Rotary Cutter Rhino Rotary cutters

[LoneCowboy]

junk
I've had it with this junk.
I've had a cheapie bushhog squeler (5') for years and nothing has ever happened to it.
I've owned a 6' Rhino (2000 dollars) and a 8' Rhino (5000 dollars) since May and as of today, i've now busted ALL 3 WHEELS on those (the 8' has two). (it bends the fork, how can that thick of metal bend?)

They warrantied one.
They cost like 200 dollars each.

I'm seriously considering just putting the Bush Hog one on there.
JUNK

Do not buy.

 

[Bill Barrett]

Not what I want to hear, I just bought a Rhino hydraulic post hole digger. Made in the good old USA!

 

[Farmwithjunk]

Which models are you having trouble with? Rhino heavy duty mowers have a rep as indestructable. They're popular around here with municipal road right-of-way mowing crews, school property maint., ect, where cost is irrellevent and bullet-proof tough is essential.

I'm startin' to wonder 'bout cha! Nothing is standing up to what you're dishing out. Whatta you mowin'? Tree stumps?

 

[LoneCowboy]

I haven't hit anything out of the ordinary.
In fact, I just figured out how I bent this one.
Putting it on the trailer
yes, that odd angle of putting it on the trailer bent it. (because I greased it before loading the tractor)
JUNK wheels
It's the 3rd wheel now (all 3 now)

All we have around here is grass, no real saplings like down south, everyone runs 1" stuff (even the highway dept)

176 (6', commercial, chains, 2000 bucks)
SE8A (8' commercial, 5000 bucks)

 

[TNhobbyfarmer]

I've used a Rhino TW72 for about 10 years of VERY rough cutting. It has been a great cutter and is still running like brand new. I plan on using it until one of us dies, and I suspect the Rhino will outlive me. Not sure why you're having problems, but my experience has been just the opposite.

 

[Alan L.]

I have a '99 5' Rhino, I guess its light duty. I have beat the crap out of it for 8 years and it still works great. I have cut stuff it was never designed to cut. Very durable, wellmade piece of equpment.

 

[sodamo]

Brian
I have a Rhino SE5, bit over 2 years old. I admit that it gets treated a bit roughly at times - hit far too many rocks. I too have had to replace the caster fork weldment that holds the wheel. To this day, I'm not sure how I bent it. Like you, I'm amazed that as thick as it is it bent so badly. Of course, I can't get a replacement locally, had to special order it. I've also had 1 lift strap break just above the bolt hole, 1 hitch pin stripped/replaced because it wouldn't stay tight, the shield assembly nylon lock nut never stayed tight. Except for the weldment, minor complaints and overall, I'm happy.

David

 

[Farmwithjunk]

Something just isn't adding up. While it isn't impossible to bend or break a mower tailwheel, it just seems odd that you're having chronic problems with 2 different mowers. I recall reading about the tailwheel falling off and getting lost. While that's odd, it isn't outside the realm of possibility. What seems so strange is repeated BENDING or breaking the tailwheels in normal use. I have bent a tailwheel framework on a Woods mower a few years ago, but I knew EXACTLY when I did it. It wasn't so subtle as to go un-noticed when it happened. (I bent mine backing into a dirt bank)

From all I can see (in Rhino add propaganda/sales literature), the tailwheel structure on their mowers doesn't look much different than everyone elses offerings. On most of todays mowers, they ALL appear a bit frail to me, but no brand has a "problem" with their tailwheels as far as I know. To better determine WHY they're bending, you need to know WHEN they're bending and breaking.

The one that bent/broke while loading....? Is there enough slack in the top link flex point? (Are you throwing the weight of the tractor on that tailwheel as you start up the incline?) Would it be benificial to replace the struts from the A-frame to the rear of the mower with chains to allow more flexibility?

SOMETIMES, implements just don't match up well with a certain tractor. Everything appears correct, hitch catagory right, all adjustments right, and things STILL don't work just right. There's some sort of isolated problem here that's causing your troubles. Too many HAPPY Rhino owners....And Rhino has too good of a reputation to be excusing this problem as a design flaw in 2 models that they sell tons of.

Again, it would be most helpfull to know exactly how/when/why things are going wrong.

 

[LoneCowboy]

The tailwheels on both models are exactly the same
Either cutter runs on different tractors.
so, it's not that particular tractor
Something that thick should not bend unless I back it into a wall or something stupid..
And the bushhog has NEVER bent. (much more use than the other two, older)

This one, I know i bent while loading it on a tilt trailer (no ramps)
Only the one, and they are both in the same plane (dual tailwheels on the 8') and the other one (new) is fine.

 

[jsborn]

I've used a Rhino TW72 for about 10 years of VERY rough cutting. It has been a great cutter and is still running like brand new. I plan on using it until one of us dies, and I suspect the Rhino will outlive me. Not sure why you're having problems, but my experience has been just the opposite.

I have used a TW 60 and as above I have run it through more than it was designed to do with no problem. I have always thought if I could get the cutter on top of something it should cut it. Just a thought you might want to really pay close attention to your operating to see if there is something you may be doing . (this is not intended as a slam to you but just a thought).

 

[whodat90]

I'm sorry to hear that. I have an SE4 that I've absolutely abused and it still works great, nothing to show for the abuse other than the odd dent where a rock stuck between the blade and the housing. Heck, I've used it as a stump grinder before, albeit on small stumps.

 

[Bill Barrett]

I bent a Wallace Auto rotary and know how, backed over a small log, as I pulled forward the tail wheel couldn't spin around as it got parallel with the log it just folded sideways . A little work in the shop press and a 5 lbs hammer, good as new!

 

[chrisjbell]

I beat the heck out of my Rhino cutter. One side has been banged by rocks thrown by the blade so many times it bulges out. I've hit the tailwheel on all kinds of stuff and the wheel rim is bent (good thing it has a solid tire on it ) but the mount is still good. That thing just rocks...

 

[shvl73]

Is this the part that is bending? (circled in attached pic)

 

[LoneCowboy]

Is this the part that is bending? (circled in attached pic)

Yes .

 

[shvl73]

$200 each is an awfully lot of $ for just the fork.

 

[LoneCowboy]

$200 each is an awfully lot of $ for just the fork.

I was incorrect
$200 is for the whole assembly (fork plus wheel)
The fork itself is $76

still a lot of money for something that should never bend.

 

[Gatorboy]

This one, I know i bent while loading it on a tilt trailer (no ramps)

Classic case of operator error.

 

[sandman2234]

I think what Gatorboy is trying to say is that ramps might have been a good investment if they will keep the tailwheels from getting bent.
David from jax

 

[LoneCowboy]

Classic case of operator error.

What are you talking about?
driving it onto a trailer should not (and has never with a bush hog) bend the entire wheel sideways.