Rotary Cutter Lubricant leaked from Bush Hog Rotary Cutter

[Batman50615]

Have on old Bush Hog Rotary Cutter Model 105 Serial # 30964. The lubricant leaked from the gearbox and comes out from underneath. What do I need to do to fix? Where can I find instructions on how to repair? What is the correct lubricant to put back in once it is fixed? To what level do I refill the lubricant once it is fixed?

[SPYDERLK]

It is the output shaft seal. You can put cornhead grease or even std NLGI 2 in it and just keep running it for many years. Fixing it will require taking it apart ... time, tools, and skill. And it might go bad again ... quickly or not.
larry

[Batman50615]

Sorry, but I'm not real mechanical. What is cornhead grease & std NLGI 2? Maybe a brand name & viscosity rating or something that would help me pick the right thing from a Farm & Home Store.

[cmore]

I just pumped mine full of bearing grease that I use for all the grease zerks on the equipment. Has worked for several years w/o issue.

[Ductape]

I just pumped mine full of bearing grease that I use for all the grease zerks on the equipment. Has worked for several years w/o issue.

Same here, sep'n mine was full of grease when I bought it. I ran mine that way for five years and sold it (just didn't need a bush hog anymore). I'm sure the new owner will run it for many more years with the gearbox filled with grease.

[Clint S]

It's really not hard to fix, but the parts are heavy and require large tools. If there is any wobble at all it oblongs the seal and they leak. I replaced my seal twice before giving up and filling with grease too

[Soundguy]

could just be the seal.. or could be a bad bearing.

it's worth checking.

if it does not leak fast on 80w90 gear oil.. go with a 0 EP grease jd cornhead grease is 0 ep. lubes like snapper/stens make a 00ep grease for lawn/golf course maint equipment as well.

checkt hhat bearing though.. if bearing is bad.. it will eat seals,, and leak worse till it flies apart..

[thatguy]

Sorry, but I'm not real mechanical. What is cornhead grease & std NLGI 2? Maybe a brand name & viscosity rating or something that would help me pick the right thing from a Farm & Home Store.

If you go to a tractor dealership (especially a JD one) they should have 'cornhead' grease -


John deere Special-Purpose Corn Head Gun Grease - AN102562

its thick enough that it wont reach a melting point and leak past the seals..

Brian

[Depmandog]

I have an old Bush Hog 13' flat rotary cutter. The outboard seal was leaking BAD on mine so I replaced it. The hardest part was getting the stump jumper off. We ended up cutting a hole in the deck and sliding a large solid bar down thru the hole to the topside of the stump jumper and then pounding on the bar with a 16 pound sledge, we also applied heat. Wow, it was a tough bird to remove.

Once it was off, piece of cake to replace the seal. And the seal was only around 10 bucks if I recall.

As far as quantity of oil, the two out board hubs on mine have a 1/4" "fill to this level plug" that when oil runs out - it is full. The center hub just has a fill opening part way up on the gearbox, and you put oil in it until it starts to run out the same hole. Pretty simple. I use 90wt gear oil, but then my seals are in pretty decent shape.

Ditto what has been said re: checking the bearings and the grease if your seals are leakers.

[MESSMAKER]

Try Cornhead grease first. Two tubes are about $10. It takes 15 min. to fill it up. Way easier than a seal. Cornhead grease thins more atr heat to act like the regular lube. I don't understand why it does not come from the factory with it.