Tough Equipment Day!

yoderjac

yoderjac

Well-Known Member
Yesterday, I started mowing my sunn hemp and buckwheat so it could desiccate a bit before spraying and planting early next month. After about 1/2 hour the Kioti overheated. I found that the fan belt was worn and slipping badly. After the tractor cooled down, I tightened it up and I got an hour or so of mowing before it heated up again. I did notice that the RM990 had a few issues. It wasn't cutting as cleanly as normal and it bound up once or twice and I had to back up to let it clear. I just chalked it up the how thick the sunn hemp was.

I removed the old fan belt and took it to NAPA to get a new one. They could not cross reference the part number on the belt. I gave me a belt that was close and told me it might be "a touch longer". It turned out to be shorter. I estimated I was about 1/2" short of being able to get the new belt one. Another trip to NAPA. I swapped the belt for another that was an inch longer. This one works, but the alternator position is at max, so if it stretches, there will be issues. I figured it was good enough to finish the mowing.

Not so fast. I started up the tractor and when I turned on the PTO, the shaft was turning but I could not hear the blades whirling. I ended up opening the RM990. The nut that holds the pulley on to the idler arm was missing. I'm not sure where it went. I found the washer in the trays, but I could not find the nut. I measured it at 5/8, so I ran to lowes to get a nut. When I get back, I find the nut doesn't fit! It is the right size, but evidently the bold is not a common 5/8-11. The threading is coarser.

So, I through my hands up. I borrowed the neighbors tractor and bushhog and finally finished the mowing!

Tonight, I ordered the nut and bolt for Messicks as well as the actual Kioti OEM fanbelt.

Some days got well...and then there was today...
 
My father always said, "If it's not the windmill, it's the hogs". Story of my days frequently and it is the current state of affairs here at the Ponderosa. I hope better days are ahead for you.
 
KSQ2 said:
I broke our rebuilt 3 point sprayer a few weeks ago 2 times ON THE WAY to the field. :rolleyes:
I feel your pain!
Click to expand...
Yep, it really makes you feel for farmers. With sometimes narrow planting windows and unpredictable weather, when an older piece of equipment breaks down it can have a domino effect. At least our livelihoods don't depend on it like farmer's can.
 
swat1018 said:
You broke the shear pin?
Click to expand...
I'm not sure if you are referring to the @KSQ2 post or one of mine. I presume you are talking about his sprayer. In my case, the nut that holds the pulley wheel attached to the idler came off and went who-knows-where. So, until I fix that, there is no tension on the belt on the RM990.
 
Well, things are looking up. The fanbelt has not yet arrived, but the bolt and nut from Messick's arrived yesterday. I decided to work on the repair this morning. I ordered the bolt, "just in case". I would have had to remove the belt and idler arm (which is a pain) and reinstall them (bigger pain) to replace the bolt. I was hoping the threads on the existing bolt were fine. The new nut when on just fine. I tightened it as tight as I could. While I was at it, I greased both the mower and tractor. It seems to run fine and the blades are spinning!
 
Yoder when it rains it pours. Glad you're back on business that reminds me of my buddy telling me how good ratchet straps are and jinky my ropes are. Come to find out without my ropes the ratchet straps would not hold up. Lolll
 
yoderjac said:
Well, things are looking up. The fanbelt has not yet arrived, but the bolt and nut from Messick's arrived yesterday. I decided to work on the repair this morning. I ordered the bolt, "just in case". I would have had to remove the belt and idler arm (which is a pain) and reinstall them (bigger pain) to replace the bolt. I was hoping the threads on the existing bolt were fine. The new nut when on just fine. I tightened it as tight as I could. While I was at it, I greased both the mower and tractor. It seems to run fine and the blades are spinning!
Click to expand...

A couple drops of blue loctite on the bolt would have been good insurance.
 
Jerry-B-WI said:
A couple drops of blue loctite on the bolt would have been good insurance.
Click to expand...
Yes, I did consider that. I decided against it. The biggest issue I've had with the RM990 is the idler arm freezing up. It was nearly impossible to get it removed. It took me several weeks of trying different approaches to get it off, but I finally did. I ended up using the brushes you use for cleaning copper pipes and attaching them to a drill to remove slight amounts of material from the cylinder and post. I put never freeze on it before reassembling.

I dread ever having to do that again, but if I do, I will need to remove this nut. The original one stayed on for about 15 years, so I'm hoping this one will last as well. I really should remove the tops and inspect and clean it out each year, but I'm too lazy.
 
The blue loctite I've used is called permanent. You are correct, it is not impossible to remove, but in my experience, it requires heat, and even then can be tough.
 
I know this is a two week old thread, but I like piling on! 😂 This morning I planned to spray in three different locations, two leases and here at home. I had to move two deer stands with my tractor first, as my end of one lease got clearcut this summer and I moved two stands into the middle of my plot to ensure they would survive. When I got them moved I started spraying. I looked back there and saw water gushing, and immediately disengaged the pto and got out of the cab to see what was wrong. Discharge hose jumped off ! Put it back on, tightened it up, got back in the cab, engaged the pto. Water gushing ! Got out, the hose was split. Cut off some hose, (had plenty because I replaced this hose three years ago and thought I better have more hose than the original length…….I’m smart !) Tightened the hose clamp again and went to spraying, no more problems ! 😀

Well, one. 🙁 I lost 6/8 gallons during the great flood and I didn’t have enough to spray here at home. That’s OK, I’ll get it first thing tomorrow !
 
Drycreek said:
I know this is a two week old thread, but I like piling on! 😂 This morning I planned to spray in three different locations, two leases and here at home. I had to move two deer stands with my tractor first, as my end of one lease got clearcut this summer and I moved two stands into the middle of my plot to ensure they would survive. When I got them moved I started spraying. I looked back there and saw water gushing, and immediately disengaged the pto and got out of the cab to see what was wrong. Discharge hose jumped off ! Put it back on, tightened it up, got back in the cab, engaged the pto. Water gushing ! Got out, the hose was split. Cut off some hose, (had plenty because I replaced this hose three years ago and thought I better have more hose than the original length…….I’m smart !) Tightened the hose clamp again and went to spraying, no more problems ! 😀

Well, one. 🙁 I lost 6/8 gallons during the great flood and I didn’t have enough to spray here at home. That’s OK, I’ll get it first thing tomorrow !
Click to expand...
It seems like something always goes wrong. When it is a quick fix, I'm thankful. I had a small one today. I headed to the farm to weld up a bracket for putting rollers on my small equipment trailer for the boat (see the New One Man Boat Thread for details). I got there, took some measurements, and cut the first two pieces of metal. I then realized I forgot to bring a step bit and did not have one at the farm. I had to drive 20 minutes back to the retirement property to get a step bit and then drive back. After that, the day went pretty smooth.
 
I was out with my excavator and was excited to get a lot of clearing done. Didn't make it too far from the house and pulled a tree that hit one of the hydraulic lines. Fluid leaking everywhere. Found the leak and parked the machine. Walked back to the house and ordered up 3 more fittings as this was the second time I broke the same damn fitting. 3 weeks goes by and no fittings. Had the wife go through my computer and find the details of the order to track it down because I'm too old for that computer crap. She finds the order and says it was cancelled! Didn't say why it just says it is. Now I'm pissed and running out of time to get the clearing done so I just call the closest dealer and had to order through them. 4 days later I drive 45 minutes one way and get my fittings. Weather doesn't cooperate so I wait 4 more days. Finally can work on it and get my wrenches and everything I can think of that I might need. Haul the stuff out there with my tractor which is the only thing running right now to get me there and start "wrenching". The fitting wasn't broken it had just worked loose from the tree rubbing on it and just needed to be tightened! PISSED and relieved at the same time but mostly pissed. It's working now and I have 3 spare fittings that I'm about positive I'll never need because I have them on hand. Waited about 5 weeks longer than I had to. Murphy's law
 
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