Brush Hogging Hard on Tractor?

[RoyJackson]

As most others wrote, the screens and grills clogged by chaff is the biggest culprit.
I don't use a rotary cutter much anymore, but I still keep a short bristled brush in my tractor to clean away any chaff.
Another thing to remember is if a tractor starts overheating, remove any load (shut the PTO off) and do not shut the engine off...keep it at a high idle. That engine becomes a heat sink if the coolant isn't flowing...

 

[AxleHub]

One other thing to think of . . imagine if filter screens get clogged so often . . what the driver's lungs look like if they aren't wearing a mask too

 

[AxleHub]

Another thing to remember is if a tractor starts overheating, remove any load (shut the PTO off) and do not shut the engine off...keep it at a high idle. That engine becomes a heat sink if the coolant isn't flowing...

An excellent point.

Also In the original example that started the thread . . The light came on and the engine died. I'm guessing the light had to have been on a while or the oil was low to start with and there was a sudden incline related issue to cause the pump to be dry.

I also learned that if the engine kills because of heat . . . open the hood and start the engine with no load on it for a short period to free any possible sticking cylinders . . once they "lock and set" with heat ongoing in that still engine . . . the damage is too far along.

 

[grnmtnboys]

So ended up picking up the Countyline 48" model from Tractor Supply this afternoon... and quickly realized I should have asked more questions when I was there, as I need to run out in the morning to pick up gear oil, a couple 15/16 wrenches/sockets and a center pin for the mast. I did pick up the lynch pins but forgot or didn't realize I needed everything else. Ah well, a good lesson and I'll be out the door early tomorrow.

Thanks for all the input folks.

 

[jeff9366]

I have never seen a CountyLine PTO implement in a TSC lot without RUST on the PTO splines.

Get a spray can of Blaster penetrant and give the splines a good soak prior to connecting the PTO shaft to the 'hog.

 

[grnmtnboys]

I have never seen a CountyLine PTO implement in a TSC lot without RUST on the PTO splines.

Get a spray can of Blaster penetrant and give the splines a good soak prior to connecting the PTO shaft to the 'hog.

Actually have a can of that already... go figure.

I will add that to the prep list; thanks for the heads up

 

[amaxwell]

So ended up picking up the Countyline 48" model from Tractor Supply this afternoon... and quickly realized I should have asked more questions when I was there, as I need to run out in the morning to pick up gear oil, a couple 15/16 wrenches/sockets and a center pin for the mast. I did pick up the lynch pins but forgot or didn't realize I needed everything else. Ah well, a good lesson and I'll be out the door early tomorrow.

Thanks for all the input folks.View attachment 428346

I can't tell in the pics if you have a slip-clutch or shear bolt. If it is a shear bolt pick up a couple of extras, while you are there ,or you will probably going to end up returning to get them.

 

[grnmtnboys]

Shear bolt; good to know, thanks

 

[Baby Grand]

A little Fluid Film on the splines seems to keep everything rust free and easy to assemble, even after months of sitting around in the weather. I keep a little can in the cup holder of the tractor. Tastes awful, but works great.

 

[buckeyefarmer]

+1 fluid film.

 

[jeff9366]

+2 Eureka Fluid Film, after you dissolve rust with Blaster so the PTO splines are smooth.

 

[buickanddeere]

Who bushhogs in the spring and early summer? That is the time of year when the grass is full of bird nests, young rabbits, turkey nests and young and fawn deer. I wait until July before mowing.

 

[grnmtnboys]

Wow, that's assuming a lot....

Even if I was the sort who enjoyed running over baby animals, nests, etc and not a member of several conservation organizations (including the NWTF) there isn't enough grass here at this point to brush hog anyways. However, I also didn't want to buy it, put it together and test it the weekend I intended to clean up the orchard. So now, after a test pass up an established trail, the cutter is off the 3 point and back in the barn.

Thanks for sharing.

 

[Fawken]

Is brush hogging hard on tractor? On mine it usually is. I generally only use it now on the front pasture as the horses keep the other lots knocked down, but the weeds get out of hand in a hurry and with all this rain we have double the number of fire ant hills and crawdad mounds to pulverize. Add to the fact that I use a 5' Hyco built in 1970 and have the rear wheel cut off, the little tractor is carrying about 600 lbs on the lift plus slinging those 5' blades through 4' Johnson grass and brush. Ford dealer said I'm going to tear it up if I don't put that wheel back on the hog. That was in 1988, no, 1989 that he told me that.

 

[TripleR]

Who bushhogs in the spring and early summer? That is the time of year when the grass is full of bird nests, young rabbits, turkey nests and young and fawn deer. I wait until July before mowing.

We have quite a bit of land in CRP with some in reforestation and are required to keep certain areas with trees mowed, early in the process several years ago, we didn't mow and lost over two thirds of our trees and had to pay for replanting. We also mow boundaries especially close to the roads to keep down on deer car collisions etc.

Other areas we don't mow until late summer to protect wildlife.

 

[buickanddeere]

crawdad mounds to pulverize.

Crawdad ? Like crayfish that look like miniature lobsters? The build mounds in the fields? They don't leave the streams, creeks and rivers around here. I did see some sort of side scuttling blue crab crawl out of a hole in a marshy lawn in Haiti.

 

[Fawken]

Crawdad ? Like crayfish that look like miniature lobsters? The build mounds in the fields? They don't leave the streams, creeks and rivers around here. I did see some sort of side scuttling blue crab crawl out of a hole in a marshy lawn in Haiti.

Yes, in Texas they sure do. And we call them crawdads down here. Now for the past 3-4 years I haven't seen any because of the drought. With as much rain as we've had they pop up out of nowhere- kind of a mystery to me, but their mounds get as high as 2 feet. Couple of days baking in the good ole Texas sun and it's like running over a chunk of concrete. Don't even get me started on our fire ant mountains.