Woods 48" billy goat m4-1 rotary cutter

shooter56 · Sep 12, 2017

Woods 48" billy goat m4-2 rotary cutter (was m4-1)

I am picking up a woods 48" brush hog M4-2 Billy goat For $150.00 it has a broken shaft that goes from the gear box to the blades. I found the shaft that goes in the gear box for $114.00 +15. Ship. The rest is in good shape for a old machine. Has a pto shaft with the slip clutch. I am getting it on thursday. Its just the right size for my L185.

Edit, the corrected model is m4-2 parts not available.

100 td · Sep 12, 2017

Nice pickup and hope you have a low cost repair. You probably don't need me telling you this, but just in case...., if it's broken the output shaft then you may have a worn/damaged/bent/flogged bearing housing, so pay particular attention when replacing the bearings for any wear/movement/alignment between bearing and housing. Don't forget to disassemble the clutch and clean it up so that it will actually slip when you hit something as it may be frozen solid.
Good luck, it's always nice to see a bit of equipment being given a new life!

shooter56 · Sep 12, 2017

I checked the unit and it felt ok, but that means nothing until I get into it. I'm hoping it will work out. Time will tell!
I have a long row of spruce trees that need the brush hog service!

In Utopia · Sep 13, 2017

If you check around, you can buy a whole new gearbox for just a few bucks more.

shooter56 · Sep 14, 2017

In Utopia said:
If you check around, you can buy a whole new gearbox for just a few bucks more.

I could not locate a box for it. Even Woods said it was discontinued, it found a shaft it thought I was lucky.

shooter56 · Sep 14, 2017

I picked up the brush hog, got it home opened up the box
And it looks ok. Other than the shaft broken off. The weld is still on the bolt and washer on the center bar so it has never been apart before. Ordering the parts tomorrow from NY. They have the bearings and seals in stock.

100 td · Sep 14, 2017

Sounds good, hope it goes well and that's all you're in for. And I'd say "no" to a paint job, to me it looks great as it is, rough and used, hope it serves you well into the future!

shooter56 · Sep 15, 2017

I think it will be fine, the gear box moves ok , so new bearing and seals.

shooter56 · Sep 15, 2017

Well now the wood brush hog is not a m4-1 its a m4-2 . I found the I'd tag on it. So now that output shaft is different and discontinued also. So now to hunt for that shaft. Part# 30257 woods.

shooter56 · Sep 15, 2017

So after looking and emailing calling the part is nowhere to be found.
So plan 2: The gear is welded on the top of the shaft. My thought is to put the shaft in a lathe, face the weld and slowly bore the shaft out until the weld is cut out. I should be able to save the gear. Now my lathe is old and the ways are worn out so I will have to get a new shaft made. And a new keyway milled in and the end drilled and tapped.
I took the slip clutch apart, everything was stuck, frozen rusted, wounder why the shaft broke?

bucktail · Sep 15, 2017

I'd go to a TSC or anywhere that sold brush mowers and do some measuring on the gearboxs. I suspect that you're right about the gear box it came with being unavailable, but thinking that a lot of 90 degree gearboxes from the same application would fit with a little modification. Maybe find one where the shafts are the same diameter an length and just make a new bolt pattern on the mower to make it fit?

shooter56 · Sep 15, 2017

So the gearbox appears to be welded to a steel plate then welded to the base.

But back to the shaft, the shaft is 1.375 dia. 8.400 long. The 1.375 dia goes for 7.400 then has a step were the gear is put on. That is 1.00 long and the dia. Is 1.090
I will chuck the shaft in the lathe tomorrow and cut the weld off and try to bore out the shaft from the gear.

Yooper · Sep 16, 2017

The gearbox is welded to a plate? Big no-no in my book. Where there is weld, there is warp.

Good luck with your lathe project and take a few pictures of the journey.

shooter56 · Sep 16, 2017

Yooper said:
The gearbox is welded to a plate? Big no-no in my book. Where there is weld, there is warp.

The gear box was sandwich bolted with 4 -3/8 bolt x 8'long between 2 plates. (Factory made) and a plate with a hole on the on the deck that the gear box snout with the output shaft goes thru. That plate is welded to the 2 side plates. After unbolting the box and even spreading the side plates the box will not come out. I cleaned up under it and it appeared to be welded where the snout goes thru the hole. I may be wrong but I did not want to break the steel casting.

BAP · Sep 16, 2017

Surplus Center has generic gear boxes for brush mowers from time to time. Check them out at. www.surpluscenter.com
Another place that carries a lot of parts and gearboxes is AgriSupply.
www.agrisupply.com

shooter56 · Sep 16, 2017

I looked at the gear boxes on the 2 sites, if all else fails it could be a good option.

Thanks!

Yooper · Sep 16, 2017

Took a chance on one of those gearboxes from Surplus Center when I built my stump grinder. Took it apart to investigate and was satisfied with the size of the bearings and the surface finish on the gears. The only thing that made me cringe a little bit was the cast housing. It was a typical Chinese rough casting. But so far, no issues.

shooter56 · Sep 16, 2017

So I got the gear off, drilled a 3/4 hole 3/8 deep. Then faced the weld off the gear ,then ground a cobalt cutting tool and cut .005 at a time off . The weld was hard. 3 cuts sharpen the tool , at about .200 thousands deep I could start seeing the end of the weld penetration. I had to skim the inside dia of the gear more to break it free. But now it's off ,now to get the shaft done.

Yooper · Sep 16, 2017

Nice write up! Thanks for posting.

shooter56 · Sep 17, 2017

Unfortunately my lathe chuck has a small center hole and 1.375 bar stock will not go thru it, to drill and tap the bolt hole. The bar would stick out so much that I would be sure it would throw off center in no time. Same with the turned end. I can buy turned ground polished shaft stock, so I will go that route.

Woods 48" billy goat m4-1 rotary cutter

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