Behland 72" brush hog need help/advice/alcohol getting the mushroom off

[jvolock]

I bought a 72" Behland brush hog at an auction late last fall that looked like it was very well maintained and relatively new. It turns out the unit is older but again well maintained and stored inside. I'm trying to replace the mushroom as has a couple issues. Last night was the first night I actually had time to work on the brush hog and while I got the blades off and mushroom retaining nut I can't seem to get the mushroom to come off the spline. It got late and before I put some heat to the mushroom and possibly damage any seals (I contacted Behland directly and I'm told if the spline is a 14 pt I can simply buy a new mushroom), can anyone tell me if I put heat to the mushroom or directly to the exposed spline whether I'll damage anything? Another thought I had is that perhaps the spline is tapered and thus I'm going to need some type of puller to get the mushroom off. On the way home from work tonight I'm going to buy some penetrating oil to see if that helps any as well.

Being a newbie I'd rather ask really basic and for some more experience folks pretty dumb questions but I've decided I'd rather take some good natured ribbing here than go ahead and try something and just add one more item that I'll have to pay to replace.

Appreciate any advice, opinions, jokes and outright laughter anyone wants to offer. I realized a long time ago the only dumb question is the one you don't ask and I've saved a bunch of money over the years asking alot of dumb questions.

Thanks,

John

 

[Gary Fowler]

I believe that most of those are tapered, at least all I have taken off are. I have pryed, hammered, cursed at them and have them not move and then, just pull by hand and they fall off. You have to put equal pressure on both sides to make them come off. Some folks recommend putting the nut on loosely and the using a 4x4 to cushion the bolt, whack it sharply with a sledge hammer. What you are trying to do is use the inertia of the "mushroom" (the proper name is stump jumper) and whack the gear shaft back to loosen it up. Once it moves a millimeter or two it will slide off easily. Be sure to grease it up before reinstalling it.

 

[jvolock]

Gary, I took your advise and with only a very light hammer striking the nut, the stump jumper came down. Now I need to find a 14 spline replacement. I'm going to call Behland tomorrow to see what they can do for me. Appreciate your help.