Rotary Cutter Oil Change Rotary Cutters

SCDolphin · Jun 17, 2009

I bought a new Woods Brush Bull and now have about 50hrs of bush hogging time. Has anyone changed gear box oil in their bush hog?

jenkinsph · Jun 17, 2009

You can change it to remove any metal from break in. Refill and then check occasionally to make sure it is not leaking out. Normally you should be able to operate it for a long time without changes.

Steve

Soundguy · Jun 17, 2009

you can syphon/suck it out.. or flip the mower over.. most don't have a true drain plug.

can flush with diesel or mineral spirits.. then refilloil and go.. checking periodically as the other poster said.

soundguy

Farmwithjunk · Jun 17, 2009

On my mowers, we check oil levels fairly regularly, and once a year or so, I'll check it for contaminates (ie metal shavings, water, ect) Barring any irregularities, I don't change oil.... One batwing is in its third season, probably closing in on 4000 hours, no problems. And my trusty little Bush Hog 286 I use mostly around the farm has something like 500 to 550 hours (estimate) on original oil. No issues. Just an opinion, but I'd suspect very infrequent use is as potentially harmfull (to condition of oil) as long hard hours of use. (condensation???)

Soundguy · Jun 17, 2009

Farmwithjunk said:
On my mowers, we check oil levels fairly regularly, and once a year or so, I'll check it for contaminates (ie metal shavings, water, ect) Barring any irregularities, I don't change oil.... One batwing is in its third season, probably closing in on 4000 hours, no problems. And my trusty little Bush Hog 286 I use mostly around the farm has something like 500 to 550 hours (estimate) on original oil. No issues. Just an opinion, but I'd suspect very infrequent use is as potentially harmfull (to condition of oil) as long hard hours of use. (condensation???)

I agree.. I'd think 'frequent' use with correct oil and level would be better than infrequent use where moisture gets a chance to condense and collect onthe box.

soundguy

kthompson · Jun 17, 2009

I would think your gearbox has some sort of breather to it. If so be sure it does not get clogged nor over fill the gearbox as either when the oil gets hot can blow a seal and drain in a hurry.

Phineas7 · Jun 19, 2009

I had an odd problem with mine, apparently the breather leaks, or leaked. It sat in the weather over the winter. I ran it, then checked the fluid (yeah, I know backwards) and sway it was white. So I removed it the box so I could flush it out. Of coarse it's not that hard on a 4 footer. The blades and carriage aren't that heavy. When I got it apart I could see the rust line where the water was on top of the oil (which seems backwards now that I think about it). I notice the breather wasn't very tight. I'm not sure if the water seaped thru the threads or splashed up under the breather cap or what.

Soundguy · Jun 19, 2009

edit.. DOH! forgot to mention about stabilized emulsion.. IE.. mixed oil and water.. where yuo would then see a rust line where the water met oxegon and left a skim / rust line.

yes.. oil DOES float on water.. my post was misleading! should typed a lil more but breakfast was calling!

soundguy

hydrostatic pressure could have forced the water from a heavy rain under the cap thru the vent.. or thru the threads if it was very loose.

soundguy

Eric_Phillips · Jun 19, 2009

Under normal conditions most oils will float on the water. It is posible that the viscosity of the oil was high enough and the water gently layed on the oil and didn't mix.