Bush Hog 2615 with sticky hinges

[KnuckleDragger]

I purchased a used 2615 batwing with som sticky hinges. On a good day, one side lowers on its own, and the other needs a tug to lower. On a bad day, I need some from my mule to get either side down. I am pretty sure that the back pins on the hinges are not "true". Does any one know what it will take to get them aligned?

[RickB]

Make sure your wing driveshafts are not binding. Often your symptoms are due to shaft telescoping problems, not hinge problems.

[KnuckleDragger]

I take it the binding shaft can be troubleshot by disconnecting the shafts. (?). Do they detach like a normal PTO shaft?

[LoneCowboy]

I've had this happen a couple times.
The hinges aren't sticky, your driveshaft is bent.

And yes, there's a bolt near the slipclutch end and the whole driveshaft will come apart.

I guarantee your slipclutch is seized up.

replace BOTH sides of the driveshaft.

It doesn't take much for it to bend.

[KnuckleDragger]

I'd say 'bingo' on the bent shaft, and likely the slipclutch. Previous owner provided evidence of both (sheared PTO shaft on tractor from bottoming out mower traversing a ditch). Both shafts were also lacking sufficient grease. I applied some grease, but only as much surface area as was exposed. It did help tremendously, but did not cure my woe completely. I have about 80 more acres to mow to put the pasture to bed for the winter, then I'll do a tear-down-and-evaluate.

I think I'll post some slip-clutch related questions in a new thread.

Thanks for the help, all.

[KnuckleDragger]

replace BOTH sides of the driveshaft.

Ok. So you know I am cheap. If, and that is a big 'if', I can determine that only one side is torqued, would I still need to replace both?

[RickB]

Ok. So you know I am cheap. If, and that is a big 'if', I can determine that only one side is torqued, would I still need to replace both?

That's a slim probablilty. You need to replace the galled/twisted/bent shafting. If that's only one half, fine. But it probably won't be.

[LoneCowboy]

Ok. So you know I am cheap. If, and that is a big 'if', I can determine that only one side is torqued, would I still need to replace both?

the part is cheap (relatively)
taking the whole dang thing apart again isn't.

esp. if you then bend the other side AGAIN.

penny wise, pound foolish.

replace both male and female sides.

BTDT got the T shirt.

[RickB]

the part is cheap (relatively)
taking the whole dang thing apart again isn't.

esp. if you then bend the other side AGAIN.

penny wise, pound foolish.

replace both male and female sides.

BTDT got the T shirt.

Sooner or later, one way or the other, he will learn.

[KnuckleDragger]

Please be patient with me, I am one of those guys that is going to need a serious amount of de-programming. I only seem to learn from making mistakes and too often succeed by defying BTDT. I am sure I will take your advice and replace both sides, because I trust your judgement. If I replace both sides, I will have succeeded in getting my batwing to unfold but really won't have learned anything. But I have this one nagging aspect of the way this thing binds that makes me pause and ask the question: "Is it torqued on only one side?" It slides gracefully up and down, up until the point that is nearly 90 deg up. I'm pretty bad at angles, but I would say at about 80-85 deg up I hear a metal-on-metal creak. I originally thought the metal-on-metal was in the hinge, but after hearing your wisdom and experience, and getting some schooling on slip-clutches, I would certainly agree that it is the drive shaft. The fact that it binds at full retract tells me that the twist is near one of the gearboxes. Granted, it may be my inexperience telling me that.

Do I risk any harm, other than lost time, if I take a swag at which side needs replacing, order that part, try it, and hope for the best? Between my neighbors and myself, I probably have a piece of un-tethered cardon shaft lying around that I could use to test for trueness if my eyeballs don't do the trick.

Please don't take offense to these words, because if we were conversing verbally, you would know that I am responding to you in utmost humility.

Regardless of whether I buy one side or both, I am going to need help figuring out the correct part number to order. I've visited the Bush Hog site, and there is way too much mulitiple choice for me to figure out the correct shaft.

Thanks again,
Chris