Kubota RC60-B blade shaft

[gary8588]

Hello!

I have a middle mount mower which I believe is a RC60-B mounted on a Kubota B1750. Unfortunately the serial number can't be read anymore. I am currently rebuilding it, switching out bearings and so on. Unfortunately the previous owner might have installed a incorrect blade shaft on the left hand side. When I disassembled the pulley the top of the holder was pretty worn off and when reinstalling the blade shaft with new bearing the shaft moved up and down inside the holder even with the circlips installed. So I guess it must be a incorrect blade shaft. Could somebody tell me are both (left and right) blade shafts different? They must be, right?

Searching online I narrowed the correct blade shaft down to this option:



Could somebody if possible send me some pictures of both blade shafts and perhaps some measurements? Especially the distance between both bearing on the shaft is interesting to me. The left hand side should probably be bigger in distance between the bearings than the right hand side, correct?

Thank you for any hints.

BR

 

[Bee-Positive]

Welcome BR!

The one you have highlighted has been discontinued.

You will need these two shafts:
H7650-34540 SHAFT,BLADE RH
H7650-34550 SHAFT,BLADE LH

Pictures and measurements may be slim to none unless a member here has one on the shelf or a deck already torn down.

 

[gary8588]

Thank you very much, yes I figured that there wouldn't be many people that could measure it for me.

Anyway I unfortunately can't seem to find part number H7650-34550 in my country (austria).
I still can get the one I highlighted "76539-99720" at some online shop. Even though it is discontinued it should still fit right?

It has got a hefty price though at 255€.

 

[Bee-Positive]

I did notice those were awful pricey.
Here's a list of shaft part numbers from Kubota that should fit if you can find them.

 

[Caden]

For what it's worth, most people opt to replace the spindle assembly.

Housing, bearing, shaft, ect. all as one unit. Usually available aftermarket.

 

[Bee-Positive]

For what it's worth, most people opt to replace the spindle assembly.

Housing, bearing, shaft, ect. all as one unit. Usually available aftermarket.

Ok - show me one that I can get in Austria, is less than 30 years old, doesn't need to be rebuilt, and cost less than $940. Maybe I'm not looking in the right place.

 

[Caden]

@Bee-Positive does this look like it?

Deck Spindle on Ebay

Brand new, aftermarket, about 100 dollars plus 66 dollars to ship to Austria.

Not saying its the best solution but it is an option. (maybe)

 

[Bee-Positive]

@Bee-Positive does this look like it?

Deck Spindle on Ebay

Brand new, aftermarket, about 100 dollars plus 66 dollars to ship to Austria.

Not saying its the best solution but it is an option. (maybe)

Nope - that's for a RCK60B-23BX
His deck is a RC60-B

 

[gary8588]

I'd do this as a last resort kind of thing. Since I got the pulley holder already I only need the blade shaft.

The Deck Spindle you linked is from a RCK60. Thats a newer model and is built differently.

@Bee-Positive thanks for the part list, I went to do some research and found another part number 76539-34554 which isn't on your list but it looks like it could fit.

According to some websites its a replacement blade shaft for model RC54-G20 which is almost identical to my RC60-B. Its also a lot cheaper than 76539-99720.

I ordered it and if it doesn't fit I'll just send it back and order the more expensive one that should fit.

 

[Caden]

RCK60B

Ah, my mistake.
From what I'd read I thought they were interchangeable, sorry about that.

 

[Bee-Positive]

found another part number 76539-34554

According to some websites its a replacement blade shaft for model RC54-G20 which is almost identical to my RC60-B. Its also a lot cheaper than 76539-99720.

Here's a link to Kubota Parts if you don't already have it.

Click View Illustrated Parts
Go to bottom page, check box, click open.
Then you can input the model (B7100 or RC54-G20 for example) and see the parts available.
It may show a drop down list, just pick your flavor of the day and look around.
Clicking the PRINT icon you can save as PDF which allows much better view of whatever you're looking at.

 

[gary8588]

Unfortunately I can't open this page. I am getting a "Access Denied".

I believe american companies are blocking access from europe for regulatory reasons...

 

[Bee-Positive]

Here's the parts list for the RC54-G20.

 

[gary8588]

thanks again, will report back if 76539-34554 fits

 

[gary8588]

It looks like it fits! The only difference is that 76539-34554 has a right-hand thread on the top instead of a left-hand thread. It doesn't really matter in my opinion you can just use a self-locking nut. Here a comparison between the incorrect blade shaft and the correct blade shaft:



no wonder the blade shaft could move up and down in the pulley holder. The new blade shaft now fits as it should. Saved about 100€


One other thing I noticed is that the shell might be slightly bent. Looking at the 2 installed blades it looks like they don't line up exactly:



The left side is slighty leaning upwards while the right side seems to move down a bit.
Not sure if this is a huge problem. Does this look similar on your mower decks or do the blades perfectly line up on each side?


Just a last question: I wanted to change the gearbox oil for the mower deck. I believe there is 1 drain plug and 1 fill plug correct? Do I just fill it with oil up until it drains out again on the fill plug?

 

[Bee-Positive]

Drain on the bottom and fill on the side. Yes, refill until the oil is level with the bottom of the fill plug hole.

Check to see if your deck is bent using a straight edge across the pulleys. They should be on the same plane or very close to it. If they are not you may throw belts or ware them out very quickly. If your pulleys are lined up but the blades are not you may have another bent shaft.

My deck has all three blades on the same plane, all level with each other.
Blade height side to side and front to back can be adjusted with the linkage but the blades should be on the same plane no matter which way the deck is tilted.

 

[gary8588]

Can't really put a straight edge on the pulleys since they are uneven and the tension pulley is in the way.

Did the same on the underside on the pulley holders without the blades on and yes looks slightly bent.
Your BX1880 seems to be a fairly new tractor so yours should be straight still.

Decided I am going to run it like that and see if anything wears out prematurely.

Put everything together today and did the first cut! Before that I stumbled over this here:



For some reason this link that goes across both sides rests on the belt where the red circle is and that can't be right. Does this link have any critical function? I didn't think so therefore I removed it completely to avoid the link rubbing on the belt.

Also, looking here I see that this pin should go through the linkage:



But it doesn't on my deck. The pin is too short to go through the circled part.

Could somebody with a RC60-B snap some pictures for me on how this link is mounted correctly? That would be great

 

[Bee-Positive]

For some reason this link that goes across both sides rests on the belt where the red circle is and that can't be right. Does this link have any critical function? I didn't think so therefore I removed it completely to avoid the link rubbing on the belt.

The pin is too short to go through the circled part.

Part 110 is an anti-sway bar, prevents the deck from swinging left and right.

The hinge pin (part# 070) should stick through just enough to go through the hole you circled. Since it doesn't you can see the sway bar bracket is not parallel (yellow arrow) with the rear link (part# 010) and sags down rubbing on the belt.

If pin wasn't too short, as you say, you could pry up the sway bar at the white arrow and pin it which would then not rub on the belt.

Does the hinge pin look original, not damaged, and all parts assembled correctly? just a guess at this point.

 

[gary8588]

Part 110 is an anti-sway bar, prevents the deck from swinging left and right.

Thanks, yes I figured it would serve a purpose like that.

If pin wasn't too short, as you say, you could pry up the sway bar at the white arrow and pin it which would then not rub on the belt.

The link bar is fairly loose. I can move it by hand into position where the pin should then lock it into position.
The screw here



doesn't look original and doesn't hold the bar properly. Its also loose.

Does the hinge pin look original, not damaged, and all parts assembled correctly? just a guess at this point.

On first look yes, it looks fairly original and not damaged. I tried to compare the length of the pin with the part number online, but couldn't really get a proper measurement.

Will post a picture today and perhaps disassemble it and see if I can solve the mystery.

Thanks for your help.