Rotary Cutter 6 ft Bush Hog - needs new deck - what gauge metal and what kind of cost?

[artcarneyagr]

Picking up a free 6 ft bush hog. It's an older John Deere model. The top deck is rusted through - going to get some metal and weld it on. Just wondering what gauge I should get and what it might cost.

I might even see about getting an estimate from a machine shop to do it, as my welding equipment isn't readily available at the moment.

 

[rockinacummins]

Is it worth salvaging? Meaning, is it totally functional except the top?

If I were doing it, I would use 3/16 or 1/4 (depending on how heavy it was originally AND what I would be using it for)

 

[moriboy]

John Deere advertises using 7 gauge steel on their commercial mowers, so I would at least go with that (or thicker) on a brush hog.

 

[sandman2234]

7 gauge is approximately 3/16" and is what I would use to re-skin a deck.
One thing to make sure of is to remove the original deck if you are doing the whole thing. Point being, you don't want to have two layers that collect moisture in between them and harbor rust.
David from jax

 

[clemsonfor]

unless your just patching spots I don't think it will be cheaper to pay someone to totally rebuild or fabricate a new deck onto this. Now if your just patching bad places from the under side it may work, but welding and fabricating will quickly become expensive. I think it may be cheaper to try and sell what you have for what you can get out of it and buy a serviceable one as is.

 

[LD1]

3ga to 7 ga is typical on heavy duty cutters. That's 1/4"-3/16". And anything from 10ga to 12ga on most medium and light duty cutters. 11 ga is 1/8" so that 10-12 range is just a tad thicker to just a tad smaller.

If gearbox, tailwheel, and hitch/Aframe are all on good shape and not bent up, it might just be easier to start fresh and make a whole new body instead of trying to cut the framework and strong backs off your old cutter.

I have faced this delima many times with older, rusted, bent, welded on, hacked up equipment in the past. But never a hog. Sometimes it's easier to just buy a little more steal and start with clean straight pieces. But I don't know what metalworking equipment you have and your skill level. A drill press or mag drill, bandsaw or chop saw are are things I wouldn't want to attempt a job like that without

 

[jenkinsph]

unless your just patching spots I don't think it will be cheaper to pay someone to totally rebuild or fabricate a new deck onto this. Now if your just patching bad places from the under side it may work, but welding and fabricating will quickly become expensive. I think it may be cheaper to try and sell what you have for what you can get out of it and buy a serviceable one as is.

I agree^^^^
You may be able to do this yourself if you have enough free time but it is a risky venture and I doubt you will come out well enough to justify all the work and expense.

 

[MESSMAKER]

Hit Craigslist. Should be able to find a good 6 foot model for $400-500 dollars. Take your gearbox and outer parts off for parts or Craigslist and sell the rest for scrap. Fixing the old one is doable , but it is a lot of work and the end result will probably not please you and if your time is worth anything it will cost you just a much.