Rotary Cutter Bush hog

Gizmo36 · Nov 4, 2006

The bottom seal is leaking on my Howse 5 ft bush hog .so I am going to put the Front seal and the bottom seal in. When to Howse web site to get two seals and two Gaskets Front and bottom but can not make heads or tails of what to get .if any one has time to look I would appreciate it. model 500 Thank you.

300, 350,400, 500

wushaw · Nov 4, 2006

Here's what I come up with.
45hp gearbox
Gearbox section
E9 45 -351 input seal $4.39
E10 45 -350 output seal $4.39

Gizmo36 · Nov 4, 2006

Thank you ,I can get them on the way.

Opti-Mist · Nov 6, 2006

Short of doing all that work you could just pump the gearbox full of grease gun grease. A seal that won't hold oil will often hold grease. I've got an old Hyco that's run on grease for years.

kossetx · Nov 6, 2006

Charles, I've run my model 500 with grease in it since 1992, the year I bought it. Like you I was going to replace the seal and the dealer I purchased it from recomended I just pump it full of grease. Too many nasty things get hung up around the shaft.

Gizmo36 · Nov 6, 2006

I have two seals on the way . But I may fill it with grease when I put the new seals in . If that will work just as good.

Soundguy · Nov 6, 2006

If you drop in new seals, and you want to go back with grease, then either:

Use JD cornhead grease
or
a 0# 'pourable' grease.. ( rhino, for instance has a pourable lube available )
or
Go back with tube grease, and then add 5oz of 140w gear oil.. it will make it soupy and sticky.. but shouldn't leak.. but will help the grease slump back down into the gears instead ov making a hollow cavity.

Soundguy

Gizmo36 · Nov 6, 2006

It making a hollow cavity and getting no grease on the gears bother me.If 5oz of 140 gear oil will fix that it sounds good.

Soundguy · Nov 7, 2006

You may have to expirement with oil oz vs the type of tube grease you use. some greases are stiffer than others.

Should be easy to check with a small wire.. or rod. Just add grease and some oil.. start with only a little bit of oil.. add more as needed.

Soundguy

Opti-Mist · Nov 7, 2006

Just a little running will get the grease "flowing". It would have to be pretty cold to lose lubricity due to "cavitating". Thats not been an issue that I've ever encountered.

Soundguy · Nov 8, 2006

I've rebuilt a few boxes that I opened up that had a slug of grease slung out on the walls.. and the chewed up gears running in a hollow cavity...

Keep in mind that not all gear boxes generate the heat needed to liquify grease.

That's why a few oz of gear oil will get it nice and sticky.. that or just use a 0# grease anyway.. like a cornhead grease..e tc.

Soundguy

N80 · Nov 8, 2006

Bonehead question, but what if you literally pack it with grease? In other words, fill it up, run it, fill it some more, etc until there is no room for cavitation. Would that much grease start to cause a problem?

schmism · Nov 8, 2006

if its truely that full of grease i think you risk blowing a seal when it heats up....

Gizmo36 · Nov 8, 2006

I think I am going to use the cornhead grease .I have not made up my mind yet.Still looking at it all till my seals come in. The cornhead grease dose it need 140 oil mixed with it.or is it lose enough to stay in the gears.

schmism · Nov 8, 2006

Gizmo36 said:
The cornhead grease dose it need 140 oil mixed with it.or is it lose enough to stay in the gears.

its my understanding that "cornhead" grease IS #0 grease (or the wird spooge of thick but thin grease already)

so no it doesnt have to be mixed with 140

Soundguy · Nov 8, 2006

Gizmo36 said:
I think I am going to use the cornhead grease .I have not made up my mind yet.Still looking at it all till my seals come in. The cornhead grease dose it need 140 oil mixed with it.or is it lose enough to stay in the gears.

Cornhead can be used straight.. it's actually made for gearboxes.. and is a pourable grease.

As the other poster said.. packing a gearbox plum full of grease ( or oil ) will probably cause seal failure...

Soundguy

Scott in IN · Nov 8, 2006

I had the same problem with my auction bought Woods MD172 (bad lower seal). After much quandary and research, I said screw it and fixed it the right way by replacing the seal (which cost $5). The local Woods guy said that if you just use grease often the front bearings will crap out due to a lack of lubrication.

Soundguy · Nov 8, 2006

That's why you have to use a pourable grease.. so that it doesn't form a cavity around the moving parts. If no 0# grease is available.. then straight tube grease and a few oz of gear oil work great...

Soundguy