Tractors, Mowers, Chippers, Trailers, Chainsaws, Generators, Boat Engines, & Flood Control.

Ordered this for the trailer. I’m tired of the little wires at the plug that get brittle from being in the sun.

$37 Miady Heavy Duty 7 Way Plug Inline Trailer Cord with 7 Gang Junction Box - 8 Feet, 7 Way Trailer Plug with Weatherproof Junction Box

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07L8Z88XK

 

I put one of those on my old 16' trailer. I thought it was a big improvement. I need to redo all the wiring on my current 18' trailer, it's an absolute mess. The trailer came with a new pigtail and a box of wire, but not with a junction box. I'm undecided if I should order another one with the box or not.

 

I figure with everything else I’ve spent trying to improve it what’s another $38

 

Those are all I use anymore.

You can't even buy the bulk wire and connector for as cheap and well built these are.

 

Engine back in...for the second time!

Oil leaks found and fixed!

Ran the motor for 25 minutes at 3k rpm. Dry as a popcorn fart!

Now I can move on to the left hydro pump. Pretty bad oil leak around the pump head.

Kind of a messy job, but not as big of a pain in the ass as removing the engine...2X!

Note:. They seem to start and run better when the engine harness is plugged into the ECU. I finished the top side work, went to start it and all it would do is turn over.

I forgot about the harness socketing into the ECU. It's located under the chassis. Oops.

 

Got the Swisher brush hog together. It ended up with about 1/16" of gap to allow the blades to swing. Should be good to go. Waiting for the sun to go down a bit. 102F when I got home. This will be the first run with the new Kenda Bear Claws on the rear of the 3205.

 

Would nut down be better, then cut two threads above the nut?

 

After looking around a bit I found just the box for $11, so I think I'll go that route given I already have the rest of the wiring.

$11 MICTUNING 7 Way Electrical Trailer Junction Box - 7 Gang Trailer Wire Connection Box Weatherproof for Rewiring Camper RV Caravans Boat Light 7 Way Trailer Wire Connectors

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07QDQRX7P

 

Yeah I'm getting tired of this high pressure parked over us, creating this for ever long heat wave.

 

Got the hydro pump out.

They come out pretty easy when they've been horking up drive oil for years.

Of course the model number is not readable.

Doing some image x referencing, I'm pretty sure it's this one.

 

I called Hydro-Gear once to ask some questions (don't remember quite what for), nice folks, the fellow not only knew his stuff but was glad to help.

 

I went this route when I rewired my trailer from the 4 pin it came with. The 7 pin enabled me to get lights for reverse and I also grabbed 12v from the box to power my trailer TPMS at the same time. Easy peasy.

Good news too. I once dragged my 7 pin connector about 50 miles and while it gnawed off some of the side, it still works as intended. So it is @Lt. Dangle tested and approved lol.

 

Not as good as this way. The battle between the nut and bolt torque while trying to torque it together (while leaving it loose)is the problem. Having to leave the nut loose so the blades could swing would still result in the bolt moving upward in the stump jumper threads and tightening down on the blades.

The way I did it that is eliminated because the bolt stops on the shank in the threaded stump jumper. Then the jam nut is tighter than Dick's hatband. So 2 torqued sets of threads rather than 1. Also the blade can now pivot on the smooth shank and not bolt threads.

Just mowed 3 acres with it and it worked great. It's really smooth when the blades swing correctly. When they bind it vibrates. This was the smoothest it's mowed.

 

nice! Learned something thanks!

 

I think most people didn't understand that the problem wasn't the nut backing off, it was that the bolt tightened into the stump jumper making the blades too tight.

 

Answers my question about vibration even before I ask. Figure you got this now for sure.

 

Yeah, before when I would engage the PTO the whole mower would shake as it started to whirl the blades. Tonight it was like I didn't even engage the blades at all. It was actually strange because it's never been that smooth.

 

That would definitely weird me out. Right about then I’d brace for impact. Sort of the calm before the storm but this looks like it panned out good.

 

FTFY.
I ran it down my county road frontage first which is about an acre and not too rough and then shut it down and looked at everything before getting to my rough hilly fields. I did have an "Oh shit!" moment when I crested a hill and hit a grapefruit sized rock. The blades smashed it to bits and it shot out from under the deck towards me.

Since the hog was pointing up the gravel hit me in the ass thru the open back suspension seat. Luckily it was smashed small enough to not hurt.

 

I might have to add some washers to my finishing mower blade. I mowed some rather thick grass with it and the middle blade started free spinning. I tightened it up best I could with the big impact and mowed some more. It was rather difficult to get it tight but all seemed to be okay until I mowed some more thick grass this afternoon.