Anybody ever make a new brush hog body?

[drizler]

I have one of those tractor supply yellow five footers that's 10 years old and of course starting to show it being made out of thin steel, China's finest. Everything else. Is OK but it's starting to cut through in the usual spots on the top and I've been thinking about just making my own body for it using the original components. Steelcan't cost that much compared to buying a new oneand there's nothing especially hard about any of those angles. Just use the old one for a template. What say ye?

 

[CincyFlyer]

Heck yeah. I'd measure a real Bush Hog or other HD rotary cutter, and go with that thickness. There are a lot of places that can plasma cut a shape at a decent price, if you haven't the capability.

 

[Rmart30]

Unless you can cut and weld and have cheap access to the metal you are cheaper to sell yours and buy another one. We have rebuilt several "rough ones" we bought, and by the time you figure the man hours and material were withen a cpl hundred or so of buying a cheap new one.
Used 5 ft around here sell for $350-500 all the time. One of the new styled KK are $900 ish. King Kutter Flex Hitch Rotary Mower

 

[drizler]

There's no such thing as cheap access to metal but we do have a local steel mill I used to frequent. As gor gear I've oxy propane a chop saw a few grinders and my go to, Lincoln 225 AC/DC. I never was so hot with a mig and unless I am welding patch panels won't use it. So I got the gear. I rebuilt a buddy's last year but his was mostly just patching a couple big chunks missin and the top oil canning to the point it had cracked all the way across. Funny how easy repairs are when it's not made of cheap tin like my yellow thing.
Anyways my big question is what thickness steel do you use and is common enough to grab at the mill. I'd love to not have to weld 2 sheets together to make up the top but mine is a 5' . I don't recall seeing plate wider than 4 local but I may be wrong.
I'm gonna get through the season with mine but the end is coming and I'd rather build that new shell than weld it all up again. It is better used for some other project. Any great ideas or suggestions I'd love to hear or see them as I'm a copy cat not an inventor.

 

[nybirdman]

I would do the same if in your shoes;may-be use 1/4" plate.Not really that hard to do.Now your weak point with be the gear box.

 

[drizler]

My existing box shaft and all the rest are fine. Is t 1/4 way too thick? I was thinking in terms of 1/8 .

 

[CincyFlyer]

My existing box shaft and all the rest are fine. Is t 1/4 way too thick? I was thinking in terms of 1/8 .

It will only increase the weight. How thick is the existing housing?

 

[Rmart30]

A square back shell would be easy to build from scratch...A new shell doesnt have to look like your old one.
Look at the one pictured in the link below and you can see almost every piece of metal youd need to price. 3x2 angle, 2" flat bar, C channel, Sides are probably 6x2 angle, shoe is probably 2" flatbar then your plate for the deck.
All the cutter manufacturers list their deck thickness on their websites. You can pick which one youd like to go with. KK is going to be on the thin side while a RCR2672 landpride will be on the heavy side.
Id really be interested in what just the metal cost if you price it. Fred Cain Agricutter Rotary Cutter with Slip Clutch

 

[nybirdman]

If you build it out of 1/4" you will never have to repair/replace it for sure.

 

[Rmart30]

If you build it out of 1/4" you will never have to repair/replace it for sure.

Thats the truth. The HD land prides with 90 hp gear boxes are 10 ga or 9/64. 3/16 would be heavier than probably 95% of 6 ft or smaller cutters are made of.