Rotary Cutter frozen rotary cutter

[19th_VA]

I was using my 5' medium duty rotary cutter with a slip clutch the other day (80 hp gearbox) when I hit a stump and whack, the engine immediately died (unusual because it usually chokes and then is fine if I quickly raise the cutter above the obstruction). I had been using it for several hours before this happened, seemingly without problems.

Now when I try to engage the pto with the cutter, it dies immediately (and I mean quick) /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif. Perhaps I erred in using the cutter without first slipping the clutch, as it had been 10 weeks since it's last use. Any help us much appreciated.

 

[JerryG]

Have you unhooked the PTO shaft to see if the gear box is free and to check if the PTO in the tractor turns?

 

[rambler]

Well:

Did you disconnect the cutter & run the tractor pto, and does it work fine?

Did you disconnect the pto shaft from the tractor & try to turn the cutter by hand? does it move in either direction? At all? Any noises? Try a short bar in a knuckle & see if there is any give when you try to turn it? Noises, binding, 1/2" of turn & it locks, what?

Did you look underneith and see if there is a ball of twine or some such (perfect brake!) wrapped around the shaft? Or a bent blade or something locking up the mower? Even a rock - well, piece of wood - wedged in tight somewhere?

If it's none of that, are there any bearings that froze up?

If none of the above, just leaves the gearbox.

Hope it's not the tractor!

I think 90% of us mean well, but we never check out our slip clutches either....

Good luck. Let us know what you checked for, maybe we can help more.

--->Paul

 

[Soundguy]

Did you unit not also still have the shear bolt holding the slip clutch onto the gearbox?

And yes.. I agree that the slip clutch either needed that clutch prep stuff they sell, or needed to be slipped, as the plates probably bonded.

Like the others said... remove the driveshaft and see what the tractor pto alone does...

I fthe mower is locked up, check to see if one of the bearings in the bottom shaft went out.. might see the stump jumper cocked to one side.. etc.

good luck

Soundguy

 

[19th_VA]

Thanks. I did look underneath and try to turn the blades, but it was getting dark and time to go. With the hurricane looming large, it will probably be a week or so before I get back out there, but I have printed out all this great advice and will get back to you with final inspection results. Thanks--this is an amazing source of sound advice.