352 owners

[bombdude]

My Vermeer 352 is only a year old, & I just broke my second drive chain. One on each side now.

I adjusted the tension about a month ago, & found that I had dirt build-up behind the covers.

Chain broke Monday of this week, & I found that I had dirt compacted inside the covers.

Got it back together last nite, & now am thinkin' about runnin w/o the covers. I usually wash my machine about every 2 weeks, so I figure that with the covers off, I can at least pressure wash the chains & sprockets & maybe increase the life.

Anyone else out here have similar issues??

 

[Bigstumps]

My old Rayco had no cover over the chain. It had one chain going down to the axle. At least with no cover you can hit it with WD40. I never had much trouble out of the chain.

My new machine has drive motors right to the wheels - no chains!

 

[bombdude]

My rear wheels have direct drive. Much nicer, imo.

Ran it for about an hour today w/no apparent probs. Got a couple jobs tomorrow. We'll see what that does.

 

[TREEMAN654]

352 chains

I have had a 352 for about 2 yrs,same problem your having.new chains and new sprockets have been changed 2 maybe 3 times.Also had to rebuild drive units they wore out might have been result of damaged chain i dont know.It is a pita to take those covers off butt i try to do it often.tried to seal them up better but it has not worked yet.I picked up a roll of chain at tractor supply for 20 bucks and i keep it handy.Otherwise its been a good machine.

 

[BC WetCoast]

We used to have a 352. The drive chains were the only thing on it that didn't break. 4 engines - Constant rewiring - constant soldering the radiator - much welding (had the rear axle break at the weld and fall off). I sure learned a lot about machine breakdown diagnosis and repair.

 

[tlbsg]

352 chains

i an also getting abuild up of dirt etc but have not broke any chains yet am thinking about sealing covers with a quality sealant and then running a drip oiler drilled down above chains anybody done this

 

[bombdude]

Wow BC Wetcoast. Sounds like you got a lemon.

Other than the drive chains, I haven't had any issues w/mine. I did have a problem w/it throwing the belts, but after I paid more attention to the engine alignment while tightening, that problem has been solved.

Ran it most of the day Friday a week ago.(been on vacaton this week) Around 30 stumps or so. So far no issues with covers off. And it's easier to wash the dirt out. I guess time will tell about the chain life. My dealer service mgr says to NOT lube the chain as that causes the dirt to stick to it. That's true, but my heart sure wants to spray a little oil on it. Haven't oiled it so far.

Treeman654 - Tractor Supply just opened up here a month ago. I was told that they sold chain in 10' lengths. But I haven't been by there to match it up. So I take it that they do carry the correct size. Cool. That'll be a lot cheaper than $30 a pop at the dealer or motorcycle shop.

 

[treeoperations]

bombdude, sounds like you need some bicycle chain lube, go to a bike shop and get some dry lube or what is even better still is a product called ROCKnROLL come in different grades, all you do is apply liberaly to the chain while spinning it dont know how you would spin it tho,

keep it spinning round a few times after you have applied the lube to the whole chain, it will work into all the rollers and pins, then fetch a rag and wipe that puppy till its clean, it is probably not going to be as easy as doing a bike chain but the dirt dont stick to it and i only do my bike chain once in blue moon.

i know in a stumper its spining alot more but hey is a suggestion.

 

[bombdude]

thanks treeoperations. I'll check it out. Is this rock n roll stuff dry as well?? Never thought about dry lube. It's different from powdered graphite I guess??

 

[BC WetCoast]

Wow BC Wetcoast. Sounds like you got a lemon.

Other than the drive chains, I haven't had any issues w/mine. I did have a problem w/it throwing the belts, but after I paid more attention to the engine alignment while tightening, that problem has been solved.

Ran it most of the day Friday a week ago.(been on vacaton this week) Around 30 stumps or so. So far no issues with covers off. And it's easier to wash the dirt out. I guess time will tell about the chain life. My dealer service mgr says to NOT lube the chain as that causes the dirt to stick to it. That's true, but my heart sure wants to spray a little oil on it. Haven't oiled it so far.

Treeman654 - Tractor Supply just opened up here a month ago. I was told that they sold chain in 10' lengths. But I haven't been by there to match it up. So I take it that they do carry the correct size. Cool. That'll be a lot cheaper than $30 a pop at the dealer or motorcycle shop.

A company machine that saw many operators over it's life. Some of those operators were stupider than the stumps they were grinding. I started running it about 3 years ago and it had already been rolled (complete roll over not just lying on its side) twice and had been through 3 engines.

The most frustrating thing was the wiring, and always having to rewire the starting circuit. I think the wiring designer used to work for Lucas (the electrical guys for British cars) - Prince of Darkness

 

[treeoperations]

thanks treeoperations. I'll check it out. Is this rock n roll stuff dry as well?? Never thought about dry lube. It's different from powdered graphite I guess??

it is dry as you wipe off all of the excess, one place that i ride at in new zealand here a lot is called woodhill and its 100% sand with a covering of pine needles for a giggle and the sand doesnt stick to the chain.


try teflon sprays aswell, used them on my bike a bit and the locking pins on my bobcat T190 as they dont get opened and closed much and they tend to seize in there.