Rotary Cutter Bent deck on rotary cutter

[BamaRob]

Hi gang.

I'm a new owner of a Mahindra 2615 4WD w/ ML106 FEL. I'm hoping to salvage an old heavy duty 5' rotary cutter that my dad has. The cutter is old, but in good shape except for the front of the deck is bent down just enough that the blades hit it. I don't know how my dad managed to do it, but the front of the deck is bent down all the way across including where the verticle braces attach that go up to the hitch points. We've been comtemplating how to repair it. Here's what we've come up with:

<ul type="square">[*]Relocate to an area where a torch is available (or bring a torch to it).
[*]Attach "come-alongs" to the hitch points (or on the vertical braces) and to the back of the deck (or some of the vertical bracing at the back of the deck)
[*]Slowly heat the deck at the bend while simultaneously...
[*]Tighten the come-alongs slowly
[/list]

Does this sound like it would work? Any other ideas?

Thanks,

BR

 

[RonMar]

If it is bent down in the center, you could remove the gearbox/blades and all the mount hardware, turn the deck upside down and drive a heavy vehicle up on top of the center of the bend to force it down level(back 1 axel of a tractor up onto it. Place boards cut the same height as the top support frames under the deck skin to keep from bending it too far. you might have to mix and match board hights to get it to bend nearly level.

 

[BamaRob]

That's a good idea, but, if I'm not mistaken (I'll have to look at it again), I think the vertical braces leading up to the hitch points are welded on to the top of the deck. So, if I removed all of the bracing/other parts that can be removed, these hitchpoint braces will still be on there. So flipping it over would result in it being elevated (to the height of the hitchpoint) on the front end.

I don't think this will work.

Thanks for the suggestion,

BR

 

[John_Mc]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( That's a good idea, but, if I'm not mistaken (I'll have to look at it again), I think the vertical braces leading up to the hitch points are welded on to the top of the deck. So, if I removed all of the bracing/other parts that can be removed, these hitchpoint braces will still be on there. So flipping it over would result in it being elevated (to the height of the hitchpoint) on the front end.)</font>

Without a picture, it's hard to know what will work and what won't. If I'm picturing it correctly, I think the driving something up over it is your best bet. Can you dig a hole for the hitch point to sit in while it's upside-down?

John Mc

 

[BamaRob]

You both may be right. The more I think about it, it seems that it might straighten if we hitch it to the tractor and back it into a large tree or rock to put backward pressure against the hitch points. However, I'd be afraid the pins/bolts in the hitch point would break loose. That wouldn't be good. I'll try to get a picture soon.

Thanks,

BR

 

[Slamfire]

Have you something to chain the cutter down to? Like rings set in a floor. If so, put the chain at the point ot the bend, and jack up the low point.

 

[ericinmich]

I'm probably not as experienced as 90% of the folks in this group but I wouldn't suggest backing into a tree... seems to me that the stuff hanging off the back of a tractor is for pulling, not pushing (3pt arms, top link, etc)...

- Eric

 

[BamaRob]

Eric,

Yeah, common sense kicked in shortly after I typed that. After I re-read it, it didn't sound to smart/safe.

Thanks,

BR