Rotary Cutter Brand new rotary cutter busted at 2 hours use

Laminarman · Apr 24, 2004

Help if you can. My new 6' Land Pride 'hog was put to the test on normal saplings and brush today (new tractor, new cutter, first real seat time) and after about 2 hours total time I heard a funny noise and looked back to see the black sleeve over the PTO shaft spinning like crazy at the mower deck. I was mowing very small (1/4") saplings at the time. The sleeve was chained to hold it stable but it was moving. I quickly went to disengage the PTO when I heard a funny sound and the blade stopped turning but the PTO shaft kept turning. I'm told the model has a slip clutch. In any event I found a 4" long bolt resting on top of the deck but can't find where it goes. The blades turn freely by hand, so I guess somethings really screwed up.

I know my dealer will fix it Monday, they're awesome, but a bummer. I planned on cutting all day tomorrow. I also can't figure out if that black plastic sleeve is supposed to come off or not. The bolt had strip marks on it and looked pretty damaged. It's a brassy looking big guy.

Thanks.

jinman · Apr 24, 2004

I'm not saying your cutter doesn't have a slip clutch, but what you described is exactly what happens when you shear a shear-pin. I'd bet good money that's the only thing wrong. Otherwise, it's probably the bolt that holds the slip clutch onto the gearbox shaft and it just came out of the hole. All this is normal stuff for using a rotary cutter, especially in the brush.

Those big PTO bells I really hate. They are a real pain to get to slide back when you need to work on something, and so I usually modify them by trimming to my specs instead of OSHA's. My current rotary cutter doesn't even have one because it self destructed and I can't say I wasn't happy to see it go. I figure if I'm silly enough to be standing beside a rotary cutter that's rotating, the stupid PTO shaft guard is not going to help me much. I don't get off my tractor without shutting down the cutter.

Anyhow, you don't want to hear my rant against these guards, so I'll just say I think your cutter is probably fine and this is just part of your learning curve. Good luck. /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

Rimmer · Apr 24, 2004

Most likely the shear bolt, which is used to pin the end of the drive shaft to the stub shaft at the front of the gearbox. It's enclosed by that big plastic bell at the front of the gearbox.

Measure it for diameter and length, check the head markings to see if it's Grade 2 or Grade 5 or whatever, and head for the hardware store to get a new bolt plus two nuts, and you're back in business! /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

In fact, get a couple of them. /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

Don't know why the shaft guard was spinning, though.

Bird · Apr 24, 2004

Like Jinman said, sounds like a shear bolt. Probably have to pull that black shield back to see where it went or what the problem is. Different shields are held in place in different ways so unless someone has the same model, or we had pictures, it might be difficult to describe how it comes loose. Once the shield is out of the way, you can either turn the PTO driveshaft without the blades turning, or vice versa, and you'll probably see where that bolt goes. I'd bet it's a 10 minute job to fix it.

And like Jinman, my last rotary cutter didn't have that shield on it 'cause I bought the mower just as it arrived at the dealer, with a little discount for doing the assembly myself and I left that shield off. Then when I got ready to sell it, I installed that brand new shield on it. /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif

To20Chris · Apr 24, 2004

One half of the cheap, poorly designed PTO shield on my TSC PHD self destructed in about 20 min. The other half lasted most of the first day. Now it is gone, and no one shed a tear! The one on my Woods Dixie Cutter has been on there for 25 years of hard use. Just like on push mowers, if the guards work and don't get in the way, then I leave them on, if not...........

HayDR · Apr 24, 2004

Please replace the safety guards, speaking from the dealer's side we'd rather give you a guard than have you hurt because the guard was not functioning properly.
Mark Carter

Laminarman · Apr 24, 2004

You guys have been very helpful. I'll check into the slip clutch/shear pin issue further and try to fix her. I appreciate the safety features of the guard but have set a rule for myself: the engine is off when off the seat and near the PTO. But for Gods sakes, how do you remove that guard? I'm tempted to cut it off. And is the shaft greased or something and does that guard prolong it's life? I'm a big Porsche fan and believe the cars are meant to be driven and will stand up to abuse...but after what I put this tractor through today, I'm either amazed or worried I might break her after a while. What a fun thing it is to destroy things. As long as I know this is a normal thing I won't worry I'm too tough on the equipment.

KiotiJohn · Apr 24, 2004

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( But for Gods sakes, how do you remove that guard? I'm tempted to cut it off. )</font>
There are any number of different configurations on those PTO shafts. It's possible that you have a couple of "doors" on each side that you can remove by sticking a screwdriver in a slot and disengaging the clip. Another style is, take a screwdriver and push down on some pop up tabs that may be in three different positions around the guard, then slide the bell back. There should be some type of access on the bell to get to the bolt that's holding the shaft on. Where the heck is your owner's manual, and have you read it? The answers are within! LOL John

Soundguy · Apr 25, 2004

I'll add something to the good advice you got here... Make sure you get a soft shear pin.. DON'T use a hardened bolt as a shear pin.. otherwise.. your tranny will become the shear pin.. Grade 2 is te safe bet, unless your manual says otherwise.

Soundguy