Lawn tractor blade removal problem

[ethany]

I own a cub cadet lawn tractor model 1515 and I am having problem removing the blades. I removed the deck turned it over put a blade lock on blade,sprayed PB Blaster on nut let it soak in for over 24 hours(periodically spraying on more) and everytime I try to lossen with breaker bar the spindle spins along with it.

How can I prevent the spindle from moving?

[Smittie]

Try locking a pair of channel locks around the spindle and either let the shroud hold them or try to hold them yourself.

[ethany]

One more thing, I have to vent. I called my local cub cadet dealer/service ctr. (I could not contact cub cadet directly) and asked this question.

The women who answered asked if I purchased the mower from them and I said know it was lowes(no sevice dept. obviously) and she told me she cannot help me. Her mechanics make $75 an hour and she will not bother them with questions,but if you want to bring in for service that would be fine.

I told her I have been out of work for months and cannot afford service,she told be good like in finding my answer,goodbye.

I was pissed. If anyone lives in PA. area the dealer is lentine mower in langhorne PA.

The funny thing was I was speaking to the owner. So much for customer service and decenty.

[topsites]

A solid piece of wood might be better for the blade, but it has to be at least a 2x4.
Otherwise a Crobar or a big nasty tool against the blade, piece of pipe works, block the blade from turning.

The women who answered asked if I purchased the mower from them and I said know it was lowes(no sevice dept. obviously) and she told me she cannot help me. Her mechanics make $75 an hour and she will not bother them with questions,but if you want to bring in for service that would be fine.

She might not have known the answer. :p
But it sure ain't no way of gaining repeat business, I can see where she was coming from but it doesn't make that right.
I guess maybe it's because of a bit of 'red' in this business LOL

[Smittie]

Hey you Know I have had close to the same experience with Cub Crappet. I bought a GT1554 from Home Cheapo and had to special order from cub as this model is not carried by cheapo. I get it home and the hydraulic lifters that hold the hood up are defective the hood slams shut. I have called 5 times since november 08 and have been told we are sending new ones out to you today. Still no new lifters. I hope Cub moniters or looks on here cause their customer service SUCKS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I had to vent to, man that felt good. I have heard lots of other stories like ours too though so dunno?

[topsites]

Hey you Know I have had close to the same experience with Cub Crappet. I bought a GT1554 from Home Cheapo and had to special order from cub as this model is not carried by cheapo. I get it home and the hydraulic lifters that hold the hood up are defective the hood slams shut. I have called 5 times since november 08 and have been told we are sending new ones out to you today. Still no new lifters. I hope Cub moniters or looks on here cause their customer service SUCKS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I had to vent to, man that felt good. I have heard lots of other stories like ours too though so dunno?

I hear you, and why is the economy so bad again?
No doubt, some folks haven't woke up yet, I'm guessing.

[Smittie]

A solid piece of wood might be better for the blade, but it has to be at least a 2x4.
Otherwise a Crobar or a big nasty tool against the blade, piece of pipe works, block the blade from turning.



She might not have known the answer. :p
But it sure ain't no way of gaining repeat business, I can see where she was coming from but it doesn't make that right.
I guess maybe it's because of a bit of 'red' in this business LOL

You might be able to see where she was coming from but I can't. It wouldn't have taken 2 seconds to ask a mechanics opinion. And furthermore cub should not assume everyone is a moron and shouldnt hire women to answer the phones. Or at least not a women that doesn't know her a__ from a hole in the ground.

[DJL50]

Some dealers are like that around here also. I can never figure it out. Dealers complain they don't make much on the sale of equipment but refuse service if purchased elsewhere. If I had a mower shop I would service anything. I bet once you serviced a HD mower for a customer they would purchase any future mower from you.
We had a large John Deere dealer here in town well known to tell HD customers to take a hike if they needed service. Been a dealer since the 60's. JD walked in one day and pulled there dealership.
If I get my truck serviced at a shop down the road they don't say "you did not buy that here" They are happy to service it. A mower shop is in the Service business. What makes them think they are so special.

I had a Store brand mower with a carb problem. The local dealer gave me a hassle on servicing it. Put me at the back of the line and did not get the mower back for 3 months. Now I am sure the dealer thought "I showed him not to buy a store brand mower."
Well a month later I was purchasing a ZTR for myself and a friend who is responsible for purchasing mowers for a grounds crew. They purchase $15,000 equipment all the time, Guess where we did not make any further purchase? Boy that dealer sure did show us:laugh::laugh:

[mowerknower]

Why should the dealer give you free advice? They didnt make a penny off you during the sale and every second that a tech is on the phone it cost the dealership money. Dealers are there to take care of there customers not lowes and homedepots customers. Next time you will know to buy from a dealership. Quit whining, you got what you paid for. A peice of crap from a piece of crap store.

[DJL50]

Why should the dealer give you free advice? They didnt make a penny off you during the sale and every second that a tech is on the phone it cost the dealership money. Dealers are there to take care of there customers not lowes and homedepots customers. Next time you will know to buy from a dealership. Quit whining, you got what you paid for. A peice of crap from a piece of crap store.

Our Cub dealer here in town sells the same crap mowers as Home Depot.

[Ruben Rocha]

Since you took the deck off. It would seem you don't have any resistance on the pulley from the belt.
So I would say from the top side of the deck clamp something like a vise grip on the pulley shaft at the top of the deck. Then try to loosen the bolt.
Duh?

[betmr]

Why should the dealer give you free advice? They didnt make a penny off you during the sale and every second that a tech is on the phone it cost the dealership money. Dealers are there to take care of there customers not lowes and homedepots customers. Next time you will know to buy from a dealership. Quit whining, you got what you paid for. A peice of crap from a piece of crap store.

I kind of agree with mowerknower, take it to Loewe's and scream bloody murder that you bought that crap from them, and as a dealer, you expect them to fix it. See how far that gets you ! So why should a dealer you have no relation with, take care of Loewe's free service advice ? Now if Cub Corporate wants to take care of you for free, have at it, but I think it's not fair to bash dealers who don't feel obliged to do Loews Customer Care for them.

Now, don't get this wrong, I'm not saying that a "paying" service customer should be treated differently than anyone else. I just don't feel that Dealers should be bashed, because Big Box stores are making the big sale with nothing to back it up. A little Question, these stores don't have service departments, what do you do about warranty work ? And would you really want Loewe's or home depot working on your machine.

I would call Cub Corporate and gripe like crazy about the fact that these Big Box stores have no support for their customers after the sale. Do you think they care ?....what do the kids say? NNNOOOTTT

All you guys can probably say the same, ALL my dealers are berry berry good to me. They answer all my questions on the phone, and if I get a recording they call me right back, they even send guys out, or pick up my machines if need be. They are our support and that is a big factor in where you buy equipment. :dancing: :clapping: :dancing:

[mowerknower]

Our Cub dealer here in town sells the same crap mowers as Home Depot.
Yeah but atleast the dealer will take care of you when you cant get the blade off. Think about it guys. Would you help someone hedge for free because the last guy did it wrong. I dont think so. Shame on all you for bashing this dealer. Its not there problem.

[ethany]

Hey mowerknower,If the tractor was still under warranty this dealer would have to honor the warranty even though they didn't make a penny on it. They represent cub cadet just like a car dealer represents the car manufacturer.

Its just good business and being a decent human being. The service industry has been based on this for years. There's no integrity anymore,it's all about money. I think people need to go back to the basic's because the way the world is today,that sure isn't working.

By the way it was a simple,quick question that smitty answered and I bet it did not take much of his time. Thanks guys, got the job done and you provide a great service here, and I would recommend this service to anyone who needs it.

[betmr]

But don't forget that Cub Cadet has to PAY that Dealer for warranty work, so it doesn't matter if he made anything on the sale. He's gonna get payed for the warranty work.

[pawatch]

Impact wrench should get it off no problem.

[mowerknower]

Hey mowerknower,If the tractor was still under warranty this dealer would have to honor the warranty even though they didn't make a penny on it. They represent cub cadet just like a car dealer represents the car manufacturer.

Its just good business and being a decent human being. The service industry has been based on this for years. There's no integrity anymore,it's all about money. I think people need to go back to the basic's because the way the world is today,that sure isn't working.

By the way it was a simple,quick question that smitty answered and I bet it did not take much of his time. Thanks guys, got the job done and you provide a great service here, and I would recommend this service to anyone who needs it.

A dealer doesnt have to perform warranty on anything bought somewhere else unless they signed a contract. Also it was not a warranty issue. You say that it would not take much time to get your question answered but it still takes time. The lady that answered the phone would have to interupt a tech from the job they are on. Even if it only took a minute or so. At 70-80 bucks an our that cost the dealership a couple dollars. Now say that happens 5-10 times a day (trust me it does), thats 10-20 bucks a day that the dealer is loosing. It sounds to me like you are being inconsiderate of the dealer. You said you were unemployed so I would think you would understand that the dealer is just trying to save some money. You have know right to expect the dealer to help you for free. Why do you think that they owe you something. Honestly youre attitude really pisses me off. From my experience people like you will always go back to the box store to save a buck, even if the dealer did take care of you. I think you owe the dealer an apology. But Im guessing that will never happen.

[Roger]

Agree with mowknower, and others who said it is not the dealer's problem. For those suggesting a fix under warranty, getting a blade off sure does not sounds like a defect that would be covered under a warranty. This is just plain routine maintenance, not a defect in equipment, manufacture, or assembly.

There are sooooo many threads on LS that complain about a customer, or somebody else, taking their time. The story goes something like: time = money. Why is the principle any different for the dealer. If the service department at the dealer stopped working on other paying jobs, and took time out to work with anybody who wanted help on routine maintenance, then we would be reading threads on LS about the practices of the dealer's service department: "... I took my machine to them for work, but they kept stopping and helping every other equipment owner who came through the door with things they should have been doing themselves, ... I can't get my machine back quickly enough ...."

One of the initial posts spoke about "customer service." From what I understand, the owner of the tractor was not a customer of the dealer. If no customer, why expect customer service?

[betmr]

Agree with mowknower, and others who said it is not the dealer's problem. For those suggesting a fix under warranty, getting a blade off sure does not sounds like a defect that would be covered under a warranty. This is just plain routine maintenance, not a defect in equipment, manufacture, or assembly.

There are sooooo many threads on LS that complain about a customer, or somebody else, taking their time. The story goes something like: time = money. Why is the principle any different for the dealer. If the service department at the dealer stopped working on other paying jobs, and took time out to work with anybody who wanted help on routine maintenance, then we would be reading threads on LS about the practices of the dealer's service department: "... I took my machine to them for work, but they kept stopping and helping every other equipment owner who came through the door with things they should have been doing themselves, ... I can't get my machine back quickly enough ...."

One of the initial posts spoke about "customer service." From what I understand, the owner of the tractor was not a customer of the dealer. If no customer, why expect customer service?

So True !!! They go buy a cheap "Home owner" market Z-Turn 'cause they're all the rage, the thing to have, in suburbia, from a "Home Center" chain, with No service dept., or Customer Care, and expect that Trained, Professional, Commercial Dealership's service departments should be at their beck and call. Didn't Loewes drop what they were doing to answer the question ? Why not, aren't they the ones who owe him "Customer Care" ?

I don't understand why he's not "Venting" about Loewes, instead of people who don't have a nickle in his dime. Put the blame where it truly lies, Loewes They are the ones you should be complaining about.

[Smittie]

A dealer doesnt have to perform warranty on anything bought somewhere else unless they signed a contract. Also it was not a warranty issue. You say that it would not take much time to get your question answered but it still takes time. The lady that answered the phone would have to interupt a tech from the job they are on. Even if it only took a minute or so. At 70-80 bucks an our that cost the dealership a couple dollars. Now say that happens 5-10 times a day (trust me it does), thats 10-20 bucks a day that the dealer is loosing. It sounds to me like you are being inconsiderate of the dealer. You said you were unemployed so I would think you would understand that the dealer is just trying to save some money. You have know right to expect the dealer to help you for free. Why do you think that they owe you something. Honestly youre attitude really pisses me off. From my experience people like you will always go back to the box store to save a buck, even if the dealer did take care of you. I think you owe the dealer an apology. But Im guessing that will never happen.
Why is it that everyone expects to be paid for every little thing. Say it does happen 5-10 times a day? What about all the times the mechanic is standing around picking his nose doing nothing? Honestly YOUR attitude pisses me off. Any help to him would have been at the lest being a decent human being but there arent many of those left in this world. He wasnt looking for anything but a quick answer to a quick question. Now that dealer will never have his business and probably be out of business soon enough anyway so good riddance to a bad person.

[betmr]

Why is it that everyone expects to be paid for every little thing. Say it does happen 5-10 times a day? What about all the times the mechanic is standing around picking his nose doing nothing? Honestly YOUR attitude pisses me off. Any help to him would have been at the lest being a decent human being but there arent many of those left in this world. He wasnt looking for anything but a quick answer to a quick question. Now that dealer will never have his business and probably be out of business soon enough anyway so good riddance to a bad person.

I still don't understand why non of you anti dealer guys aren't bashing Loewes. They sold it to him, They should be helping him.

Lets say I'm a LCO, I get a call from a guy, he tells me his local handyman sold him a fertilizer application at a really good price and burnt the sh** out of his beautiful lawn. And wants me to tell him how HE can fix it, over the phone.

Am I a bad guy if I tell him, if he wants me to fix it, OK, other wise good bye. I mean I started this business to make money, right ? Or am I in it to hand out free telephone advice for his cheaper handyman.

You want Cheap, take your chances equipment, get it at a Big Box store. You want reliable equipment with service and after care, go to a reputable Dealer. ...You get what you pay for ! :hammerhead:

[ethany]

I am not going to beat a dead horse here anymore but one last thing. Obviously the people here that are pissed off are dealers/service people and I realize this person did not owe me anything and in retrospect I should have made a call to lowes who I am sure would haved helped me NO PROBLEM. I will never make that mistake again,by the way have you ever called (lowes,home depot) with a question plumbing,electrical or otherwise?


I realize you resent the big box stores because they take away some of your business,but look at it this way,you sell higher end products which some people cannot afford.I would think alot of your business is with professionals who need higher end equipment that gets many hours of use compared to a homeower who use them a couple hours a week.

Remember,people use a landscaping business that makes them money which in turn makes you money in sales and service. So in the end you do make money off of us. I apologize again for upsetting some people here, that was not my intention.

[betmr]

I'm a Groundskeeper, not a dealer or service rep.. I rarely have the need to ask Loewes or Home depot a question, but if I am asking them a plumbing question, I am entitled too, because guess what, I am one of their customers. I have lots of Home Center stuff in my house, sinks, faucets, paint, etc,etc.

You go to a Cub Dealer, and he'll get you low end stuff if you want it, so that's not fair reasoning.

I'm sorry you had trouble with your machine, we'll all help you here. But I think you need to vent in the right direction. That Dealer had nothing to do your machine. And you got on here and smeared their name and bashed their receptionist in this public forum...If I lost business because of that, I'd be pretty upset.

[newz7151]

I hope Cub moniters or looks on here cause their customer service SUCKS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

"CubCadet" is just a label. When will you people learn, that MTD in all of the stickers do not really care past getting the box store to pay their invoices? If you don't WANT the MTD lack of direct manufacturer service and the headaches that go with working with a dealer that is having to work with the same crappy company, then don't buy an MTD wholly supported product.

At least if you're buying something like the TORO lawn tractor which is built by MTD, you have the backing of Toro to get stuff done instead of just depending on MTD directly to make something happen.

[newz7151]

so good riddance to a bad person.

"We at Lawnsite are sorry to see you go. We will welcome you back if you choose to return at some time in the future. Thank you for having been a member."

[SLR]

The dealer being arbitrarily harassed on the phone from a broke customer that doesn't even shop at HIS store & buy HIS goods has ABSOLUTLY no ground to stand on, or pi*s on,or rant on, or twist the man panties so tightly!!!!.....!!!!!!
Geez being ticked towards someone who was so blatantly passed by,by you at HIS store and then moan 'she was mean and lazy and unhelpful" IS EXACTLY what you were when you went to lowes and bought a junky MTD in the 1st place.

I ask the minds that think it ok to recieve freely from those that were given no regard primarily before you cheap purchase:
What if you are on the side of the road with 3 new tires you just bought at some crap store,and here i come driving dow the road in my company tire truck and stop and suddenly you are hollering why i am not helping you put on the tires when i had absolutly nothing to even do with you.Will you complain that day too?

[Ruben Rocha]

All I can say is I do quite a bit of business at my toro dealer. Even with my Hustler and HD toro push mower. But I also buy other equipment from him. He is always willing to help me out with odd ball stuff even if it is not on his line card, But I guess in my case because I do give him business he always goes the extra mile for me. That is also why even though it is a bit more I always buy everything from him such a mix oil, String,Blades, Filters bla bla.

[Heatman]

Back to your original question. Buy one of these. It clamps to the outside of the deck and keeps your blade from moving.(link below) If it still won't come off put some heat on the nut/bolt. I had a cheap MTD tractor several years ago. Couldn't get the blade nut to move at all and an impact started to round it off. I used my oxygen/Acetylene torch to heat it up and you could have almost turned it by hand. Propane of even better Mapp gas should work.

You can get these at HD, TSC, etc.
http://cgi.ebay.com/Blade-Buster-Lawn-Mower-Blade-Clamp-BB-100-by-Arnold_W0QQitemZ270370517717QQcmdZViewItemQQimsxZ20090407?IMSfp=TL090407153006r27719

[mowerknower]

Alright, sorry I got this thing going. You said you had to vent and so did I. I can understand your frustration. But I want you to understand that I am at the other end. I am a tech and I get interupted all the time for questions like, what is the torque spec on the head of my craftsman riding mower. It sucks, its like someone is kicking you while you are down. You know your dealership is barely squeeking by on money and then you have to waste you time on someone who bought a mower from somewhere else. I do agree that maybe the lady on the phone could have been a little more polite but I just want people to understand what goes on at the other end. Everybody want free advice but we are paid to fix stuff, not to tell other people how to fix stuff. That is why this sight is here. Nobody on here is getting paid, its just people helping other people when they are not trying to make a living. I know that there are a lot of people on here from dealerships that give lots of great advice, but please, please do not try to interupt them from there work.

[betmr]

Well said Knower

[Smittie]

"We at Lawnsite are sorry to see you go. We will welcome you back if you choose to return at some time in the future. Thank you for having been a member."

What I was referring to the Lady that was being crappy at the dealer and I was spouting off without knowing all the facts. I agree that if you don't buy from the dealer why should you get help. But what if that help is all it takes to make a life long customer. You took my words out of context and spun them. Not cool. Also sorry I ruffled your feathers. LOL