Rotary Cutter bush hog not cutting

[JDGirl]

Thank you. I'll start reading this today.

 

[JDGirl]

Thanks Jay. That's what I thought...they should still work even if there were no lube in the gearboxes. Would not know what a clutch on a bushhog would look like. I'm going to post those pictures now.

 

[Gary Fowler]

Ok, now before doing anything else, check that shear bolt again. You may have sheared it again. If it is still in the holes, put a wrench on each side and see if you can turn one side without the other turning. My bet is that you tried to start it with too high RPM on the tractor and sheared it again. Sometimes you have to pry them out when they shear off. If you can get one side out, then use a new bolt or small drift punch to remove the other side ( you will have to get it all lined up again to get a punch in the hole in the shaft.
You should be just above idle when putting it in gear. If it stalls the motor increase by about 100 rpm till it starts without stalling. If you have one of the new tractors with electric push button engagement, they are hard on shear bolts. Either way, if you have the old lever install, easy out on the clutch to start it letting the clutch slip a bit till the mower gets up to speed a little then ease on out. You have a lot of inertia to overcome and by your post you must have something wider than 7 foot if it has multiple gear boxes.

 

[JDGirl]

I found an old faded tag on side that says: Gyro Shredder and Chopper

I believe this is an old Servis Gyro 140 from the 1960's.

 

[Poopdeck Pappy]

That unit was made by Servis Equipment Company, which became Rhino. That's good news because (a) it is a quality tool, and (b) they might possibly still have parts for it. But it is really, really old - probably from the 50's or 60's.

 

[JDGirl]

Yes, I just found that info. I am sure my Dad knew it was worth saving no matter how ugly it is !

 

[JDGirl]

Thanks Gary. I'll try that next. That's good info about being just above idle when putting it in gear...My tractor is old (from the 1970's). Yes, I would say the mower is pretty wide.

 

[JDGirl]

Just found this info.... http://www.bosshardradio.com/mower/

 

[JDGirl]

Okay, I've been working all weekend on this. I drove the mower around and discovered that if I take a sharp left turn, the 2 drive lines begin spinning like crazy, but then stop after the turn...Any ideas??

 

[Gary Fowler]

I can only suggest that if it isn't another shear bolt broken, then put the pto in gear, tractor in gear with engine not running. This should lock everything down. Then try turning the blades from underneath and see what moves. If they all turn together when you move one, then the gear boxes should be good. There will normally be a bit of slack in them and you may be able to move the blades as much as 1/2 turn or more but at some point it should stop turning. If you have a helper or two, put them to either turning or watching to see which of the shafts move. At some point you will find that the shafts are moving on one side and stopped on the other. Then you can fix it or at least figure out what is broken.
An easy way to turn the blade might be to put a pipe wrench on the outside shaft and turn it with that and have some one verify that the blade is turning underneath. If you can turn the drive shafts at the outboard gearbox with the tractor PTO in gear there has to be a broken part somewhere maybe in the tractor itself (heaven forbid)

 

[JDGirl]

Thank You!

 

[JRobyn]

Can you post a close-up photo of the circular "device" right at the front of the main center gearbox? My theory is that it is a slip clutch of some sort that is very worn and slipping profusely. When you turn hard, it is putting enough flex in the PTO shaft that it increases the friction just a bit in the clutch, enough to spin the other gearboxes.

- Jay

 

[JDGirl]

Yes sir! Just got home and it's dark now but I'll do it tomorrow. Thank you! Might be a good lead towards getting it mowing again! Susan

 

[seaneastok]

JDGirl
I am just curious as to where the shear pin/bolt was located that you replaced,I couldnt see anything new on the photo's you posted. I also have an old Servis brand hog. If your's is similar to mine,and by the photo's it look's like it.Where the drive line coming from the tractor bolts to the cutter, those round plates are actually two seperate pieces. The driveline bolt's to the outer round plate,and the inner round plate bolt's to the gearbox.There should be a shear pin that bolts those two plates together.Without the shear pin ,both plates turn independant of each other and would exibit exactly the problem you are describing..That may have been the one you replaced,if not take a look.I blew your picture up as far as I could and I think I see a portion of the broken shear pin hanging out toward the gearbox..If we were just a little bit closer neighbors,I would take a look at it for you..
Regard's
Sean
PS
Your Brothers and Nephew's need need a lesson in courtesy..Just my opinion..so nobody come unglued

 

[SoGeorgia]

Just a quick addition. I own an older Servis 5ft cutter. It also had the 2 disk shear system. Since I needed to get a new PTO driveshaft, I wanted to convert to something more universal. I ended up taking the gear out of the gearbox and taking it to a machine shop. I had them cut off the end of the input shaft, mill it down to the proper size and drill a hole through the shaft so now I just use a regular driveshaft with a shear bolt through the input shaft. They charged me 50 bucks.

As a side note, I have 3 cutters.. The Servis an old "Ford" (not sure who made it) and a King Kutter clone.. That Servis has the BEST cut of any I have ever used. I'm not just referring to the ability to cut large brush, (I've chopped some pretty large saplings with it) but the quality of the cut. The Servis leaves a very clean cut.

 

[seaneastok]

SoGeorgia
I agree on the cut...I have an old FMC Sidewinder,and my old servis..The Servis is the one that gets used 90% of the time.
Regard's
Sean

 

[JRobyn]

So.......???

I am hoping that no update means that you found the problem, it was a simple (cheap) fix, and all is now well?

- Jay

 

[JDGirl]

No, Jay, I have not found the problem, just been incredibly busy. But will be posting more photos soon. Thanks for asking.

 

[Toekneeserrano]

when my sheer pin ripped off the bolt head was still in place... pull it out and double check...

because it will still spin the blades but high weeds will slow it enough to not cut.

 

[JRobyn]

No, Jay, I have not found the problem, just been incredibly busy. But will be posting more photos soon. Thanks for asking.

No problem, just lookin out for ya and hoping to get that thing working right with the least hassle. Sorry about the crazy-busy. Some find that bush hogging (assuming that everything is working right) is very "restorative".