Looking for replacement tailwheel

[jakesnake66]

I have an old bush hog - manufacturer/model undetermined. The original tail wheel has broken. I'm having a hard time finding a replacement, esp for the wheel fork. Where might I look? Thank you. Jake

 

[mtf]

I have bought just the wheel from agri-supply. Your fork looks ok.

 

[Janicholson]

I have an old bush hog - manufacturer/model undetermined. The original tail wheel has broken. I'm having a hard time finding a replacement, esp for the wheel fork. Where might I look? Thank you. Jake View attachment 72128

Hub assembly
You need a hub for that good wheel. The pivot shaft needs to be replaced, as well, a weld shop can fix it as good as new. the mount will need new bushings, so plan on that as well. Jim

 

[rustred]

I have an old bush hog - manufacturer/model undetermined. The original tail wheel has broken. I'm having a hard time finding a replacement, esp for the wheel fork. Where might I look? Thank you. Jake View attachment 72128

Go find an old combine pickup and use one of the front wheels. Basically the same deal as u have but it will have air in the tire.

 

[jakesnake66]

Thanks guys. Here's another pic:

 

[wore out]

Repairing that hub would be "all in a day's work" at many welding and other shops in farm country. If you're nearby to north central ND I'd gladly do it for you.

There's a potential issue, though, that the steel band that holds the belted rubber segments together around the "rim" may be ready to break from age and rust about the time it would be put back to use.

 

[jakesnake66]

Repairing that hub would be "all in a day's work" at many welding and other shops in farm country. If you're nearby to north central ND I'd gladly do it for you.

There's a potential issue, though, that the steel band that holds the belted rubber segments together around the "rim" may be ready to break from age and rust about the time it would be put back to use.

Thank you for that generous offer, but I'm in Mississippi. Can I re-use the wheel fork and replace the axle and wheel? At this point I really don't care about cost. I just absolutely have to get my field cut in the next week or so. Thanks again for your input. Jake

 

[Janicholson]

Thank you for that generous offer, but I'm in Mississippi. Can I re-use the wheel fork and replace the axle and wheel? At this point I really don't care about cost. I just absolutely have to get my field cut in the next week or so. Thanks again for your input. Jake

The key issue is that there is no broken wheel, it is a broken hub on a good wheel. I gave you a link to the replacement part (hub) that fixes it. The fork is the reason the hub failed. The pivot and the bushing it goes through are worn from lack of lube and age such that the wheel flopps back and forth as the mower moves. far more radically and destructively because of the looseness of the pivot. You can buy whole assemblies for $450. just search for Bush Hog tail Wheel assemblies. I found tons of them. With expedited shipping they could be there in a few days. Your mower still needs bushings replaced in the wheel support to accommodate new grease and the new pivot shaft.
We make every attempt to reduce the tossing of good parts. If the reality is demand to mow, buy a new mower today and get on with it. Selling the old one might get a few dollars back broken. With encouragement Jim

 

[1948CaseVAI]

Tractor supply used to have those wheels and assembly.

 

[DoubleO7]

You can buy whole assemblies for $450.

$450?
For a tail wheel and fork assembly?

 

[BarnyardEngineering]

I have an old bush hog - manufacturer/model undetermined. The original tail wheel has broken. I'm having a hard time finding a replacement, esp for the wheel fork. Where might I look? Thank you. Jake View attachment 72128

All I did was google "rotary cutter tail wheel" and got lots of reasonably priced options of all sizes. Just need to match up what you have with what's available as close as you can. AgriSupply, Ebay are two of the main results.

 

[jakesnake66]

The key issue is that there is no broken wheel, it is a broken hub on a good wheel. I gave you a link to the replacement part (hub) that fixes it. The fork is the reason the hub failed. The pivot and the bushing it goes through are worn from lack of lube and age such that the wheel flopps back and forth as the mower moves. far more radically and destructively because of the looseness of the pivot. You can buy whole assemblies for $450. just search for Bush Hog tail Wheel assemblies. I found tons of them. With expedited shipping they could be there in a few days. Your mower still needs bushings replaced in the wheel support to accommodate new grease and the new pivot shaft.
We make every attempt to reduce the tossing of good parts. If the reality is demand to mow, buy a new mower today and get on with it. Selling the old one might get a few dollars back broken. With encouragement Jim

I apologize. I overlooked the link. Yes, I'm in a hurry to cut, but not so much that it would make sense to buy a mower. I'm going to attempt to salvage what I have and replace what must be replaced. This is all my late father's stuff. Every implement is very old, used behind a 1966 Ford 3000 diesel. Dad never did maintain very well. In fact I'm impressed that he got so many years out of all this equipment. I'm going to try to disassemble the wheel/hub tomorrow, and I'll report back. I'm not a total novice with this kind of machinery, but my stuff is much newer and so far has never required this kind of intervention. Thanks again. Jake

 

[PJH]

I have an old bush hog - manufacturer/model undetermined. The original tail wheel has broken. I'm having a hard time finding a replacement, esp for the wheel fork. Where might I look? Thank you. Jake View attachment 72128

This doesn't address your damaged hub although it looks like the hub would be easy to fix. Here's pictures of a tail wheel assembly repair that I made on my son's mower. The main components consist of a scrap '68 Ford pickup front hub and spindle and a few other common scrap materials that are on every farm. There's no slop in that tailwheel.

 

[jakesnake66]

Thank you. That's good looking work using "common scrap materials," lol. I've got at least one other mower down there - perhaps two. I'm sure I can put something together using parts from those.

 

[37chief]

Thanks guys. Here's another pic:
View attachment 72161

That is a good use for old tires. stan

 

[super99]

How big is the cutter? The tailwheel was/is an option, if you really need to mow as you stated, it will work fine without it. Cut it a little higher than normal and after you get it fixed mow it lower the next time. Thousands of cutters sold without a tail wheel.

 

[tom upton]

I second what super 99 says. I took mine off so I could get in tighter to the fence rows etc. Obviosly has to be a 3 point hitch unit. Just set your top link so it is somewhat level when at the desired cutting hieght.

 

[jakesnake66]

How big is the cutter? The tailwheel was/is an option, if you really need to mow as you stated, it will work fine without it. Cut it a little higher than normal and after you get it fixed mow it lower the next time. Thousands of cutters sold without a tail wheel.

I considered this. I'm very glad to know it's a viable option. Thank you.