Old John Deere bush hog

[Yooper-Al]

Was yard art at my father‘s house until Y2K, then it became mine when he passed. Hasn’t been used in 50 years or more. I think Dad traded for this; a Deere #44 plow; and a Deere post hole auger. He probably serviced a couple of windmills on the plains SE of Denver for them. Yard art.
Don’t see a model number on it, but I was going to service it for use on a bumpy 2ac pasture next our new home and had a few questions. The blades don’t seem to be abused at all, but really do not have a sharp edge, they look factory machined with perhaps a 1/16th inch radius on the “sharp” edge. They are really heavy duty. Would these have been used for a different purpose than just mowing? I can’t see how they could do a clean cut.
Second, the drive shaft has a portion that has a square shank but rusted solid, I’m thinking that the square shank should telescope into the shaft and float back and forth. Sound correct?
Thanks for any ideas about this.

 

[Yooper-Al]

Was yard art at my father‘s house until Y2K, then it became mine when he passed. Hasn’t been used in 50 years or more. I think Dad traded for this; a Deere #44 plow; and a Deere post hole auger. He probably serviced a couple of windmills on the plains SE of Denver for them. Yard art.
Don’t see a model number on it, but I was going to service it for use on a bumpy 2ac pasture next our new home and had a few questions. The blades don’t seem to be abused at all, but really do not have a sharp edge, they look factory machined with perhaps a 1/16th inch radius on the “sharp” edge. They are really heavy duty. Would these have been used for a different purpose than just mowing? I can’t see how they could do a clean cut.
Second, the drive shaft has a portion that has a square shank but rusted solid, I’m thinking that the square shank should telescope into the shaft and float back and forth. Sound correct?
Thanks for any ideas about this.View attachment 154237View attachment 154238View attachment 154239View attachment 154240View attachment 154241View attachment 154242

The system won’t let me attach a picture of the whole thing, sorry, must be too large.

 

[Jim.ME]

Using your phone? You need to reduce the size of your pictures.

Based on the tag that appears to be 3-point hitch JD 105 Gyramor Rotary cutter.

Rotary cutter blades are often not ground out sharp. It appears your cuter has the reversable blades. Look at you picture showing the end of the blade. You can see the unused edge on the left side of the blade. Unbolt it flip ti over and you have a fresh cutting edge.

Yes, the drive shaft sections need to slide freely.

That cutter can be used to cut light brush, heavy weeds, corn stalks, and other such things as well as mowing grass.

 

[Yooper-Al]

Using your phone? You need to reduce the size of your pictures.

Based on the tag that appears to be 3-point hitch JD 105 Gyramor Rotary cutter.

Rotary cutter blades are often not ground out sharp. It appears your cuter has the reversable blades. Look at you picture showing the end of the blade. You can see the unused edge on the left side of the blade. Unbolt it flip ti over and you have a fresh cutting edge.

Yes, the drive shaft sections need to slide freely.

That cutter can be used to cut light brush, heavy weeds, corn stalks, and other such things as well as mowing grass.

Oh, I thought that the left-hand edge was the current cutting edge! I’ll have to look at it again. Thanks!
I read where most everyone gets water in their old gearboxes so I’ll start there and suck out the old stuff. 90 weight, I suppose.
Thanks for the tips!

 

[Jim.ME]

Oh, I thought that the left-hand edge was the current cutting edge! I’ll have to look at it again. Thanks!
I read where most everyone gets water in their old gearboxes so I’ll start there and suck out the old stuff. 90 weight, I suppose.
Thanks for the tips!

Some people use NGLI 00 grease instead of gear oil in old gearboxes, it won't leak as quick if seals are bad. 00 grease is called corn head or spindle grease.

 

[Tx Jim]

I agree mower is a model 105 with option of 3pt hitch. I've had Corn-head lube in my JD 709 cutter for many years

 

[300guy]

I definitely would use corn head grease in the gear box especially since it has been sitting for a long time. You don't have to worry about a leaking seal this way.