Rotary cutter Help

[maxchch]

Hit a stump or 10 while using my Howse 400 cutter this weekend. PTO would spin at normal speed but blades would only turn slowly wile deck raised and not at all when lowered and faced resistance. Shearpin seemed intact although it would wiggle a bit by hand. Could use some input on any other things I could check or potential parts I may have torn up. I have limited knowledge as this is my first tractor. Also the plastic housing around the shaft has come apart. I can't seem to find just the protective plastic parts for the cutter shaft. Do I have to by a new shaft just to get the plastic tube and end pieces?
Thanks.

 

[nybirdman]

Did you have the proper shear bolt in and not a grade bolt?If you replaced the shear bolt with a grade bolt ,you may have 1.broke the pto on the tractor 2.broke the gear box on the BH...neither one is good.

 

[maxchch]

Not sure. I bought the cutter used but it looks like a standard black bolt. PTO seems to be operating fine.

 

[SoGeorgia]

One thing to check. One of my cutters doesn't have a splined output shaft. It uses a keyed shaft for the blade holder. I've sheared that key before.

Exhibited the same symptoms. Everything was turning but the blades would stop once you hit anything.

 

[maxchch]

Thanks. I'll check that as well.

 

[MESSMAKER]

ends of shear bolt may be struck an the shear pin is actually broken. Check and make sure gearbox is getting power.

 

[Soundguy]

ditto.

check to make sur einput shaft is spinning with pto.

black bolt? sounds hard to me?

if input shaft is spinning.. check blade carrier hub to output shaft as someone else mentioned.

post back

PS.. be carefull.. fon't get around spinning shfts or blades.. or get under an unsupported mower.. and concrete hollow cell blocks are not support. only solid jack stands rated for the weight ++and heavy timber..

 

[maxchch]

Thanks everyone. My tractor is at my deer lease and we are expecting rain this weekend. Good for food plat, not so good for repair work. I'll post the outcome after I get a chance to work on it.

 

[Soundguy]

keep us posted on what ya find

 

[Mud Mechanik]

My howse cutter has a splined shaft on the output side of the gearbox, the nut on the stump jumper has to be very tight and cotter pinned....just something else to check.

 

[maxchch]

Thanks Mud. Shearpin was fine. Took off gearbox and stump jumper but had to leave town on business so they are still in the back of my truck at the New Orleans airport (at least I hope they still are there). Stump jumper was cotter pinned but I'm not sure the nut was tight, now that I think about it. I hate to put the whole thing back together only to find out the gearbox was the problem. I had to ruin one of the gearbox mounting nuts with a pipe wrench to get it off. I think it must have been put on with locktite. Anybody know if it is worth having a gearbox repaired as opposed to buying a new one? No idea what a re-build would cost.

Regards.

 

[Dave M7040]

I broke the gear box on a 6 foot finishing mower trying to use it as a bush hog. Buying a complete gear box unit was much cheaper than buying parts and a lot less frustrating.
Dave M7040

 

[Soundguy]

find out what the problem is before guessing baout anything...