Rotary Cutter Woods Brushbull 48 shear pin access....HELP!!

SCOOBY14B · Feb 7, 2015

Got this cutter used.

Tried to use it today, shaft was spinning, not the blades.

How in the world do you access the shear pin? I've attached pictures of the gearbox end of shaft.

nch209 · Feb 8, 2015

I have the 60" version, and the pin is where the pto goes into the gear box, and previous owner cut back some of the plastic shied so changes could be done in a snap. Will try to get a pic later. Thanks

SCOOBY14B · Feb 8, 2015

The manual says to remove cover, but doesn't say HOW to remove cover and I can't figure out how to remove it.

SCOOBY14B · Feb 8, 2015

Anybody else please?

IslandTractor · Feb 8, 2015

My BrushBull 60 has a pop out "hatch" on the side of the big guard attached to the gearbox. Mine has a slip clutch but I can reach in from there to access all the bolts so you should be able to do the same (if you have the little pop out hatch). If you don't, you might want to remove the PTO shaft from the gearbox to localize the shearbolt and then cut an access hatch to reach it more easily in the future.

BTW, as much as a pain as shearbolts are, for infrequent use a slip clutch is much worse. I have to reset the thing every spring which is a full hour long job. A shearbolt in the field is no fun but can generally be done in ten minutes.

SCOOBY14B · Feb 8, 2015

IslandTractor said:
My BrushBull 60 has a pop out "hatch" on the side of the big guard attached to the gearbox. Mine has a slip clutch but I can reach in from there to access all the bolts so you should be able to do the same (if you have the little pop out hatch). If you don't, you might want to remove the PTO shaft from the gearbox to localize the shearbolt and then cut an access hatch to reach it more easily in the future.

BTW, as much as a pain as shearbolts are, for infrequent use a slip clutch is much worse. I have to reset the thing every spring which is a full hour long job. A shearbolt in the field is no fun but can generally be done in ten minutes.

Mine has that "pop out" flap, but all that does is allow a good view of a plastic cover.

For the life of me...I can't figure out HOW to get to the bolt. I can't even SEE the shear bolt.

IslandTractor · Feb 8, 2015

SCOOBY14B said:
Mine has that "pop out" flap, but all that does is allow a good view of a plastic cover.

For the life of me...I can't figure out HOW to get to the bolt. I can't even SEE the shear bolt.

You might need to take the shaft off the gearbox to sort it out the first time. Typically you can find the shear bolt as part of the connector that mates the shaft with the gearbox shaft. Tough part is that once the shear bolt is broken it is hard to see where it is. Best to rotate the shaft until either the bolt head or nut end is visible (one is usually lost from the shearing). Then use a screwdriver or new bolt to push the remainder out of the hole and put the new bolt in place. Helps to have the hand size of an eight year old.

SCOOBY14B · Feb 8, 2015

IslandTractor said:
You might need to take the shaft off the gearbox to sort it out the first time. Typically you can find the shear bolt as part of the connector that mates the shaft with the gearbox shaft. Tough part is that once the shear bolt is broken it is hard to see where it is. Best to rotate the shaft until either the bolt head or nut end is visible (one is usually lost from the shearing). Then use a screwdriver or new bolt to push the remainder out of the hole and put the new bolt in place. Helps to have the hand size of an eight year old.

How do you remove the shaft from the drive box? There's 4 bolts that hold the plastic cover to the gearbox that I can't access. Can't see a way to get it off.

IslandTractor · Feb 8, 2015

The smaller cover that is on the end of the PTO shaft should have some clips that can be pushed in with a screwdriver and then the cover will slide down the shaft and out of the way. You might (should) be able to see the shear bolt once you take that off.

SCOOBY14B · Feb 8, 2015

IslandTractor said:
The smaller cover that is on the end of the PTO shaft should have some clips that can be pushed in with a screwdriver and then the cover will slide down the shaft and out of the way. You might (should) be able to see the shear bolt once you take that off.

I saw those clips (3 of them), and tried pushing, pulling and prying. Now that I know they are to be pushed in...I'll do it with some more persuasion now.

Thanks