negotiating on a rotary cutter

RedTailHawk · Aug 6, 2014

I'm about to replace an old Woods Brush Bull BB60C (came with the property I bought a year ago, and I found out the hard way that the gear box was bone dry. I'm not sure if the previous owner ever put in gear lube oil). I'm planning to get a new Woods Brush Bull BB60X. The dealer indicated there are no times of year where they run 'specials'. Its the same price all year long. I find that hard to believe. Any tips on negotiating for a better price?

boggen · Aug 6, 2014

why not get a replacement gear box?

RedTailHawk · Aug 6, 2014

That's where I started. Replacement gear box is $1200 for all the parts, plus my time and labor to install on the old, very beat up BB60C. A brand new one is $1900. If I were to sink $1200 into the old one, then I'd want to start fixing all the other problems on it, replacing the rubber guards on front and back, etc. Then I would have spent more on those parts than it would cost to buy the new one. I know, it kills me to have the old one go to waste, but the math on the dollars leads me to cut my losses on the old one and buy the new one.

schmism · Aug 6, 2014

RedTailHawk said:
That's where I started. Replacement gear box is $1200 for all the parts,

I literately laughed out loud when i read that.

Surplus Center

$150 for a 80hp gear box. you could even get the brushhog brand for $200.

You dont list were you are located but if your going to to scrap that cutter, Ill be by this weekend if your withing 300 miles with $200 for it.

RedTailHawk · Aug 6, 2014

My cabin is in WV on the Virginia border... How much modification would be required (any metal cutting, etc?) to get that to fit on a Brush Bull?

boggen · Aug 6, 2014

click on the gear box links at surplus center, they give mounting specs of how many holes and on center. so you can measure things out. pull the old gear box off and see if holes work out. or if you will need to drill some new holes.

double check slip clutch on old unit, to make sure it will fit new gear box input shaft.

double check spindle going down to blades to make sure same as what you currently have.

other words start wrenching stuff apart and start measuring.

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if you find things off, you might do some google searching, to find a gear box that has correct hole pattern and/or input shaft diameter and out output shaft diameter.

Gary Fowler · Aug 6, 2014

At most you may have to drill a couple of holes but more than likely it will bolt into existing mounting holes. Hardest part will be getting the old stump jumper off so you can install it on the new one.
Your $1200 quote must have included the stump jumper, new blades AND PTO shaft with slip clutch. You shouldn't need anything other than the gear box.

RedTailHawk · Aug 6, 2014

Great advice guys. I'm not afraid to admit I'm new to tractors and implements, but I do like having options! I'll open it up this weekend, find the closest fitting gear box and see if I can make it work. I only use the rotary cutter a couple times a year to maintain a few miles of ATV trails and clear my hunting fields, so I'd prefer not to put $2000 into that piece of equipment.