Avoid Costly Repairs! Bush Hog Rotary Cutter Prep Guide

🚜 3 Critical Areas to Service Before Using a Brush Hog | Spring Rotary Cutter Maintenance Tips!

Spring is here, the grass and weeds are growing fast, and your rotary cutter—commonly known as a brush hog or bush hog—is about to get back to work! 🌿 Before you head out into the field, make sure your equipment is up to the task. In this video, we’re covering the three main areas that MUST be serviced before using your rotary cutter. These simple maintenance checks can prevent costly repairs, improve performance, and extend the life of your equipment.

After years of experience working in a dealership, I've seen what happens when these key maintenance steps are skipped. So if you want a trouble-free mowing season, watch closely and follow along!

🛠️ 1. Grease Points – PTO Shaft & Tail Wheel
Proper greasing is absolutely essential to keeping your rotary cutter running smoothly. We'll be using a Lube Shuttle grease gun: https://asktractormike.com/products-for-sale/grease-guns-and-grease/ for this activity today, the "No Mess" solution to getting grease in every zerk!

✅ PTO Shaft Maintenance
Your power take-off (PTO) shaft has U-joints that need regular and frequent greasing. The front zerks are easy to reach. The back U-joint can be tricky—some models have grease zerks in hard-to-reach places. If needed, remove the keeper bolt and pull off the shaft to reach it more easily.

👉 Common Problem Alert:
Every spring, I get emails from folks who can't get their PTO shafts to extend. That’s usually because they were stored outside, and surface rust formed inside the shaft. In worst-case scenarios, the two halves may need to be replaced. Tip: applying outward pressure by anchoring each end to a tree and applying pressure with a come-along can sometimes help free them.

✅ Tail Wheel Greasing
Don’t forget the two grease points on the tail wheel: One where the rim spins on the axle bolt, the other one is on the yoke. Skipping these can lead to the tailwheel digging in the ground, excessive wear, and even wheel failure.

⚙️ 2. Gearbox Inspection & Oil Check
Next up: your rotary cutter gearbox. If there's one component that cost a lot of money to repair, it’s this one.

🔍 Checking Gearbox Oil
There are typically three methods to check your oil level:

A sight plug

A dipstick

A check plug (most common)

If your cutter has a check plug, oil should be just visible at the bottom of the hole. If it’s low, add slowly from the top until it just begins to trickle out.

🚨 Avoid Overfilling!
Too much oil can build excess heat, blow out seals, and lead to gearbox failure. Believe it or not, I've seen more damage from overfilling than from running slightly low.

🎨 Oil Color Check
Milky oil = water contamination. A little water isn’t a disaster, but if it’s too much, you’ll need to drain and refill. Most gearboxes don’t have a drain plug, so be prepared to suck it out from the top.

🧪 No Oil, but Still Running?
There might be grease inside instead of oil—an old farmer trick to deal with a leaky seal. It’s not ideal, but in some cases, it gets the job done.

🔩 3. Tighten All Bolts
Last but not least, go over your entire cutter deck and gearbox with a wrench and tighten any loose bolts. Rotary cutters vibrate—a lot—and bolts absolutely will back out over time. If the gearbox gets loose, the consequences can be catastrophic.

🧰 Pro Tip:
Check gearbox mounting bolts every few hours during the first few uses each season.

🎁 Bonus Tip – Check for Twine & Wire!
Before you hit the field, raise your cutter, secure it with blocks, and look above the blade pan. Is there a wad of baler twine or wire wrapped around the gearbox shaft? If so, remove it immediately—this is a common cause of gearbox seal failure.

📌 Final Thoughts
Servicing your brush hog before you use it isn’t just smart—it’s essential. Take the time to:

✅ Grease key components

✅ Check and top off gearbox oil (but don’t overfill!)

✅ Tighten all bolts

✅ Look for hidden threats like twine or wire

Doing this can save you time, money, and frustration in the long run.

👍 Like This Video?
If this video helped you out, please:
👉 LIKE
👉 SUBSCRIBE for more tractor and equipment tips
👉 COMMENT below with your maintenance tips or questions!

#BrushHogMaintenance #RotaryCutter #BushHog #FarmEquipment #PTOshaft #GearboxMaintenance #TractorTips #SpringMaintenance #LandPride #BushHogTips #FarmLife #GearboxOil #GreasingTips #UJointGrease #TailWheel #PTOmaintenance

LINKS YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT...
Tractor Mike Website/Fun Store: https://asktractormike.com/products-for-sale/
Support the Tractor Mike Channel: https://www.patreon.com/TractorMike
Amazon Affiliate Page: https://www.amazon.com/shop/tractormike

Contact us at: support@asktractormike.zohodesk.com

Copyright 2025 Tractor Mike LLC