Repairing The Cheapest Brush Cutter I could buy. Will it ever be reliable?? (JCT Brush Cutter)

The Saga of the auction brush cutter continues! see all the parts you missed here: • JCT Brush Cutter
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[@WatchWesWork]

It's like someone described how to make a brush cutter over the phone in English to a Chinese company and the only part they understood was "it must cost less than $300"

[@BarryTsGarage]

Also, “Blades must be easily removable”

[@911greatscott]

OR: Ship to America...they'll buy our crap.

[@livingoffgridinscotland]

@@911greatscott they send their crap to the UK 🇬🇧 too….

[@ronmimnaugh7674]

@@BarryTsGarage they confused easily with continuously

[@mzcymro]

@@livingoffgridinscotland maybe it's because it's what the UK and US importers order?

[@tractormatt4301]

When the Ritchie bros auction sticker holds up better than the company’s sticker, you know your in for a rough ride.

[@flynnlawnservices]

For sure lol

[@jacksrccars347]

🤣

[@rsprockets7846]

ha ha ha ha ha ha

[@vote4carp]

Ritchie Bros. auctions start at a minimum of $50 to cover the cost of those stickers. Hahaha

[@stephenzwemer2905]

😱😂

[@pforbom1844]

Nice mod /repair. As my dad would have said when fixing shoddy equipment . “It’s now less worse”

[@jmikronis7376]

I agree with your dad!

[@danielsexton9311]

Hey, Matt, when I was in the Navy we had all kinds of couplings on many pieces of equipment in the engineroom. We would pack the couplings with grease, which was a maintenance requirement on any equipment that had them, but we would cover the coupling with rubber sheets and wire them closed around the shafts. It prevented the grease from spinning off the coupling when rotating and because of the corrosive environment of the ocean, it also prevented rust formation by keeping the grease in place and covered. Doing that to your chain coupling would definitely help it last longer.

[@drunkdunc8738]

Don't worry It'll be 100 percent quality US made by the time you're finished🍻

[@eddiewennberg6]

US quality lmao what a joke..

[@vanlifeislife5318]

Very american. Goes to other country. Takes there stuff. Stamps flag onto it.

[@Peter_Schiavo]

I was thinking after the Jeep vidya that I've come to appreciate you jumping around and not sticking with one topic or piece of equipment at a time. Keeps things fresh.

[@kameljoe21]

Same here.

[@eyeballdude]

Yup! It’s like Christmas or a Kinder egg every time Matt uploads something 👍

[@soberholic]

must say- I wasnt a fan to start with but it has grown on me, i’m really enjoying it now

[@bc5766]

“We have the perfect spacing” Thats your one project freebie in life.

[@1unkn0wn]

lol

[@garryschuler416]

International harvester has a lot better brush arm

[@RadioactiveLobster]

Welding on a bench filled with random crap is how my dad tried to burn down our shed.

[@MOzarkMike]

My open front brush cutter throws things out hard enough to ricochet back and chip the 3/4 inch polycarbonate forestry door. You are brave!

[@BobPegram]

Uh Matt, have you experienced ricochets? Maybe using this brush cutter with less hydraulic flow is saving your body! I watched the Goonzquad boys when they got a skidsteer with a brush cutter. The front "window" was really see through armoring!

[@markuschampos5750]

It goes fine until it stops going at all.

[@robj2704]

Maybe welding some shortened lengths of chain on there will slow down whatever comes out the front.

[@farmbilt]

He not brave "he is ignorant" that thing will kill you without a door!!

[@Clarkejt112]

I second this. I was using a brush hog on an a770 and a branch went through the glass door. The forestry package was ordered the next day. The poly door is like an inch thick

[@freetolook3727]

@12:15 Now that you beefed up the coupling, something else will break.

[@Northtide]

@@mmm365 I'm hoping for a up date on Mrs. Matt's CJ-5 or Christine. Oh! The CJ's ownership question hasn't been settled yet? Oh well maybe a few more days before the final announcement. Been there, done that. Restored 1965 Alpha Romero Julietta Spider. Oh well I was too big for fast Italian sports cars any way.

[@BobPegram]

@@Northtide You did that and don't remember that it's an "Alfa Romeo Giulietta Spyder"? You misspelled every word of the name. Yes "Gi" is how Italians spell "J".

[@patracy]

And no safety guard over the coupling now.....

[@nmccw3245]

Something will always be the weakest link (shear pin). Better it be something cheap and easy to replace.

[@lucasojea1]

Today we played Diesel Creek with my four years old. We pretended to find a diesel engine in the woods, we took it apart and rebuilt it. I hope it’ll be a good memory for him, as it’ll be to me. Cheers Matt

[@dwitcraft]

Matt, once you're satisfied everything is lined up, you should really brace the back of the hydraulic motor. They vibrate a bit of their own volition, and sitting on top of that vibration table is just amplifying the problem. Eventually the mounting bracket will fatigue or the pump case will crack. An ounce of prevention......

[@samvalentine3206]

Yes, there were threaded holes on the motor up around where the hydraulic lines connect. It should be easy to concoct some angle iron channel stock to somehow use those threaded bolt holes and weld in some more cage or something to strengthen it up some more.

[@Sigmaskibidirizzlerohio]

the reason i love yours and andrew's channel is if you see a flaw in a design you take the effort to improve on it

[@baronallison941]

And when you and Andrew are mentioned in the same sentence...that's when you know you've made it.

[@The333Wanderer]

Chinesium: the only item barred from the periodic table of elements.

[@dondalrymple5794]

Also Thaitanium.

[@donwatson8257]

Somewhere between lead and silly putty

[@The333Wanderer]

@@donwatson8257 hilarious.

[@gacherumburu9958]

😂😁

[@BeBopScraBoo]

the problem is it bounces around the table and it's never in the same place twice.

[@ste-bow771]

Next episode-how to replace the gearbox on the cheapest brush cutter.

[@1unkn0wn]

"Now made with actual metal!"

[@justinjones1850]

The fact that it happens means you jinxed it.

[@Nebbia_affaraccimiei]

called it lol

[@teedawg2112]

This is the main difference between being frugal and being cheap : you get what you pay for when you’re cheap - you get the best value when you’re frugal

[@brentfarvors192]

Not at all! The price of something does NOT guarantee a products reliability.

[@matthewspindler2665]

Tee dawg matt may not always buy the most reliable equipment but if you follow his channel real thoroughly nearly everything he owns runs pretty darn good and hes more than on top of prioritizing replacing and repairing what needs it lol

[@leeholland7389]

Put the cover bk on that chain n sprocket before you lose a foot or worse Matt

[@TheJstewart2010]

That was really clever to adapt the two halves of the old coupling into a chain coupling. I'm going to file that one away. Nice work!

[@freetolook3727]

"Blades fly off" should be a clue that it needs work or stay the hell away from it.

[@Acoustic_Theory]

I need to write that on my lawn mower so people don't mess with it

[@georgedavidson7986]

@@Acoustic_Theory My ex wife worked asan operating nurse. And there was a lot of people seriously hurt with lawn mowers Flying stones sticks ect. Dangerous

[@Klajnepojken]

Almost like it was Matt himself that wrote on it. :p

[@313soldier313]

He’s the one that wrote that on there after…..you guessed it the blades flew off lol.

[@alantasker3286]

​@sheriff Al. I'd definitely recommend add some dangling chains to the front to slow-down any trash flying out the front.

[@terryezzell7376]

The old saying is true, there is a solution to most every problem, you just have to think a little harder, explore options, and think out of the box. As always, Matt you continue to amaze and inspire me

[@jamesfrye9832]

Nice design repair Matt, improving equipment while repairing is truly a "Lost Art".

[@sandrocksgarage1970]

Diesel creek and twin sticks in the same day. Cant get any better

[@jeepindave5464]

I swear theres a lot of people who are subscribed to the same channels as me 😄

[@johnwilliams4545]

Twin Sticks was a good one too 👍

[@sandrocksgarage1970]

@@johnwilliams4545 true that

[@sandrocksgarage1970]

@@guy72277 no prob, twin stick has a lot of great content

[@johnwilliams4545]

@@guy72277 try Ezrider359 if you liked the Twin Sticks

[@joemascioni3101]

On my "chinesium" cutter, I took the shaft from the hydro motor and replaced it with a different hydro motor...lol. I used the same kind of double roller coupler tho. I also added some 5" swivel casters to the front for "anti scalping" I was mainly cutting large fields that used to be farm fields that had grown in with brush.

[@samvalentine3206]

I like the idea of adding the swivel casters in front - I noticed quite a bit of scalping by this machine.

[@timbriske123]

Wow, u finally took something apart and put it back together and you didn't make us wait a year

[@rogergaddy600]

You came up with a great way to fix that. The people on U-TUB never fail to be amazing at solving and fixing your equipment.

[@sethchyna]

id add another lil support for the back of that pump like you did in the front and it would get rid of that flex

[@thomaslevy2119]

Yep. Was going to say the same thing.

[@markfurman4386]

Mentioned that in the last video about this. Question is, how much time Matt has for this repair/re-engineering.

[@shane1034]

Agreed. I would also make a chain gear shroud to prevent debris entry or even potential accidental clothing or digit snags

[@chriszeiner7834]

I think he's just running it without the motor guard on there while testing it. I do agree about adding a support bracket under the pump as well, there's still a weak point in the existing bracket, now it's right above the angle iron he welded on it.

[@Tinker001]

@Chyna Mane or snap the motor housing into pieces. Probably better to reinforce the mounting plate.

[@freetolook3727]

Lovejoy couplings are usually used on sump pumps and water pumps. Lower end torque applications. No wonder it kept breaking.

[@DensityMatrix1]

They also show up on the hydraulic pump on log splitters. At this point, I just have a supply of replacement couplers. I might have to do something similar to this though..

[@fowletm1992]

You can get many different sizes and shapes Uses alot in agriculture Like our chaser bin running a 12in auger with a prob 30hp hydro motor

[@AntonioClaudioMichael]

Nice stiffiner bar To make it more Solid For the Hydraulic motor Bracket Matt 25:00 @Diesel Creek

[@DavidVillalobosCambronero]

Somebody: How long does it take you to like a video of Diesel Creek? Me: 0 seconds.

[@Naitrino]

Coming home and getting ready to eat, opening youtube to see something... Diesel Creek new video appeared!!! YES!

[@michaelmcneil4168]

A whole new meaning to the term: Dese'll fitt'er.

[@timothyskover3431]

I get a real kick out of your exitement when something works right

[@dans_Learning_Curve]

No kidding! I believe it's real excitement!

[@AntonioClaudioMichael]

Custom Double roller chain Sprocket Couplers Cane out Nice Matt super clean 12:02 @Diesel Creek

[@terrypomatto907]

You again show that there are more than one way to resolve a problem with a machine. Actually I think your idea was 100 times better than the original design. Another Well Done....

[@AiMR]

What are the manufacturing tolerances in your Brush Cutter? JCT: Yes.

[@WS-ij1fu]

Trump inches so very small

[@LatitudeSky]

The actual answers to that question and many, many others is simply "Best Price!" If you ever wander the component and part sales buildings in Shenzhen, every other booth will have someone shouting best price best price and it may be all the English they know. They just get your attention and hand you off to a salesperson. It's quite tedious.

[@jumpjetcaptain495]

I can feel my allergies acting up as I watch him cutting!

[@AntonioClaudioMichael]

New coupler looks like it working well Matt Nice Upgrades just Moving Along ripping The grass up test 2 real brush heck yeah 28:54 @Diesel Creek

[@robj2704]

"Good enough for the girls I go out with". You have to check over your shoulder before you say that, to make sure your wifey isn't standing behind you. It can be hell to pay.

[@davidquirk8097]

Sounds like AvE is writing his scripts.

[@samvalentine3206]

That's also something that Eric O says over on the South Main Auto channel

[@ericcorse]

Ah exploratory mowing one of my favorite things to do. Fingers crossed.

[@1dadrules]

Great show I think you will end up needing a slip clutch because of the beating that mower takes. Great work love the different projects.

[@GorgieGus]

I love the chain coupler: it's a thing of beauty. Also, as a person with tinnitus and hearing loss due to unprotected ears in noisy environments, I like that you wear earplugs.

[@KarenL-qt7dy]

Matt, you are definitely a Mechanical Magician! You can bring back the dead equipment and make mediocre equipment roar like a lion. I truly enjoy your videos!! Now, if you could just get that Galion Road Grader to run like a champ, yet look like a princess, I'd be SO happy!

[@kaydog2008]

Steel flex grid couplings work the same way for high torque applications their used in industrial plants and aboard ships. 🤓👍

[@freetolook3727]

The price of buying cheap is aggravation. The cost of quality is less of it.

[@kameljoe21]

I beg to differ. There are millions of cheap products that are far better than so called quality. One might say ziplock is a quality product while I will tell you that I buy like ziplock bags for half the price and are much better ziplock bags. Much thicker and can come in all kinds of sizes for half the price. I would also bet that if you buy the quality brush cutter you will still have a few problems as well.

[@TheWwong]

You get what you pay for............if you're lucky!

[@markuschampos5750]

If anyone think best quality is the same as most expensive they are stupid and as always with stupid people...they don't know they are stupid but companies loves them.

[@lawrencewillard6370]

Tough, talking about having less money?.

[@northeasterndirtandpropert7974]

@@kameljoe21 My BUSHOG SQUEALER,made in USA(im canadian)is 20plus years old.NEVER broke anything but a shear pin,And Ive used it.I worked it commercially and took care of it.You under most circumstances,get what you pay for.Buy cheap,buy twice!You can't afford downtime in a customers eye.

[@user-xm1ko3nc5i]

Hi! Hello from Ukraine! My name is Igor and i mechanik to. I like your job. In our country about people like you say "Hands grow from the right place". Good luck men!

[@railfan439]

Matt you can make a shim to fit between the motor and the bracket to add space to the coupling. Then you can put that bolt back into the shaft. They also make spacer washers of different thicknesses so you can adjust the alignment. Cheap and easy. Thanks for the video. Jon

[@iamthemoss]

It always amazes me how half-assed companies can be when they build/manufacture things.

[@lukenfoci]

You cannot have all - it is either cheap or well designed and fabricted. I do work on bespoke machinery for nuclear industry and it does take a lot of time and effort to make something work as intended. Sadly this costs money, and a lot of it.

[@garymallard4699]

What is more amazing is Buyers wanting Cheap Crap....i buy some too....can't resist....but consumers are attracted to Cheap like Flies on Dog Poop.....why so many Shoddy businesses exist...and complaining customers....Yin& Yang ...need both to Exist in Life.....No Cheap buyers...Only Expensive Quality Products ( or Expensive Crap !! Too 😂 ) ...informed buyers are Happier.... Price isn't the Key to Quality....

[@iamthemoss]

@@lukenfoci I agree with your assessment but for example in the above video, there is no reason to have the hydraulic motor mount not square. I see some minor issues on my Kubota tractor, most of my issues could have been fixed for less than $200 in manufacturing costs. You work at the other other end of the scale, anything nuclear or aircraft related is big bucks. I love the ingenuity on these KZbin channels which I why I watch them.

[@TF856]

Matt, it's been 2 weeks. I hope that you are okay and doing well, and with many new videos ready to post. 😁 I am anxiously waiting to see how that grader is doing, and the dragline.

[@wadescheppert6465]

that type of chain coupler is actually pretty common for boom and side mount mowers used to row roadsides and cut brush along rural roads. it is a very durable coupling and ive seen few fail, allthough they do wear and have to be replaced

[@CedarOutpost]

It's very satisfying watching you shred those multiflora rose bushes.

[@maverick5006]

I use a product called "Spatter Shield", as I weld with flux core. It virtually eliminates dingleberries and the ones that do land can usually be brushed off. Just a suggestion! Great job bringing that cutter up to your demands!!

[@danmackintosh6325]

I've been thinking about looking that stuff up again recently, been doing a lot of flux-core "gasless" welding of late & the spatter's a PITA. Not seen it since I was in college 20+ years ago when it was pretty ubiquitous in the welding shop so good to know it still exists and hasn't been canned for being "dangerous" or something lol

[@maverick5006]

Hi Dan, there is also a product called "Weld through Primer" which works for me also. Happy Hunting Brother.

[@jimdavison4077]

There is an anti splatter spray you can get that also helps keep your nozzel and tips on migs clean.

[@jeffryblackmon4846]

Your repair is a great idea. Just one thought: The coupling chain needs some lubrication, maybe an oil drip? Carrying a replacement chain, ready to install might not hurt, either. Of course, take along the appropriate tools. Press on, Matt!

[@klauswunderlich6169]

We are all grateful for you greasing up the tracks on your skid steer...

[@davidwebb7254]

You remind me of my Father and things he pull Off Repairing & fabercaticeing ! A welder by trade. ! Hell of a rock crusher and. Screen repairer! Thought there was only person like him ! You prove me. Wrong! “outstanding work”

[@AaronBoggs]

Love your vids man, keep it up!

[@jontrudell7529]

I ❤ Diesel Creek!

[@LeoMAUW]

Same

[@louisarnold7837]

I've lived in the country my whole life. With way to many hours on a bushhog. An old farmer told me to bolt pieces of chain a little shorter than the blades to the disk in between the blades and it will mulch up all those saplings that are hard to get...it will make a little more racket...but it works.

[@jeffchapman5742]

Very impressive repair! Great job Matt!

[@Green_House]

Brilliant engineering solution ! 🙂 👍

[@paulmonk7820]

That's why I subscribed! You fix things and make them work!

[@IggyDalrymple]

Good work and great fix!

[@ladeseddy5994]

Well thought out and perfectly executed. Nice job.

[@ChickenParm152]

I always love a new video from you bud

[@onesadtech]

Nice fix! Seems to be a lot more solid now, well done! 👌

[@douglasbranham6099]

I was maintenance manager in a refinery for many years. We had thousands of rotating machines from fractional horsepower drivers to thousands of horsepower, 500 rpm to 20,000 rpm. Alignment was a major concern.. Our coupling of choice for most machines was shim packs. We discovered that not all hubs were bored on the centerline or at 0 degrees on the centerline. If you have more problems, check the accuracy of the hub's bore.

[@jonathanblackman3046]

These videos are so fun to watch!!! Learning so much.

[@pablotejeda4394]

Nice repair! To strengthen the motor from bending add 2 more guesses at an angle a little larger than the one your fixed to prevent bending. All else looks good

[@TimTurner115]

Improvise adapt and overcome. Good job

[@ironaggies]

Innovative repair, well done!

[@andrewmarch7891]

Nice piece of work Matt. Thank you.

[@sturnie1]

I like the sneak peaks at the end! Nice refirb on the junkaninese cutter Matt

[@aforman1951]

Great thinking on the chain coupler! That'll do pig.

[@mattprice4358]

Get some electronic over the ear shooting muffs. Not the radio version. Get the tactical ones. It blocks out harmful but it will amplify (adjustable) everything else! For example I can hear a normal conversation at >100yds!!!

[@kathyusa-iowa5137]

Genius breakdown and repair❗👍

[@elvis9990]

Hurry up with next upload chap!!!

[@evilkidd174]

Never underestimate what can be done with a hole in a work bench and a good round punch. As AvE says and you quoted "Its good enough for the girls I go out with"

[@oldnstillworkin5709]

There’s a bunch of these in an auction here in Florida coming up. I was researching these and that’s how I found your videos. I do not want Chinese headaches. Corona was enough

[@kansascowboy5721]

Excellent job on the repair Matt 👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻

[@knockersgarage7561]

Been looking for a cheap flipper. Found a place for $34k on shady lane. Went to the end of the street. There's the church lol small world.

[@DavidKelly-km9mu]

COMMENT: Nice practical engineering works, Mat makes it interesting.

[@meloniewalston2273]

Awesome fix! I always look forward to your next video.

[@robertanderson8218]

thanks for the vid and the mechanical tips bob

[@lucindas2931]

Really nice fix! Amazing how a simple tool like a square can make such a huge difference! Is there a housing that you can put over the gears to protect them from branches getting tangled?

[@dukegoodno585]

Great job. I have been stick welding for over 50 years. I suggest that you give 1/8 inch 7014 electrodes a try. They have worked good for most every type of cold and hot rolled as well as cast steel.

[@shanco73]

Great video Matt, nice repair/mod, it does work very well now!

[@leonardcrane6689]

Well thought out and sensible restoration and repair Matt.

[@tomw844]

Great video Matt I would make up a spare chain to have with you when your out on a Job.Love the channel.

[@boosteddiesel1834]

Really liked this video. Love the creativity in the home made parts. I’ll bet it lasts longer than the chinesium titaniumum lol. I bet if you made a bracket to support that motor it would stay still. Probably last longer too as it’s the only stock joint still in that system.

[@elaineb4806]

Excellent problem solving Matt. Cheers 🍻

[@morganfreeman5171]

Much more efficient coupling, great repair !

[@Michael_CS615]

I do remember the flying blades!

[@projectturbocoupe4897]

Just saw on the news that there was some rough weather in that area. Hope you're doing okay, Matt!

[@danhard8440]

I've been waitin all day lol i hope things are ok with him

[@thetruth9361]

Works well. Good job.

[@TheRRM64]

I've had the same brush cutter for about as long as you - I bought mine new instead of from an auction - but still paid less than $2k. The blades and mounting bolts were destroyed in less than a season - just like yours. I had the stump jumper plate drilled larger and swapped the hardware for more common and standard brushhog brand parts including much more substantial blades. That worked fine for another season or so - then I had the lovejoy coupler failure just like yours too. After looking in vain for a stock coupling somewhere that would fit that unnamed motor shaft size, I took your idea and went to the machine shop and had them create the same double-chain coupling and just installed it yesterday. Fortunately, my motor and gearbox were aligned already. I've only run it a few minutes since (storms all night last night) - but am hopeful that it will hold up a few more seasons before the next catastrophic failure. I keep the trails mowed down on a couple hundred acres and have lots of small trees as well as a ton of rock (Arkansas mountain land). BTW, I use a Kubota SVL75 to run mine and it seems to be plenty of power to handle it. Thank you for your channel - I love it and in this case, was able to use the information exactly as you had intended!

[@bradensmith888]

I was waiting for this one! I was wondering where the brush cutter went. A long time ago, you mentioned in an Autocar video that you had big plans for the red f150. What were you going to do with it?

[@paulmartin8212]

I've always heard the retention clip on the chain has a right and a wrong way to install. the closed end is in the direction of rotation.

[@rancherfarmerguy]

That is exactly what I was taught working on farm equipment like chain drive large round balers and large square balers. We always bought used auction farm machinery so we worked on it pretty much every time we used it.

[@johnmcdonough955]

So the body of the clip with two pins attached is inserted from the driven side rather than from the drive side and the face plate then goes on the chain on the drive side?

[@joshcrd7925]

It doesn't really matter in this case. The chain is stationary in relationship to the sprokets.

[@andrewphillips9798]

@@joshcrd7925 Plus the hydro's on this machine can run in both directions!

[@pear7777]

@@joshcrd7925 but there's rotation, so I do think it's smart to put it in counter-rotary.

[@gregthomas5044]

Good effort Matt. Enjoyable video to watch, good content and a good repair. 👌🏽

[@neubert500]

Extremely impressive engineering! Your channel is very enjoyable!

[@mephistovsfaust9883]

Good Lord. I love the smell of cut underbrush in the morning. Smells like... Victory.

[@TheDungorm]

it's a valuable skill to be able to identify a stronger repair that's also cost effective - like the old saying... "where there's a will there's a way" well done!

[@larrywalker7759]

And the other old saying...."Where there's a will there are anxious relatives."

[@johnmccormick175]

Great video and a great job Matt!

[@robinjocaldwell1449]

Great idea & nicely done repair!! Stay safe, Robin Jo