Newbie here / I think I broke my bushhog :-(

[Tx_K_Lover]

Hey all!

New here and know very little about how to work on my equipment, and usually have to hire someone. My problem is while shredding yesterday (after all the rain here the pastures are really thick and tall) I hit a really big fire ant mound. Immediately after I had a really loud squealing noise coming from the shredder. Squeal stops when I disengage the PTO, but returns when PTO re-engages. Would appreciate any and all ideas, before I hire someone to come look at it. I am a widow alone, and I can see $ signs when "repairmen" appear in my driveway..... Help? Thanks!!

 

[BigG]

Have you looked under the mower for any thing or damage? Do you have a shear bolt or PTO clutch? Is it the tractor or the mower making the noise?

Are you able to unhook the PTO shaft? If so unhook it then start the tractor and turn the PTO on. If there is no noise then we know the tractor is OK.

If you rehook the PTO and it has a PTO clutch I am going to guess that you caused the clutch to slip and it will need readjusted. An easy fix.

And look under the mower by raising the 3 point but do not go under the mower. Are the blades free? Does anything look damaged or bent?

I hope you understand I am not trying to talk down to you but I have no way of knowing your knowledge or abilities.

 

[nota4re]

Can you tell us what brand/model "shredder" you have? Manufacturers will either use a shear pin or a clutch (more common) to be the item that "slips" in case you hit something. It sounds like the clutch is still slipping - either something is still jamming the blades or the clutch may need to be adjusted. I'm sure others here have far more experience than me in order to advise you....

 

[Bmyers]

I think it is the ants screaming in pain from you hitting their nest.

As others have noted, need a little more info before you throw in the towel. Could be a simple fix.

 

[Elliott in GA]

FWIW, I doubt a Fire Ant nest (big mound of soft dirt) could have done any real damage to a rotary cutter, but it certainly could have snapped the shear pin (the free rotating PTO shaft might be making all of the noise).

Of course, the ant mound could have been built around a big rock or stump, but again it should not be able to do that much damage.

 

[Russell King]

If you are in central Texas I can probably come look at it if you want.

It is probably the slip clutch as mentioned above. That is a pack of springs and clutch plates. If you have never adjusted it then that is more indication of a problem. The discs are probably slipping and squealing like bad brakes on a car.

 

[jimh406]

If your rotary cutter does have a slip clutch, there are lots of videos on youtube about how to adjust them. It can be brand specific. Search for

How to adjust slip clutch rotary cutter

 

[In Utopia]

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