Rotary Cutter Noisy gearbox on Landpride rotary cutter

[clenhart]

I recently purchased a Landpride RCR1860 rotary cutter to replace a 12 year old Bush Hog Squealer rotary cutter. Since new the Landpride has had a noticeably noisier gearbox than the Bush Hog ever had. When I first hooked it up and tested, I thought they had forgotten to fill the gearcase, but that was not the issue. The noise is akin to a poorly setup ring and pinion in a differential. There is a large cone shaped plastic safety shield over the slipclutch that may be amplifying and directing normal gearbox noise toward the operator, but I don't think that is the real issue. I thought maybe the gears would break in and quiet down, but they don't appear to be doing that.

Anyone else have any issues with a gearbox on their Landpride cutter or have any input? Thanks in advance.

 

[crashz]

My Landpride finish mower is bit loud, but I think its the blades, not the gearbox. Does your gearbox get hot? Have you ever put a temp gun on it? That might help determine if this is destructive noise or annoying noise.

 

[Tinhack]

I thought maybe the gears would break in and quiet down, but they don't appear to be doing that.

They never do. If gears are noisy when new, they only get worse. Gears don't "break in" or you'd have a box full of metal chips.

Is it still under warranty?

Does it sound like this one: Land Pride RCR186 6" 3 Point Hitch Brush Hog Cutter For 54 PTO Tractor For Sale - YouTube

 

[ptsg]

They never do. If gears are noisy when new, they only get worse. Gears don't "break in" or you'd have a box full of metal chips.

Then explain me why my tractor does much less gear noise than when it was brand new, along with the gears slide in much better.

Gears do wear in and it'll get less noisier over time.

 

[Tinhack]

Then explain me why my tractor does much less gear noise than when it was brand new, along with the gears slide in much better.

Gears do wear in and it'll get less noisier over time.

Don't know. Maybe you're going deaf. :laughing:

 

[Beaver Cove Deere]

I have two 72" RCR cutters. One is louder than the other and that is the one that has taken serious abuse. The box finally let go after 20 years and a new one was put on and runs just fine BUT the mower does not get 10% of the use it once had. That is a company unit.

Unit #2 is quiet and not abused. That's my personal unit.

 

[RickB]

You could try synthetic gear lube. But I'd be making noise about a replacement. You might be able to get one based solely on the noise.

 

[flyerdan]

I'd drain the gear oil into a glass container and let it settle and see what you have in the bottom. Refill with whatever it calls for plus a shot of moly gear additive; if it has a slightly rough bearing or imperfection in a gear it will help to quiet it down a bit.

 

[clenhart]

They never do. If gears are noisy when new, they only get worse. Gears don't "break in" or you'd have a box full of metal chips.

Is it still under warranty?

Does it sound like this one: Land Pride RCR186 6" 3 Point Hitch Brush Hog Cutter For 54 PTO Tractor For Sale - YouTube

It is under warranty. Only 4 months old and a couple of hours on it. Actually it does sound very much like the one in that video ... Maybe I was just spoiled to the quiet gearbox operation on the BushHog cutter. You actually had to look to see if it was still spinning when it was spooling down. I think I will run it by the dealer just to be sure. Thanks for all the input.

 

[mcfarmall]

I have a 30 year old King Kutter that was made in the USA with a USA gearbox that was loud from day one and still is. Gearbox is filled with synthetic gear lube right up to the correct level.

My new Land Pride RCD1884 boxes are nice and quiet so far.