Thread: Another Case of Production Design not Communicating with Mainenance Design

Originally Posted by Lionelgee;[URL="tel:3122889"

3122889[/URL]]Hello All,

A couple of days ago I broke the transmission belt on my ride-on mower. The V-belt runs between three pulleys. When I bought the new belt I was informed by the salesperson that I would have to loosen the differential/transmission bolts that hold it to the chassis. Well, I tried that technique and I had to take it one step further. The diff had to come off and the mower chassis jacked-up. By twisting the diff one way and the chassis the other enough room became available to fit the V-belt to the large pulley that connects to the transmission.

It is obvious that on the production line the V-belt is fitted to the pulley that has already been mounted to the transmission. The transmission with the belt fitted is then bolted to the chassis. Away it goes to the next stage of the line.

When the belt breaks there is not enough room between the outside diameter of the pulley and the vertical side of the chassis to fit the new belt. Neither is there an access slot cut into the side of the chassis. No, the undercarriage has to be disassembled and twisted to fit a new belt in. Another great example of a lack of communication between the production and the maintenance design people. I suppose by the time the belt breaks it is someone else's problem and the sales money is already in the company's bank.

Kind regards
Lionel

I didn’t know LR made garden equipment.

I doubt any manufacturer has a maintenance design department. They do have engineers design the product life, that if the engineers get it right, fail just out of warranty.

Originally Posted by Tins

I didn’t know LR made garden equipment.

I am sure many on here would be glad they dont

Wasn't there an equally complicated problem if the clutch cable broke in a VW Beetle?

In the 70s, my accommodation was a government caravan. These were built like the proverbial outhouse, by a company who had never made 'vans previously, but won the tender. Ahem!

Anyway, whilst working out the back of Woop, the 'van fridge decided to cease operation. On contacting my boss, the bloke that shared the van with me and I were instructed to remove the fridge, for return to Brissie for repairs.
We went to the exterior side of the 'van, only to find a small air vent. No removal there. After a bit of fiddling around, we managed to get the fridge out of its hole in the cupboard and free standing. Tried getting it out the door, to no avail. We took vital dimensions and realised it was a futile battle. Next option was the roof hatch. Nuh, same issue as the door.
On relaying this to our boss, after some research, he found out that the 'vans were built with everything internal in situ and then the walls and roof shell lowered into position from the top!
There was no way that fridge was coming out until we could get the van back to the manufacturers. Which we did, but it meant life in a tent for my mate and I for quite a while.

Originally Posted by Lionelgee

Hello All,

A couple of days ago I broke the transmission belt on my ride-on mower. The V-belt runs between three pulleys. When I bought the new belt I was informed by the salesperson that I would have to loosen the differential/transmission bolts that hold it to the chassis. Well, I tried that technique and I had to take it one step further. The diff had to come off and the mower chassis jacked-up. By twisting the diff one way and the chassis the other enough room became available to fit the V-belt to the large pulley that connects to the transmission.

It is obvious that on the production line the V-belt is fitted to the pulley that has already been mounted to the transmission. The transmission with the belt fitted is then bolted to the chassis. Away it goes to the next stage of the line.

When the belt breaks there is not enough room between the outside diameter of the pulley and the vertical side of the chassis to fit the new belt. Neither is there an access slot cut into the side of the chassis. No, the undercarriage has to be disassembled and twisted to fit a new belt in. Another great example of a lack of communication between the production and the maintenance design people. I suppose by the time the belt breaks it is someone else's problem and the sales money is already in the company's bank.

Kind regards
Lionel

Let me guess... its a John Deere ?

Originally Posted by DazzaTD5

Let me guess... its a John Deere ?

G'day Dazza,

Sorry Dazza no coconut for you - It is an MTD.

Kind regards
Lionel

Back in the day,changing the fan belt on a Series 1 with a Capstan winch wasnt the greatest job either....