John Deere mower conditioner 328 - year 2000

[rjtfarming]

I bought this mower last summer and done 80 acres. A bearing went under the top hat on the drive end. I stripped it down and replaced it. Unfortunately the top of the bed is cracked and when I put it back together the UJ catches on the top hat and the 'shield' below the gearbox. So the drive is out of line.
The only thing I can think is that the bed is slightly twisted and I've been sold a wrong un!
Any tips please? Can I get a second hand reconditioned bed? I can't really afford a new mower!
Thanks!

 

[Dog Bowl]

I’m not sure about reconditioned beds but I replaced a bed in one of my 1365 mowers a few years back. Think the bed was around £2500 brand new from John Deere dealer. In a morning father and I had old bed off and new bed fitted.

Seemed decent value to replace with a new bed for that money rather than look for a reconditioned bed or buy a new mower!

 

[e3120]

Ditto above on a 1365, NFU contribution helped as well. I can surely keep the rest of it patched together.

 

[Mouser]

I bought this mower last summer and done 80 acres. A bearing went under the top hat on the drive end. I stripped it down and replaced it. Unfortunately the top of the bed is cracked and when I put it back together the UJ catches on the top hat and the 'shield' below the gearbox. So the drive is out of line.
The only thing I can think is that the bed is slightly twisted and I've been sold a wrong un!
Any tips please? Can I get a second hand reconditioned bed? I can't really afford a new mower!
Thanks!View attachment 675278

A few more pictures would help but from that one it looks like something is seriously out of place. Shafts should be true straight down centre of disc.

 

[Dave W]

I bought this mower last summer and done 80 acres. A bearing went under the top hat on the drive end. I stripped it down and replaced it. Unfortunately the top of the bed is cracked and when I put it back together the UJ catches on the top hat and the 'shield' below the gearbox. So the drive is out of line.
The only thing I can think is that the bed is slightly twisted and I've been sold a wrong un!
Any tips please? Can I get a second hand reconditioned bed? I can't really afford a new mower!
Thanks!View attachment 675278

From that pic something looks seriously wrong. The drive shaft down won’t necessarily be bang in the centre of the top hat but should be closer. Also it just doesn’t look true somehow.
As said a few more pics will help.
Does the top hat turn true to itself? Or does it wobble? Disregard what the shaft is doing.

From your description you say the top of the bed is cracked. How did you go about rectifying this? It’s critically important that the top of the bed casing it true and flat

 

[rjtfarming]

Thanks for your replies.
In my ignorance I didn't notice the crack until after I put it back together. I ran the mower up to check it was ok, and it was then I heard the tapping when the shaft caught on the top hat. I think the person who had it before me must have cut the middle out of the old top hat to stop it catching, or perhaps it twisted when the bearing went? Looks like it's a new bed?! I had planned on just welding up the crack or getting a new top.

 

[Dave W]

Those beds are really prone to cracking around the first disk. My scrap pile is testament to that. They can be welded up successfully if you know what you’re doing and it hasn’t gone too far.

 

[8100]

This pic looks weird or is it me....

 

[Deutzdx3]

Get the bed tig welded up. As for the marrying up of the drive into the hat, it looks like the top may have twisted where the gearbox is mounted. It could be the bed is ok but the top frame is out of alignment which is easier and cheaper that replacing the bed. Strip the top cover off so you can see properly what and where is bent.

 

[johnboy87]

Is it just me or does the bed look like its curved upwards in the middle?

 

[rjtfarming]

Get the bed tig welded up. As for the marrying up of the drive into the hat, it looks like the top may have twisted where the gearbox is mounted. It could be the bed is ok but the top frame is out of alignment which is easier and cheaper that replacing the bed. Strip the top cover off so you can see properly what and where is bent.

Thank you for that idea, I hadn't thought of that. I'll get it back in the workshop, strip it down and have a look. Cheers.

 

[rjtfarming]

From that pic something looks seriously wrong. The drive shaft down won’t necessarily be bang in the centre of the top hat but should be closer. Also it just doesn’t look true somehow.
As said a few more pics will help.
Does the top hat turn true to itself? Or does it wobble? Disregard what the shaft is doing.

From your description you say the top of the bed is cracked. How did you go about rectifying this? It’s critically important that the top of the bed casing it true and flat

Thanks. I haven't done anything with the crack yet. Didn't want to go back to it, unless I thought i had half a chance of fixing it. I'll have a closer look! Thank you for your reply.

 

[Dave W]

Thanks. I haven't done anything with the crack yet. Didn't want to go back to it, unless I thought i had half a chance of fixing it. I'll have a closer look! Thank you for your reply.

I mended one similar last year. Took another bed casing that had similar issues. Cut it across between the 2nd and 3rd hubs on the opposite good end. Cut the bad end off your bed and weld together. Nice big straight properly prepped weld on an area away from where there’s most stress

 

[milkloss]

If I may join in here. I’m looking for some discs and possibly the end drums for a 1350 trailed moco as I’m guessing they’re not going to be cheap new. Any chance someone has something laying about to help? One end drum has a hole in it and the discs have already been switched and welded up