New (to me) Brush Hog

[Baub]

I picked up a 4" brush hog at auction the other day. Thought it would be a good project. All the labels are gone, pretty rusty, and the tail wheel is shot, along with the axle. On the plus side, the PTO shaft, gear box, blade carrier, and blades seem to be in good shape. Anyway, for better or worse I own it, so it is going to be put back into shape to clear around my pond and the access road. Here are some photos....

So here are my questions, as I have never owned a brush hog before. I would appreciate any input.



1) I think the piece is a King Kutter, What do you think?

2) What lube is used in the gear box?

3) I have been reading about overrunning couplers and slip couplers, and I am confused. I will be pulling this with a New Holland TC21D, and I don't want to damage the tractor. What do I need?

This is a great bunch of guys... thanks in advance for any help.

 

[Farmwithjunk]

King Kutter.

 

[ToadHill]

The design and the paint on the gear box say King Kutter to me.
I use 90 weight gear lub in mine.
You need to lengthen the top link to make the "hog" run level.
If the tractor has a "live" pto you'll need an over running coupler or the inertia from the spinning blade will drive the tractor forward even with the clutch in. If it has an independent pto you won't need either.

 

[zzvyb6]

Looks just like my King Kutter (which was 5'). Tail wheel is usually not a beaded tire but a 'disk' made up of sandwiched tire cord sections. A Tractor Supply Company (TSC) has wheels, blades, blade bolts and 90 wgt oil for the gearbox. I know there is one nearby you because I was there once a few years back, (near Abbott & Martin road in Buffalo, (518) 562-2913 or are you more near Rochester or Silver Creek ?

 

[BTDT]

Looks like a nice useable unit. Doesn't appear that any of the metal lift arms are bent (from being pushed backwards into brush/trees, or from crossing low spots with top link out of adjustment). BTW, TSC also sells paint .

 

[Baub]

Thanks for all the help!

I wasn't going to run the brush hog with the top link shortened as shown. I just wanted to get enough clearance to drop the tail wheel assy. Here is a shot of the wheel hub and axle. Too late for a little grease?

ZZ- I checked out the Tractor Supply in Wellsville NY today and they stock what appears to be the replacement tail wheel. The axle is just a 1' bolt, so I will take some measurements and pick up the parts ASAP.

When all the mechanicals check out, I will wire wheel, sandblast and paint. Ford blue OK BTDT?

I believe I have an independent PTO on the TC21D, but I think I will post a question on the New Holland board to make sure.

Since I am posting pictures, here is a shot of our resident albino woodchuck. He has digs in a creek bank by the house, and likes to dine in the shade in the afternoon. I hear they are fairly common, but this is the only one I have ever seen.

 

[Travis_R]

I like the cutter AND the woodchuck!

Travis R

 

[DaddyRabbit]

Oh Man, Love the pond and the view. Great place for a house.

 

[Baub]

DaddyRabbit- It would be a fine place for a house, but the pond is in an upper field accessed by a 1/3 mile dug road with about a 400' rise. My house sits down in the gully bellow at the juncture of two streams.

The original potato farmer, around the turn of the century, had his house up there... all that is left is the laid stone foundation. It must have been a rough life.

Bringing electric up and improving the dug road would be many $$$$$. Retirement may be in a few years, and I have thought about a small cabin on the old barn foundation that has roughly that view. Here are some shots of the road going up, taken last fall. A big reason I got the tractor was to improve access to the pond and surrounding land.

Remember winter up North.... This isn't North Carolina Would you want to maintain that driveway for 5 months?

 

[Northland]

not sure about the bush hog but I do love your pond. I'd love to have one like that on my land.

I think if you ditch that trail well, on both sides, you will have a a trail that will be passable at all times