vertical storage of rotary cutter

[adlertom]

I would like to store my 5 foot rotary cutter in a vertical position during the winter season, so it takes up less floor space in my shed.

I'm contemplating building a stand with some heavy duty wheels and a support bracket of some sort to keep the cutter vertical. Obviously, it will have to be heavy duty and stable enough to safely secure the 500 lb cutter.

It could also possibly double as a maintenance accessory, to hold the cutter in a convienent position for blade sharpening, etc.

Has anyone done something similar? Is there perhaps a commercial product already available that I should consider?

Thanks,

Tom

 

[beenthere]

How about a cheepo chain hoist and just crank it up against a wall?

chain hoist

 

[Henro]

I think it would work fine.

But do take note of where the vent is, and if gear box oil runs out don't forget to add as needed after you put the mower back down flat on the ground.

Would be a shame if you stored it so nicely over the winter, and lost the gear box because you forgot to check oil level in the spring... /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

 

[hwp]

My guess is that a lot of us store our mower decks in a vertical position over the winter - I do. I have five 2'x5' platforms that I store my implements on - one each for a snowblower, a rotary broom, a rotary tiller, a dozer blade and an aerator. The snowblower and mower deck share the same platform as they are used in alternate seasons. I use two 2"x6" stringers and four 2"x6" cross pieces (both on the flat). The top is 1/2" plywood. Each platform has four 3" rubber casters, two that swivel and two fixed. I store them with the narrow edge against tne back wall of my garage. This allows me to access whichever implement I need at the time. I don't know of any commercial made units but there may well be. But making your own is probably much cheaper.

 

[slowrev]

Henro,
Yes my Bush Hog brand cutter has a vent hole in the filler plug and if I stored it vertical I would loose most of the grease in the gearbox. It is a tiny hole but grease will come out over time.

 

[MicroPilot]

Could you just put a bolt in it for the winter storage?

 

[slowrev]

Hmm, now that is a thought... maybe not a bolt, but a pipe plug with no hole in it...it is about 1 inch pipe plug......Good Idea there, not sure why I did not think of it besides being brain damaged /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

Of course on second thought if I forgot and left the other ventless plug in there when I pull it out of storage next year... well there go the seals as soon as the box warms up, then my grease, then ,my gearbox... hmm think I will just store mine flat.....

 

[Phred]

I have been thinking about pallet racks. Much like what you see at lowes or home depot. Like:
http://www.cisco-eagle.com/miva/merchant.mv?Screen=CTGY&Store_Code=CEI&Category_Code=kit96

That way you could stack several maybe a very heavy implement on the bottom, another on a middle shelf, and a lighter one on top like a cosmo seeder.
You can buy these things with very high load ratings; 1000's of lbs/ shelf.

Only problem is you need a set of forks and a pretty good loader to stack the implements on the shelves.

Not free, but cheaper than a new shed or addition to the barn.

Fred

 

[Soundguy]

Should work fine.. every dealer I've seen except TSC stores their cutters vertically stacked up agains fences.. etc.

Just check your gearbox oil level. That pinhole in the vented cap is bound to leak some oil

Soundguy

 

[GRUMPA]

I have mine stacked like that against the side block wall. And soundguys correct some gear oil does leak out but its a small amount.