Weight and Balance ?

[2manymowers]

DC Service,
Here is a topic I have not seen discussed. Sometimes, especially on less than perfectly smooth ground, the DC does not want to turn, or pivot. A rear tire spins while the front castors just sit there. Sure I can jar it loose by jerking it around, but it seems as there is too much weight on the front end. I have the 50 pound weight bolted to the rear of mine also. I wonder if adding more weight to the rear will make it handle easier.(XT3200-72) I know there has to be enough weight on the front end to keep it on the ground, but not being able to easily pivot the front end around is a problem too. BTW, that "less than perfectly smooth ground" describes 99.9% of my property.

[LA/TX-Rep.]

I know the situation that you are writing about. There is a fork "up- grade" that you can do . This will improve the ride and "greatly" improve the castoring, that you are reffering to. I don't know the part number but the fork is reffered to as a " springer front fork", I understand it is available from the Parts Dept. I am sure your dealer can get you the information. I promise, this will be one of the wisest investments you can do, for your comfort and your turf.

[country boy]

what is the difference in the forks?

[2manymowers]

I know the situation that you are writing about. There is a fork "up- grade" that you can do . This will improve the ride and "greatly" improve the castoring, that you are reffering to. I don't know the part number but the fork is reffered to as a " springer front fork", I understand it is available from the Parts Dept. I am sure your dealer can get you the information. I promise, this will be one of the wisest investments you can do, for your comfort and your turf.

I have seen those forks, but not the price yet. Anyone know?

[DC Service]

The new "Springer" front forks are part # 100121 for the big ones and 100132 for the little ones. The MSRP is $186.00 + shipping for both. :)

[2manymowers]

The new "Springer" front forks are part # 100121 for the big ones and 100132 for the little ones. The MSRP is $186.00 + shipping for both. :)

Is that price per fork, or for a pair ?

[DC Service]

That is the price PER fork. :)

[ljnelson109]

Are we talking "suspension" here? Are there any pictures available? Will these work on the Silver Eagle models?

[2manymowers]

DC Service,
Thanks for getting the price for us. Do you have any thoughts on my comments about the weight/balance of the DC ?

[Wildridge]

Is this the part that you are referring to?

[2manymowers]

FLL Detailer,

That's the one we are talking about. :) Thanks for the photo.

[Lawndude]

I see that someone else is having the same trouble that I am having with my new Supreme Machine 28efi. I dont know about you guys I like my machine just fine but having the forks work correctly is sort of well (expected) I dont think I ought to have to buy something else if you know you have a problem. I havent really got anyone to admit until now that there is a problem. The presence of those fork parts is proof enough to me that (Yes there is a problem) My customers havent really appreciated the little bare spots I ve been leaving in their turf either when the forks decide not to turn.

[DC Service]

Yes the Springer front forks will work on a Silver Eagle.

[Wildridge]

LawnDude, have you tried doing a three point turn-around in a continuous motion?

[Mr.Mow-It-All]

I see that someone else is having the same trouble that I am having with my new Supreme Machine 28efi. I dont know about you guys I like my machine just fine but having the forks work correctly is sort of well (expected) I dont think I ought to have to buy something else if you know you have a problem. I havent really got anyone to admit until now that there is a problem. The presence of those fork parts is proof enough to me that (Yes there is a problem) My customers havent really appreciated the little bare spots I ve been leaving in their turf either when the forks decide not to turn.

I agree with lawndude, been having the same problem and if there is a better part to make the machine work like it should I shouldn't have to spend an extra $400 for that. I have the XT-3200-72

[DC Service]

Dixie Chopper is constantly making improvements to the units :) .It would not be fair to GIVE away an upgrade :rolleyes: .When you purchase a new car,and then the mfg comes out with a "Better Stereo" do you think the car dealer is just going to GIVE you a new stereo? :biglaugh: Of course not! :think: You would pay to get the upgraded stereo,or trade in your car for a newer model with the new stereo.I hope I have made my point. :rolleyes:

[Mr.Mow-It-All]

Dixie Chopper is constantly making improvements to the units :) .It would not be fair to GIVE away an upgrade :rolleyes: .When you purchase a new car,and then the mfg comes out with a "Better Stereo" do you think the car dealer is just going to GIVE you a new stereo? :biglaugh: Of course not! :think: You would pay to get the upgraded stereo,or trade in your car for a newer model with the new stereo.I hope I have made my point. :rolleyes:

True, however we are not talking about an accessory, we are talking about the mere function of the product. I think this would be along the lines of a vehicle recall, in which they do replace(the defective part, not car obviosly) and or repair for free. When a ZERO turn mower won't zero turn all the time do the the castors locking, or getting stuck, then the mower is not performing as it should.

I understand what you are saying and agree that dixie can't give out for free all athe latest and greatest stuff, but I think it is something where they have found a defect in the product, acknowledged it and now have a new part for it, however they want us to pay for it. That doesn't seem right to me!

[2manymowers]

True, however we are not talking about an accessory, we are talking about the mere function of the product. I think this would be along the lines of a vehicle recall, in which they do replace(the defective part, not car obviosly) and or repair for free. When a ZERO turn mower won't zero turn all the time do the the castors locking, or getting stuck, then the mower is not performing as it should.

I understand what you are saying and agree that dixie can't give out for free all athe latest and greatest stuff, but I think it is something where they have found a defect in the product, acknowledged it and now have a new part for it, however they want us to pay for it. That doesn't seem right to me!

Mr. Mow-It-All,
Recently I improved the castoring problem by loosening the castle nuts on the fork shafts. When my Mowchine was delivered, the front forks did not want to castor at all. I loosened them a little bit and that helped. But recently, after reading the replies in this thread, I loosened them some more so that when the front end is jacked up off the floor, the front forks can be spun easily, with almost no resistance, but still no play in the bearings or shafts. Now I rarely spin a tire when making a 3 point turn in all but the roughest of ground. The tradeoff is when mowing normally, there is a little shimmy in the front forks. I took it out on the road and ran it wide open- no shimmy. Now this shimmy at normal speed is very slight and I cannot feel it, but I can see it. I assume it is a result of the front forks being "less stiff".
As for what LA/TX-Rep. said about the new springer forks improving the castoring, I just don't see how, considering the geometry of the forks. It looks like a "trailing link" design to me. I'll just have to take his word for it. But the big thing that interests me is the suspension that would make for a smoother ride.

[tshank]

Come on, Service. 'fess up. If the old design worked great, why was the design changed? Cheaper? To fit larger, sexier front tire, for clearance with the silver deck? Correcting an obvious problem is NOT an improvement! It's a responsibility to the customers who pay everyone's salary. I love you people, and, my older Chopper. But I know BSOD (bull s*** on demand) when I hear it. If I really think about it, other than horsepower, no real improvments have been made since my '02 was built. Dixie is forgetting the KISS principle.

[rvparkownr]

This turning problem has little or no connection to how tight the castle nut is on the fork. Anytime you have a solid frame 4 wheel machine and you are on uneven ground you will have trouble turning, period. The reason is far simpler than many will make it. There are going to be three points making contact with the ground if there is an uneven surface. If two of those points are the front wheels then one back wheel will have very little contact and therefore be unable to influence the turn. It will spin and you will have to use the other drive wheel to change the position of the mower enough to increase the contact with the wheel you want to do the work. The new fork design works at letting the front of the machine move in relation to the ground to add to the contact patch of the rear drive tire. Nothing more and nothing less.

Why do cars and trucks that travel on hard surfaces have a suspension. The answer is to keep all four tires in contact with the road. A jeep or hummer will have more suspension travel because they are designed with extreme terrain changes in mind.

Some of you have condiditons that are great for solid framed mowers, Some, like myself do not but we live with the limitations. Everything is a trade off. Add a suspension to the mower, add to the cost and complexity. If DC designed and built a Ferris type mower with suspension then they can no longer push the simple, rugged, dependable, long life machine. Its purely a business decision. A company cannot be all things to all people so they pick the market they want and do it very well.

[tshank]

RV, I have enjoyed and learned much from your posts. But, this time you are wrong. It is a design prob. Laws of geometry, physics, or whatever in the design. In 440 hours on a old style mach., the casters have never dug a divot. I'm talking wide open in a 4 wheel drift, on a 30 degree slope, almost upside down. Casters will not dig divots. And dealers agree with me.

[Crabgrassman]

You may want to look at this.

http://www.lawncafe.com/showthread.php?t=5849

[rvparkownr]

That sounds like a guy that just needs to sell his Dixie and build his own mower. Many others have tried that path. There are a million little companies that each think they have all the answers.

I won't get into specific details about each part of the mower here but every feature on a Dixie is put there for a reason. HE might not understand why but its still a good design.

When he shortens the right front spindle arm and moves his right wheel in he will find out why the original design is a neat feature.

[Crabgrassman]

That sounds like a guy that just needs to sell his Dixie and build his own mower. Many others have tried that path. There are a million little companies that each think they have all the answers.

I won't get into specific details about each part of the mower here but every feature on a Dixie is put there for a reason. HE might not understand why but its still a good design.

When he shortens the right front spindle arm and moves his right wheel in he will find out why the original design is a neat feature.

Dude, I am that guy. After discussing the reason that the right wheel is hung way out there with the guys at LawnCafe I decided not to alter it's position. Also, those few mods I did to my Dixie are nothing more than "fine tuning" to get rid of the divoting problem and it worked quite well. I have received more than a few Emails from other Dixie owners thanking me for coming up with those mods.

You need to remember that not every mower is perfect for every situation. The alternative to modding the mower would have been to get rid of it and I love my Dixie too much for that.