[rocketsled59]

:Stop:Im sure some of you guys have already dealt with this but those lynch pins holding the wheels on your finishing mowers WILL unlock {ring flips over} and fall out when mowing up against evergreens ...I had it happen a couple times/ once I didnt realize it till I dropped mower for next pass and cut a gouge in the grass the took two weeks to grow back out. the last time was worse / it was a front wheel and I didnt know it till the wheel went under the deck and it was a bad deal. the blade hit , which exploded the shaft housing and even broke the pulley . not to mention what it did to the wheel. I remedied this by modifying the square type pins {the square wire retaining clip hooks over the end of the pin } I drilled the end and cotter pinned it so it has to be taken apart to unlock it / so far no more issues / sure there are many other ways to accomplish this / just a word to the wise ... fix it before you have to fix something much more expensive RS59

 

[Phoenix125]

Thanks for the heads up. Fortunately, I use my quick hitch... so I don't even use lynch pins. The top link gets tricky at times, but so far no probs.

 

[Ken N Tx]

Thanks for the heads up. Fortunately, I use my quick hitch... so I don't even use lynch pins. The top link gets tricky at times, but so far no probs.

He is referring the pins that hold the wheels on..
.

 

[Curly69]

Yes the first time I ever used mine I lost a tire when I lifted it up. I replaced them with a SS Bolt and a SS Lock nut no problem since.

 

[DJ in WV]

Good idea on the bolts. I've only lost one of mine once and was lucky enough to find it quickly.

I'll bet that the noise from running over one of the wheels was a really scary one.

 

[TooManyGT]

Good info, thanks for sharing before it happened to someone else or someone gets hurt from flying wheel parts!
Another option if you need to be able to adjust easily is a bail style pin, used alot on rigging for stages and such. It takes some real effort to undo the latch but still doesn't require and tools. I "aquired" a couple after they took down a stage at work and lost them in the grass I guess.

Brad

 

[rocketsled59]

probably many common sense ways to fix the problem . Just one of those things you dont think about till it happens ///as far as the sound it makes when the mower eats the wheel/wheels eats the mower it was pretty awful as was the sick feeling in my gut RS59

 

[Upper5Percent]

Bow-Tie™ Locking Cotter
http://www.threadrite.com/pins/locking_cotter.htm

 

[Clint in KY]

Been there, done that. I got Locking Pins (looks like a big safety pin) for my Snapper ZTR. Every time I ran the deck under a bush the R pins would pull out either on the way in or the way out. I had to buy a bag of 10 and only used 4. What is the diameter of the pin (the part that goes through the wheel support shaft)?

 

[MacLawn]

Thanks, Rocket, Ken-TEXAS, and Curly! I just used my rear finishing mower last weekend, and I have never even given thought to the possibility of those pins coming out! I will now.