What to look at in a used bush hog

[QBH]

I am going to look at a used BH tomorrow. The price is pretty good, and the guy says it is in good shape, but how can I tell?

Other than obvious cosmetic stuff, rust etc, what do I check?

Should it come with a drive shaft, or is that usually an additional purchase?

Anything else to consider?
Thanks

Larry

 

[DT86]

Check the oil in the gear box for water, look on the ground underneath the gear box for oil leaks, look for broken welds on the deck, bent or beat up blades.

If it did not come with a drive shaft I would expect the price to be adjusted accordingly.

 

[lostcreekranch]

Check the oil in the gear box for water, look on the ground underneath the gear box for oil leaks, look for broken welds on the deck, bent or beat up blades.

If it did not come with a drive shaft I would expect the price to be adjusted accordingly.

Drive Shafts with safety covers are expensive!

 

[DT86]

Drive Shafts with safety covers are expensive!

You got that right.

 

[k0ua]

Many of the transmissions will have a small inspection plug you unscrew to check the oil level in the transmission. Oil should run out or be at the level of the inspection plug hole. You add fluid at the breather/plug on top of the transmission. Does the oil look like milk? meaning water in the fluid. No oil at all? Some people put corn head grease in the transmissions because the seals wont hold oil anymore. This is easier than replacing the seals. Take a small adjustable wrench with you. The drive shaft runs from 125 to 250 bucks. depending on length and where you buy it. It should have a shield for safety. Lot of people take them off because it makes greasing the U joints more difficult. But people do get hung up in the drive shafts, just how I don't know but it happens.

 

[deezler]

Don't do what I did and fail to notice that the previous owners sheared the shear bolt off the gearbox input shaft and rammed the PTO shaft further down the shaft. It took me a whole day of cutting (albeit with the wrong tools) to get the old shaft cut loose and a new one installed.

New PTO shaft was only $70 from agri-supply though, no big deal.

 

[eventer79]

Related to this (thanks for a good question!), the bushhog I have is coated with rust on the underside. Now, I know there is a difference between surface rust and what I call "RUST rust" (own a steel horse trailer) but what should I do about this (recently got, now stored slightly elevated)? Is a coating of rust NBD on a '94 model? Top is getting repainted. Sorry, not intending to hijack.

 

[RoyJackson]

If at all possible, have the seller rig it to his tractor so you can see how well it works or if there are any unexpected noises....if you're no familiar with rotary cutters, they all make some racket initially.

 

[QBH]

Wow, good tips all.

Thanks for the suggestions!

Roy, I like the plan. I was thinking of taking my tractor down there, but my trailer isn't long enough to haul a tractor with a bush hog attached, if I buy it. In that regard, will a 4' bush hog fit in the back of my wife's F-250?

Larry

 

[bcp]

Roy, I like the plan. I was thinking of taking my tractor down there, but my trailer isn't long enough to haul a tractor with a bush hog attached, if I buy it. In that regard, will a 4' bush hog fit in the back of my wife's F-250?

Larry

I measured 2 brands recently. Both were 54 inches wide overall.

Bruce