Rotary Cutter bush hog not cutting

[newbury]

Thanks everyone for the advice, it's working!

everything was turning, and I thought the slip clutch was tight, but once I held onto the drive shaft and pulled on a blade, it slipped. So I re-tightened the slip clutch bolts and it's cutting.

I did touch up the blades with an angle grinder, not sharp to the touch, but about a 1/16"-1/8" rounded edge and no burrs.

Thanks for posting the results.

 

[shakin]

i thought it was recommended to loose and spin the clutch and the readjust yearly to make sure it wasn't stuck, and not let go when you really need it. if there is anything on the surface of the clutch plate wouldn't scotch brite take it off.

 

[way0utwest]

I ran it for about an hour cutting and it did great, no slippage as it cut cleanly.

Things look fairly even between the two sides of the clutch for contact (no worn spots I can see). I'm not sure if I tightened it enough, but I was worried about going too tight.

I'll keep an eye on it and repost. Hopefully someone else will learn from my dunce moment!

 

[Highbeam]

i thought it was recommended to loose and spin the clutch and the readjust yearly to make sure it wasn't stuck, and not let go when you really need it. if there is anything on the surface of the clutch plate wouldn't scotch brite take it off.

Yep, you are supposed to slip the clutch. They are made to be slipped when they encounter an obstacle and then rengage on their own. I intentionally slip mine every spring to unseize them and the clutch will get warm. Don't take it apart to clean it, just properly adjust it and forget about it.

 

[Highbeam]

I ran it for about an hour cutting and it did great, no slippage as it cut cleanly.

Things look fairly even between the two sides of the clutch for contact (no worn spots I can see). I'm not sure if I tightened it enough, but I was worried about going too tight.

I'll keep an eye on it and repost. Hopefully someone else will learn from my dunce moment!

You'll know if it is too loose because it will stop cutting grass or it will get hot to the touch. Check it for heat periodically until you are confident it is not too loose. You want it to slip when you hit something pretty hard.

 

[kthompson]

I ran it for about an hour cutting and it did great, no slippage as it cut cleanly.

Things look fairly even between the two sides of the clutch for contact (no worn spots I can see). I'm not sure if I tightened it enough, but I was worried about going too tight.

I'll keep an eye on it and repost. Hopefully someone else will learn from my dunce moment!

If this is your worst "dunce moment" you have done very good. Really don't care to think of my list of those. At least nothing or no one hurt and no big price tag. Just tell your family and friends.

 

[Willl]

Never seen one yet that was in need of "resurfacing" after it slipped.

Nor I.

way0ut, once u think u got it adjusted correctly, mark it with a paint stick or something so u could tell whether it was slipping. U don't want 'any' slip unless you contact immovable objects.

Like a 'shear bolt', they're designed to 'give' unto 'major' obstructions.

 

[way0utwest]

Thanks for the advice. I'll mark it and check it today while clearing out pasture.

 

[tractor killer]

ok guys...my bush hog was cutting then for no reason it stop cutting the grass...mmmmmmmmmm now the blades do spin..lHOWEVER, how do you get them up high enough to look under? I am going to look for the sher pin thingy tomorrow. It started making a noise that was scaring me and I mean to tell you I don't scare easy. So how can blades move and not cut? Give it your best shot before I have to get out there with my scissor and cut 6 acres. thanks guys...woman in need of help.

 

[tractor killer]

hey is this thing working

 

[RollTideRam]

Maybe you lost the blades are they are hung up. Raise it up and look. JC

 

[Willl]

hey is this thing working

Hello ?, hello ?, can you hear me ?

 

[tractor killer]

Hello ?, hello ?, can you hear me ?

helpppppppppppppppppppppp

 

[tractor killer]

I am not sure how this thing works. HOW Will I know when someone is talking to me:

 

[JohnDeere4300]

I am not sure how this thing works. HOW Will I know when someone is talking to me:

Welcome to TBN!

"WE ALL" can see your post.

 

[tractor killer]

Well, I have a ford and my husband kept it purring for years but now he has decided to up and die on me leaving me this beast of a machine and I do love it.. Just something about seating up on that seat and taking charge.. but now it is not cutting and I am worried. the blades are moving. How can I get it up in the air to really look under. I put a block under the edge but that was not high enough. Any other ideas?

 

[Willl]

Any other ideas?

Hi TK, sounds like your new to this forum stuff so I'll lighten up on my poor attempt of humor.

Sorry to hear about your 'situation', my mothers in the same boat. She's not quite up to climbing up on the tractor yet, so your a few steps ahead.

Do you know 'exactly' what kind of tractor your dealing with ?

How about the cutter/mower ?, brand name ?

Lots of good folks here, give us the correct info and we can step you through anything.

 

[tractor killer]

That is nice to know cause I am lost.... I have a 8n Ford ...red and grey...if that means anything. haha...it has bush hog on the back.....it is just to weird if the blades move but not cutting...is that the norm...?

 

[Willl]

it is just to weird if the blades move but not cutting...is that the norm...?

It's possible the power to your blades are only 'slightly' connected and lets them spin when no heavy work is applied like in real short grass or lifted off the ground.
((And when I say "slightly", I mean it could be something broken or just out of gear. Maybe it's just a shear pin (we'll get to that later).))

First things first.

It doesn't sound like your real familiar with this tractor. It would help us if we knew what 'level' of tractor stuff you know about.

 

[JohnDeere4300]

Well, I have a ford and my husband kept it purring for years but now he has decided to up and die on me leaving me this beast of a machine and I do love it.. Just something about seating up on that seat and taking charge.. but now it is not cutting and I am worried. the blades are moving. How can I get it up in the air to really look under. I put a block under the edge but that was not high enough. Any other ideas?

(Sorry to hear about your lost.)... We all will try & help you.

It sounds like the blades are locked together... Because you say the blades move but won't cut.

I had mine lock together a few times and I had to get under it enough to use a bar and get them unlocked.

Do you have some truck ramps you could back up on so you can see under the bush-hog ?

(If you do this you need to be careful!)... I backed my tractor so the bush-hog hung over a small bank, so I could see under it. But I never got under it... The bank was about 3ft. high with a ditch below it, and I locked the parking brake, put cinder blocks behind the rear wheels and put down my front bucket...Safety first!

Can you take pictures of your tractor & bush-hog ?... That way we will know what brand of bush-hog you have.