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Blades disengage while mowing

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1995droptopz

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Discussion starter · #1 ·
:banghead3Put my mower deck on a few weeks ago, and have mowed my yard 2x now. Tractor is a 1988 448, deck is an N46 with all new spindles, bearings, pulleys, and belts. The first time I mowed, everything ran great, except 2 or 3 times the mower engagement lever became disengaged on its own while mowing. I chalked it up to a bumpy yard, pushed it forward and went on my way.

Yesterday I mowed again, and during my 3 acre mow, I swear the blades disengaged about 30 times. The lever just works itself forward. I think I have the drive belt tension correct, because as the manual says, I have the spacing on the spring coils equal to the spring wire diameter. I tried messing with this a bit and it didn't really make a difference. There does not seem to be much resistance holding the lever in the correct position.

Please advise as to where to look. I have a couple other issues with this pile right now so this was kind of the last straw...My wife heard me yelling/swearinng over the running mower while she was in the youse yesterday :banghead3
 
#3 ·
You may need to replace the friction disc and the spring washers in the EZ Adjust clutch. Remove the clutch and inspect the surface on the stub shaft where the friction disc make contact, if this surface is damaged you will need to address it and replace the friction disc.:banghead3
The stubshaft that all the clutch parts ride on must be relatively smooth. Have you replaced the three clutch bearings?
Did you replace the tensioning spring in the mower deck while you were in there? Also the arm that the tensioning spring and the pulley attach to can get an elongated hole where the pivot bolt and bushing are installed. Also the hole in the deck for the pivot bolt can get elongated, so check these items out.
Bob MacGregor in CT :thThumbsU
 
Discussion starter · #4 ·
Everything on the mower deck side is sorted out and in good shape. I did nothing with the clutch yet, so I suppose I will need to get in there and take a look at what is broken there...

Not really an Ingersoll fan anymore after all the broken crap on this machine
 
#5 ·
It all has to do with maintaining the machine. Last fall I sold my 1985 448 that I had commercially mowed with since 1998. It had over 2,000 hours on it and the 2nd engine. I used it along with a 1990 4018 that I still have and it has over 2,000 hours on it. I now have a Scag ZTR but I still need to use my Ingersoll to do the hilly, rocky, rooty lawns that I care for. All three machines have collection systems and need constant maintenance, that is the way it is when one needs good service life from machines.
Tell what other brands of garden tractors that are better.
I also do selective service on power equipment and there are many brands that I will not touch. There was a time that I made regular trips with other peoples unrepairable junk to the recycle station, I don't do that any more. I will go to a perspective customers home and make an evaluation and give them an estimate if I feel that the machine is worthy. This way they can get rid of their own scrap metal.
I just had a 1973 Case 444 here, repaired it and delivered it back to it's happy owner. This machine has been used year round since it was new. It doesn't have an hour meter on it but I'll bet that it has 3,000 hours plus!!! The owner has a plow, a snowblower, several mower decks, a 3 point, and a rototiller. His garden is 2 acres!!
It is still surviving because it is a Case and it gets maintained!!!
Bob MacGregor in CT
 
#6 ·
Good evaluation Bob, sometimes we all get frustrated with a particular machine though, maybe that is where 1995 is right now. I know this feeling well, I just about gave up on one or two of mine in the past, but persistence payed off.
 
#7 ·
i would agree with Bob......... popping out is probably the adjustment is all, if you could hold the lever back by hand and it stays ingaged i would assume the disk is fine. if ya hold it by hand and it stills slips, the plates are bad. and the case / ingersoll will be around a long time after the big retail belly pan mowers are at the curb for $250.00.. Been there - done that. my two cents. :)
 
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Discussion starter · #8 ·
I have just been frustrated lately...My truck/plow gave me problems all winter, then I bought this tractor and have had to rebuild the mower deck, fix an oil leak, my throttle lever drifts down to about 3/4 throttle after about a minute of mowing, my mower deck won't stay engaged, and the battery is not holding a charge. When I have to jump start my truck to go drive through the yard to go jump start my mower it is a bad day
 
#9 ·
Life will be a lot more enjoyable when you start to fix the little problems one at a time. When you let them build up, the frustration sets in .... Your tractor has minor issues and we can help you fix them one at a time ....

:thThumbsU
 
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RestMyCase
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