Thoughts on Bush Hog 315 (which I believe is 50 years old)

Richard · Jul 8, 2018

Found a Bush Hog 315. Called the company last week and he laughed.... saying they stopped making it nearly 50 years ago.

There is a twisted spline, current owner is in process of fixing it right now (I saw the new spline inserted, he had just not finished putting it in because I got there early)

The rubber "shock absorbers" are shot and he's got replacements for those too.

One of the wings had two TINY drips of oil, presumably coming from the bottom of the gear box. Looked like someone took an eyedropper full of oil and placed it there. It "ran down" about 10" and was stopped. No other visible wetness or accumulation of fresh oil there.

Anyway, it's for sale and he's asking $4,000 BUT, it's negotiable if it is sold along with their Allis Chalmers 6080...

The guy at Bushhog laughed again when I asked if it would be considered light/medium or heavy duty.... he said (paraphrased a bit)

"Son... back then everything was made out of real steel...... I'd consider that heavy duty....but realize some parts are going to be hard or expensive to come by...so if you buy it, I hope you buy it for a song & a dance"

He never clarified if he thought $4,000 was a song & dance...

Thoughts?

aczlan · Jul 8, 2018

I think that you're going to want to loosen up the bolts on that slip clutch in picture 7 and make sure it can slip so as to avoid breaking another splined shaft.

Aaron Z

Richard · Jul 8, 2018

Yeah... I asked what they might have hit to twist the shaft. He said he didn't think they hit anything...but rather, forgot to loosen the clutch one spring and when PTO was engaged....

RickB · Jul 8, 2018

Keep looking. They were great in their day, but that was, like the man said, 50 years ago. $4000 is insane.

Richard · Jul 8, 2018

Kind of what I was thinking (overpriced)

The guy that worked at Bushhog seemed to get a kick out of talking about this unit (said he was something like 77 years old.... must have been there back in the day these were made)

Anyway, after his "Song & Dance" comment, I asked him for a ballpark he might consider paying (given that he's not seen this unit).... he said "about $1,500"

The seller has an Allis Chalmers 6080 for sale along with this. Prefers to sell them as a pair. His asking price is $12K.

I said the highest I could go for the entire package is $6K (and felt even that might be generous except it's clear when looking at these, they've pretty much always been kept under roof)

None the less.... he's not yet called me back so it's all likely a moot point.

RickB · Jul 8, 2018

Condition depending, the 6080 could be worth upwards of $8K.

aczlan · Jul 8, 2018

RickB said:
Condition depending, the 6080 could be worth upwards of $8K.

I agree, in rough shape they are asking 5-8k around here, if its in good shape and barn kept, that would be worth more.

Aaron Z

Richard · Jul 8, 2018

Good to know (thank you) I'm ignorant of them. I've read about issues they've had with their thrust bearings and I have no clue if this one was old enough to have that issue or perhaps a newer one that was fixed at the factory.

Therefore, I felt I needed to go in priced with the expectation that it might need fixed (as well as the mower needing more attention)

I WAS favorably impressed with the seller that he already had the spline and the round shock absorbers (whatever they're called).

RickB · Jul 8, 2018

It’s easy to tell if the 6080’s engine has been updated. There will be a cradle installed at the front of the engine with a support bearing attached to the front crankshaft pulley. Thrust bearing problems are caused ONLY by improper PTO operation.

Richard · Jul 9, 2018

Been digging into this a bit more. Spoke with the dealer who sold the machine to the owners father. The dealer (who's a 'good ole boy' and going to retire next year) said he loves them. Said he's got the model one size down as he didn't need the HP this one had. Really gave them some good marks.

Spoke to Bushhog again... they're pretty cool. Emailed me the owners manual AND service manual for this....did it while on the phone for a near 50 year old mower!!

Then...the original owner has come back saying he'd let them both go (and deliver to me 60 minutes away) for $8,000 total.

He's fixing the twisted spline. He's got the rubber shock absorber things in hand already. Said I can come out this weekend & mow his field with it if I want. Bushhog says bearings & seals are still available for it...

Last night, my wife & her brother asked me why I didn't let the farm pay for it instead of me? I said the farm is welcome to buy anything it wants....I won't stand in the way!!

So hopefully, they'll bring this up to the other members of their family.... I don't mind cutting things, I don't mind maintaining things (I actually don't mind too much buying the fuel for it either!)

Guess we'll see what happens this weekend.