Bushhog storage

[flINTLOCK]

I have a 72" woods brushbull that has been in my storage building since last summer. Haven't had to use it as much as I thought. It takes up a lot of space and I was planning to move it outside. Thought I'd stack up pallets 2 high and cover with tarps. What should I apply to deck and shafts before storage to help prevent rust. Deck looks like new now.

 

[JRobyn]

Mine lives outside all the time. No tarp. Just a 4x4 under the leading edge to keep it up off the dirt. I think that bushhogs look better a little rusty, don't you?

- Jay

 

[flINTLOCK]

You don't worry about seizing up??

 

[Diamondpilot]

Do like I do if you have a FEL and a friend, just hook a chain to the tail wheel and stand it up against the wall of your building. It only takes up a foot of space then. I stand mine on the leading edge of the bush hog but you could also put it on one side. Be careful moving it and watch your friends feet and fingers, he will be needed to guide it as you lift it and drive the tractor forward. Once in place use a ratchet strap or something similar to secure it to the wall to prevent it falling over.


I do this with my post hole digger and other implements also.

Chris

 

[flINTLOCK]

Good idea. My building is steel quanset hut style, so no studs or rafters to attach it to, unfortunately. Thanks for the suggestion.

 

[jimainiac]

That's an interesting idea, leaning the bushog against a wall. Now to build a building to lean against... We have a 5' and a 6', and I just block them well off the ground when not in use. For over the Winter, I tie a plastic trash bag over the gearboxes. I often spray them down with WD-40 (from the gallon jug) after I clean them up.

 

[kenmac]

Mine stays outside covered with a tarp. No problems with it's operation after staying covered all winter

 

[JRobyn]

You don't worry about seizing up??

What's to seize? PTO shaft is thoroughly greased, slip clutch has a sheetmetal cover (plus it gets its springtime maintenance spin), gearbox is sealed, blade pivots get a good dousing of oil through the access hole on top of the deck, tailwheel is thoroughly greased.

- Jay

 

[rtimgray]

Mine stay outside as well, unless it's hooked onto the tractor. I follow the above procedure of grease the shaft, grease the wheel, oil the pivots, grease the u-joints, etc. etc. Occasionally after a full winter or not using it, the PTO shaft has been sticky, but I pull it out, re-grease, and go again.

Now, if I had the space, I would keep it indoors. I'm a big believer of equipment kept indoors stays in better shape. It's just a matter of not having the space (or the money to build the space).

 

[Soundguy]

I have a 72" woods brushbull that has been in my storage building since last summer. Haven't had to use it as much as I thought. It takes up a lot of space and I was planning to move it outside. Thought I'd stack up pallets 2 high and cover with tarps. What should I apply to deck and shafts before storage to help prevent rust. Deck looks like new now.

My 5', 10', and 15' all live outside.. no tarp.. just bricks or blocks holding the front off the ground.

Surface rust on the blades gets polished off on 1st use.

If it is going to se more than a season, I 100% fil the gearbox with oil, and then drainoff to proper level before 1st use.

I try to keep the paint on the decks fresh every 5ys or so.. cuts down on rust/rust-thru

soundguy

 

[dmccarty]

I wish I could store my equipment indoors. But its not an option.

The MX 6 sits on top of two cedar poles to keep it off the ground. The deck sheds water easily and no place for it too pool up. Its getting on 8 years old and needs some touch up paint but that is it. Just check the oil and slip the clutch every spring. Still has origional blades which still work fine. Which is hard to believe given how many rocks they have found.

Later,
Dan

 

[TwinWillows]

I store my BH outside laying on 2 4" posts to keep it off the ground. A cut off 15gal barrel covers the tail wheel to keep it from rusting. An old feed bucket covers the slip clutch/gear box... Mine has drain holes @ corners of the top deck so I make sure the top of the deck is blown off before I store it. No issues w/this method so far.

 

[flINTLOCK]

Any problem with the tail wheel resting on the ground. I have the cutter body sitting on pallets, but tailwheel on the ground.

 

[Soundguy]

The laminated tail wheels are pretty darn tough..

soundguy

 

[Gizmo2]

Using traps usually speeds up the rust process as the object that is covered doesn't get enough air to dry out and gets a lot of built up moisture from the ground.

 

[flINTLOCK]

So grease 'er up, crib 'er up and have a cold one. Sounds good.

 

[dillo99]

I built a simple lean-to for mine out of old deck lumber I had hanging around. Keeps the rain and snow off of it which probably helps in the long run.

 

[techwrtr2]

Mine winters where I parked it after last use. No problems as a result.

 

[lawn_king]

FLUID FILM !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[3RRL]

Well, I'm debating what to do with mine.
You know I just built that 40' x 50' barn/shop and. lol ... it is already full of crap. My plan was to organize and store my implements in there. I guess I'll have to get it all done so it will be ready by this Winter. Nevertheless, I would still grease and oil up the brush cutter before storing it just as a preventative measure. Note that mine has lived outside for the last 3-1/2 years with no problems. I did the same preventative greasing and lubing when it was outside though. They are pretty tough, but it can't hurt.
Right now all my implements and tractors live outside in a cleared area in front of the barn. It is a lot better for hooking up than when I lived out of Camp. But I want to move them inside once I get it all cleaned up and organized.