2019 - Volume #43, Issue #5, Page #34
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Modifications Improved His Batwing Mower
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“The gauge wheels were extremely loose because the shaft taper bearings were poorly set up and not loaded correctly in the race,” Rinke says. To solve the problem he put in bushing washers to set them correctly, then added an improved lip seal that keeps dirt and grass from getting into the shaft.
“The OEM design was a lip seal, but as the axles rolled in the swivel assembly, the grass wrapped in that space because there wasn’t a guard. Eventually grass worked onto the axle and into the grease seal. I used a piece of strap iron to make a shoe horn that shields that open area on the sides and top.” He says his design protects the seal, with the bottom left open so any dirt and water can get out.
Next he enclosed the batwing swivels and bearing spacers that change the height of the mower so they wouldn’t collect dust. He cut pieces of shock absorber rubbers, slipped them on the top and bottom, then added buttons so the shafts are totally enclosed. “The boots cover anything that swivels, so the grease stays clean and doesn’t go anywhere,” says Rinke.
After using the mower a few times he found that the mechanical gearbox and its alignment with the belt sheaves wasn’t correct, showing wear on one side but not the other. Rinke added spacers to align them better, then reinforced the gearbox mounting to make it more secure. Now he says the belts are better aligned and it takes less power to run the machine.
Because he uses the mower on hillsides, through ditches, and across uneven terrain, Rinke altered the hitch and pto shaft. He extended the mower hitch to better align with the tractor, undercut a new angle on the hitch ball so it would swivel easier, then honed and polished the inside of the ball mount. A stub shaft added to the pto lengthened it to match the hitch. Says Rinke, “These simple fixes reduce stress to the drive system, the alignment is better, and nothing fights anything when I’m mowing through these uneven conditions. All the components work together to extend the life of the mower.”
Rinke also installed grease zerks on the pins that hold the floating decks and reinforced the hydraulic mounts that raise and lower the deck and wings. New set rods hold both wings in place for travel and storage, using quick-connect jack mounts that he welded to the frame. He also fashioned a simple swivel hanger to hold the pto shaft when it’s disconnected from the tractor so it’s held securely to the frame and easier to re-connect.
“The improvements took me a whole wintertime of tinkering,” Rinke says with a chuckle, “but now I’ve got a much-improved mower that’s going to last a long time.”
Contact: FARM SHOW Followup, Mark Rinke, 11175 225th St. E., Lakeville, Minn. 55044 (mark.rinke@nngco.com).
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