Mowing Cutter death trap

[Kodiak45]

Well I finally got the pto shafts all setup, fixed a flat tire, sharpened blades, and was ready to go. I get 3 acres done and this happened…. I swear I never learn my lesson on buying cheap used equipment. Granted I know this isn’t the end of the world, but the whole reason I went to 10ft cutter is because I don’t have time it takes for the 5ft.
What would cause this spindle to fall out while cutting? And any idea on the chances that I don’t have catastrophic damage to the gearbox? This mower is too heavy for my loader to lift and tilt up. I might could put one wheel on my Deckover trailer and get up underneath there.
I suppose I should just pull the gearbox and see what it looks like.
Thoughts?

View attachment IMG_2747.jpg

 

[RayIN]

My experience is, every time I bought used, I was buying someone else's problem.
I don't like propping something up to work underneath. I always use wood blocking. I keep thinking, what's the chance of survival if it falls.

 

[workinonit]

Buying used equipment is perfectly fine as long as you know what you are looking at when you buy it and you know how to inspect it. I bought my Frontier 21' finish mower used from an individual. It had a bent deck wheel and one bad spindle. I knew the blades on it were the original blades but they were worn out so I had to put blades on it as well. That's an awful lot of cutter for your tractor size.

 

[nyone]

My experience is, every time I bought used, I was buying someone else's problem.
I don't like propping something up to work underneath. I always use wood blocking. I keep thinking, what's the chance of survival if it falls.

I mean when you buy so used that it looks like it's got rust holes in it yes it's a problem. I'm also hoping that the huge hole in the deck is from the blade flying off.

 

[Kodiak45]

Hole in deck is to access blade hardware. Someone did cut a line with a torch, no idea why.
I had no expectations that this mower would last years. I was just hoping to use it for at least 2 years.