BrushHogging:

[tf116]

I've been having a problem with my brushhog for some time.....It keeps shearing bolts...I have a slip clutch which works and I can run over stumps,etc..and no problem....Can be out of grass and making a turn and it shears a 1/2" grade 8 bolt!......only seems to shear bolts on turns, have checked gear oil level (ok)shortened the pto shaft, already has new bolts and cutters on it....does anyone have any ideas at all ,as to what can be causing this?....
oh by the way, I have the stabilizers set,so its not swinging back and forth....
I would appreciate any info , bolts are about 1$ apiece plus nut..and after 30-40+ it gets expensive....not to mention having to replace the bolt itself....

thanks Mike

 

[Ford960]

Why a slip clutch and a shear bolt? Something is definately binding to shear a 1/2" grade 8 bolt. What mower and tractor is this?

 

[Farmwithjunk]

I've been having a problem with my brushhog for some time.....It keeps shearing bolts...I have a slip clutch which works and I can run over stumps,etc..and no problem....Can be out of grass and making a turn and it shears a 1/2" grade 8 bolt!......only seems to shear bolts on turns, have checked gear oil level (ok)shortened the pto shaft, already has new bolts and cutters on it....does anyone have any ideas at all ,as to what can be causing this?....
oh by the way, I have the stabilizers set,so its not swinging back and forth....
I would appreciate any info , bolts are about 1$ apiece plus nut..and after 30-40+ it gets expensive....not to mention having to replace the bolt itself....

thanks Mike

Shearing a 1/2" grade 8 bolt means you've got a major issue. Is there any way to get us a picture of the mower/tractor in "working configuration". Sounds like something binding, but what?

How big (wide) of a mower is it? What brand? Is the slip clutch able to slip?

By the way, saw on your personal bio where you're in to blacksmithing. I'm just starting to take up the cause myself. Up 'till now, I've just beat on metal. Starting to learn the correct way with correct tools. Any good sources for tools of the trade? (Got a pair of anvils, a home-made gas forge, and an assortment of hammers. From there, the sky's the limit)

 

[tf116]

Have a 6' Condor brushhog..with a Kioti DK55 tractor....have stabilizers locked in and slip clutch slips,
the reason for the slip clutch is I was pulling the hog with an 80+ HP MF and it would twist the pto shafts...seemed to work on MF, just bought another farm and been hogging it ... cleaning it up..got rid of MF and bought a Kioti....
every thing works great and as per designed, and then when make a right turn it shears the bolt......changed blades and bolts a year or so ago, got plenty of oil in gear box..and runs smooth after first startup.....stabilizers set ...its just a cheap hog,but does a beautiful job of cutting ....I'm stumped......Mike

 

[CDsdad]

Your stabilizers may be too tight, causing everything to get in a bind when you turn and not giving a little slack. I run mine with enough slack to allow the cutter to take the blow or shock if I hit something, and hopefully not the tractor, but not loose enought to rub tires or anything. I'd double check that slip clutch too. Shearing grade 8s regularly, that's tough.

 

[RonR]

Longshot, but is your PTO shaft maybe too long and bottoming out and shearing the bolts becuz of that????????????

ron

 

[tf116]

Will try hogging with stabilizers looser , also I cut about 4" off the pto shaft, still sheared bolts....Mike

 

[hsvhobbit]

Not real experienced with tractors yet but if you've got a working slip clutch and you're STILL shearing a grade 8 bolt, somethings bad wrong. I'd suggest taking the tractor/hog out in the field, with PTO OFF and make your usual right hand turn, the same way and sharpness that's shearing the bolt. Mid turn, STOP the machine and get off to look everything over. Somehow your turn is putting a u-joint in a bind such that the slipclutch can't protect the driveline.

Most shearbolts are grade 1 from what I can tell.

 

[djradz]

Not real experienced with tractors yet but if you've got a working slip clutch and you're STILL shearing a grade 8 bolt, somethings bad wrong. I'd suggest taking the tractor/hog out in the field, with PTO OFF and make your usual right hand turn, the same way and sharpness that's shearing the bolt. Mid turn, STOP the machine and get off to look everything over. Somehow your turn is putting a u-joint in a bind such that the slipclutch can't protect the driveline.

Most shearbolts are grade 1 from what I can tell.

Have to agree. This just doesn't sound like a problem with the 3-pt arms not having enough slack. Any movement, or lack thereof, should be accomadated by the universal joints in the PTO shaft. I'd check: 1) to make sure the blades don't bottom out in the soil, 2) the gearbox is on tight, 3) there is not some way that the shaft is binding.

Good Luck.

 

[Soundguy]

I agree... if you are shearing a 1/2 gr 8 bolt and there is a slip clutch.. this is just an accident waiting to happen.

To the original poster.. did you cut both sides of the pto shaft? What aren't you telling us? A slip clutch should have slipped before the 1/2 gr 8 bolt sheared..

Only on turns... Is the stump jumper loose and letting a blade contact the ground or support / deck ???

Soundguy