Rotary Cutter Thoughts on a Woods M5 rotary cutter

[jerry shannon]

I just picked up a very used Woods M5-4 rotary cutter. Replacing the entire pto shaft from tractor to implement as the only half of the original came with the mower and got a good price on it. I paid $475.00 for the mower.

Is this considered a medium or heavy duty unit and is it considered to be a good unit?

Also, as it is very heavy is it safe to use with my JD 855 compact tractor which is 23 hp or play it safe and use it with my Oliver 1855 which is 98 Hp.

 

[dbaer78]

The 855 would probably be your best bet. The Oliver would probably grenade that cutter pretty quick if you weren't careful.

 

[HarryN]

dbaer78 is right. Should be no problem for an 855. I use a JD 850 with a bigger one. By the way, does it have a rear discharge on that Woods?

 

[jerry shannon]

Thank you both. A little clarity dbaer78 please on your term grenade. Is the Oliver too much tractor for that 5' woods cutter?

Also HarryN,, it is not a rear discharge. It is a Dixie Cutter model. Has a complete set of chains that go around the front and back of the unit. I was told it came from a Michigan Dept of Transportation dept auction. Used on road work. I filled it full of 90 wt and so far no leaks. Have not hooked it up to tractor yet as I ordered a new complete PTO shaft for it.

 

[dbaer78]

Yes I think you would wear that gearbox and driveline VERY quickly with that Oliver.

 

[KTurner]

I just picked up a very used Woods M5-4 rotary cutter. Replacing the entire pto shaft from tractor to implement as the only half of the original came with the mower and got a good price on it. I paid $475.00 for the mower.

Is this considered a medium or heavy duty unit and is it considered to be a good unit?

Also, as it is very heavy is it safe to use with my JD 855 compact tractor which is 23 hp or play it safe and use it with my Oliver 1855 which is 98 Hp.

We have a Woods M5-4 that I pull behind a NewHolland 3230 (32hp). The owners manual says the recommended max tractor hp is 15-60HP. Let me know if you want me to look up anything in the manual. I'm not sure when my wife's grandfather bought it, but he bought the 3230 new in the early 90s. I don't do any heavy clearing with it. Probably the heaviest stuff I've used it on is an occasional 5' or so sweet gum mixed in with the overgrown weeds. I normally use it when the "grass" is too tall and/or thick for the finish mower. Our M5-4 does not have the chain guard. I priced one a couple years ago and I think it was at least half of what you paid for the entire your entire M5-4. I wouldn't call this heavy duty, but I don't really have anything to compare it to.

Keith

 

[Piston]

Is this considered a medium or heavy duty unit and is it considered to be a good unit?

This would be considered a light duty mower. As long as you don't try using it like a medium or heavy duty mower then it should give you years of service. Definitely keep it away from the "big brother" tractor.

 

[jerry shannon]

Thank you for all the advise. Good stuff. I will keep the Oliver away from it.

 

[jerry shannon]

How big of a challenge getting off the blade bar to get access to the bottom seals on the Woods M5-4? I put in 90 wt gear oil and no leaks. Once I started moving the pto shaft ( by hand and not hooked up to the tractor) all the gearbox drained out onto the stump jumper and the ground. I assume it is a seal. I have to pull the gearbox and rebuild it. Any tricks to getting the blade bar off. I am sure it has never been off and I have been soaking it all the bolts with PB Blaster in preparation for the task. I see some folks put in a very heavy grease instead of the 90 wt. What grease would I use if I want to try that route first? Thanks anyone.

 

[jerry shannon]

On my Woods M5-4 and the leaking bottom seal. I notice that the the nut on top of the gearbox is not a vent but a solid nut. Any chance that oil was blown pas the seal due to a lack of venting?? In that case, is there also any chance that the seal if ok but needs to be pushed back in and reset? Just curious.