Bush Hog Mod?

[CCWKen]

Stop using the rear wheel for a bumper on those light duty cutters. My old Ford 954 cutter has 5" boxed channel iron in the back and the wheel support tube looks like 1/4" thick or close to it. I've "bumped" a few low branches on Mesquite trees with it backing up to cut under them. If a branch gets hung up on the tube or wheel, it breaks the branch off. While it's not the prettiest cutter in the world, it was cheap and works. It regularly takes down 1-2 year old mesquite. I've accidently run over 4-5" fallen braches and it just bangs a few times and wood chips go everywhere until I lift or pull out. The #24 on front was the auction lot number. I got it for $30. I'm still using it eight years later.

 

[RDrancher]

My search for a similar solution revealed this thread. Shaft wear and tube wallowing prevent the tail wheel on my rotary cutter from pivoting effectively, so it ends up getting dragged along at an angle, scarring the ground. The 1.5" post eventually broke away from the fork, so I am investigating alternatives before having it rewelded. I like the idea of bearings but that does not appear to be a popular approach. What did you end up doing, and how well did it work?

Since I sub my brush hog work out now and only use it around my own place, I don't have a cool fix to report. I just welded in another tube and called it good. It's wallowing out again and contrary to Rick's theory...a lack of grease is not the cause. It gets a good dose of grease before each use and a couple times a day if it's being used all day. Next time I'll try using a thicker tube.

 

[LD1]

I agree that bearings are a bad idea. Not a good application for it. And alot of the resistance to turning is thrust loading of the weight of the cutter. Which would require a pair of tapered rollers, and a threaded fork shaft, plus a top and bottom seal.

At the very least a pair of double row bearings to handle the thrust loading. And ball bearings are fat. Meaning something with a bore large enough for the fork shaft, is gonna need a pretty good size tube welded on back there. Something 3" diameter +. Only "thin" bearings are needle bearings, and they offer ZERO thrust loading ability.