Reclaiming Long Abandoned Rotary Cutters.

[Diggin It]

Neighbor has had three rotary cutters stashed behind his barn for years, don't really know how long. He's said I can have them, no cost. One is a finish mower, they other two are rotary cutters. Sizes and make/model are unknown right now since they're covered with vines. It'll take some effort to get them out and I'll wait until the snakes, ticks, chiggers, yellow jackets, wasps and whatever else have gone away for the season.

Obviously gear boxes, spindle bearings and whatever else is supposed to move will need to be checked. Also link and bolt points, any possible rusted through areas.

I think I'll be able to use the finish mower, but the rotary cutters may be six footers which will be too big for my tractor.

What else will I need to inspect/check and possibly repair?

If I can get them running, what would be a reasonable selling price? I realize make/model/condition will be a big factor. I only know that the finish mower is slate blue, one cutter is red and the other yellow.

No pictures yet as they're almost hard to see in the brush.

 

[Gary Fowler]

Finish mower might have belts to replace, all the ones I have seen do. The rotary mower (bushhog type) likely need nothing if they were running ok when parked. They might have been parked due to seal leakage. Only way to know is to fill up the gear box and run it. The universal joints are likely frozen up and will require some grease and working to free up, maybe even need replaced. Not much else to check on them. Most rotary cutters never wear out the blade bolts unless used commercially.
I would just grease all of them, check gearbox oil and run the heck out of them to see what happens.

 

[rangerfredbob]

dang near everything I have or have helped my brother get has been from an auction, most of which has been sitting like you are talking about, and what Gary said above is all that it has taken...

 

[Diggin It]

OK, they're all finish mowers. The grey is the only one where the gearbox rotates. The yellow and red do not. Blade spin doles don't rotate on any of them, but none of that is surprising considering where they've been for so long. Sheet metal is all intact and not too heavily rusted. Couple of gauge wheels missing, but I think they have those inside their shed, so I'll have to ask. One is all torn up, but I think the $5 HF pneumatic cart wheels will work.

Red says Cyclone C50 RD7. I'm guessing that means 7 foot, which is too big for mine.

Yellow says Walton, but I haven't found any other ID yet. Measures 6 foot wide and appears to be side discharge.

Grey says Modern Manufacturing and a serial number but I haven't found a part or model yet. Also measures 6 foot wide, but is a rear discharge.

Replacing spindle bearings is one thing, but I don't pan on replacing gearboxes unless these things are somehow odd or unique and hold some value which I don't expect they do.










....

 

[Diggin It]

The Cyclone C50 RD7 shows as a Befco in web searches with a 'new' pricetag of a little under $4,000.00

I see used 5 and 6 footers for sale, but no 7s so far.

 

[Diggin It]

I think this is the same as the grey one and it's listed used for $850.00

https://www.tractorhouse.com/listin...-sale/147177859/2009-modern-manufacturing-fm6

 

[Diggin It]

Freed up most everything on the grey one. All three spindles now rotate. One belt is OK while the other is worn, but intact. Got them back on the pulleys and I can rotate the deck by hand turning the PTO shaft. I can tell the gearbox is all but dry, so I'll need to fill that. Will probably use motor oil for a small bit of testing before changing to gear oil, once I find out what type it needs.

One blade is broken off completely. I'll probably get a new set of three and use the two old ones for spares.

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Yellow one will take more work.

Haven't even looked at the red one yet.

 

[mrmikey]

I think you scored, they look to be in good shape.................Mike

 

[cglaser104]

I agree. Good cleaning up could reveal some absolute steals

 

[Gary Fowler]

Did you find all the gauge wheels that are missing in the photos? Even without them, free is always a bargain.