Flail mower/topper gearbox failed -Help

[carbore]

My second hand flail mower (4ft danelander I think) locked up solid today. I have only used it a few times and had problmes after only a short time with the tractor struggling and misfiring. I thought it was the tractor (grey gergie) as it is its first use since new carb/rewire and general freshen up since purchase last year and never used in anger.

Anyway ti was not the tracotr it was the mower, wheee, clank, stop. I loosened the belt and took the PTO off and the flail drum turns but the gearbox seems solid.

So. Are they easy to take apart, if so and I find teeth etc would a agricultuarl shop be able to rebuild it (expensive?)

Why did it fail, OK its second hand but allegendly it had little work and they were selling up, the paintwork and general condition of the mower seem to back this up. Before using it I checked there was oil in the gearbox and greased al the nipples. It did the first 10 or so runs ok before getting stiff.

Now it could have been.

I accidentally raise it too high and whilst spinning so the shaft/uj was at a big angle, could that strain the bearing?
Also bcuase I run a pto over run adapter, initally the pto shat was too long and the mower was at an steep angle, again could I have strained a bearing, it did clank a few times. I have now cut down the shaft so it all looks at the right angle.

I was cutting 1-2ft grass thats not too thick, wet etc.

Any ideas what I have done, if anything to break it and is it fixable as I need to get grass cut and I haev other things to be getting on with!

Thanks.

[V8MoneyPit]

These things are generally fairly robust and can take abuse. The angle of the PTO shaft shouldn't have any adverse effect at all on the gearbox bearings. Running the shaft at a 'high' angle will only affect UJ wear in the shaft. I've had our topper stall the tractor with no damage at all.

I can only think there is a fault with the gearbox. I would imagine it's a simple device. It just needs to transfer the direction of rotation and maybe change the ratio, so it might only be a pair of bevel gears. Pull it apart and have a look. There's nothing to loose.

[bob86]

Theres only a couple of bearings and a pair of bevel gears, maybe a few shims inside. Usually a few bolts on one end plate and it will all come apart. Worth taking it apart to have a look but replacement gearboxes dont cost much.

[carbore]

After taking separating the gearbox and top pulley shaft it actually appears to be the bearing on the top pulley.

Hopefully that wil be not too expensive.

[V8MoneyPit]

Try your local bearing suppliers as well as agricultural suppliers.

[Lumbering Jack]

also, while it's in bits it worth replacing the other bearings too - if ones gone, the others usually aren't far behind.