Bush Hog Troubleshooting

[Master Deluxe]

Well, if its making you sane, dont change a thing

For starters, check the blades again, see if they are dull. And odds are, the mig weld you used to build them up, wasnt as hard as the blades. The blades arent just mild steel to begin with. They are pretty hard.

Aside from that, make sure the cutter is set-up right. The blades should be 2" lower in the front than at the rear.

And even all that, a bushhog doesnt leave it looking like a finished lawn. They arent called rough cutters for no reason.

And for average weeds/grass, you should be in a gear that will give you about 4MPG ground speed, and you should be running the RPM at whatever gives you 540 @ the PTO.

Regardless, I am just betting the blades need sharpened again. I sharpen my about once every 10-20 acres depending on conditions. and since you haven sharpened them since last spring, and you do 18 acres 2x's per year...........

I need to check the 2" lower in front issue. I think that's so, but thinking it doesn't MAKE it so!

The blades appear to be as sharp as when I put them on. Certainly at least nearly so.

I never expected a lawn. I can remember what it looked like when i worked right. My Altzheimers is in remission.

I run the speeds the dealer recommended. 1700 RPM in second gear in B range. That should be very close to what you suggested.

Thanks to all for the help.

 

[hrcarver]

As for replacing the blades, I'm a victim of Catch 22. The dealer tells me that they are no longer available but there are shorter ones that could work. The parts guy ordered them for me and said he would call when they came in. That was maybe 6 weeks ago. I plan to drop in on him Monday and see what's up.

There has to be some somewhere, maybe aftermarket.

Also, mature weeds like ragweed and pigweed are tough anyway. Dry weather makes it worse. Not sure how clean of a field you are expecting.

 

[LD1]

Slip clutch was my first thought. My 48 incher has a shear bolt, so I really have no idea about slip clutches. I've broken my share of bolts. I calculated the blade end speed on my JD hog at around 70 MPH. That alone should whack just about anything that gets in the way. Since when the blades came on the new implement, they didn't have anything like a fine edge (in fact they were somewhat rounded and painted green), I have never sharpened them.

I would certainl hop it is close to double that. My 5' bushhog has a blade tip speed a tad over 12,000 FPM, which is ~136MPH. @ 70MPH, you are only getting a 6160FPM blade speed, which is pathetic. In other words, your 4' blades are only spinning 490RPM and your PTO should be @ 540:confused2: A gear reduction box???? MY 5'er is a 1.5:1 speed up, and my 6'er is a 1:1, so I doubt your 4 footer spins slower than the PTO shaft

There has to be some somewhere, maybe aftermarket.

.

I agree. Look around online. I am sure you can find something

 

[RoyJackson]

Real solid advice given before me,but I'am going to throw this in :
Could you be running a slip clutch and its too loose ?

Boone

That's what I think too.
Those blades need to be turning at pretty high blade tip speed. If the weeds are getting "bashed", I'm assuming you mean knocked down, but not cut. That suggests those blades aren't turning fast enough to do the job.
So, go the cheapest route first...slip clutch (if installed). I can't see how the cutter's gearbox could be at fault as it's just a couple simple bevel gears.


Master Deluxe, do you have any other PTO powered implements and are they operating correctly? Any chance of borrowing another cutter to see if that one does cut properly?

 

[bullbreaker]

The PTO is turning and the clutch does not appear to be slipping. When I raise the bush hog to the max I can peek under the deck. The blades are merilly spinning but then of course they are resisted only by air.

I WOULD RECOMMEND THAT YOU FIND A DIFFERENT WAY TO FIQURE OUT WHY BLADES NOT CUTTING CORRECTLY.
DON'T WANT TO COME ACROSS AS A JERK,BUT PLEASE NEVER PEEK UNDER THE DECK WITH PTO ENGAGED OR FOR THAT MATTER WITH TRACTOR EVEN RUNNING.
AS YOU ARE AWARE BLADE COULD COME OFF AT THAT INSTANT OR A PIECE OF SOMETHING COULD ALSO BE THROWN AT YOU OR INTO YOUR FACE.
MIGHT WANT TO TAKE A BREAK AND READ RECENT POST ON MAN GETTING INJURED BY POST HOLE DIGGER.
I(WE) MEAN THIS IN A GOOD WAY DON'T TAKE IT PERSONAL.
PLEASE DO NOT THINK I AM INSULTHING YOUR INTELLIGENCE.

Boone

 

[Coyote machine]

I'm new to Brush Hog use for the most part. I just bought one though so not for long....
Having said the above I was told by my dealer, and by Bush Hog Co. in the owner's manual, that after sitting the gearbox can sometimes seize up and if not freed before use then it will destroy the gearbox and void the warranty. I'm thinking out loud here so bear with this idea. If you wedge a piece of wood in the undercarriage of the hog so the blades can't turn and then carefully start the pto turning it will let you know if you then stall the tractor that the gearbox/slipclutch, (assuming it has one, is working or needs adjustment or it's dead).
Obviously this needs to be done with great attention to safety and use a big enough stick of 2x or 4x that you do not put yourself or others at risk of injury.
Good luck.

And have you checked the gearbox for oil? Sometimes the oil blows out and leaves it dry.

 

[Soundguy]

check shear pin or slip clutch...

soundguy

 

[Clearingout]

Interesting read on the blade height, I am new to this bush hog and have a Walco unit, seems keep digging the side of the frame into the grass when cornering, Can someone explain how the front should be set ? Maybe I am running the front too low?

 

[Soundguy]

i run the tial a lil higher than the front.. and the front as low as I can to cut low.

I do however use stabilizer chains and / or depth limit chains and those tend to keep the hog from tipping side to side and digging in on turns.

cheap to buy ( 26$ ) easy to make ( free with some chain and flat scraps and a lil torch/welder consumables.. )

soundguy

 

[Short Game]

I would certainl hop it is close to double that.

I wouldn't be shocked if I blew the math. I'm used to it. Plus, I'm relying on memory and that's even worse than my math.