Rotary Cutter Cottage Cheese in my rotary cutter gearbox?

[KenVT]

Came upon a beatup rotary cutter the other day, when I got it home, I thought the 1st thing that should be done is to check the gearbox for oil, but all to be found was the remnants of oil from years past....A nasty looking yellowish gunk,
So, I put some 80w-90 in it and rannit for 30 min, and thought it would act as a solvent as it got hot and disolve some of the gunk, sort of flush it out... but this stuff is still in there, does any one know how to get this crud out, the cutter seems to work fine. Should I be too concerned?

I am inclosing a pic of the gearbox, there are 2 nuts, top-ctr(big), bot-left(small), I would assume you put the cutter level and fill gearbox to top nut? then drain out bottom? Seems logical. (anyone know for sure?)

Ken

 

[Partsman2]

I would try a mixture of about 1/2 gear oil and 1/2 kerosene and run it with no load for 15 or 20 minutes and maybe even let it soak overnight. The keresene should break up the crud and as long as you mix it with oil it should not hurt the gears. I would not however run it that way under a load.

 

[Indydirtfarmer]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( I would try a mixture of about 1/2 gear oil and 1/2 kerosene and run it with no load for 15 or 20 minutes and maybe even let it soak overnight. The keresene should break up the crud and as long as you mix it with oil it should not hurt the gears. I would not however run it that way under a load. )</font>

I'd do much the same..... Drain it as completely as possible. Fill with diesel fuel, and run at slow speed for a few minutes. (diesel is a lubricant.... no need to worry) Then drain again. Repeat as needed until you get CLEAN diesel draining back out. THEN re-fill withn proper oil. Those two plugs look like "fill" and "full level" to me.

Most gear boxes like that have a vent of some sort. Check and clean it too. They can get full of crud that will stick them "open" allowing rain water/pressure washer spray/ect.... to enter where it isn't wanted. Also, gear boxes on bush hogs tend to get rather warm. (Just feel one after a few acres) That will cause condensation to collect inside them. Just about every bush hog gearbox I've ever checked will have SOME moisture in it. Keep it changed and checked on a regular basis....

 

[1bush2hog]

Great advice 'Indy'!!!

 

[normde2001]

"I am inclosing a pic of the gearbox, there are 2 nuts, top-ctr(big), bot-left(small), I would assume you put the cutter level and fill gearbox to top nut? then drain out bottom? Seems logical. (anyone know for sure?)"

The fill/sight/drain plugs on my gearbox are pretty much the same as Ken's, with the upper being square , for a wrench, and the lower being hex drive. I have heard a lot of guessing and speculation on the proper fill level for this unit, but does anyone know for sure?

 

[beenthere]

I'd fill it to the top 'plug' (I don't think it is a nut).

Sounds like someone may have added grease to the gearbox, maybe because there was a bad seal? I've heard of people doing that, and 'cottage cheese' is the result of the mixture of oil, grease, and air.

 

[em14]

Careful that you don't blow a seal. I would recommend filling to the plug that is located about 1/2 the way to the top of the gear box. Fill throught the top plug and stop filling when the oil reaches (starts to flow out the the plug that is located 1/2 the way up from the bottom) the lower of the two!
Leo

 

[_RaT_]

I think your right, typically these things get 1/3 to 1/2 full.

 

[Partsman2]

I've seen guys put grease in them too. The oil runs out of the seal as fast as they put it in.

I have a buddy that has a very old bush hog. It leaks oil like all get out and the gears are noisy as can be so he lubes it with fiber grease. That helps quiet the gears down some. Don't leak either. He has run it that way for at least 15 years. /forums/images/graemlins/ooo.gif

 

[Soundguy]

I agree.. add some diesel and oil to the goo.. run under no load, and then use a hand pump or bulb to syphon as much gunk out as possible.. ten refill with a good 85/140 oil

Soundguy