Mower Deck Question

[je1279]

I have the RCK60-30BB mid mount mower deck for my LX2610. Recently, I had it off to clean it up and grease it. When I was reinstalling the blades, two of them tightened up as usual but the one closest to the discharge side just turned the belt up top when trying to tighten it. Any idea what would cause this? I removed it and confirmed the washers were installed correctly with the bowl side facing down. Ultimately, I was able to torque it to 86 ft-lb by simultaneously wedging the blade and grabbing the belt with my other hand to prevent it from moving but that was less than ideal.

 

[19thSF]

Hello jei279
That is quite a puzzle. The only thing that I can think of is the "cup washers". If they were somehow flattened out, it would cause the problem. You could tighten the retaining bolt, but not enough to fix the blade in position. Well, that is all I can think of.

Good luck with it!
Bob

 

[19thSF]

I have the RCK60-30BB mid mount mower deck for my LX2610. Recently, I had it off to clean it up and grease it. When I was reinstalling the blades, two of them tightened up as usual but the one closest to the discharge side just turned the belt up top when trying to tighten it. Any idea what would cause this? I removed it and confirmed the washers were installed correctly with the bowl side facing down. Ultimately, I was able to torque it to 86 ft/lb by simultaneously wedging the blade and grabbing the belt with my other hand to prevent it from moving but that was less than ideal.

I think Kubota calls them "spring plates"

 

[je1279]

Hello jei279
That is quite a puzzle. The only thing that I can think of is the "cup washers". If they were somehow flattened out, it would cause the problem. You could tighten the retaining bolt, but not enough to fix the blade in position. Well, that is all I can think of.

Good luck with it!
Bob

Thank you Bob. I will pick up a couple of replacements and see if that solves the problem.

 

[19thSF]

Thank you Bob. I will pick up a couple of replacements and see if that solves the problem.

Before buying anything, maybe you could remove the blade and add any big washer that will fit. If you can then run the bolt up tight, it would certainly be an indication that the spring plates are not as they should be.

 

[SDT]

I have the RCK60-30BB mid mount mower deck for my LX2610. Recently, I had it off to clean it up and grease it. When I was reinstalling the blades, two of them tightened up as usual but the one closest to the discharge side just turned the belt up top when trying to tighten it. Any idea what would cause this? I removed it and confirmed the washers were installed correctly with the bowl side facing down. Ultimately, I was able to torque it to 86 ft-lb by simultaneously wedging the blade and grabbing the belt with my other hand to prevent it from moving but that was less than ideal.

I do not expect the belt to hold the spindle while tighteninig the blade bolt on my MMMs.

Rather, I block rotation of the blades with a short piece of 4X4.

 

[19thSF]

I do not expect the belt to hold the spindle while tighteninig the blade bolt on my MMMs.

Rather, I block rotation of the blades with a short piece of 4X4.

Hello SDT,
According to the original poster, he had the blade blocked. I am just guessing here, but the retaining bolt should be able to secure the blade in a fixed position before getting to the required torque. The "spring plates" should allow some movement of the blade if it contacts an obstruction ( like a rock or tree stump). Seems like if you have to go to the full torque before the blades "lock up" , the problem could be the spring plates are not taking up enough space. Well, that is my best guess. It will be interesting to learn what the issue really was.

Bob

 

[je1279]

I do not expect the belt to hold theSF spindle while tighteninig the blade bolt on my MMMs.

Rather, I block rotation of the blades with a short piece of 4X4.

@SDT as @19thSF mentioned, I had the blade blocked with a 2x4 but the belt was still turning before I reached 86 ft-lbs on the bolt. I ordered new spring plates and a new dust cap this evening and I'm hoping that solves the problem.

 

[19thSF]

@SDT as @19thSF mentioned, I had the blade blocked with a 2x4 but the belt was still turning before I reached 86 ft-lbs on the bolt. I ordered new spring plates and a new dust cap this evening and I'm hoping that solves the problem.

To me, the only way that could be happening is if the bolt is not tightening the blade until it is darn near bottomed out. If it bottoms out before the blade is locked down, you wind up spinning the pulley along with the belt. Well, that is my best guess. Hope that the problem gets resolved.
Bob

 

[lugbolt]

I think Kubota calls them "spring plates"

They used to call them "spring corns"

Jinglish....for cone spring

 

[lugbolt]

To me, the only way that could be happening is if the bolt is not tightening the blade until it is darn near bottomed out. If it bottoms out before the blade is locked down, you wind up spinning the pulley along with the belt. Well, that is my best guess. Hope that the problem gets resolved.
Bob

bolts stretch after being torqued a few times. I've seen this a bunch of times. Replace the bolts. I do it on mine about once every other season for this reason alone. Also sometimes there's junk up inside the hole and the bolt bottoms out.

Not a bad idea to put a dab of grease on the washers, maybe a lil under the bolt head but not the threads.

 

[19thSF]

bolts stretch after being torqued a few times. I've seen this a bunch of times. Replace the bolts. I do it on mine about once every other season for this reason alone. Also sometimes there's junk up inside the hole and the bolt bottoms out.

Not a bad idea to put a dab of grease on the washers, maybe a lil under the bolt head but not the threads.

Good morning Lugbolt,

I didn't think of "bolt stretch" , but that certainly could be another valid explanation. Your grease suggestions make good sense too.
Good one! (or two)
Bob

 

[jrsavoie]

Hello SDT,
According to the original poster, he had the blade blocked. I am just guessing here, but the retaining bolt should be able to secure the blade in a fixed position before getting to the required torque. The "spring plates" should allow some movement of the blade if it contacts an obstruction ( like a rock or tree stump). Seems like if you have to go to the full torque before the blades "lock up" , the problem could be the spring plates are not taking up enough space. Well, that is my best guess. It will be interesting to learn what the issue really was.

Bob

Any idea what the correct torque is? 86 ft lbs is the torque for the blade bolts on the LX2610 60" mid mount mower

What size are the blade bolt heads?

 

[je1279]

What size are the blade bolt heads?

The blade bolts require a 30mm socket or wrench.

 

[pigdoc]

Can you tell if the Belleville washers have lost their cup?
Maybe the blade bolt was not properly torqued sometime in the past, allowing the blade to spin on the blade bosses, generating friction heat that took the temper out of the Belleville washers and left them permanently flattened.

If you move the suspect washers to another spindle, does the problem follow the washers?

-Paul

PS, when I was working on my RC54 deck, I noticed that there was still fresh factory paint on the centers of the blades, under the Belleville washers - evidence that there had never been enough heat there to burn paint.

 

[je1279]

Can you tell if the Belleville washers have lost their cup?
Maybe the blade bolt was not properly torqued sometime in the past, allowing the blade to spin on the blade bosses, generating friction heat that took the temper out of the Belleville washers and left them permanently flattened.

If you move the suspect washers to another spindle, does the problem follow the washers?

-Paul

The washers still had a noticeable cup when I installed them. I ended up ordering the parts and leaving it for now and I will try your troubleshooting steps and report back on the cause after I pull the deck for the winter in late November.