Rough Cut mower fixing

[KevinF]

So I bought this little tractor that fit the bill for my acreage needs. UTB 32hp diesel, 4 speed plus a 2 speed range box, independent/dependent PTO, 3point hitch. Seems to be a good little import tractor, low hours. I had to get the rad repaired, but I still think I stole it for what I paid.

I had an old rough cut mower but the gearbox was blown. I posted online looking for a gearbox. I got a reply that a guy had a Farm King 710 for $400 that "just needs the blade put back on". That is probably too much mower for my tractor but I also don't need to point straight through and thick bush so I'll see if I can run it. My old rough cut was scrap iron, before it ever made it into my possession. Just took a while to realize that.

So I got to looking at the blade situation. One of the blade retainer bolts was broken off and I couldn't access from the top side through the port. The nut for the hub was conspicuously loose so the PO had obviously tried removing the hub and that's where he decided to stop and buy a bigger mower. I didn't think pulling that hub off would be a terrible ordeal.

So the first attempt at a puller used half inch coarse threaded hardware and a section of tube. Was unsuccessful. The second attempt at a puller used 1x2 flat bar, 1/2" plates, .75" outside rods and 1inch fine threaded bolt for the middle. I used a big ball bearing between the end of my pusher bolt and the end of the output shaft. In the pick, the outside nuts aren't fully engaged on the rod, but they were when I blew the threads off the one .75" rod and everything crashed to the ground with an impressive bang... I had a lot of tension on it and I was heating the hub with the torch when the threads let go. Puller attempts 1 and 2 were done under the mower because "it should be a quick job".

Puller attempt number 3 included 2x2x.250 welded to the hub with a 12T bottle jack pushing on a piece of 4" C channel. Predictably the C channel bent.

[KevinF]

The C channel was beefed up with a piece of half inch plate. I was very much wishing I had a bigger ram for my porta power so I could have been around the corner when this was going on. I loaded it up with almost everything I had on the jack handle and heated the hub and hit it with the air hammer simultaneously and it still wasn't moving.

As a last ditch effort before going for a bigger jack. I decided to put one foot on the bottom of the mower deck and pull until something gave way. I figured it would be the jack seals or jack handle. When it popped, the whole mess flew 4 ft from the mower (I stayed up but I was 15 feet back by the time I got my feet under me).

My dad was over at the time fooling around with his truck at the front of the shop. When I caught my breath I went over asked if he heard a loud bang. He said no. I said wow it sounded like a gunshot when the hub came loose. He says, "Well I did hear that, I thought you got frustrated and went to shoot at something instead."

So I extracted the broken bolt but the one bore was really egg shaped, which is probably why the bolt broke in the first place. Welded and bored the hole. Will build up the pin and turn it down, and make new plates that retain the pin because they don't have much meat left either.

[Ironman]

Originally Posted by KevinF

As a last ditch effort before going for a bigger jack. I decided to put one foot on the bottom of the mower deck and pull until something gave way. I figured it would be the jack seals or jack handle. When it popped, the whole mess flew 4 ft from the mower (I stayed up but I was 15 feet back by the time I got my feet under me).

You're lucky that you are a young guy.
I would have landed on my head or in the hospital. I think the re-assembly calls for a jar of coppercoat anti-sieze.

That is a sweet little tractor. I have a 4ft mower and 22hp Kubota and it seems to do well up to 1" brush and waist high weeds.

[PeterH]

How wide is the mower you bought? I have a 40 HP New Holland Boomer series tractor and I used to run a Woods 4ft. brush hog with no problems. If the mower you bought is a little too big for your tractor, you can always raise it up with the 3 point hitch to lessen the cut and just make two passes over the work area. As long as it doesn't create a radical angle on the PTO shaft. I used to do that with mine and on heavy brush, it helped allot.

[KevinF]

Its a Farm King 720, 7ft cut. Rated 45-75 hp

It more mower than this tractor has much business operating but it was a price such that I would triple my money if I fixed it and sold it. I got it together yesterday and tried it out. In 4th gear low range, which is slower than 1st gear high range, I could tell the tractor was working cutting in my pasture, but wasn't bogging it. It would be a different story in thicker grass, but our land isn't really crazy productive.

So this seems like a win. Around $4100 into the setup.

[milomilo]

Originally Posted by KevinF

Its a Farm King 720, 7ft cut. Rated 45-75 hp

It more mower than this tractor has much business operating but it was a price such that I would triple my money if I fixed it and sold it. I got it together yesterday and tried it out. In 4th gear low range, which is slower than 1st gear high range, I could tell the tractor was working cutting in my pasture, but wasn't bogging it. It would be a different story in thicker grass, but our land isn't really crazy productive.

So this seems like a win. Around $4100 into the setup.

Looks like a steal to me.

[jimkinney]

Originally Posted by KevinF

Puller attempt number 3 included 2x2x.250 welded to the hub with a 12T bottle jack pushing on a piece of 4" C channel. Predictably the C channel bent.

Good job getting it off, but next time try turning the channel over, it should bend less that way.

I'm also with Jerry, I don't move or heal fast anymore.