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Brush Cutter leaking oil around the cutting blade

Kubota_90_2

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Joined
May 25, 2018
Messages
19
Location
Collinsville
I have a brush cutter for my skid steer and it is leaking oil around the blade (not the hydraulic motor). It has a site glass and port to put oil in , the vendor said it takes hydraulic oil, it is leaking as fast as I put it in. I have ordered a new oil seal for it. Any ideas on the best way to do this. I thought about putting thicker oil in it, any thoughts on this also.

Thanks
 

seville009

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Apr 5, 2008
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220
Location
CNY
If there’s no hydraulic lines going into it, normally I’d think it would take something like 90 weight gear oil in there.

Look up the manual for it online; should give you all of the proper information
 

Ronsii

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Jun 26, 2011
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It probably got a bunch of grass/twine/wire wrapped around the shaft at one time and this will destroy the seal.

It would certainly help to know the make and model of this mysterious cutter we are talking about but without that bit of knowledge the general steps to follow will be remove the blades and arbor or disc they are mounted on... if this is a rotary unit??? if it is a helical unit then things are a bit different but still not that complicated :) most of the rotary units have a tapered shaft with a keyway and sometime it will be stuck on there pretty good! you will need a puller , some heat and probably a big hammer ;) once that's off you should be able to yank the old seal and drive a new one in... Done!!! well after you put the blades back on.
 

Kubota_90_2

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May 25, 2018
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Location
Collinsville
I didn't get a book with it, on the receipt is says "Brush Cutter -N-92" BC92 3 Blade".
it has a Eaton hydraulic motor that drives the blade. I need to contact the vendor for a parts break down.
 

willie59

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Agree with Ronsii. Most likely cutting debris has trashed the lower seal in the unit, only way to fix it is tear it down and replace the seal.
 

Ronsii

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Oh.... and depending on how much it was used with the oil leaked out the bearings in the gearbox may be shot.... sometimes it's quicker/cheaper just get a whole new gearbox... if it's one of the popular ones aftermarket gearboxes are pretty cheap. :)
 

catman13

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Aug 22, 2011
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oregon usa
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a bearing house or Napa should be able to get the seal, I would run 90 weight oil in it
 

DIYDAVE

Senior Member
Joined
Feb 18, 2007
Messages
2,410
Location
MD
If its just the gearbox seal, and the unit has not been operated, with a leak, I'd drill a hole halfway between the bearings, thread in a zirk fitting, and fill the lower end with cornhead (thixotropic) grease. Have done it many times on farm bush hogs, whose lower seals get eaten up by barb wire wrapping. Once you have the leak plugged, refill the top end with whatever oil mfr recommends.;)
 

Willie B

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Jan 2, 2016
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Mount Tabor VT
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I've seen a variety of farm machines that suffer from inhospitable conditions where corn head grease is the cure. Bush hog gearboxes are notorious for seal destruction, often it roughs up the shaft the seal rides on. Most have tapered roller bearings that need to be adjusted, maybe replaced. I also use it in winches on my POWER WAGON. It turns to liquid when agitated, near solid at rest.
John Deer sells it.
 

JD8875

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Apr 8, 2010
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314
Location
Harrisonville, Missouri
Might not be the best way but every brush cutter/rotary mower we have on the farm is now running gun grease in the gearbox... they all started out with 90wt originally but soon as they start leaking they get filled with grease.

John
 

Kubota_90_2

Member
Joined
May 25, 2018
Messages
19
Location
Collinsville
I did have some wire wrapped around it. I think I will try the grease in the bottom and then the oil on top.
Thank you all for the advice.
 

Willie B

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Jan 2, 2016
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Mount Tabor VT
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My expression (I'm sure I stole it) is: "If it doesn't leak, it's empty"
One summer I was astounded my Bush Hog 105 had no puddle under it! I didn't understand! Then I realized all three seals on the output shaft were ripped by barbed wire.

The 105 was first built with a thick single seal on that shaft. Later, that part number was superseded by a quantity of three thin seals. Mine gets used hard!

Factory specs are 140 weight in the gearbox on a PTO Bush Hog. Yours may not even have a gearbox if it is direct drive from a hydraulic motor.
 
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