Servis batwing

I have an older Servis (Rhino) batwing. While mowing yesterday, the entire pumpkin in the center portion dropped off. Doesn’t appear it’s damaged, even found the nut. Question is, how do I get that back on there. It’s heavy.

Probably have to disassemble the blades from the pumpkin, but even then, this could be a real struggle. Does it make sense to maybe upend the mower with FEL, so it’s vertical, then put it on?

Why stop at vertical?

Take it on over and lay it down. No chance of it coming down on you and gravity will hold the blade drum.

Was there a castle nut with a cotter key through it, or why did it come off?

Gary

Yes, it was a castle nut. And I would assume it had a cotter key....at least at one time. It's the kind of thing you can't visually check, so why did it come off....have no idea. Having said that....any one with ideas as to why this would occur?

And yes, perhaps I can lay the whole thing over.

The gearbox came off, I must be missing something here, you must have lost the blade carrier too, castelleated nut on the end of the shaft came off, cotter pin missing, and the gearbox mount bolts that attach to the deck itself, assuming these to be similar to non batwing, smaller type mowers.

It's good to check those mount bolts, they seem to loosen often, and you have to pull the blade carrier to get to the other side on mine, they can wallow out and egg shape the holes in the deck if let go, then it's hard to get and keep tight. I could be comparing apples to oranges here, yours is a batwing, same mfr though.

I'm not sure how shops work on these, they must be equipped to hoist them and secure same, as it seems you do need to be able to work on both sides and being so large and bulky, that can be a challenge, definitely need a helper.

If I had to do that on mine, you could do it either way, securely block up the deck so you can get under it, but even then I'd have it rigged with something just in case the blocks rolled or it did fall, might want to use square timber cribbing, wont roll so easy. Being vertical, you have to support both the deck and rig the gear box, slide bolts into the holes, more room to work, but you'll need a 2nd pick for that gearbox once that deck is safely vertical, either way it could get you, so use care.

I've wrestled one of their straight old 6' models around, have had wrenches with pipes on the end while it was vertical to reach the blade carrier and top side of blade carrier through the hole that allows access to the shoulder bolt, it will balance and the loader held it, though I never put myself in its path if it were to fall. It's easier to attach a lifting hook to the deck and flip er over for blade changes and to change the gear lube on this one.

You may want to check the lube seal where the shaft comes out, they can leak, easy to fix that while the gear box is out, same with a lube change and flush.

Gary has the right idea , lay it right over on it`s back . Then you can use the loader to lower the [punkin] down on it . If it did`nt have a castle nut I`d figger out what was to keep it on there . Some locktite and a lock nut may work or take a punch and bugger the threads so it cant come unscrewed without some pressure . Besure to check the other ones while your at it .

Billy, isn't the gearbox, but the pumpkin below the deck. I think the gearbox is secure on the deck. It bothers me how the cotter key came out and allowed the nut to loosen. But I as you....this thing is heavy, and when working with this much weight....it can be troublesome.

The Rhino book on my 6'-0" model, calls for some outrageous torque on that nut,(the blade carrier nut) like 450 lbs, also when seating the blade carrier, good to strike the blade carrier near the nut with a heavy hammer to seat the hub, make sure the mating surfaces are clean, and you hit without damaging the end of the shaft,threads etc., re-tighten after striking. Though, I have no idea why so much torque, but that's what they call for, I've had mine apart numerous times now and seat that hub, tighten er down good, seems to be fine through all kinds of conditions, same cotter pin too, though it's probably best to replace that, they do get fatigued.

Is it similar to this under there ?



4 outside bolts are for deck attachment, smaller are contained within gearbox

Yeah, I'm definitely comparing apples to oranges here, so I'm kind of p$ssing into the wind, ( what else is new lol !, but they are kind of a pain to work on being so bulky and do similar things when they come apart.

You may find the slines are worn allowng the blade carrier to move.Even a slight movement will eventually loosen the nut,shear the cotter pin and allow the nut to come off.If the splines are worn just bolting everything back together may gain you some time but it won't last. Figure on replacing the worn parts and torque the nut to spec.

I'm not at the ranch right now, so can't look....but yes as I recall similiar to that. Wow...How long of a pipe extension you gotta have to torque to 450lbs?

And haven't a clue how to measure anything like that. I'll be sure and check the splines.

I folded mine up and layed it on one side and chained the top wing to a tree so it couldn"t fall. I don"t think I had to remove the blades, that has been a few years. Mine is a SR15 an older one.

That I'm not sure on, but you will need some leverage, and seeing I'm just relating similar experience, 2 different mowers here, I looked into the book again to be sure, couple of raps to the carrier and re-tighten to get a good seat on the hub, that torque specification sure is serious at 450 ft. lbs., I tightened it darned snug, it's never loosened up even when things got out of hand under there, 2 round rocks, sheared both shoulder bolts ( meant to shear ) & dropped both blades off once, and also ran over my own tail wheel last year after it fell off, that's another story, but typical, gave myself a dunce cap for that one, .25 cent pin fell out or broke.

Things can get out of balance on all of these, things do rattle apart, worn spines would come to mind if something was loose in there, mine are still a nice fit and it's old and been in service a long before I got it, I've always checked it out and have done all the maintainance you can do, and it performs quite well.