old 13 foot bush hog.....questions? interested in buying

[moloss]

I found a 13 foot straight deck mower for sale locally.....it's older but the owner says it works fine and doesn't have any known problems.....it's a pull type....I want to go look at it today but I've never owned a mower of this size before and was wondering what I needed to be looking for.....thanks Chris.

 

[Dead Horse]

Looks like it is pulled via a draw bar and not the lower links. the PTO shaft looks pretty long too.

The things to check:

Rear hydraulic lift cylinder and hoses for leaks, cracks broken fittings. The gear boxes, see if they still have gear oil in them. The frame and parts that connect to the tractor for stress cracks, broken welds. The PTO shaft and slip clutch (if it has one), see if the universal joints are tight. See if the rear castor wheels turn and pivot.

13 feet is a big girl......... you are going to want to be running it behind a pretty big tractor........ 70+ hp I would think, anyway.

 

[moloss]

my tractor is big enough but what do you think an old mower like this weighs? just curious.

 

[brin]

I would want to see it run behind the sellers tractor...I was going to buy a flail mower from a fellow about 20 miles from me and I told him I would want him to demonstrate to me that it worked before I bought it but if I saw it cut grass..I would buy it...I never got a call back...Just saying....

 

[moloss]

well I'm about to walk out the door to look at it.....he has it hooked up to his tractor to show me how it works.....wish me luck:thumbsup:

 

[sandman2234]

Weight while important, isn't as critical with a pull behind as with a 3pt, since you don't have to be able to lift it.
David from jax

 

[moloss]

just got back...it's an old mower but it seemed to work well and the gentleman was very nice to talk to.....what I'm not sure of is the brand....we think it's a bush hog brand but we (and he) aren't sure....the other thing is the availability of parts, being as it's a 13 foot mower do y'all think it will be hard to find blades for it? So I guess first whats the brand and then I can figure out if I can get parts....any and all suggestions are needed and wanted......thanks for your time, Chris.

 

[willfick]

I think it's a Bush Hog brand, also. The parts (gearbox, blade, stump-bumper, etc.) look much like my Model 205. The parts, especially blades, should be fairly standard.
You might try posting the pictures on the Implement forum at Yesterday's Tractors:
Implement Alley Discussion Board
That's where someone recognized mine.
Wm

 

[moloss]

willfick......thanks for the link.....I joined it but you can't post pics until you have so many posts

 

[Interlaux]

Mo , why worry about blades? that thing looks so sweet (for the right money).
OK your killing me here - how much is the nice old gent asking?
I have a free-old-junker 5' cutter and I've learned from many hours of use:
1. Gear boxes will run along time without seals if you use corn head grease. Since all those boxes run on the mower then you should not have to worry.
2. In our area there are few rocks - therefore RC blades will last a LONG time - Is this mower from a low rock area?
3. all RC mowers will need a good welder as some point - patch it up and mow on

Buy it and mow - its got to be a deal:thumbsup: