Brush bull wheel tearing up field

[Gary_in_Indiana]

My 5' rotary cutter did the same thing when I first got it. It turned out that it was shipped with the wheel tightened down for ease of loading and unloading. /forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif Somehow I was supposed to magically know this (as it was nowhere in the manual) and loosen the assembly before using the mower. Once I did that it worked fine. /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

Good luck with your rotary cutter. I hope this helps. /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

 

[dixiedrifter]

You got everything greased up good?

Have you checked the free play to see how easy it will turn?

 

[sweettractors]

Check to make sure the wheel is turning freely in the transport (up) position and also make sure the stem of the tailwheel fork is turning freely. If they are both ok, sounds like the angle of the tailwheel fork yoke is welded wrong and you may have a manufacturers defect in the production process (or somehow it got bent)?--Ken Sweet
Sweet Farm Equipment LLC *New and Used Sickle Bar Mowers in Stock*

 

[have_blue]

I have a BB72, and can't imagine any circumstance where the tailwheel would not turn. Something is very wrong.

Even with the deck angle set up wrong and too much weight on the wheel, the wheel would still turn. You must have a defective axle or the fork is too tight or something else unusual.

If I understand the question, the wheel will not turn or will not turn most of the time.

The wheel is big and heavy, and has a lot of inertia. Are you sure the wheel is not touching the ground too lightly and just skipping along? The heavy wheel could make a skid mark every time it hits the ground.

 

[Kytractor]

Again thanks for all the replys. In the transport postiion the wheel turns freely. If I keep the wheel straight when I sit it down it will roll. It is when the wheel turns a little to either side then it just drags and makes a pretty good trench thru grass and dirt. It won't rotate back to the front when moving forward. I thought maby I have too much weight on the wheel but when I raise the cutter and barly put the wheel on the ground it will drag if the wheel rotates just a little bit. /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif I have the cutter off now but will try to take some pictures as soon as I can. I won't be able to today.

 

[hockeyhead]

So after this sight turn and you have straightened out does the wheel stay in the turned position as it continues to dig this trench for you? It is starting to sound like there is to much angle in your spindle , and the sleeve that allows the rear wheel to rotate 360 degrees following the tractor. Is this thing new? did you snag the wheel assembly on something possibly bending it. that rear wheel spindle need to be somewhat close to perpendicular so the wheel itself can spin back to center and not just drag on the leading edge. I think sweettractor nail it on the head

 

[beenthere]

Seems we may be getting closer to the problem, now that the digging problem is better defined. Sounds like a vertical shaft problem, and not the axle through the wheel. Look for (maybe even take apart) a problem in the vertical shaft bushing and maybe some weld 'dribble' that is catching. As sweettractor said, the tail wheel fork should rotate freely on the vertical shaft (also with all the weight of the rear of the deck on it). If something is catching or binding where the bearing surface is, then it could cause your trouble.
Attached pic has an arrow pointing to the area I am referring to, and hope it helps.

 

[Gary_in_Indiana]

<font color="blue"> "If I keep the wheel straight when I sit it down it will roll. It is when the wheel turns a little to either side then it just drags and makes a pretty good trench thru grass and dirt. It won't rotate back to the front when moving forward." </font>

So it's really not the wheel not turning so much as the pivot not working properly. While I'm not familiar with that particular rotary cutter, most have rod running through a sleeve. If the rod or sleeve are not straight and true the result would be what you describe. With the cutter in the transport position turning the pivot around and see how freely or how bound it is. I'm guessing you'll find it doesn't spin freely and that's your problem.

Good luck. I hope this helps. /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

 

[ThistleKop]

Whether by design error, mfg. error or by accidental bending, I suspect, as others have said, your problem lies with the tailwheel fork assembly. If the stem and fork angle are not correct, the result is a wheel that will resist leaving a straight line but once it is turned, will also resist straightening up. Giving the result you have described.

 

[Kytractor]

Yes it is new. When it is in transport the sleeve will rotate, but maby I could greese the fitting and it would help. It does not appear to be damaged. After my father inlaw adjusted the top link some and it still did it, he was as confused as I was. I've still not had an opportunity to put it back on yet but thanks to you all I think we may be narrowing the problem down to the shaft unless some one thinks it could be a wrong wheel or top link adjustment.