Strange sound from Rotary cutter RCR1860

[Jester67]

I have an L2501 with an RCR1860 rotary cutter. Both purchased new last year 40ish hours on the tractor and maybe 12 on the cutter. I was clearing some land this weekend, primarily tall weeds. I was about an hour in of cutting on steep angles 40° to 50°, or so going both ways. I was at the top making the turnaround and started to hear a sound, something between a wine and a slapping sound. Shut off the cutter, and it went away.

I investigated and did not see anything wrapped around the spindle and no sound when spinning by hand from the top of the blades. I had verified the oil level before I started, and when I pulled the dipstick, I was still full, but the oil was foamy. The gearbox was warm, but I could keep my hand on it as long as I wanted. I decided to let it cool as it was close to lunchtime. When I came back (30-45 minutes later), I checked, and the oil had settled, and the box will close to room temp. I went back to cutting, and on the last pass, 30 minutes later, the sound was coming back. I turned off the cutter and drove to where I kept it about 5 minutes. Before I disconnected it, I started it up again, and it sounded fine.

• My thought is the oil level is too low for that angle, and I should add just a little.
• The slip clutch was getting hot and slipping just a little, but not the full break-free whine it gets when grounded.
• I have a gearbox or bearing issue.

Your thought and experience are very appreciated.

 

[mcfarmall]

I would tighten up the clutch springs ¼-½ turn on each nut then put a line across the clutch plates to see if they are still slipping. If so give each one another ¼ turn until it stops slipping. It should only slip if you strike a solid object (rock, stump, etc.).

 

[SDT]

I have an L2501 with an RCR1860 rotary cutter. Both purchased new last year 40ish hours on the tractor and maybe 12 on the cutter. I was clearing some land this weekend, primarily tall weeds. I was about an hour in of cutting on steep angles 40° to 50°, or so going both ways. I was at the top making the turnaround and started to hear a sound, something between a wine and a slapping sound. Shut off the cutter, and it went away.

I investigated and did not see anything wrapped around the spindle and no sound when spinning by hand from the top of the blades. I had verified the oil level before I started, and when I pulled the dipstick, I was still full, but the oil was foamy. The gearbox was warm, but I could keep my hand on it as long as I wanted. I decided to let it cool as it was close to lunchtime. When I came back (30-45 minutes later), I checked, and the oil had settled, and the box will close to room temp. I went back to cutting, and on the last pass, 30 minutes later, the sound was coming back. I turned off the cutter and drove to where I kept it about 5 minutes. Before I disconnected it, I started it up again, and it sounded fine.

• My thought is the oil level is too low for that angle, and I should add just a little.
• The slip clutch was getting hot and slipping just a little, but not the full break-free whine it gets when grounded.
• I have a gearbox or bearing issue.

Your thought and experience are very appreciated.

Slip clutch is too loose. Usually they are too tight.

It should not slip unless an obstacle is hit.

Good advise above.

SDT

 

[Jester67]

I would tighten up the clutch springs ¼-½ turn on each nut then put a line across the clutch plates to see if they are still slipping. If so give each one another ¼ turn until it stops slipping. It should only slip if you strike a solid object (rock, stump, etc.).

That is what I was thinking as well but thought I would ask to make sure I was not overlooking the obvious. I might loosen it up first and follow the burn-in direction then tighten it back up just to make sure.

 

[UpNorthMI]

It’s good to reset slip clutches every year. I had an old slip clutch on a used Woods BB720X cutter, my son was doing some woodland clearing mowing with it on the back of my MX5800, he hit a stump in dense cover and in several seconds a new 75HP gearbox and new PTO shaft was required! Luckily no tractor damage or any injury.

I take the time to reset slip clutches every first use of an attachment each year. So better to have a slipping clutch that needs a little tightening rather than an over tight or seized slip clutch.