Bush Hog violently shaking

[lwarner901]

I just got the seal on my gearbox replaced & brand new blades. Woods 10’ cutter with 3 point hitch, took it out today and worked so well, until I crossed a ditch that had washed out during the winter and was deeper than I thought. My husband had to get the shovel to dig me out. Them when I turned on the PTO to start cutting that field, the cutter shook VIOLENTLY. What happened and how do we fix it? Please!!!

 

[Hay Dude]

Look underneath to see if a clump of dirt is stuck to blades, stump pan, spindles, etc.
Don’t take much to make them shake.
If thats all clean, check for a bent blade, stump pan, spindle, etc.
If that all checks out, start working from the cutter back to the tractor and look for anything bent or not running “true”.

 

[lwarner901]

Thank you! We just raised it and looked for dirt clumps on the stump jumpers, no dirt, spun the blades, they seem to be ok. Slid the PTO shaft in and out, no bends. We’ll keep looking

 

[lwarner901]

Look underneath to see if a clump of dirt is stuck to blades, stump pan, spindles, etc.
Don’t take much to make them shake.
If thats all clean, check for a bent blade, stump pan, spindle, etc.
If that all checks out, start working from the cutter back to the tractor and look for anything bent or not running “true”.

Thank you! We just raised it and looked for dirt clumps on the stump jumpers, no dirt, spun the blades, they seem to be ok. Slid the PTO shaft in and out, no bends. We’ll keep looking

 

[Hay Dude]

Did you hit something like real sudden and stall the tractor real quick?
Or did you just bottom out the mower and it kept running?

 

[lwarner901]

Did you hit something like real sudden and stall the tractor real quick?
Or did you just bottom out the mower and it kept running?

Did not hit anything suddenly, I turned the PTO off before crossing the ditch & raised the hitch up as high as it would go, went into the ditch, back tires got stuck in the ditch, front tires on the way up the other side, cutter on the slope down, and spun out. Tried the 4WD and shift diff,,, then called husband who dug out in front of front tires and came out. Can not see anything that is bent,,, can not figure this out.

 

[lwarner901]

Did not hit anything suddenly, I turned the PTO off before crossing the ditch & raised the hitch up as high as it would go, went into the ditch, back tires got stuck in the ditch, front tires on the way up the other side, cutter on the slope down, and spun out. Tried the 4WD and shift diff,,, then called husband who dug out in front of front tires and came out. Can not see anything that is bent,,, can not figure this out.

No mud in the pans, underneath looks clean, PTO shaft not bent

 

[Hay Dude]

I wonder if the steep up angle coming out of the ditch bent something on your PTO shaft stub on the mower

 

[lwarner901]

No mud in the pans, underneath looks clean, PTO shaft not bent

No mud in the pans, underneath looks clean, PTO shaft not bent

I wonder if the steep up angle coming out of the ditch bent something on your PTO shaft stub on the mower

I unhooked the cutter, and pulled the PTO shaft in and out and it slid perfectly. Oh! The stub on the mower,,, that’s hooked to the middle gearbox,,, how can I tell if it’s bent?

 

[DJ54]

Did you happen to notice one of the blades folded forward, but not stuck in place like with the sharpened side towards the pan when you checked the blades..?? If you had to pull the blade so it's straight out like it should be, then spun, that could have been the problem, knuckled ahead, and it makes it hard for centrifugal force to straighten out to cut and makes it unbalanced.