Loose gear box on rotary cutter

[savageayape]

I have a Frontier RC 1072 rotary cutter with a loose gear box. The bolts are showing on top, but they just spin freely. I looked underneath the cutter, but the stump jumper is blocking my access to the nuts. I'm just a little concerned taking the stump jumper off while I'm under the cutter due to the weight of it. I also don't know how I'll raise it back up to re-attach it. Does anyone have any recommendations? I need to fix it soon. Thegrass is getting tall.

[RoyJackson]

I have a Frontier RC 1072 rotary cutter with a loose gear box. The bolts are showing on top, but they just spin freely. I looked underneath the cutter, but the stump jumper is blocking my access to the nuts. I'm just a little concerned taking the stump jumper off while I'm under the cutter due to the weight of it. I also don't know how I'll raise it back up to re-attach it. Does anyone have any recommendations? I need to fix it soon. Thegrass is getting tall.

Make sure any fitting on the gear box are tight and any vents are plugged to prevent any oil from draining out.

Using your loader, chains and clamps; lean the cutter against a solid surface (a tree would work...use an old tire between the cutter and tree). Make sure you'll have adequate room to reach the bolt heads. I'd also tie or chain the cutter to the tree while it's uprighted so it cannot tip.
Then it should be reasonably easy to remove the stump jumper and tighten everything up.

This is a good job to have a friend helping you, BTW.

[bindian]

Make sure any fitting on the gear box are tight and any vents are plugged to prevent any oil from draining out.

Using your loader, chains and clamps; lean the cutter against a solid surface (a tree would work...use an old tire between the cutter and tree). Make sure you'll have adequate room to reach the bolt heads. I'd also tie or chain the cutter to the tree while it's uprighted so it cannot tip.
Then it should be reasonably easy to remove the stump jumper and tighten everything up.

This is a good job to have a friend helping you, BTW.

This is exactly how I tightened the bolts on my old John deere's cutter. Except I only had a boom pole on the 3PH. I lifted one side up a tree and chained it up. The more vibration you have and more rough stuff you chew up mowing will make them loose, so be ready to do it down the road again. After chaining the cutter up, I did leave the boom pole connected as a back up in safety.
hugs, Brandi

[RoyJackson]

This is exactly how I tightened the bolts on my old John deere's cutter. Except I only had a boom pole on the 3PH. I lifted one side up a tree and chained it up. The more vibration you have and more rough stuff you chew up mowing will make them loose, so be ready to do it down the road again. After chaining the cutter up, I did leave the boom pole connected as a back up in safety.
hugs, Brandi

Did you just hug a fellow TBNer?

We don't do that here as we are all "manly" type men.

[zzvyb6]

I believe I would accept a hug from Brandi the aircraft mechanic. I'll bet she can deal a real mean west coast swing with her Pal: o'ld meano.

I suspect the 3" of water over her boots just barely reached the top of her heals.

Now were gonna need a pitcher...

[BB_TX]

As Roy said, lift it with your FEL (if you have one of course). I just stand mine up and lean it back against the FEL keeping the chains tight so it can't go anywhere.

[greg_g]

I have a six footer also, but didn't find it necessary to remove the stump jumper. There's enough room between the stump jumper and the deck to reach in with a 1/2" drive ratchet and socket. If you find that a tight fit, a box wrench works just fine too. With the deck lifted and braced, I had a 2nd person reach above the stump jumper and hold the nut. I then used a box wrench to tighten the loose bolt from above. In my case only one was loose. But as long as we were set up for it, I torqued them all

//greg//

[savageayape]

Thank you to everyone for the advice & Brandi can hug me anytime.

[RoyJackson]

Oh boy..Group Hug!!!

Oops, Belay that! I'm not from California...

[savageayape]

Hey Roy,

I said Brandi can hug me... no men! I'm not from California either.