Posthole Digger Post Hole Digger maintainance question

[stumpfield]

I just got a Bush Hog 2101 post hole digger and 60" rotory cutter that I thought was a good deal. According to the owner, he bought it new 4 years ago and have never used. However, they were stored outside under a tree half-burried with dirt and leaves for the past 4 years. The label stickers were cracked and about to peel off . The paint look dull but they do look like they are in perfect condition with no evident of any wear of usage. I plan to clean it with a pressure washer to get all the dirt off.
Question?
what else do I need to do before I hook up to the tractor and try to use it? Do I need to service the gear-box and replace the oil? Thanks.

 

[mlauk]

Check the level of the gear oil and if it looks milky then change the gear oil. Shoot grease in any zerks on the driveline and wheel of bush hog. Grease telescoping drive line. If the bush hog has a slip clutch, it would require maintenance. You might want to pull up the on line manual from Bush Hog to see if there is anything else.

 

[Runner]

Just for giggles, I'd put the hog on the tractor, raise it up, block it with jack stands, then, check to make sure the blades are free to turn on the stump jumper. I like to shoot the pivot points with some kind of oil and work them a little. This makes the thing shake less upon startup and will ensure that the blades are free to swing to the proper cutting position.

 

[stumpfield]

Check the level of the gear oil and if it looks milky then change the gear oil. Shoot grease in any zerks on the driveline and wheel of bush hog. Grease telescoping drive line. If the bush hog has a slip clutch, it would require maintenance. You might want to pull up the on line manual from Bush Hog to see if there is anything else.

Thanks for the info. The gear oil looks clean like new oil and very thin. Doesn't look like typical gear lube type of oil. The level is very low. I have to reach with my finger to find out there oil in it. Is that normal?

 

[MarkLeininger]

Thanks for the info. The gear oil looks clean like new oil and very thin. Doesn't look like typical gear lube type of oil. The level is very low. I have to reach with my finger to find out there oil in it. Is that normal?

There's usually a filler hole on the side of the gearbox that limits the level. The gearboxes I've had are full when the gears are about 1/2 submerged in the oil. Gear lube seems thinner in the gearbox than when you pour it out of the container. Rub it between your fingers a little and compare it to rubbing some motor oil with the other hand. You should notice the difference. I'd guess it's fine if he never used it, that means he never would have filled it up with the wrong fluids.