Del Morino mower finally broke

joecoin · Jul 20, 2021

I've been abusing my Del Morino brush mower for 7 years. It finally decided it had enough. Broken weld and broken drive shaft.

kenmbz · Jul 20, 2021

That is certainly a catastrophic failure. Was weld faulty or just too much stress ?

TimberXX · Jul 26, 2021

Brush Mowers do live a tough life. How many hours would you estimate? What were you cutting?

joecoin · Jul 27, 2021

Maybe 1000 hours, maybe more. Hard to guess.

I cut everything I can with it. It's been repaired many times for more minor issues.

I believe this issue was caused by me lifting the front end (by pushing down on the handles) when turning.

I had the part welded and have the new shaft, just got to put it back together now.

TimberXX · Jul 28, 2021

1000 hours of brushhogging! that impressive, both for the machine, and for you. Im not to impressed with my BCS bushhog. It brutal to turn with my BCS 770. I really have to manhandle it.

joecoin · Jul 28, 2021

I'm going to rely on my steering brakes completely now, probably wear them out eventually.

Don't have brakes on your 770?

TimberXX · Jul 28, 2021

Brakes don’t turn it fast enough, the skids get caught on the brush. A caster would be nice instead of skids.

joecoin · Jul 29, 2021

TimberXX said:
Brakes don’t turn it fast enough, the skids get caught on the brush. A caster would be nice instead of skids.

I was just thinking about this, but I believe the wheels would get in the way for me. I mow a lot in wooded areas, lots of trees to hit with wheel(s). I run mostly in 1st gear, so speed of turning is not an issue. Maybe a single wheel out front?

I use my Zanon finish mower in tall grass/meadow areas and the wheels are a big help there.