Rotary Cutter 5 ft Howse cutter gear box smooth input shaft

Cbk · Jul 16, 2015

I have a 5 Ft cutter that sheared a pin, we replaced it and it sheared it again, when we were going to replace it again the smooth input shaft that comes out of the gearbox had slid toward the driveshaft about 1/2 inch. Moved it back into place and replaced the shear pin, haven't used it yet. Is that shaft supposed to move away from the gearbox like that or have I boken something in the gear box?

yelbike · Jul 16, 2015

How does it feel if you turn it by hand?

Cbk · Jul 16, 2015

Unhooked from the PTO? It seems like when I engaged it that it jumped pretty hard to start. It could have sheared the pin when I engaged it. I have turned the blades by hand and the driveshaft turns also, it seemed easy and smooth.

kebo · Jul 16, 2015

If you take out the shear bolt, and remove the PTO shaft, can you move that shaft on the gearbox back & forth by hand pretty easily? If yes, I'm thinking something may have come loose inside the gearbox. Suggest getting an exploded view of your gearbox if you can and study it pretty close, that might give you a clue what might be going on.

Cbk · Jul 17, 2015

No, in fact I had to use a crow bar and a hammer to slide it back the 1/2 inch so that I could put the shear pin back in. Where do you think I might find an exploded view of it?

yelbike · Jul 18, 2015

Cbk said:
No, in fact I had to use a crow bar and a hammer to slide it back the 1/2 inch so that I could put the shear pin back in. Where do you think I might find an exploded view of it?

If the drive shaft is off, the stub shaft of the gear box should turn freely by hand. There should be no side to side or end to end play. If its hard turning, possibly the bearing are shot or you have something wrapped around the output shaft. Possibly grass/weeds or barbed wire fence or something of the like.

Fatdaddy · Aug 4, 2015

is there any youtubes of changeing a shear pin, i just bought a 6" Howse and used it one day and it stopped cutting. The shift turns but blades dont turn.. Have not open up to see if its a belt or what.. i need a pic of how the belts go on...

ruffdog · Aug 4, 2015

Many times there is a clip that keeps the yoke that just sheared from working off the shaft. Maybe your yoke spun on the shaft (after the pin sheared), and if there is no lube between yoke and shaft, is tight with rust or seized.

LD1 · Aug 4, 2015

I still aint sure what you are saying moved.

IF the PTO shaft yoke moved and you had to hammer it back onto the gearbox stub shaft, thats fine.

If the gearbox stub shaft is what moves in and out, they you need a gearbox rebuild as likely the tapered bearings are loose and shot