Brush cutter rebuild or replace

[john in la]

Well after years of 60" of rain pounding my Bushhog Brush cutter the deck is giving out.

Kind of on the fence on what to do.
Replace or rebuild???????

Leaning hard toward rebuilding my unit because I figure a new 5' 40 to 45 HP cutter would set me back 1000+ dollars.

So what thickness of plate should I be looking for??
Any idea on what a 4x8 sheet of it would cost???

Thanks

 

[old]

You would want at least 3/16 and last time I checked it will cost you over $300 for a 4X8 unless its gone down or is cheaper in your area
Hobby farm

 

[dieselpup]

I would rebuild if your gearbox and driveline are still good and you like a project. I'm in the process of rebuilding a 1508 Deere "batwing" cutter. You could see straight through the center deck. For metal thickness I just looked up the spec on a new medium duty cutter and went one gauge heavier. I used 10ga. Could've gone heavier but didn't want too much weight (pretty steep here) and still have some $$ left for new hoses. It is for clipping pasture, not crushing rocks - though I'm sure it will do some of that too.

 

[hay]

i have the same proble as you, johninla. my 5" bushhog deck is almost complety rotted out. just too many years of hard work and sitting out in the weather. the cost of sheet steel is expensive and the cost of bracing and welding rods, etc is almost too much to justify me rebuilding it. a new 5" bushhog brand is almost $1,000. i really gotta think on this one. the nearest place to get sheet steel is the big city (houston) and i hate going there with the cost of fuel and the traffic.

 

[Anonymous-0]

If you can do your own work, and all you're gonna need to buy is steel, I'd fix up the old one. Used steel sells for half of new. I'm a scrounger. Rarely do I have to buy steel.

Glenn F.

 

[NawlensGator]

This was a 1980 woods RM 500 I bought new and the deck rusted out after 10 yrs. Replaced the deck with 3/16 StSteel, reinforced at the spindles, galvanized the gear box, and spaced the spindles to give a 6 ft cut (now use RM 600 blades) and bolting. This one is now 17 yrs since the rebuild. No rust, never painted, best $$ I ever spent.

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[NawlensGator]

Meant to say 3/16 in thick 304 StSteel. The spindle covers however are thin 316 StSteel. Rebuild cost less than a new one and will last forever.

 

[Lanse]

a place where i work has a bushhog patched with a peice of plywood that doesnt even cover the entire hole. Lucky me, they do mowing by themselves