I think my tail wheel is too big

[MikeA57]

I've been using my 5' no name bush hog for a couple of years now (I bought it used) and it works fine when I am going forward, but when I go in reverse the tail wheel spins around and wedges on the back skirt of the BH. Then it digs in until it can't anymore and I'm stopped in my tracks. I thought that I just probably needed to replace the wheel, that it wasn't sized to the cutter but when I looked around on line and it seems that all the wheels I find are 15" in diameter. I presume that is what mine is too, because, like a dummy, I didn't measure the wheel. Do they not make BH wheels in different diameters? I don't see any other kind of adjustment I can make to extend the wheel further from the skirt.

 

[RaydaKub]

I can't completely tell from the picture, but my first take on it is that I'd drill 2 more holes in that top beam and just move the wheel attachment back a few inches. The rear mount looks a little bit more challenging, but I'm sure you could come up with some way to attach it again, even if you only did it with chains.

 

[firemanpat2910]

your "forks" are bent. heat it up and bend it until the forks are at 90* to the ground. Done

 

[RoyJackson]

I don't think the tailwheel fork is bent...MikeA57 doesn't say anything about the wheel binding as it pivots. I think heating and trying to straighten would result in the wheel binding.
What I do think may have happened is the tailwheel and fork assembly was from another cutter. Look at the difference in the paint weathering.

I'd go with RaydaKub's idea of moving the assembly back a couple of inches. Mike may have to cut out and reposition that vertical bracket and cross brace nearest the aft end of the cutter as well.

 

[MikeA57]

I had thought about that and reconnecting the rear mount stumped me for a minute, but I'm thinking that it wouldn't be too big a deal to do what you suggest, then just weld a wider cross piece further in on the legs of the "A" and drill a hole for the rear mount strap.

 

[aczlan]

your "forks" are bent. heat it up and bend it until the forks are at 90* to the ground. Done

IMO,it is the vertical shaft that is bent.
The washer in the green box should be parallel to the ground and the bottom of the vertical tube, not at an angle to them.


Aaron Z

 

[Big Wave D]

Another vote for bent.

My tail wheel shaft comes straight through. There is no bend to it of any sort.

You have so much extra shaft, I'd cut off the bent section and reweld it back on were it becomes straight again.

Everything else looks fine to me about the bracket for holding the tail wheel.

Wish you well in whatever course of action you decide.

 

[JRobyn]

Another vote for bent pivot shaft. How do I know for sure? Because I did exactly this to a bushhog that I once borrowed from a neighbor and carelessly backed the tailwheel into a tree!

 

[Marveltone]

Bent.

It's easy to forget just how far back some of these implements can reach. I've made the mistake of trying to turn around in a space I usually have no problem navigating only to be reminded by a "thud" that the RC swings out way farther than I thought. I haven't bent anything yet, but I wouldn't bet against it in the future, as these things can be tree magnets.

Joe

 

[radioman]

ditto on shaft to forks being bent. its obvious from the pics.