Well it lasted 2 1/2 years: Bushhog 286 Output Shaft Repair

[FTG-05]

WHat is that cutter? You spent $2200 on a cutter that you were gonna take the gearbox off of and render it useless?

1. Again why not just get a $200 shaft to fix your old one? What am I missing?
2. Why not leave the cutter intact. You just spent $2200 on it, I am sure it is in ready-to-mow condition

My apologies, I thought it was obvious what was missing: The good news! )"It's another good news/bad news kinda story...".)

The bad news is this gearbox won't work worth a crap on my BH 286.

The good news is that a Howse 7' HD cutter with dual tail wheels came free with the gearbox!

And the other good news: I did as Dieselbound suggested and checked the stump jumper/output shaft connection. I had them lift the cutter with a giant forklift and went under it. Solid as a rock.

This shouldn't be too surprising since the above pics show no damage to the deck indicating a loose SJ and/or blades. The blades weren't in too bad of shape either; obviously used but no heavy damage, nicks or gouges indicating abuse.

I haven't decided what to do with my BH286; parts to fix it are somewhere between $400-$475. If I get it fixed, it might be worth $1000-$1200 or so. I can probably get $500 as-is considering what I'm seeing on CL/FBMP, but that's just a guess.

And I also did what LD1 et al suggested and checked the input shaft, which is a 1 3/8" six splined shaft, indicating a 540 rpm machine. And unlike BH, Howse shows no 1000 rpm variants for this machine (Howse CRB842).

This cutter is very equivalent to the BH 287 cutter; which I would call both them Heavy Duty. Both have 110 HP or so gearboxes, both weigh ~1100 - 1200 lbs and both have a 2" cutting capability. Both recommend a 50 hp machine as the minimum tractor HP (mine is about 40).

 

[LD1]

What other parts do you need for the 286 other than an output shaft. I though your stump jumper was fine. But for under $500 its certainly worth fixing IMO if it is ontheriwse good condition.

I had a 287 I used behind my MX5100. Power wasnt the issue.....they are a HEAVY cutter. @1200# it makes the tractor just as light in the front as my 1600# 8' twin because the weight is so much farther back.

You are in TN so I can only assume hills. Keep the tailwheel close to or on the ground if you ever have the loader off

 

[FTG-05]

Output shaft $215
Couple seals at $12 each
Bearings? If so, $48 each
Shims $2-$3 each

Stump jumper is required to be replaced due to a) the splines being forked (original problem) and b) nut, stump jumper and output shaft all welded together (original solution). $140

Without bearings, about $400 with shipping; bearings are another $100. If either the crown gear or the pinion gear is required to be replaced, that's another $200 - each.

I watched this video, tearing a part and putting back together a Schulte gearbox; looks similar to the BH/Comer gearbox.

It looks like a complete teardown to R&R the output shaft.

 

[Stone Jones]

Unless I am not understanding what you are looking for, they do make splined hubs that can be welded onto a stump jumper bar.

Most people normally buy the whole assembly though as they lack the ability to weld and weld it true.

Unless there is something odd about the 287 that I am missing....a new stump-jumper assembly for ~$150-$200 seems like a cheap way to get a 287 back up and running rather than letting it sit and rot

Where would one look for these parts? My research shows the stump jumper is going to cost around $800, and if i need it the box is $1500.00. If they're still available that is.

 

[LD1]

Where would one look for these parts? My research shows the stump jumper is going to cost around $800, and if i need it the box is $1500.00. If they're still available that is.

What is your cutter? How big and how many splines are on a weldable hub you are looking for? I see generic weld on hubs and whole stump jumpers. Is there something specific about yours that makes it $800? Google is your friend

https://www.google.com/search?q=stump+jumper+hub&oq=stump+jumper+hub&aqs=chrome..69i57j0i13j0i13i30j0i5i13i30l3j0i8i13i30l3.3799j0j7&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8

 

[Stone Jones]

It is a Bush Hog 287, the price I went off of was from messicks online I believe. As far as anything being special about those specific cutters, that is what I'm afraid of. Ordering what I think is correct and after receiving the part it wont fit. Its been awhile since I really dove into it but I will check the spline count and dimensions. I really appreciate the help!