Mower deck running backwards

[rustythread]

Just spent a couple of hours a day for the past month adapting an RC48-62A belly mower to my B7200HST. Finally got all the hangers and and lifters and the U-joint lined up and attached, and drove out into the grass to try out the mower.

Dang thing runs backwards--i.e., the cutting edge of the blades trails, rather than leading.

1. Is there some alternate belt routing that will work to reverse the direcdtion of blade rotation?
2. Is it a gearbox issue? If so, how to fix?
3. If all else fails, are there any makers of bassackward blades?

Seriously wondering if I've come down with a case of Covid brain.

 

[kubotasam]

Are you sure the blades are not on upside down? It does not make sense that a mower designed for a B6200 would be that different from one designed for a B7200. I put a mower on a B7100 that was designed for a B7200 and it worked fine. I don't remember the exact model number it was probably 5 years ago.

 

[RCW]

Dang thing runs backwards-

Flip the deck over....that'll work! Just don't put your feet down....

Are you sure the blades are not on upside down?

Seriously...I wonder if kubotasam has it....blades upside down??

I've seen upside down blades many times....heck, I did it once!

 

[johnjk]

+1 on the blades. Did it when I serviced my mmm deck last spring. Told my self, don’t flip the blades and did it on 2 anyway. I wouldn’t think Kubota would change the rotational direction of the mid PTO between models.

 

[BruceP]

Just spent a couple of hours a day for the past month adapting an RC48-62A belly mower to my B7200HST.

Are you suggesting that the blades are pushing AWAY from the discharge chute?

If so, blades designed to spin the other way may not discharge properly anyway.

It is possible, that mowdeck expects the opposite rotation into the gearbox.

You may need to find a different mowdeck or, at least a gearbox.

 

[Wanderer]

Just spent a couple of hours a day for the past month adapting an RC48-62A belly mower to my B7200HST. Finally got all the hangers and and lifters and the U-joint lined up and attached, and drove out into the grass to try out the mower.

Dang thing runs backwards--i.e., the cutting edge of the blades trails, rather than leading.

1. Is there some alternate belt routing that will work to reverse the direcdtion of blade rotation?
2. Is it a gearbox issue? If so, how to fix?
3. If all else fails, are there any makers of bassackward blades?

Seriously wondering if I've come down with a case of Covid brain.

Is the deck actually turning the wrong direction ? Much more to consider than cutting edge. It HAS TO rotate the direction designed .

 

[ruger1980]

I suspect the OP has used the gearbox from the RC48-62A deck on which the pto comes from the front and turned it around to utilize the B7200 mid pto. More than likely they require different directions to work correctly.

 

[lugbolt]

Agree with Ruger1980

on that subject, gearboxes aren't all the same, they are to be considered specific to specific machinery. Same with mowing decks. I did a gearbox swap once on a RCK72P, with a box from a RC60 of unknown history. Ran backwards. Never gave second thought to it sent it out the door. Came back a week later with poor cut quality concerns. Couldn't figure it out until I ran over a puddle and it didn't shoot water out of the chute like normal. Figured it out, had to buy the guy a new $1200 gearbox. Sometimes you learn the hard way.

 

[Dave_eng]

Sometimes it is possible to rearrange the gears inside the box to change the direction of rotation. The mower deck boxes are simple bevel gears and moving a gear to the opposite side of the box reverses the rotation. This is not possible in all situations but at least investigate it if all the other suggestions are exhausted.

Dave

 

[PoTreeBoy]

The spindles have to turn clockwise, looking down on the deck. Several reasons: blade cutting edge, bolts/nuts are right hand, discharge is designed that way, belt routing/idler is set up that way.

 

[GreensvilleJay]

this ......
adapting an RC48-62A belly mower to my B7200HST
.is the possible reason.

As others have suggested, unless THAT deck WAS offered for THAT tractor,
I'd say it's a gearbox issue. It might be possible to rework the innards of the gearbox to go CCW instead of CW, would need to see it or drawings..

 

[hagrid]

Sometimes it is possible to rearrange the gears inside the box to change the direction of rotation. The mower deck boxes are simple bevel gears and moving a gear to the opposite side of the box reverses the rotation. This is not possible in all situations but at least investigate it if all the other suggestions are exhausted.

Dave

The cheapest way might be to source an input shaft that places the drive gear on the far side of the driven member. Or make one.

 

[rustythread]

To clarify:

Mower blades are not on upside down. (If replacing them upside down looked like it wold work, I'd have done that already).
Gearbox used was on the RC48 when obtained.
Looking down from the top, blades are indeed going CCW, not CW.
If I can't figure out how to adapt it, I'll be gack looking for a mower deck.
What the hell--it's been a learning experience, at least

 

[GeoHorn]

Sometimes it is possible to rearrange the gears inside the box to change the direction of rotation. The mower deck boxes are simple bevel gears and moving a gear to the opposite side of the box reverses the rotation. This is not possible in all situations but at least investigate it if all the other suggestions are exhausted.

Dave

It would have to be the input-shaft or output shaft gears… the side gears would not accomplish that.

 

[ve9aa]

You can probably sell it to an Aussie or Kiwi (with apologies to our Australian or New Zealander members)

 

[BruceP]

What the hell--it's been a learning experience, at least

You have learned the hard way a cardinal rule of Engineering. Test and verify EVERYTHING before committing to a design.

It may not be of any solace to know you are not the first person to spend a long time working on a project... only to find out there is a MAJOR flaw. (The "Hubble telescope" is a prime example of finding out AFTER it was shot into space that the mirror had the incorrect curvature.)

I am sure your next go-round will be even better design... as you say, it is a learning experience.

Frankly, I beleive you can either modify your gearbox or locate one which will work.

 

[SDT]

Are you suggesting that the blades are pushing AWAY from the discharge chute?

If so, blades designed to spin the other way may not discharge properly anyway.

It is possible, that mowdeck expects the opposite rotation into the gearbox.

You may need to find a different mowdeck or, at least a gearbox.

Agreed.

Some early Kubota (and other) decks were designed to be powered by a drive shaft running from a front mounted driveshaft driven by belt from the engine crankshaft.

May not be a cost effective solution for this.

SDT

 

[kubotasam]

I never even thought of a deck with the pto driven from the front of the engine!!!!!

 

[GBJeffOH]

Just spent a couple of hours a day for the past month adapting an RC48-62A belly mower to my B7200HST. Finally got all the hangers and and lifters and the U-joint lined up and attached, and drove out into the grass to try out the mower.

Dang thing runs backwards--i.e., the cutting edge of the blades trails, rather than leading.

1. Is there some alternate belt routing that will work to reverse the direcdtion of blade rotation?
2. Is it a gearbox issue? If so, how to fix?
3. If all else fails, are there any makers of bassackward blades?

Seriously wondering if I've come down with a case of Covid brain.

Did you convert a belly to a 3 point?

 

[RCW]

Did you convert a belly to a 3 point?

The challenge there is that most/many 3 PH mowers are 540 RPM; most/many mid-mount mowers are 2,000-2,500 RPM.

Certainly doable, but may not be practical.