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Re: (ET) Mower motor problems



Harold gave a good list of motor checks. I'd also look at the deck itself. The "loud rhythmic vibration" is likely to be causing the magnets to fail. From previous comments, I think you have a front-mount deck with 'skinny' motors?

The earliest front-mount decks were basically flat across the top. Then GE starting adding on two pieces of angle iron in a slight "V" pattern to stiffen it. The later decks (including mid-mounts and Wheelhorse versions) had a kind of flower pedal or star-burst pattern embossed around each motor for stiffening. If you have the early flat version, you may want to consider welding on the angle iron to stiffen it.

You can also tip the deck up on end and sight down it to see if the motor bodies all look parallel and the blades all look to be in the same plane. I've seem some which have been bent so one motor and it's blade is at a different angle relative to the others.

For constant vibrations, I'd suggest connecting only one motor at a time and seeing if you can find the culprit. With the rythmic vibration you describe, that test may not show much as it may be more of a harmonic thing that involves the interplay of multiple motors. The reinforcing rings are the biggest help on the 'fat' motors with the thin flanges. The 'skinny' motors have thick flanges to begin with.

I know a few people seem to have ongoing problems with their decks, yet others (myself included) torture our decks no end without magnet failure. ie I mow ex cow pasture that is 18" tall without problem, other than I have to go slow.

Stan Witherspoon wrote:
I have been having mower motor problems. I have replaced the bearings, replaced one brush housing, had the same magnet in two different motors come loose, and now the magnet in one of my my replacement motor housing has come loose as well. This is in less than 12 months and less than 10 mowings. I can't seem to get through a single mowing without having to fix something.

I realize these tractors are pretty old, but I would expect that stuff that gets fixed would stay fixed. Is there anything I need to watch out for on the mower motors? I have been through the HSM and all of the on line archives. My mower deck has a loud rhythmic vibration that resonates every second or so that goes away when the motors are loaded down, like when mowing thick grass. I have balanced the blades, replaced the blades, balanced the replacements, disassembled, cleaned and reassembled the mower deck and replaced the wiring on the mower deck. I also have new fiber washers and I torqued the blades bolts according to the HSM specs.

Any Suggestions?

Frustrated,

Stan




--
Jim Coate
*The Electric Tractor Store*
http://www.ElectricTractorStore.com

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