Bush Hog repair question

[prather]

I had exact same issue on an older 6' Bush Hog myself. I ground it out and weld it up. That was 3 years ago and still going strong. Balance wasn't an issue

 

[Bob Gibson]

I would weld it all day long.

I would too! V the crack out carefully, get everything clean, weld with E 7018, may take multiple passes, then I would run a couple of beads at least 8-10 inches long perpendicular to the former crack to make the weld-affect zone (the weakest part of the weld) longer. You could also reinforce the part by adding additional plate or bar stock to both edges of the part centered on the hole and it should still be pretty balanced and present little or no vibration. Peening the weldment while it is cooling will also help strengthen and reduce weld stresses produced by the weldment. Most likely this is pretty much mild steel so the weld should be plenty strong if properly executed. More than likely the highest stress during operation is located at the location of the shaft the bar is attached to, and it is obviously the smallest cross-sectional area of the entire part. It looks like they adjusted for that by welding a reinforcement on the bar at that location, probably using mostly mild steel and conventional welding techniques - you may be able to add a similar reinforcement to the opposite side of the bar for additional strength.

 

[alpha&omega]

Did OP ever say what kind of shielding the BH had on it?

 

[Slowpoke Slim]

I'd be very surprised if that Brush Hog didn't have at LEAST a 2:1 gearbox.

Heck, my El 'Cheapo Titan is 2:1.

Some of the old battleship cutters were 4:1.

Some of you guys need to stop and take a breath and remember what this application is.

It is NOT a finish mower.

 

[LD1]

If it ain't two to one I'll pass on it. I've handled too many to put up with that.

NO BODY makes a 6' cutter with a 2:1 gearbox. So I guess you will NEVER own a 6'

 

[LD1]

1.38:1, 1.68:1. Were J D ratios.

Have no idea what this reply was about. Or the part that was parsed into my quote.

But a 2:1 box on a 6' cutter would be a 20,347 fpm blade tip speed. And sorry.....show me some literature where someone offers one of those.

The highest you will find is ~16k-17k. IE: 1.5:1 on a 6' cutter

 

[rslee]

Did OP ever say what kind of shielding the BH had on it?

It doesn’t have any shielding. The previous owner/s beat the hell out of this thing over the years. The skids have been reinforced with new metal, there’s no deflectors on front or back, and it has no stump jumper. It’s just a deck, gearbox, and blades. I try not to abuse it, but it does hit the occasional rock. I usually avoid the stumps, but accidentally backed up onto this one that took it out. I run a slip clutch on the PTO shaft to help lesson some of the stress on the gearbox and shaft.

 

[Tractor Seabee]

Accident going somewhere to happen; but, as a welder in my own right (certified years ago), with all the other issues; no stump jumper, previous weld, no shields!

Time to either find a good used one or a new replacement depending on pocketbook.


Ron

 

[ljgordon]

I have an old 6’ Bush Hog that has a cracked blade bar at the edge of the shaft hole for the gear box. It doesn’t have a stump jumper, and I hit the bar on a stump the last time I mowed. Is this something that can be safely welded to repair, or is that too risky? I know balancing will be an issue, but being right at the center hole should help. Otherwise, the part is $440 on an old cutter, so would be a total loss and would replace the bush hog.

Replace it. Believe me. I threw a blade and it went through the side of the 1/8" steel side plate. The vibrations sheared a 3/4" pin used to pull the brush hog.

 

[cathy liebchen]

Just buy a new part