Bush Hog

[coff52]

Bought a five foot KingKutter used bushhog yesterday. Cutter is in good shape with no leaks around the gear box. Minor surface rust on top of the deck from being outside which I am going to clean and put a coat of paint on. I think the cutter is about 5 or 6 years old not sure. Been sitting about a year and a half without use. Previous owner only cut a field of grass with it and bought another tractor that came with a bigger cutter so this one has been sitting. Should I drain and put new oil in the gear box or should it be ok. Better to ask and know before I start using it.

 

[Ultradog MN]

Bush Hog® is a registered brand name.
Your KK aint a Bush Hog.
I would check the oil level to make sure it's up to correct level but wouldn't worry about changing it.
I have had a couple of KK mowers and think they are good products.

 

[GlenIdaho]

Just to add to UD's comments. Definitely check to gear box oil. I bought a King Kutter from a guy that never used it, in fact the instruction manual was still taped to the blade. I and my buddy used it a couple of times when the gear box went out. Discovered oil had never been put in it. Surprised it lasted that long. My bad, should have checked the oil. Expensive lesson learned. Interestingly the Manual said it came with oil installed.

 

[David G]

I have a 5' KK and it is rock solid. You may want to replace the shear bolt with a slip clutch.

 

[Greg1959]

That is what I always called them. Even the 'want' ads around here call them bush hogs.

I understand you about the 'brand' name though.

It's like what do you call a...

Q-tip= cotton swab
Kleenex= tissue
Colrox= bleach

And the list goes on....

 

[Sean in PA]

Definitely check the oil before you use it, both for proper level and to see what it looks like. If it looks good, make sure it's topped off and go for it. If it's dirty or milky, drain and see if you can find where the dirt or water is getting in to it, and then fix it and replace the oil.

As for shear bolt vs. slip clutch, my Woods Rotary Mower has both. I think the designers figured that the slip clutch should protect the rest of the drive line, but if it wasn't maintained properly and failed to slip due to the improper maintenance, the shear bolt would then sacrifice itself for the cause.

 

[souNdguy]

ditto what the others said.

'stick' the sump. if it's full of oil nd the oil looks good and is not cloudy, go for it.

they are good basic cutters. i've had a kk for about 12ys now.. it's about on par with the howse regular line.. thus a light or medium duty mower.

make sure it has the proper gr2 shear pin in the driveline, grease the rear spindle and wheel huh, and the zerks on both u joints and go.

if used on a tractor with no live pto.. make sure you use an ORC for safety.. and check driveline length after adding that orc.

soundguy