Anyone own a Woods Brushbull?

Does anyone here own a Woods Brushbull rotary cutter? I'm having a problem getting the shaft on. I have tried everything. The ring has been pulled back, pushed forward, whatever. It will not go on past the 3/4" to an 1" until it gets to the 3 steel balls and it will not let them depress and let the shaft slide on further. I have read about it on line, doesn't seem like there is anything else I can try. I have used brush cutters before. Most had a push button design and were very simple. This is a pain in the azz system if you ask me. Bought it second hand but it is only a year old. Can they become that ceased up? UGH!

 

I don't but this sounds like a PTO shaft style mate. The shafts I have are keyed such that one end of the triangle is flat. Line up the flats and slide her home.

??

 

It slides on easy, but will only go on about 3/4 of an inch. Maybe an inch. Just seems like it will not get past the locking balls. I have turned it and tried it on different slots. UGH!

 

Its possible it could be seized. Have you tried any spray lube? Maybe try a screwdriver to see if you can move them.

 

Lube and get the balls moving freely. You might need to motivate them with a hammer.

 

I bought a new tractor (New Holland) and a new Brush Bull last year and the shaft just slides on with very little effort. Not sure what the problem is, but it should just slide on. Do have any farmer friends?

 

I have tried all that. Sprayed them with Liquid Wrench, let it set, yada yada yada. Used a screw driver, the balls turn with my finger.

 

Yes. It seems like the ring that is suppose to "free" them or allow them to depress in isn't working. I don't have a clue. Been one of those days. Beautiful out, all kinds of things I wanted to do. Got nothing done.

 

Not much info in the owners manual.....

 

Is the shaft clean? Can you see the balls when the collar is retracted?

 

Nope. Read that earlier today.

 

Yes. Yes.

Cleaned the shaft with wire brush, put liquid wrench on it. Balls move with my finger. Roll that is. Do not depress.

 

I do have a cold Molson Canadian in my hand.

 

I'm guessing you've tried taping it with a hammer while pushing it on and pulling back on the collar then? Always has worked for me.

 

Yup. Didn't work.

 

It will go if you keep working with it. Balls get rusty and don't want to slide back up into housing. Sometimes you don't want to pull ring back tight. Seems like each one is a little different. One thing that can happen when shaft bottoms out or is not kept greased where it slides together and balls will peen the groove on tractor shaft. You cannot tell by looking at it but can make it impossible to get newer tight coupler on. Hand grinder will take care of that issue real quick. Have had that happen with a big rotary mower.

 

What do you mean by peen? Cause a knurl/burr or unevenness?

 

Oh. Did I tell you I got nothing done today? That was because I spent two hours and then another 1/2 hour "working with it" and have still not had any luck. I thought spraying the entire inside of the thing with liquid wrench and letting it set, twice would help loosen them up. But it still will not go on. I wonder if they can go bad? I just bought it from a tractor dealer who sells these Woods rotary cutters. They advertised it as being in excellent condition, 1 year old. It sure does seem like it is in good shape. But hard to tell when you can't even get the (*(#$ing rotten _*(_$@& on the PTO shaft!

 

Probably has a bunch of crud in it. Can you post a pic? You might have to disassemble the collar. Or pull the shaft off the hog and take it back and make them fix it.

 

If the shaft cannot slide because it does not have enough grease when running with torque on it or if you drop in a ditch and back of mower raises up causing shaft to contract to its limit then balls and pto shaft are weakest point. With enough pressure it will swell pto shaft at the point where the balls contact the edges of the groove they ride in when locked in place. Makes it difficult to get shaft on and off. Unfortunately I learned this from first hand experience.