Anyone have experience with JD pull-type shredder

fflmlf · Sep 21, 2007

Looking at purchasing a used John Deere 5' pull shredder. Looks pretty heavy-duty, but looking for comments from anyone who has owned/owns one.

Will be shredding 5 acres of scrub/tall grass - no small trees.

Durability, problem areas?

Thanks!

Ted

Grrrr · Sep 21, 2007

That mower looks in pretty good condition.

I've never seen a pull behind bush hog that small before but I like using the pull behind hay cutter. Having it in tow means you can make tighter turns and not miss anything. (Or at least it does with the hay cutter) I think it might also follow the ground better than a mounted one.

Rara Avis · Sep 22, 2007

It looks like it was modified to operate behind a tractor WITHOUT a 3PT

fflmlf · Sep 22, 2007

Bought it. Used it to shred a couple acres, and it works like a champ.

JD Model 127, serial 00002! Not sure how old it is, but it's older than me. Does not look modified from a 3-pt. Built like a tank. Tried hooking directly to hitch point on rear of tractor, but PTO was too long, so have it connected via draw bar on the 3-pt arms.

Might replace the pillow block, but runs quiet and smooth for now. Nicer cut than a typical shredder. Blade is about 4' of 3/4" steel, with 6" pivoting sharp tips... very interesting.

T

Farmwithjunk · Sep 22, 2007

fflmlf said:
Bought it. Used it to shred a couple acres, and it works like a champ.

JD Model 127, serial 00002! Not sure how old it is, but it's older than me. Does not look modified from a 3-pt. Built like a tank. Tried hooking directly to hitch point on rear of tractor, but PTO was too long, so have it connected via draw bar on the 3-pt arms.

Might replace the pillow block, but runs quiet and smooth for now. Nicer cut than a typical shredder. Blade is about 4' of 3/4" steel, with 6" pivoting sharp tips... very interesting.

T

That's NOT SERIAL #2, but SERIES #2. (Indicates pull-type) Deere called that a "Gyro-Mower". Good mower in it's day. The PTO shaft was probably sized in accordance with A.S.A.E. standards where the drawbars hitch pin hole would be 14" past the end of the pto stub. Most compacts today aren't built to that standard.

They were sold starting in the late 1950's and continued well into the 1970's. (Model designation changed as time went along, but basic design stayed relatively the same) There may be a removable "panel" on the back. Some people used these as bush hogs AND to mow hay with. That panel would be removed to allow cuttings to windrow behind the mower instead of chopping up clippings. In some regards, it was an early attempt at what eventually became the concept of a disc mower.