Howard Rotovator broken/fixed

[Hook]

I bought my Howard Rotovator in 1997 and had used it without any issues until a couple of months ago. While landscaping a spot in my back yard I went over a white oak stump that I had paid to have ground. I didn't know that under all those grindings was a portion of the stump that the grinder missed. When I hit it the feedback was immediate. It twisted the spline off the rotor shaft. The rotor shaft is the shaft that all the cutters are attached too. I let it sit for a couple of months before I began searching for a replacement rotor. I did not expect to find parts since the implement is out of production. However, I found two suppliers and priced a replacement rotor. The cost was between $975-$1000+ without shipping. The rotovator cost about $1400 when it was new so I began to look for alternatives. I discovered we have a machinist in town so I took the entire rotor shaft with cutters still attached to his machine shop and asked if he could fix it and if so what would it cost. I talked to him the next day and he said he could fix it for $400-$500. I gave him the go ahead. He built a new spline with a collar on it to fit over the existing shaft and charged me $382. I put it back together yesterday. Before I try it out I am going to check or replace the slip clutch as it didn't slip! I never worked on a slip clutch so any suggestions are appreciated. I've attached the before and after pictures. The machinist did a nice job.

 

[skeets]

Good deal! It is amazing what a man that knows how to use his tools can do, and you kept your money at home where it belongs not someplace else

 

[Hook]

It is amazing as you say. I was also impressed with his idea on how to fix it where it would still be true and not out of round. I'm glad to know he is only 15 minutes away.