July 17, 2014 Update

The customer’s complaint on the Bed Bug we normally keep set up for bed edging quit working.  A quick inspection revealed the tin idler sprocket failed and the chain came off the drive sprocket.  This Husqvarna Blue Bird Bed Bug would get a “Tractor Supply” solid steel sprocket.  The Husqvarna supplied cheap tin idler sprocket has been a constant point of failure across the Husqvarna Blue Bird line of products. 

We have used the “Tractor Supply” solid steel idler on Blue Bird Aerators, Sod Cutter and our other Bed Bug without a single failure.  This Bed Bug would also get the broken bolt replacement of set screw failures.  We have tried to keep set screws from loosening by using thread locking glues, and doubling up set screws with no success.  The machining of the shafts, hubs and sprockets are too sloppy for set screws to hold.  Our fix for the constantly loosening set screws is to use a 5/16 hardened bolt that is torqued to a point of breaking. This has solved much of the sprocket and hub loosening that we see on Bed Bug Bed Edger’s.  

In completing the repair we found a defective weld on the Blade we replaced in June. Half of the weld on a center tooth shows no penetration into the steel.  The Blade is made by a New York state Manufacturer; warranty claims on defective blades always fall on deaf ears.  The Manufacture claims they are not responsible because they supply blades built to Husqvarna specs.  Husqvarna is just a wasteland of incompetence.  

Cost is another $200.00 blade, $20.00 Tractor Supply Idler, $20.00 for a new chain and miscellaneous hardware. Total cost of repair with labor $300.00. 

June 4 2014 update

This particular blade broke on its third rental.  One tooth was torn off the tooth next to it was almost completely torn off and a third tooth has a slight crack a fourth tooth has a very tiny crack.  The vibration loosened the hub and the blade and blade hub came off the drive shaft. Fortunately the blade enclosure held the blade within it.  As describe further down in the posts if the blade hub was ether a one piece design or welded together the blade would not have separated from the drive shaft.

Cost is one more $200.00 blade and $40.00 labor to remount the hub. 

This is the first Blue Bird Bed Bug report of the season.  Both machines were serviced during our winter maintenance program.  On one machine we needed to replace a clutch cover gasket that failed to the overheating of the clutch oil caused by too small of a clutch for the application. 

On the first rental of the season blade and hub detached from the drive shaft.  The drive shaft hub assembly is one of the weakest links on the machine.  This hub shaft and bearing assembly needs a major strengthening as I referred to on May 26^th of 2013. The Blade Shaft needs to be 1” in diameter with stronger and wider bearing support.  The Blade shaft and hub assembly are sloppy loose right out of the box.  This assembly needs to be a one piece unit or at minimum machined too much tighter tolerances. 

  While Jody Kerr of Blue Bird believes it is too expensive to fix this problem a simple tightening of the tolerances would only require an adjustment on the boring machine that bores the blade hub.  At the Rental Show I passed out the address to this Blog to Jody Kerr and some members of her staff.  

One of the issues is the two small set screws that hold the hub to the blade.  The set screw wrench will break before the desired torque is reached.  I have come up with a solution to try to solve the problem with blades and hubs flying off.  I replaced the set screws with grade 8 bolts.  I torqued the bolts until the heads break off.  

Husqvarna Blue Bird Beg Bug Blade Failure 10 2013

There has been 2 rentals since the last blade failure on this machine. On return our post rental inspection reviled one broken Tooth and one cracked tooth. It was evident that the customer continued to operate the Machine with an out of balance blade.

Other issues found was one broken bolt and one loose bolt on the inside bearing support. Set Screws on the Blade Hub, Both Bearings and the driven Sprocket were loose or missing. Also missing was the bolt that holds the blade shaft onto the outside bearing. The Vibration also destroyed the stamped Tin Idler Sprocket, the damaged idler also destroyed the chain.

Cost of Repair Blade $200.00

Heavy Duty Tractor Supply Idler Sprocket $19.95

Chain and connector Link $8.00

Labor $60.00

Rental Income Gross $176.00

Repair Costs $288.00

Profit Loss - $112.00

1. 

Husqvarna Blue Bird Bed Bug Update.  The Backordered Bed Edger blades still haven’t showed up.  I have 2 machines and only one blade to share between the two Machines.  Husqvarna delivery dates mean nothing they are always missed.  In the past it has taken up to 90 days to receive back ordered blades

Bed Bug update July 17 2013

Bed Bug update July 17 2013
Earlier this week we needed to repair an outside bearing on the rotor shaft.  With the sloppy tolerances bearings loosen up.  We placed an order for more Bed Edger Blades only to learn that they are out of Stock.  Ship date is July 31 however Husqvarna rarely ship’s on time.  I will keep you updated.

Husqvarna Blue Bird Bed Bug Damage report 7 10 2013.

It’s been a blade a month on the Husqvarna Shaper Blade this Season.  Yesterday was the 3rd Rental on a blade that was replaced in June.  One Carbide tip just broke off, by the damage to the remaining stub the tip more then likely was improperly welded and the tip was brittle and snapped the first time it was used.

The damage to the center tooth is very evident.  Fortunately the tip remained on the blade.  When the tips do come off the blade is out of Balance and the Vibration will destroy the outside Bearing Support. There is always a Safety factor when Blades come apart.

Shaper Blade $200.00 labor and documentation $25.00.  Rental Income $255.00.

It cost me more to keep the Bed Bug Maintained is equal to its Gross profit.  Figure in purchasing the Machine, Insurance and other overhead costs the Husqvarna Blue Bird Bed Bug is a looser.  Yet Husqvarna’s Jody Kerr still denies that there is a problem.

The new style Dog Fence blade that was provided by the Blade Manufacture has not been Rented yet.