Bush Hog Rebuild

Bringing a vintage John Deere 609 rotary cutter back to life.
PTO shaft fix - 3:24
Slip clutch carnage - 11:41
Clutch basket damage fix - 14:46
New clutch pack - 16:16
Straightening tail wheel axle - 22:23
Gear box - 31:02
Tail Wheel Races - 36:01
Testing - 43:00
Paint - 46:00

[@sk00t3r8]

Thoroughly enjoyed this video .. stumbled across it searching Bush hog rebuilds.. THANKS

[@marktolman6037]

Glad you liked it. Thanks

[@friendlybill6109]

Mark, this was an EXCELLENT how to do it video. Thanks for posting.

[@marktolman6037]

Thank you!

[@hubertrobinson8825]

You did a very good job that ford 5000 can more than handle it a 7ft cutter is more what it could do but you use what you got like you attention to details on everything you do was a nice job

[@marktolman6037]

Thanks, much appreciated

[@original4440]

I’ve had that same model John Deere brush hog for 24 years and never had a single problem with it. Best money l ever spent.

[@marktolman6037]

That's good to hear! Hopefully I can get that kind of time out of this one. Seems very well built

[@n5ifi]

Good Job and great video. It surprising to me how sketchy that tail wheel setup is on an otherwise very well built brush hog.

[@marktolman6037]

It could have been better designed, that's for sure

[@everettwilson5179]

We had a 7’ version of that JD cutter on our farm. Loved it. Well built & very heavy! Also ran the Ford 8600, 9600 & 9700 tractors. Loved them too! Good on fuel. Still have the 8600 & 9600 tractors on the farm today!

[@marktolman6037]

What a nice setup! What tractor did you use the 7' cutter on? I've been wanting a 7' or a small batwing, but I'm not sure the 5000 is enough tractor...

[@bradlondon6152]

​@marktolman6037 we ran a 15ft batwing with a 5000 along as ya had weight on the front it did good

[@05xlt]

Cool resto man. Pretty amazing that you were able to salvage that slip clutch!

[@marktolman6037]

Thanks. Definitely made me work for it!

[@brianbradshaw1566]

Did a great job bringing the brush hog back to life 👍🏻

[@marktolman6037]

Thank you!

[@livingon80]

Great use of the foot vise to get the nut off the clutch. Good stuff man!

[@marktolman6037]

Thanks!

[@aadri_rg]

I love your videos, i learn a lot of mecanics with them

[@marktolman6037]

Thank you, thanks for watching

[@fincity1964]

Good video. Thanks for making. I have a 205 gyramor that I will be rebuilding.

[@marktolman6037]

Those are cool old mowers

[@josephjoseph8342]

Well done and you kept it interesting!

[@marktolman6037]

Thank you!

[@TheMabbasi]

Great rebuild and hopefully will last for a long time

[@marktolman6037]

It's been through 2 seasons now, still working great. Thanks

[@rox6385]

Nice rebuild, well done!

[@marktolman6037]

Thanks!

[@serenityplantation7638]

Impressive 👍🏻. Came out pretty damn nice. Makes me want to refurbish things even more

[@marktolman6037]

Thank you! Alot of work, but nice to have the old iron working and looking good again

[@teamlaststall4310]

Nice job on the rebuild.

[@marktolman6037]

Thanks!

[@Whoppels]

Great video! I just recovered a 48inch Land Pride left in a backyard for a decade or more. Trying to get it back to operating condition!

[@marktolman6037]

Thanks, great find! Best of luck

[@josealvarado8964]

Beautiful good job!👍🏽🙂

[@marktolman6037]

Thank you!

[@billjones6830]

Watching him is like watching my wife work on stuff

[@marktolman6037]

Not sure what to say to that

[@lordmetal3842]

nicely done ..personaly i wouldnt have fooled with the slip clutch most of the time time there more trouble than there worth...i still use the old sheer bolt system on mine .this has inspired me refurbish my bushog..love you videos and that old ford 5000..i run a ford 3000 from 1974 and the longer the video the better .

[@marktolman6037]

Thanks. If that stuff isn't right, it drives me nuts! I had to fix it just so I could sleep at night lol. Nice tractor, love the 1000 series Fords.

[@marktolman6037]

Show off some pics when you get your bush hog done!

[@robertfly8327]

You sir are an excellent mechanic but also are an excellent refurbish specialist, I noticed the clips about going to Dad's shop to use his 20 to press, your dad taught you well in shop principles that no doubt gave you inspiration to continue in wrenching. Job well done for you and your Dad I know that he is proud of you. from a 70 yr old mechanic dad.

[@richardharris7714]

Great job my friend

[@marktolman6037]

Thanks!

[@549BR]

Very nice presentation; but will it hog? Yup. But mercy sakes, John Deering with a Ford NH. lol

[@marktolman6037]

Thanks! Haha it's a sin, I know! I'll get a green tractor some day soon...

[@3sparewashers-lg3gf]

Blue towing green. Pretty representative dynamic IMO. ;)

[@antonhuman8446]

Well done. Real well. A slow revving bearing can be a bit tight.

[@marktolman6037]

Thanks

[@garybrady9531]

got it repaired and looking good enough to take it to town

[@marktolman6037]

Thanks, I'll have to take it for a lap through town before I start using it

[@hall28630]

Thanks for the trick with the vise-grips pretty niffty.

[@marktolman6037]

Thanks, good trick to pull out once in a while

[@MikeOrazzi]

Nice project.

[@marktolman6037]

Thanks

[@ericlakota1847]

Wow obove and beyond on a brush hog that gets beat to hell any way

[@marktolman6037]

I agree. It doesnt get too beat up with me using it, I'm pretty easy on it for the most part. Gets stored inside. It still looks great after 2 mowing seasons.

[@philliphall5198]

It doesn’t take much to take care of stuff and protect it with just old peace’s of sheet metal and rope or weights She’ll work again 😊

[@marktolman6037]

Very true. Thanks

[@adnacraigo6590]

Nice job.

[@marktolman6037]

Thanks

[@pauldulworth2768]

My dad had a 1973 Ford 3500 and a 5’ shredder. Now I know why he was absolutely religious about greasing everything and checking the gearbox fluid on that shredder.

[@marktolman6037]

Grease is cheaper than steel

[@KKRTGhost57]

had to rewind and make sure my eyes didn't deceive me on the 6.5 engine cover

[@marktolman6037]

Yes, you are seeing just fine! Not many people will recognize that...

[@eduardooberto408]

Excelent. Thanks ...

[@larryhearell9580]

like the chain top link. I tell people about that and they look at me like I'm crazy.

[@marktolman6037]

It does in a pinch! I've mowed alot of acres that way, still havent gotten a proper top link...

[@larryhearell9580]

@@marktolman6037 don't need 1 all they do is tear up the hog frame.

[@marktolman6037]

@@larryhearell9580 yeah I probably wont get one haha

[@PoteauCowboy]

Good Skills...

[@marktolman6037]

Thanks

[@chrisperdue5109]

Grease is cheaper than steal

[@marktolman6037]

Words of wisdom

[@martingale7760]

Good video, ì think a quick repaint of green wouldn't go a miss 😉 then it will last years

[@marktolman6037]

Thanks! In the last scene I did show painting it up nice, hopefully it will look good for a while

[@martingale7760]

@@marktolman6037 yes you did mark, unfortunately I had to cut the video short as I had a works call, I never saw the end until now, i made a comment when I left for work, the Bush cutter looks great now, 👍 enjoy

[@marktolman6037]

@@martingale7760 No worries! Thanks, it's been a good mower so far! I have already mowed for a season since publishing the video. Check out my mowing video... kzbin.info/www/bejne/d4C4Y6V3mJZ8ock

[@martingale7760]

@@marktolman6037 I love watching old machines working, back in the day ( 1972) when I was 17 years old and just left education I trained as an agricultural engineer, then worked on a 2000 acre organic farm, with horses, stears, sheep, for 14years, ( Ford plus New Holland ) check out a book called Rushall The story of an Organic Farm, By Barry Wookey my Boss , My love of framing and old machines working.

[@marktolman6037]

@@martingale7760 that sounds like a really cool experience to be able to live through. Agriculture is always interesting to learn about. Plus all the machines you get to be around.

[@twaggs6523]

Very nice work sir! Did you seal that top plate on the gearbox with either a gasket or silicone?

[@marktolman6037]

Thank you! Yes, I used ultra black permatex. Seems to do the trick just fine.

[@jeffross8716]

I did the same thing,paid 300 for it sitting in the woods, completely redone for about 400 include paint and decals, worth about 4k now

[@jeffross8716]

As I was getting blades they show those cutter also running 4 blades like a chopper for corn stalks I guess I know it doesn't slack up on 3in pines,cuts and chops up

[@marktolman6037]

@@jeffross8716 that would definitely be something cool to see. Love these bush hogs

[@ericlakota1847]

I've got same cutter on my 5600 no problem I pit 1000$ worth of weights on my front

[@marktolman6037]

Nice, the weight out front must make a difference

[@thomasthompson953]

Great video, I just got a 709 and have to do a lot of the same things. 1 question is what is the issue of the operators manual that you have? The serial number tag is missing from my 709 but it has the same clutch as yours.

[@marktolman6037]

Thanks! Operators manual- John Deere # OMW37995 c7 Technical manual - John Deere # TM1384 (01may87)

[@thomasthompson953]

Thanks!

[@brucebonkowski9568]

I think you need to bring in the driveshaft inside and make a plastic bag to seal it from the elements also I put anti seize on those grease. Fitting s

[@marktolman6037]

Yes that's a good idea! Luckily where the tractor sleeps now is under cover! Enough room for the bush hog on back

[@sergiongonzalez602]

Very god

[@jdehaan001]

Riveting video!

[@marktolman6037]

Many thanks

[@brucebonkowski9568]

Hey mark is that dip stick a pipe thread if so get a pvc square plug drill a hole put a rod through and finger tight

[@marktolman6037]

Yes it is pipe taper. That's a much better idea than spending what John Deere wants for the dip stick!

[@InfiniteCraftsman]

27:26 I thought universal joints need to be different vs the same. Maybe that’s just for vehicles?

[@brucebonkowski9568]

Where did you get the great cover what happened to the cover ????

[@marktolman6037]

Are you referring to the 6.5 GM diesel engine cover?

[@brucebonkowski9568]

Hey mark what that open hole on the deck top ?

[@dhj1825]

Access to the nuts that hold the blades on the stump jumper.

[@marktolman6037]

Yes

[@daleolson3506]

How can anyone leave an expensive piece of equipment out in the elements to rot?

[@marktolman6037]

Not sure, but it happens much too often!

[@schmatzek1]

Der Bart wirkt wie ein Fremdkörper😂

[@ThatWannabeMinnesotaFarmer]

my uncle has a mx 6 jd brush hog my dad used his 860 ford, and it brush hog just fine he tried his 8n wouldn't even lift it

[@marktolman6037]

Haha that's alot of weight!

[@ThatWannabeMinnesotaFarmer]

@marktolman6037 the 860 front end will bounce up and down when you let the clutch out and have the brushog raised up

[@marktolman6037]

@@ThatWannabeMinnesotaFarmer have to be careful going up hills and slopes

[@ThatWannabeMinnesotaFarmer]

@@marktolman6037 yep

[@genegreear4183]

What did the blades look like?

[@marktolman6037]

Almost new, prior owners must have changed them and stopped using it.

[@williammatzek4660]

Is that 606 model or a 616 model?

[@marktolman6037]

609

[@davidegan3280]

one of the tools you are using is not called a torch, the proper name is "gas axe"

[@marktolman6037]

🤣 haha my apologies

[@brucebonkowski9568]

Why not sharpen the blades

[@marktolman6037]

Luckily, blades were new when I got the cutter! Just covered in a layer or thin rust. They came right to the front the first time I used the mower.

[@carrollsanders9376]

Question why not just boil the shaft in water and vinegar and eat all the rust off over night, Instead of doing it the hard way?

[@marktolman6037]

Vinegar and water is a good household solution to remove light surface rust, but not so much for severe rust, galling and corrosion. There are certain acid baths and electric processes used to remove heavy penetrating rust, but I found it's easier and quicker to use heat and force. Heat actually allows the external metal to expand, allowing for separation. I have freed many a stuck part that way, like rusted tow hitches in receivers, nuts and bolts, leaf springs shackle bolts, tools, etc.

[@carrollsanders9376]

@@marktolman6037 It depends on the concentration of acidic acid in vinegar and the temperature of the bath, I also use Torches. But you have to be careful with universal joint bearings.

[@marktolman6037]

@@carrollsanders9376 U joints are quite resilient, I've heated dozens of joints in driveshaft, steering columns, pto shafts, CV shafts, etc. Just remove the grease fitting to allow grease to not pressurize. Sometimes that's the only realistic option to persuade stubborn pats to seperate.

[@carrollsanders9376]

@@marktolman6037 I have bigger torches airco pro, than you, I have heated Joints to the point that the fractured the need bearings in the joints, I have always found it's often best to use the more gentile methods. The greese fiting doesn't matter when the needle bearings are ruined by the heat. One way to do it and save the needle bearing is to place the Ujoint in water when heating the shaft.

[@marktolman6037]

@@carrollsanders9376 Nice. It could be you are using too much heat than necessary. I've never fractured a needle bearing...and can reuse a joint after being heated...but usually the only time I'm heating a u joint to the point of fracturing, I'm replacing anyways...

[@CraigHeinrichs]

grow up and pay for your parts, you think they should give them to you.

[@marktolman6037]

I did pay for them, that's how I got them... I figured people would like to see the cost of rebuilding something like this. Not everyone has tons of money to spend.