now the middle blade has slipped again and once again it won't tighten or loosen. I just got the mower back yesterday. I really don't want to bring it back again so I'm seeing if any of you know what to do.

Thanks for any help!
Andrew

Hi! I just removed and sharpened the blades on my GF1800, and I have two (2) bevel(sp) washers on each spindle, with the cup facing up towards the blades, as previously said, DO not over torque. Might try new washers! Hope this helps !! Dan
I just use a 2x4 to keep the blade from spinning between the blade and the deck, plus I take the deck off, cause I can't lay on my back under there anymore.

 

[Arcticcat340]

Hi! I just removed and sharpened the blades on my GF1800, and I have two (2) bevel(sp) washers on each spindle, with the cup facing up towards the blades, as previously said, DO not over torque. Might try new washers! Hope this helps !! Dan
I just use a 2x4 to keep the blade from spinning between the blade and the deck, plus I take the deck off, cause I can't lay on my back under there anymore.

Thanks for the response bemota!
I would think the bevel washers were the correct way seeing how the dealer just fixed the same problem i am having now. I hope to get a chance to work on it tonight! I'll let you know what happens!

 

[cerlawson]

Don't be afraid of checking on the dealer's work. I bought a tractor from a dealer who had checked everything first, including the belly mower. How about finding that the one blade was on backwards, sharp edge trailing, yet it didn't cut too bad any how?

If all else fails I'd place a sandpaper between the washer and body and the washer and blade.

 

[Arcticcat340]

Don't be afraid of checking on the dealer's work. I bought a tractor from a dealer who had checked everything first, including the belly mower. How about finding that the one blade was on backwards, sharp edge trailing, yet it didn't cut too bad any how?

If all else fails I'd place a sandpaper between the washer and body and the washer and blade.

The problem comes in is when i try to tighten or take the blade off. I've mowed with it today but then it started slipping. So i went to try to tighten it but it just spins the gearbox. I do block the blade with a board along with one of the side blades, but the whole gearbox will still spin. That goes for loosening and tightening. I don't want to bring it to the dealer again.

 

[cerlawson]

Obviously you need to stop the rotation of the shaft that the blade is fastened to. It may take applying a clamp of some sort to the pulley. If this is secured to the shaft coming directly from the gear box, you can secure the input shaft to the gear box. If it is on a shaft driven by a belt, you get a hold on that belt and tighten it more so the pulley does not slip in the belt. Belt dressing may be needed to keep the belt from slipping, but unlikely. I find that welding "C" clamps adjustable for opening width work good for this sort of use. If the pulley slips on its shaft, then you have some work to do to stop that, such as a couple of set screws, etc. More than likely the pulley has a key that holds it from "slipping".

 

[bemota]

Hi! Andrew, I just took the covers off my deck, looking for a place to hold the input shaft to the gearbox. If it way me, I would put a pipe or strap wrench on the u-joint to hold the shaft or put a bar in the yoke on the u-joint being really, really careful with the grease zerk in there, if you have to use more than a 1/2 in breaker bar to get it loose, I would take it back to the dealer "an slap him silly". I would not use an impact on that gearbox. Good luck, wish there was more I could do !!! Dan

 

[Stubbyie]

I wonder if we're missing something here.

The original poster says he can't tighten or loosen the blade and that it slips when mowing.

The only way I can hold my blade is to use two short pieces of 2x4, one inside the deck, one outside the deck, positioned vertically, clamped with a pair of C-clamp type vise grips. The blade bumps the inside 2x4, is held, and the bolt is tightened.

Does yours have a spline or diamond or some other geometric shape (keyway?) the blade has to fit onto or into?

Otherwise, I think you need a parts schematic. It sounds like you're missing a washer, whether specialized type or not.

Are the mating face(s) where the blade mounts all clean, no junk or debris present?

Are all blade bolts the same length? I once found somebody had replaced a bolt with one about two threads too long, resulting in a loose blade.

Thinking above-the-deck, could an idler be dragging? Or another bearing(s) be bad, such that the slipping blade isn't being pulled by the belt? Could the belt itself be glazed or bad?

I'm curious about this. Please post back and advise your resolution so we may all learn.

 

[skeets]

Maybe the spring on the idler pull is off thus letting every thing slip