Aftermarket Brush Hog stone guard?

[DJG]

Hi Guys:

I've been searching the web without success for an aftermarket stone guard for the "free" brush hog given to me by my neighbor.

It's a 5' "New Idea" model brush hog that's been sitting in his backyard for 20+ years. As you can imagine, his wife is delighted to see it go.

The PTO shaft is unique, frozen with rust and the PTO connection is shot, but another other neighbor will weld up a replacement to fit since New Idea doesn't make this type of PTO shaft anymore.

To my amazement, the gearbox sounds fine (still filled with oil) and everything spins easily.

It was highly recommended that I get an aftermarket stone guard to protect the shaft from catching on a rock or stump and destroying the gearbox.

Anyone have a good site to find one of these or any other advice?

Thanks for your help in advance.

 

[GWD]

Are you looking for a "stump jumper"? A large oval piece of metal that goes under the cowling, is attached to the vertical gearbox shaft, and allows the cutter to slide over the top of stumps, etc.?

If so, it is usually integrated with the blade mount. There may be entire units that will fit onto the existing gearbox shaft but it would take more research. Agco may be able to answer your question since they apparently now own New Idea.

If you find one it may be just as expensive as a new gearbox would be if the present one is destroyed in the future. New Idea made heavy duty machines so the gearbox is likely stout enough to take a few hits.

But given the price and age you might as well use it as is and just be careful to clear or avoid stumps and boulders.

Your welding neighbor may be able to fab something up that will work to a point. But at high rotational speeds it would really have to be carefully engineered and well thought out.

 

[DJG]

Thanks, GWD.

A "stump jumper" is exactly what I'm looking for. I'll call AGRI on Monday and see what they've got. If it looks like it's too expensive to buy and have retrofitted, I'll take your other suggestion and just run it and now worry too much about the gear box. Most of the areas I'll be cutting are old farmer's field now abandoned.

Unless some rocks have worked their way up (which I imagine happens more when ground is worked than when it's fallow), I shouldn't have many problems.

Thanks again.

David

 

[DJG]

PS - After you gave me the right term, I round plenty of stump jumpers on eBay from $115 to $350. One of them should fit the bill.
Thanks again.