Rotary Cutter Rotary Cutter ID please..

[aczlan]

I picked up a 5 foot rotary cutter from Craigslist for $75 this week. Can anyone identify it? It appears that it was orange at one time, then it was repainted red.
I have been using it behind the B7500. It is a little too much mower in the heavy stuff, but it works. Once we get a longer PTO shaft we will put it behind the L3830.


Closeups:


Little Miss Zoe (10 months old) likes tractors.


Why was it $75? The previous owner got it with a MF 135 and already had a 10' dual spindle cutter. When I got it, the rear wheel was locked up due to rusted bearings. It now has new bearings and a retainer clip to hold the PTO shaft on if it breaks a shearpin. It still needs the top replaced, but that will be happening soon. Last year, the fab shop across the road asked if we could mow his field. We didn't have a bushhog, so I said no then. Now that we have a bushhog, I will be mowing it in exchange for him replacing the "tin" on the mower, lengthening the PTO shaft and adding chain guards to it (front and rear).

Works out well for all involved.

Aaron Z

 

[beenthere]

On first blush looks like it might be Dearborn. But nothing but the arched pipe at the 3 ph leads me to that guess.

Pretty cute "driver" there. Bet ya can't wait for her to grow up and take over that job.

PS To remove some of the stress carrying the cutter, I'd move the lift chains back to behind the gear box, like near the pivot point of the rear wheel. A big load with those short chains when carrying the deck.

What does

It is a too little much mower in the heavy stuff,

mean?
Figure it was a typo but am curious.

 

[sweettractors]

That one has got me stumped?? You did get a heck of a bargain. Good looking kid. Ken Sweet

 

[aczlan]

On first blush looks like it might be Dearborn. But nothing but the arched pipe at the 3 ph leads me to that guess.
PS To remove some of the stress carrying the cutter, I'd move the lift chains back to behind the gear box, like near the pivot point of the rear wheel. A big load with those short chains when carrying the deck.

Looks like the chains may be long enough to reach there... have to try it.

Pretty cute "driver" there. Bet ya can't wait for her to grow up and take over that job.

Thanks, I dont know if I want her taking over the job (I like my seat time), but if she is anything like her amazing mother, she will want to be the one driving the tractor before too long.

What does

It is a too little much mower in the heavy stuff, but it works.

mean? Too big or too small? Figure it was a typo but am curious.

That should have been It is a little too much mower in the heavy stuff, but it works.

Thanks

Aaron Z

 

[bullbreaker]

On first blush looks like it might be Dearborn. But nothing but the arched pipe at the 3 ph leads me to that guess.

Don't know make,model,etc.
I believe MR.BEENTHERE'S quote was on right track.
At one time many moons ago FORD/DEARBORN'S bush-hogs came with that big arched pipe like you see on PHD but larger.The ones I remember from past were mostly blue(908,910's).However some were orange.
http://www.lovefords.org/dealer/images/tractor.jpg
Boone

 

[aczlan]

Bump. Anyone have any ideas?

 

[JoeinTX]

Sorry, acz, I did a little research of my own out of blatant curiosity and didn't find much. Found a few that shared some of its characteristics and look to be about the same age, but, none that were what you have there.

Not a great biggie, though. It should be of some generally common parts and size gauges that you can match up with new replacements (bolts, blades, so on) down at the local TSC, etc. As long as the gear box is sound and no major leaks...............you look good to go.

 

[aczlan]

Thanks for looking JoeinTX, I have had similar results.

The parts seem to be fairly standard. The bearings in the tailwheel are standard 1" shaft trailer bearings ($15/pair @ TSC) and the other parts look to be fairly standard. I need to drain and refill the gearbox (possibly with light grease) as I think it is leaking a little around the front seal. I need to clean everything off and see if it is leaking, or what.

Aaron Z

 

[aczlan]

Was busy today. I made an arrangement with the guy who has the fab shop down the road, he rebuilt the sheet metal of the bush hog and I will mow his field.
He finished the modifications the other week and I have since cleaned the rust and stuff off with my angle grinder (cup style wire wheel installed) and the needle scaler I picked up at HF on labor day weekend.
Today was nice, so I slapped some paint on it. It looks pretty nice (if I do say so myself).

 

[aczlan]

Found it.
I went with Dad last night to look at a Deere 755 TLB and the guy had an IDENTICAL cutter there with a well faded Central Tractor logo on it.
So, it appears that this was a Central Tractor mower (now it is a mutt).

Aaron Z