I'm going Bobcat..

[k0ua]

Here's a pic of the Mohawk brush cutter and the shaft. I was hoping to just extend the square shaft. However, the shafts I see at new implement dealers all look enclosed or something. Is this antique that unsafe?

4 inches of overlap is a little short.. What happens is they sometimes split when they get that short because all of the force is now on a small piece of metal instead of spread along more length..I can't tell if the square tube is welded or pressed in and pinned but if you take it to a driveline guy he might be able to help you.

Now is it dangerous?.. well if you or no one else ever gets near it, no, not at all.. if you ever mess around it while it is spinning it can wad you up like a Chinese kite in a typhoon. Lots of guys have had arms pulled off and worse by getting clothing caught in a spinning PTO shaft.. It ain't pretty.. Never ever get near that thing while it is running.

If it splits the tractor end will beat the he!! out of the rear end of your tractor as it spins around in a big arc before you can get the PTO shut off.. sooo.. yeah, probably ought to see what you can do about getting some more overlap.

 

[MoPops]

I've probably got less than 2" of overlap. There was a lot of side to side movement as it spun. I shut it down right away. I'm thinking I need to add six inches, or just find a shaft that's six inches longer. I knew I had a problem when I was hooking it up. It was hard to even keep it connected while I connected the top arm.

One other question, is a five foot brush hog too big for the 27 hp? Should I have gone with a 4'?
Just seemed to lug the engine pretty easily, but I may not have the RPMs up high enough?

 

[SSdoxie]

5' cutter should be just fine. I have 4' on mine only because that is what I had before on my little Kubota before getting the CT225. With the 4' my time spent cutting in less than it was because I can travel much faster, my ground speed is limited to the blade speed of the cutter. No power problem. I was thinking of swapping it for a 5' to equal the wheel width but decided not to.

 

[k0ua]

yep the 5 should be fine.. did you check gearbox on the mower for proper fluid level.?

 

[arnoldziffel]

MoPops, was this rotary cutter you bought a particularly good price?

I'm just wondering if you'd be better served by a NEW or like new 5' rotary cutter. I bought a new 5' Kodiak last fall for $995.

I'm not trying to blow your budget, I'm just concerned for safety and simplicity. (Keep in mind, I'm not very mechanically inclined so I feel I have to pay to get something that is hassle free).

 

[MoPops]

MoPops, was this rotary cutter you bought a particularly good price? I'm just wondering if you'd be better served by a NEW or like new 5' rotary cutter. I bought a new 5' Kodiak last fall for $995. I'm not trying to blow your budget, I'm just concerned for safety and simplicity. (Keep in mind, I'm not very mechanically inclined so I feel I have to pay to get something that is hassle free).

Yep.. It's in the $300 range. I don't have a huge need for it. But, I'll need to run it a few days this summer. I just couldn't make myself buy a new one and have it sit almost the entire tine. However if a can't get this one to work at all... Didn't really save too much.

 

[MoPops]

yep the 5 should be fine.. did you check gearbox on the mower for proper fluid level.?

Hmmm,, I'll take a look at it. The guy I bought it from said he had just gone thru it, and checked everything out. I've got a few too many irons in the fire right now. I need to slow up a bit and get some of the things I've started, completed.

 

[MoPops]

Hey, is it bad form to "wash" a tractor. It was so muddy the last several days.. I just had to do it.. Ha

 

[murphy1244]

Hey, is it bad form to "wash" a tractor. It was so muddy the last several days.. I just had to do it.. Ha

Only if you Towel dry it, must use a leaf Blower.

 

[MoPops]

Only if you Towel dry it, must use a leaf Blower.

I ran it up and down the black top as fast as it would go. (Got some of the mud off the tires too..)