Brush Hog question

[MH8675309]

I bought a used brush hog Saturday and took it out and used it on a about a five acre field out back that was overgrown and had saplings growing on it as well. It worked pretty good but I noticed that the wheel on the back didn't really roll but more or less dragged sideways much of the time except on the turns and then it seemed to work fine. I picked it up and got down to see if it turned and spun freely and it did. I've never owned or used a brush hog before but it doesn't seem like this is supposed to work like this. The wheel had apparently broke of at one time as it was welded back on and never really painted up to match the rest. Id appreciate any ideas on this.

 

[ENG18LT]

My first guess would be that the bracket is bent just enough to cause the wheel to not track properly. Could be the repair job was not quite aligned properly before welding or has been bent since. I am guessing this as that is exactly what mine does and it is obvious I have bent it! If you can post up a picture or two, maybe try putting a square on it to check it out.

Good luck.

 

[TripleR]

Nope, supposed to track true, as mentioned, a picture would help.

 

[Poopdeck Pappy]

I'll bet if you park the shredder on level ground and look at the tail wheel, the top of the wheel will be leaning to the left or right, which means the bracket got twisted somehow.

 

[bigbull338]

sounds like you need a new tail wheel.

 

[SLHawkins]

Take the whole tail wheel assembly out of its bracket and lube it up real good. Also, don't let the front of the bush hog drag on the ground when you are cutting. Raise it up about a 1/2" or so. The tailwheel should be just about vertical in order to rotate freely (See photos above). If it is at too much of angle, the weight of the bush hog will cause it to bind. Is your tail wheel assembly still tight, or is it loose and wobbly? If it is too loose, there probably isnt' too much you can do to keep it from binding, otherthen raise the bushhog to keep the weight off the wheel. If is it still tight, then lube it and raise the front of the bushhog up a bit.

Hawk

 

[JRobyn]

Is it maybe possible that your top link attachment to the bushog is too tight so that there is very little ground engagement of the tailwheel at times? My BushHog brand has a "swivel link" in the top link attachment to allow some play so that the bushog will follow some ground unevenness.

-Jay

 

[MH8675309]

Thanks for the suggestions. I haven't used it since because there was a steel fence post broke off at ground level with a v shaped piece of steel sticking up that brought me to a stop. At least it wasn't the back tire,,, And $150 later,,,

 

[Gary Fowler]

I bought a used brush hog Saturday and took it out and used it on a about a five acre field out back that was overgrown and had saplings growing on it as well. It worked pretty good but I noticed that the wheel on the back didn't really roll but more or less dragged sideways much of the time except on the turns and then it seemed to work fine. I picked it up and got down to see if it turned and spun freely and it did. I've never owned or used a brush hog before but it doesn't seem like this is supposed to work like this. The wheel had apparently broke of at one time as it was welded back on and never really painted up to match the rest. Id appreciate any ideas on this.

I suspect they welded the top shank back on at too much angle. Notice the photo posted and see if yours looks like that. It should show about a 30 degree angle on the wheel mounting brackets. Any more an it wont want to swivel. Likely the shaft may be bent again also. Pull the pins from the top and remove it for a look at the top shaft. If it is bent, you may have to cut it off and reweld it, too hard to straighten those things when they bend, its much easier to just remove them and reweld. I fixed one on my brother in laws that was bent so bad that it hit the bush hog frame when it swiveled back. It took less than 30 minutes to torch it off and weld it back on.

 

[MH8675309]

I have been busy but finally got a chance to work on it. The wheel assembly that was on the unit was just a straight up and down swivel (in line with the shank) so I bought some steel and made a new fork that had a 30 degree angle. Forward motion causes this to be pulled to the back (a straight forward position) and in turn causes the wheel to track properly> Thanks for all the suggestions. I hadn't fabricated anything in a while - it was kinda fun!