bushhog blades

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Broke a blade bushhogging that I need to weld back together.Since I had them off I am going to build the edge back up on both of them. Attached ImagesMaxus Pro-125 MigChicago Electric 90 amp DC flux-coreLincoln Electric AC 225 tombstoneO/A torchM/O mini-torch10 acres of flatland15 acres of holler
Reply:You and everyone around the bush hog will be safer if you just go buy new blades!! Those blades aren't meant to be welded. You might get by and then you might not.                                  MikeOl' Stonebreaker  "Experience is the name everyone gives to their mistakes"Hobart G-213 portableMiller 175 migMiller thunderbolt ac/dc stick Victor O/A setupMakita chop saw
Reply:One word response.DON'TSyncro 250 DX Dynasty 200 DXMM 251 w/30A SG XMT 304 w/714 Feeder & Optima PulserHH187Dialarc 250 AC/DCHypertherm PM 1250Smith, Harris, Victor O/ASmith and Thermco Gas MixersAccess to a full fab shop with CNC Plasma, Water Jet, etc.
Reply:There was just another thread that went into all (or at least most) of the reasons why trying to weld a bush hog blade is a bad idea.Do a search.  Don't be stupid.Syncro 250 DX Dynasty 200 DXMM 251 w/30A SG XMT 304 w/714 Feeder & Optima PulserHH187Dialarc 250 AC/DCHypertherm PM 1250Smith, Harris, Victor O/ASmith and Thermco Gas MixersAccess to a full fab shop with CNC Plasma, Water Jet, etc.
Reply:Couldn't find the thread to link but went on for about two pages of why it's a NO NO.Maybe one of our computer savy posters can find it (may even have been on another board--Miller/Hobart).Syncro 250 DX Dynasty 200 DXMM 251 w/30A SG XMT 304 w/714 Feeder & Optima PulserHH187Dialarc 250 AC/DCHypertherm PM 1250Smith, Harris, Victor O/ASmith and Thermco Gas MixersAccess to a full fab shop with CNC Plasma, Water Jet, etc.
Reply:Those blades are very well run down (used up) and should be replaced. I always found removing the blades from the unit to be the hardest part of the job and you're already past that point so just put a new set on. Keep in mind there are probably another dozen or more fine stress cracks you can't see in those blades just waiting to snap in two. So if you put them back on you may be taking them off again in another couple uses. I lost an entire blade one time, snapped off at the bolt and went through the side of the deck. I searched for an hour and never found it, I have no idea how far it flew. Thankfully I was way out in a field and not close to any person or property when it happened. I was cutting in clean grass, no rocks, stumps etc. There must have been a stress crack around the bolt hole that finally let go. The blade set looked just like yours (minus your broken blade). So learn from my experience and put a new set on. You'll think you have twice the mower than you did before the blade broke if you replace them.
Reply:Sundown,  I think this might be the one UR looking for it is good... I found it, the last place I lookedhttp://weldingweb.com/vbb/showthread.php...light=brushhogLincoln Power MIG 215Lincoln WeldPak 3200HDLincon ProCut 25Lincoln WeldanPower 225 AC/DCIf all else fails... buy more tools
Reply:Welding a brush hog is like playing with a hand grenade with the pin pulled.
Reply:For once we all agree on something...Do NOT Fuch with it!!!New is better.For you and everyone else around you......zap!I am not completely insane..Some parts are missing Professional Driver on a closed course....Do not attempt.Just because I'm a  dumbass don't mean that you can be too.So DON'T try any of this **** l do at home.
Reply:I knew that would get everybody to agreeing on something and not just about the immigration lawMaxus Pro-125 MigChicago Electric 90 amp DC flux-coreLincoln Electric AC 225 tombstoneO/A torchM/O mini-torch10 acres of flatland15 acres of holler
Reply:PapaLion,Thanks.  That was it.  Lot of good comments on both threads.Syncro 250 DX Dynasty 200 DXMM 251 w/30A SG XMT 304 w/714 Feeder & Optima PulserHH187Dialarc 250 AC/DCHypertherm PM 1250Smith, Harris, Victor O/ASmith and Thermco Gas MixersAccess to a full fab shop with CNC Plasma, Water Jet, etc.
Reply:I stayed out of both threadsI'd be afraid to do anything to a brush hog blade.I've got an old OLD Rhino 6 footer.  Probably circa 70's.  Very stout.  Clutch protected at the gear box.But I gotta say the brush hog is one of the most dangerous pieces of equipment I own.  AND MAINLY BECAUSE OF WHAT I ASK IT TO DO.I wish I had some video ( OMG this is a serious thought, vids next )I regularly do 3"-4" Cedars, and do a lot of Persimmons.  If I can back over it, and push it down, I'll cut it.  Which is dangerous as hell.  I usually back into it with the engine wide open in the lowest gear I can grab, enough to keep the hog spinning at high rpm's.  Sounds like the thing is gonna fly apart in pieces.  WARNING TO YOU GUYS WITH OPEN TOP SMALL TRACTORS............A BRUSH HOG CAN CLIMB OVER THE TOP OF YOU WHEN DOING THIS, THERE'S NO DOWN PRESSURE ON THE 3PT, AND IF THE TOP LINK BREAKS.................................Can't tell you how many rear tires I've cut from crap spinning out from under the cutter deckI generally don't brush hog until all stuff is planted and harvested, and a major disaster won't shut me down in a bad moment.  I swear I've never done a days cutting with these things where something doesn't mess up."Any day above ground is a good day"http://www.farmersamm.com/
Reply:Samm,Ever hear of those newfangled gadgets called a Chain Saw?Bet that would be a hoot.  Watching you out in the back 40 just whopping and chopping with your bush hog.I generally use a bush hog for clearing brush, not harvesting timber for the paper mill.Syncro 250 DX Dynasty 200 DXMM 251 w/30A SG XMT 304 w/714 Feeder & Optima PulserHH187Dialarc 250 AC/DCHypertherm PM 1250Smith, Harris, Victor O/ASmith and Thermco Gas MixersAccess to a full fab shop with CNC Plasma, Water Jet, etc.
Reply:I got another bushhog to use,it is more of a finish cut bushhog,i'll fix the other one later,just going to do some trimming around the barn and stuff.I have had a blade break,come out the front of the bushhog,fly under the tractor and hit the front tire,ended up buying rim,tube and front tire on that occasion.Last edited by dugndeep; 05-23-2010 at 09:06 AM.Maxus Pro-125 MigChicago Electric 90 amp DC flux-coreLincoln Electric AC 225 tombstoneO/A torchM/O mini-torch10 acres of flatland15 acres of holler
Reply:Like samm says,you do more shredding than cutting with these thingsMaxus Pro-125 MigChicago Electric 90 amp DC flux-coreLincoln Electric AC 225 tombstoneO/A torchM/O mini-torch10 acres of flatland15 acres of holler
Reply:like everybody says - dont ever weld on a blade. regular blade maintnence is very important for mowers, most people let their blades go bad and that can lead to tearing up the gearbox and increasing vibrations from the mower. i recomend a new set of blades every 5-7 or so sharpenings depending on what your cutting, and getting them sharpenend every spring by a machine shop or the tractor shop - sharper the blade the better it cuts and less wear on the system, causing less long term damage to bearings and other internal components, plus when you have really dull blades it takes that tiny bit more fuel to cut the same amount of grass, so your spending more money on fuel.in all my experience ive found that they operate best when you can balance the blades down to around a gram. most manuals recommend about a gram between the two - now this said it can differ between gearboxes on multiple gearbox mowers. on a 2box ( a mower with 2 rear gearboxes and 4 blades) only has to be balanced per set, so one side can weigh more than the other. this will cause some slight vibration, but nothing too bad. same thing on a 3box or batwing or whatever you call it.when you run a big 15' batwing and they are all out of balance - your going to be shaken to death by the end of the day...I break things for a living...
Reply:30 years ago a relative of mine welded flat bar on the end of the blade on a Gravely walk behind tractor that had a 30" mower attachment. I guess he did this to strengthen it up. Those old Graveleys could really crank up and do some heavy mowing. The entire end of the blade broke off (about 6 inches) at the weld and shot out of the front of the mower like a bullet. Luckily it didn't hit any one. I would not advise welding on any type of mower blade.
Reply:I'll put in another no for repairing a cracked or broken blade. Though putting a tool steel edge on your blade deffinetly improves the life of it. They've been doing it at the shop I work at for years. Some of the landscapers will actually save the old blades we edged for them to put on their new mowers. Not a project for amatures though. You really have to watch your heat input, and make sure the blade is balanced when you're done resharpening it.
Reply:I think it would be okay if you lined everything in 1" AR plate and were not using it around rock or anything that could ricochet it back at you.Common sense in an uncommon degree is what the world calls wisdom.
Reply:BUY NEW.and THANK your self for doing so.
Reply:When brush hogs first come out, my uncle decided to build one...on the cheap.He aquired a rear car axle, welded up one brake drum and managed to plug the other one into the tractor pto. He welded a 12" or 18" round plate where the driveline used to be and it hung off the Farmall ,disk downward.He would connect three or four pieces of short chain to the disk and away he would go!After sending a chain through the side of my aunt's car he decided on a store bought brush hog.Following him around,I don't know how I lived through childhood.tractor,loader.dozer,backhoe,and all the tools to keep em movin