RPI Rail-Mower Restored to Operational Status

As you will recall from my post to the RPI Work Session blog re the March 17 Llano work session, the rail-mower took it in the chin while being towed behind my CBI motorcar when I went over a frog.  Part of the deck was pushed inward, stopping a blade from moving, so that ended the rail-mower's work on the Llano Branch for the day, other than as a tool carrier.

Frank Glatzl came over today and we took the mower deck off.  We placed it upside down on some sawhorses to examine the patient.  Diagnosis:  deck needs to be straightened out; a jackshaft on one of the drive spindles needs to be replaced (but will work for now); one of the lift links was broken and needs to be repaired or replaced; and the inner belt guard needs to come off to provide a higher profile when passing over potentially problematic portions of rail.

First we took off the inner belt guard, then Frank wielded a 2-lb hammer against the deck edge (with a sledge hammer head behind the edge) to straighten it out.  We took off the spindle and shaft to straighten out the main deck surface as well.  We put the spindle back on but noticed that it was not turning as freely as the other two so Frank took a close look and determined the jack shaft is bent.  It will work for now but I found three on the internet for $ 22.60 each so probably will get them as backups for both the rail-mower and my Bolens 1455 garden tractor with the same model mower deck.

I also found two NOS lift links online, one for $ 199.99 and the other for $ 17.99.  Not a tough choice as to which to get.  Don't know whether it will have a threaded stud or not, my 1455 (from which we borrowed a lift link to work for now) does not have the threaded stud, which Frank says makes the link stronger.

While working on the mower deck, Frank also fixed the rail-mower choke, which had been moving outward due to the engine vibrations.  It now stays in place so that's one less problem.

One of our last jobs was for Frank to apply anti-seize to the mower driveshaft and then grease the zerks on both ends of the driveshaft.  Here's a shot of him finishing up the latter job:

We put the mower deck back on the rail-mower and Frank connected all the links up.  Then we took a time out while I looked for the key to start the engine to test the choke job and the deck.  The time out ended when I fished into a pocket and found the keys there after having searched the house, garage and my Explorer.  Here's a photo of Frank looking on as the mower deck test session ends successfully:

Frank is taking on some extra work.  He is going to fabricate a triangular reinforcing plate that will have a 3" x 3/8" bolt welded to the plate at the bolt's head to hold the tensioner assembly tighter than it is now.  The current bolt wobbles and allows the tensioner assembly to vibrate back and forth.  We think that is contributing to the ease with which the belt jumps off the pulleys while operating, although my taking a few bumps and crossings a little too fast is also contributing to the problem.

Frank is also going to bring some springs to tighten up the positioning of the deflector shield that is supposed to stay in position some six inches out from the end of the mower deck chute.

Finally, he is thinking about building a framework to hold the turntable in place on the side of the motorcar when we are carrying it.  I am also thinking about replacing the side mats with removable boxes that could hold more tools and supplies, but will wait on that until we see what we come up with for the turntable supports.  The same framework might also be able to hold various implements, such as shovels, picks, and other tools, if extended to 30 or 36 inches high on one end of the motorcar.  Whatever we come up with, it will take several months to develop.  

 The next work session at Llano is Saturday, April 21, to get the line ready for the April 28 Bluebonnet Run.  We will bring the rail-mower and try again.  And I will also grease the axles of both the rail-mower and CBI so they are both ready for some more rail-polishing.

RPI Work Session to be Held Saturday, March 17

Tomorrow is the March 17 work session starting at Llano and proceeding through Kingsland to the other end of our leased line at Scobey Spur, and return.  We probably will go all the way to Scobey Spur in the morning and turn around, then stop at Spyke's BBQ in Kingsland for lunch.  I've got both my Woodings CBI motorcar and the rail-mower saddled up on my 16-foot trailer.  I tested the CBI yesterday and found and fixed a fuel line problem.  Then I tested the rail-mower today and it seems to be working fine.  Fueled them up so we don't have any lack of fuel issues during the trip.

Yesterday I created an extension for the shield on the rail-mower discharge chute, so clippings, etc. can be blown away from the mower blades but yet any rocks that get chucked out would likely hit the rubber shield.  Here's a photo of the new addition to the rail-mower:

The extension uses stop nuts on both ends.  The idea is that if it hits anything, it will pivot and push the shield out of the way of whatever was hit.  I used 1/8" thick aluminum for the bracket and extension, so they should be strong enough to handle the bouncing around on the rails.

And here's a photo of the rail-mower as it currently looks (before I put the mats on later this evening, which will hold tools and equipment tomorrow).

Weather outlook looks good for tomorrow, chance of showers after noon about 10 percent, so don't think rain will be an issue, unlike the last work session.