TSO
Elite Member
Hi folks, looking for some quick help.
I recently picked up an old pull behind brushog and I've been "restoring" it (new tires, bolts, belts, hydraulics, PTO shaft, paint, etc...) to either use or sell.
Finally finished it today and hooked everything up for the first test run. The gearbox had been empty, as it was sitting for quite a while, so I filled it up with gear oil.
Turned her on and started cutting, and she cuts like a beast. Very nice, operates perfectly. However, she immediately started leaking gear oil like a flood ... from somewhere on the bottom of the gearbox. I'm assuming a seal is bad at the bottom shaft where the bottom pulley is.
Now, I wanted to see how she would do, so I mowed with her for about 30 mins, and everything was fine.
So here's the dilemma: obviously I need to take everything apart to find out where the leak is, and/or if the gearbox will be salvageable or will need to be replaced. But, I need to use it for most of the day on Sunday, & I won't have time to fiddle with it for at least a few weeks.
The gearbox lost all the oil during use, probably within the first few minutes.
QUESTIONS:
1) can I use it all day on Sunday without oil in the gearbox?
2) If I do, what is the worst case scenario for the gearbox, and what is the best case scenario?
3) since the oil is so thin that it leaks out immediately, can I fill the gearbox with a heavy grease that will stay in longer?
...........
I'll try to post pics if my phone will let me, but here's the info on the brush hog:
Ford 8ft twin blade cutter, hydraulic lift, cuts just fine behind my Massey 1648 (48 HP... actually, the tractor didn't seem to know it was there).
...........
I recently picked up an old pull behind brushog and I've been "restoring" it (new tires, bolts, belts, hydraulics, PTO shaft, paint, etc...) to either use or sell.
Finally finished it today and hooked everything up for the first test run. The gearbox had been empty, as it was sitting for quite a while, so I filled it up with gear oil.
Turned her on and started cutting, and she cuts like a beast. Very nice, operates perfectly. However, she immediately started leaking gear oil like a flood ... from somewhere on the bottom of the gearbox. I'm assuming a seal is bad at the bottom shaft where the bottom pulley is.
Now, I wanted to see how she would do, so I mowed with her for about 30 mins, and everything was fine.
So here's the dilemma: obviously I need to take everything apart to find out where the leak is, and/or if the gearbox will be salvageable or will need to be replaced. But, I need to use it for most of the day on Sunday, & I won't have time to fiddle with it for at least a few weeks.
The gearbox lost all the oil during use, probably within the first few minutes.
QUESTIONS:
1) can I use it all day on Sunday without oil in the gearbox?
2) If I do, what is the worst case scenario for the gearbox, and what is the best case scenario?
3) since the oil is so thin that it leaks out immediately, can I fill the gearbox with a heavy grease that will stay in longer?
...........
I'll try to post pics if my phone will let me, but here's the info on the brush hog:
Ford 8ft twin blade cutter, hydraulic lift, cuts just fine behind my Massey 1648 (48 HP... actually, the tractor didn't seem to know it was there).
...........
