Export thread

Hello I'm Bob---new here! I've been doing more and more lawnmower mechanicing lately, so I thought I would join a forum that could help me along the way.

On my new Husqvarna I noticed that the deck was vibrating more than normal but seem to smooth out after mowing a while. Lately my wife has been using it to mow and she also spoke of the vibration. The only thing that comes to mind off hand is maybe the blades wasn't mounted right to match up with the star on one of the blades??? I've looked close at the top of the deck with the pulleys and everything seems ok there. I haven't pulled the blades to check them yet.

Any suggestions on what to check. I'll be diving into it here pretty quick and would like any shared knowledge on this I can get. I'll check the mounting of the blades and go from there. Thanks, Bob

platefire said:

Hello I'm Bob---new here! I've been doing more and more lawnmower mechanicing lately, so I thought I would join a forum that could help me along the way.

On my new Husqvarna I noticed that the deck was vibrating more than normal but seem to smooth out after mowing a while. Lately my wife has been using it to mow and she also spoke of the vibration. The only thing that comes to mind off hand is maybe the blades wasn't mounted right to match up with the star on one of the blades??? I've looked close at the top of the deck with the pulleys and everything seems ok there. I haven't pulled the blades to check them yet.

Any suggestions on what to check. I'll be diving into it here pretty quick and would like any shared knowledge on this I can get. I'll check the mounting of the blades and go from there. Thanks, Bob

Click to expand...

Which Model is it???? Does the deck have 2 blades, or 3??? On some of the Husq decks...mostly the 3 blade decks...there is a belt idler pulley that can work loose, and start causing vibration....shortly before it throws/destroys the belt. The fix is pretty simple, but you have to remove the belt, and check for wobble, etc, on the pulleys to make sure this isn't the problem.

Hello! It's a YTH 1842 two blade deck. I'm a pretty decent lawn mower mechanic. I have inspected everything but the blade installation and haven't found anything wrong. All the idler pulleys and mandrel assemblies seem to be tight and smooth. I'm going to give it another going over before my next mowing and trying to lean something here at the forum to look for I may have missed. Bob

If it has the wavey mulching blades check they are no right way up.
Very common to see them fitted upside down which causes vibrations and the clippings to look sort of chewed up rather than cut.
That will cause vibrations that tend to calm down.
A belt that is too tight will also do the same thing.
If the blades are very low at the front you can also get vibrations particularly if it is caused by the mounting plate on the mower being bent.

I'd try a new belt, keep the old one as a spare.

Since this is a new machine, have you contacted the dealer? Did you test drive this model before you purchased? If your particular one has more vibration then it's dealer time.

I'm in the process of mowing my yard right now, taking a break. Before I started I checked the blades then check all the pulley system on top of the deck. Everything looks jam up and jelly tight, just as it should be. In fact I cranked it up and engaged the deck before I inspected it and it was vibrating pretty bad.
After I inspected it, gassed it up and started mowing the deck has been operating very normal with minimal vibration. So right now everything is good. So I don't know??? I'll keep an eye on it and see how it goes. Thanks again for listening to my issues. Bob

Are all of the deck supports in place ?
Are they all intact with no cracks or loose bolts

Download your parts diagram from Husqvarna and check that they are all there.
I am faily sure you deck should have a stabilizer bar running across the rear of the deck, it may be missing.

Yes I have the downloaded parts manual but don't find a "Stabilized Bar" but does have "Sway Bar" on the exploded parts diagram. I will check the deck to see if that's in place---pretty sure it is?!?

One thing I was noticing browsing the pages of the parts manual it had a paragraph and picture about balancing your blade. I never considered balancing the blades??? The said with the blade off the mower, using a bolt through the center hold of blade hold the blade up and a perfectly balanced blade would remain horizontal but if the blade was unbalanced, one side would rotate downward---har! the old gravity method. They said the side that drifted down you would need to sharpen it more until it was balanced. I might give that a shot next time I sharpen my blades. Bob

Yes an unbalanced blade will cause the deck to shake, but the deck should continue to shake not smooth out.
It is the smoothing out that has every ones stumped
And yes , Sway bar , stabilized bar it is a tom-arto to-mato sort of thing.
On some models the two lift arms pivot on a bolt on bracket on the frame they can come loose or break which will shake the deck.
But that smoothing out thing ,,, weird.

platefire said:

Yes I have the downloaded parts manual but don't find a "Stabilized Bar" but does have "Sway Bar" on the exploded parts diagram. I will check the deck to see if that's in place---pretty sure it is?!?

One thing I was noticing browsing the pages of the parts manual it had a paragraph and picture about balancing your blade. I never considered balancing the blades??? The said with the blade off the mower, using a bolt through the center hold of blade hold the blade up and a perfectly balanced blade would remain horizontal but if the blade was unbalanced, one side would rotate downward---har! the old gravity method. They said the side that drifted down you would need to sharpen it more until it was balanced. I might give that a shot next time I sharpen my blades. Bob

Click to expand...

Keeping the blades balanced is important....hitting a rock, etc., can chip the blade, and cause vibration, etc. Rather than suspending the blade on a bolt, here is a neat little tool that does the job nicely....

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Rotary-MOW...285072?hash=item3d8d19d390:g:M8kAAOSwZeRdAc3m

OK, Thanks for the link on the blade balancer. I looked at that and even watched a video of a more fancier version that mounts on the wall, has magnets and also has rod to check your blade for being warped.

On my situation, is a bit of a mystery how it starts to vibrate and then smooths out. Never had that before. I've inspected the deck multiple time and can't find anything out of order that I can put my finger on. From past experience usually when I had a problem I couldn't find, if it's a part going out, it will usually get worst and raise its ugly head where you can then identify it. Being this is a new mower purchased in April 19, can't imagine a part going out this early.

Someone ask did I try it out first??? This leads to a whole "LOWES" story. Yes I did try it out! I ask LOWES if I picked out my mower that I personally tested, would that mower be delivered to my house. They told me yes several times. I ask them multiple times to assure myself they wern't jacking me around. So I got a lawn mower guy to come out with a key and I fired the mower up, checked operation of transmission and deck. Everything worked good. So I got the serial number off the mower. Guess what??? The mower that was delivered to my house was the same model Husq but and different serial number. I couldn't believe it!!! after all the assurances I got from them. I should of made them take it back but decided to have the delivery man unload it and go through another test. Everything seemed OK, so I accepted it.

Regarding Warranty: The warranty that comes with it is very limited. The extra warranty that covers everything was IMHO too expensive. So since I'm a half way decent lawn more mechanic, I decided I would check operation of the main features, if they were working good and I maintained it properly, it would most likely be good to go. Never had a deck or transmission not work. This deck vibe issue kind of showed up after the fact. Love the mower, and sooner or later I will conquer this issue--of course with your help :wink: Bob

platefire said:

OK, Thanks for the link on the blade balancer. I looked at that and even watched a video of a more fancier version that mounts on the wall, has magnets and also has rod to check your blade for being warped. Bob

Click to expand...

The thing I would watch for, regarding deck vibration, on virtually Any mower, would be an issue with the belt pulleys....working loose, etc. There is a belt idler pulley....item #36 on this deck IPL....that might be especially prone to working loose, and causing vibration which eventually will break or throw the belt. The idler pulley, or a spindle drive pulley that isn't fully tightened can cause excess vibration and noise. Since I had such an issue a couple of years ago, I loosen my belts, and check these pulleys a couple times a year.

https://www.messicks.com/hus/124938

scroll down the list of diagrams on this site to the "Deck"...to see the pulley I would most suspect....#36,

Revelation! Thanks deminin! because of your link you attached I just learned that I downloaded the wrong Parts Manual. It is a Model # YTH18542 but----the correct numeric number associated with the model for mine is (96045005900) and the number manual I downloaded is (96013000202) which is different than my deck in it has additional parts my deck don't have such as:

#44 Mandrel Guards(would have had to jerk this off anyway)

#91, 94, 95, 132, 182 & 183 Nose Roller Assembly

#6 Sway Bar and all the associated parts that go with it

I'm sure it has some other differences but those are the major one. No sway Bar on Mine!

Also I checked pulley #36 shown on your referenced link on my mower. The pulley is mounted tight in the deck with no movement, there is no looseness in rotation of the pulley or restriction in rotation. I felt for any bends or warps in the pulley and it appears in great shape best I can tell.

So I'm happy to have the right parts manual now. I haven't had to use it up to now, so that would have been kind of confusing when things don't match up. So this manual you linked does match what I got. Thanks, Bob

Hope this is your problem.
However check that both the mower & the deck has a space for the sway bar.
It could very well be that in order to meet Lowes price demands AYP fitted a cheaper deck.
Also a very good chance that the test mower at Lowes has the good deck & what they deliver has the cheaper deck.
It would not be the first time this has happened.

platefire said:

Revelation! Thanks deminin! because of your link you attached I just learned that I downloaded the wrong Parts Manual. It is a Model # YTH18542 but----the correct numeric number associated with the model for mine is (96045005900) and the number manual I downloaded is (96013000202) which is different than my deck in it has additional parts my deck don't have such as:
So I'm happy to have the right parts manual now. I haven't had to use it up to now, so that would have been kind of confusing when things don't match up. So this manual you linked does match what I got. Thanks, Bob

Click to expand...

Glad I could help...having the right manuals is a Must when trying to fix anything...hopefully your "vibration" may have just been some buildup of grass/debris, but if it reoccurs, stop and check it out at your first opportunity.

Well I thought I had the right parts manual but this discussion made me realize i didn't.

Operator Manuals and parts manuals are very important to me. Every mower I buy is like an endurance test to see how long I can make it last.
From my experience so far the life of the mower is generally is in the life of the mower deck. I can usually get the motor, frame and drive/transmission to out last the mower deck. Then you find it is not feasible to buy a replacement deck to keep it going so you buy a new mower---unless you can pickup a good used deck at a reasonable price---which I never have benn able to do yet.

I bought this Husq to replace my 2009 Craftsman 42" cut lawn tractor because I've had that deck welded twice and it's full of rusts holes but still working at this point. So the wife and I have been using both of them to mow with which makes the chore go a lot faster. IMHO when a mower gets so wore out that you have to repair it before or during evey mowing, it's time to retire it and get a new one. Bob

Several ways to increase deck life
1) blow the deck down with COMPRESSED air after every mow
2) spray the deck with WD 40 or similar from a trigger pack not a spray can at the end of every season.
Decks always rust out from the top.
I have some customers with decks that are more weld than pressing.
We have a lot of mowers with swing back blades up to 10" long and they make excellent patch plates.

Scraping clumps off from under the decks will improve the air flow & cut but makes little difference to the deck life as once it is caked on & dry water can not get through it so it makes a barrier to rusting.

Have you tried a new set of blades? We had this problem as you described that only vibrated at a certain rpm range. Sort of like a automotive wheel vibrating at a certain speed. Out of balance but not noticeable at all times.

Thanks Bertsmobile1 for the tips on extending deck life. I don't have compressed air but I do blow it off with a leaf blower after every mowing. I use to wash it down with a water hose after every mowing but found out the electrical wiring don't like that very much!:confused2:

The new Husq has a deck wash connection I have never used yet. You hook a water hose up to the connection, fire up your mower and engage the deck. Going to give it a shot prertty soon and try that out.

Mowlife---it has crossed my mind about trying a new set of blades to see if that helps. If I can overcome my cheap-scate ways I might go ahead and spring for a new set and see how it goes :thumbsup:

If you use the wash out port it is very very important the drive over something sealed and let it dry in the sun when finished.
Wash out ports are there to promote deck rusting on the mowers of lazy owners.

I try to avoid mowing when the grass is still wet. Not to much problem of grass sticking the bottom of deck when the grass is dry. Of course it's not always
possible to mow when it's dry. Here is North West Louisiana we been getting showers almost every day so then you have to work a cutting in when you can, wet or not! In the past when I had to mow when wet, I would just hit the underneath with a good hard squirting nozzle on a water hose. Guess the worst thing about using a deck port is taking the time to hook it all up and disconnect. Well give it a shot:>) Platefire

Hat happens is you get water on top of the hot spindle bearings which gets sucked in as they cool down
On mowers where the spindle is packed with grease it is not too bad but with all the new decks that use sealed bearings it leads to premature bearing failure.

When you say spindle bearing are you meaning the Mandrel Assembly? All the original Mandrel Assy on my mowers are sealed because I guess they don't want you to grease them so they will wear out sooner??? The replacement Mandrel Assembles I got have alemites where you can at least grease them. I like those a whole better! I agree the let water you put on it the better off they are. Platefire

Did you ever get the deck vibration figured out / solved? The reason I asked is because I am experiencing the same thing. Not terrible, but enough to say .. hmmm that's a fair amount of vibration, (new 18542) My guess based on the way the mower deck hangs, is that blades needs to be balanced, with helicopter blade precision. but I wasn't sure if you found the magic solution or not?

Check the spark plug connections.