Tech Tips Archives - Woods Equipment

Tips for Properly Storing Your Rotary Cutter

Jillian Love — Mon, 14 Nov 2022 19:35:55 +0000

Mowing and cutting seasons are winding down for many areas of the country. It’s time to make preparations to properly store your Woods attachments. Follow these 8 tips to store your rotary cutter for the winter and help keep your RC in great condition for next year.

1) Lubricate all pivot points and repack wheel hub bearings to prevent rusting from condensation buildup over winter.

2) Clean the top and bottom of the deck to remove all grass buildup.

3) Touch up paint in the areas needed to prevent rust

4) Check the blades and make sure they are sharp and free of nicks and cracks and are securely mounted

5) Make sure all safety decals can be read and replace them if they’re damaged.

6) Make sure all shields are properly installed and in good condition. Replace if damaged.

7) Check the gearbox oil level and fill it if needed. If oil appears dirty or has more than 1,000 hours of operation drain and refill the gearbox per the operator’s manual with 80w90 gear oil.

8) Store the unit inside or under cover to prevent weather damage.

These tips will help you prevent rust, corrosion, and many other factors in the winter months that may deteriorate equipment performance. As you prepare your RC for storage, if you find you need a new part, be sure to visit woodsequipment.com/where-to-buy/

If you liked this Woods article, you might also like:

Winter Storage for Your Rotary Mower

How to Clean Your Rotary Cutter

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Get the Most From Your Groundbreaker® Backhoe

Jillian Love — Thu, 13 Oct 2022 17:01:04 +0000

New to the Groundbreaker? Here are six tips for getting the most out of your Groundbreaker backhoe.

1. Choose the right bucket size for the job. A narrow bucket is ideal for trenching-in electrical and water lines without moving excess soil. Wide buckets are useful for large excavations but take note, the backhoe may pull the tractor around on hard, rocky soils. A medium-width bucket has many uses and is often a great first choice for new backhoe owners.

2. Start slowly. Start with the tractor at idle and increase as you become familiar with the controls. Spend five minutes getting used to what each control movement does before trying to dig a hole.

3. Dig your first hole in a spot where it can easily be filled in before starting your real work.

4. Relax. The backhoe can move a surprising amount of material in a short time. Grip the controls lightly and move them smoothly to provide the best control. Pulling harder will not make the backhoe work harder.

5. Buy a backhoe large enough for the jobs you anticipate doing, plus a little more. A sub-compact 6.5’ backhoe can work very effectively to dig in electrical lines and place water lines below frost levels. A compact 7.5’ backhoe has a greater reach to dig faster and place soil further from the hole. If you plan on digging graves, or placing heavy landscaping materials, an 8.5’ or 10’ backhoe will have the reach and lifting capacity needed for bigger jobs.

6. Buy the thumb. Whether a simple, mechanical thumb, or a hydraulic thumb with independent control, the thumb will allow you to grip and move things too large to fit inside the bucket. Consider what your job would be like if you didn’t have your thumbs.

Interested in learning more about the Groundbreaker? Visit the product page and get to know all the key features and benefits.

The post Get the Most From Your Groundbreaker® Backhoe appeared first on Woods Equipment.

How to Clean Your Rotary Cutter

Woods — Thu, 22 Oct 2020 18:46:17 +0000

Cleaning Rotary Cutter After Each Use and for Storage

To properly clean and maintain your Woods® rotary cutter, we suggest these tips:

Cleaning After Each Use

Remove large debris from the machine, such as clumps of dirt, grass, crop residue, etc.
Inspect the machine for scratches or dents that cause missing paint.
Sand down any scratches and the edges of areas of missing paint and coat with Woods Genuine Parts paint of a matching color. *

Cleaning Periodically or Before Extended Storage

Clean large debris from the machine, such as clumps of dirt, grass, crop residue, etc. from machine, then remove the remainder using a low-pressure water spray.
- Be careful when spraying near:
  - scratched or torn safety decals or near edges of decals as water spray can peel decal off surface;
  - chipped or scratched paint as water spray can lift paint.
- If a pressure washer is used, follow the advice of the pressure washer manufacturer.
Sand down scratches and the edges of areas of missing paint and coat with Woods Genuine Parts paint of a matching color. *
Replace any safety decals that are missing or not readable, which are supplied free by your local authorized Woods Dealer.

Consult the Operator’s Manual for complete cleaning and storage information. Failure to follow cleaning and maintenance instructions in the manual will void the warranty.

* Stop by your Woods Dealer for your Woods Genuine Parts spray paint.

Part Number
1040408
12701CS6
12703CS6

Color
Woods Burnt Orange

Item
Paint pen
Case of 6 spray cans
Case of 6 1-quart cans

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Winter Storage for Your Rotary Mower

Woods — Fri, 25 Sep 2020 16:19:50 +0000

Remove the mower drive belt and store to prevent hard spots from developing in the belts where it wraps around the pulleys.
Lubricate all pivot points and grease blade spindle bearing to prevent rusting from condensation build up over winter.
Drain fuel tank and carburetor or use a fuel stabilizer in the carburetor.
Clean the bottom of the deck to remove all grass build up. Use a wire brush and a putty knife and remove as much build up as possible then apply a spray on dry film lubricant to prevent corrosion. This will also help prevent future grass build up next season.

The post Winter Storage for Your Rotary Mower appeared first on Woods Equipment.

Tips to Prevent Streaking or Ragged Cut

Woods — Fri, 25 Sep 2020 16:19:24 +0000

Always mow when the grass is dry with sharp blades.
Check belt drive to insure there is no slippage and operate at rated blade tip speed.
Adjust the attitude of the mower deck so that the front is slightly lower than the rear.
In early spring conditions it may be necessary to reduce ground speed or mow twice. Once at a higher cut height then again at the normal cut height. Later in the season after the grass has been mowed several times, the grass is stiffer and easier to cut. In most cases, the streaking usually goes away as the season progresses.

The post Tips to Prevent Streaking or Ragged Cut appeared first on Woods Equipment.

The Dos and Don’ts of V-Belt Drives

Woods — Fri, 25 Sep 2020 16:18:31 +0000

Most of today’s tractor mounted rotary lawn mowers are driven by a common V-Belt drive. Here are a few tips to follow when servicing your belt drives.

When replacing A V-belt never pry the belt into the groove with a screw driver or pry bar. this will only damage the cords and cause premature belt failure. Always loosen tensioning sheaves and install the belt and retention.

Inspect the grooves of the sheaves. A V-belt drives off the sides of the V, if the bottom of the groove is polished that is sign the sheave is worn and belt is driving off the bottom. If the belt is running on the bottom of the groove it will necessary to increase tension to reduce slippage. When the tension is increased you run the risk of damaging the belt from over tensioning.

Always insure proper alignment between sheaves. Misaligned sheaves will cause excessive side wall wear of the belt and can in extreme cases cause the belt to roll in the groove or jump off. Use a straight edge or string to check alignment of sheaves. All sheaves should be within 1/16″ for every 12″ of sheave centers.

Never use so-called “belt dressings” on any V-belt. Most are made from petroleum derivatives and can have a destructive effect on the rubber compounds of the belt. If the belt is slipping check for proper tension or worn grooves.

In abrasive conditions such as sand always keep all belt shield in place to prevent abrasives from getting into the belt drive. Abrasive material can accelerate the wear of both the belt and sheaves.

The post The Dos and Don’ts of V-Belt Drives appeared first on Woods Equipment.

Mowing Tips

Woods — Fri, 31 Jul 2020 19:04:32 +0000

Extremely tall grass should be mowed twice. Raise the mower and cut half the desired height. Cut the second time at the desired height and at 90 degrees to the first pass.
Remember sharp blades produce cleaner cuts and use less power.
Before mowing, analyze the area to determine the best mowing procedure. Consider the height and type of grass and the terrain type (hilly, level or rough).
When using a side discharge mower, blow the discharge into the previous pass. Never discharge the clippings into the uncut grass when possible.
Plan your mowing patterns to travel straightforward whenever possible. The less turning or backing up you do will reduce your mowing time.
Before beginning to mow, walk the area first and remove any stones or debris, which may be hidden in the grass.
When mowing along roadsides always discharge the material away from the road to prevent any foreign object from being thrown at a passing car.
It is better to mow grass more often at a higher cut height than too short. Short grass deteriorates rapidly in hot weather and invites weed growth during the season. Follow local recommendations for suitable cutting heights for your type of grass.

The post Mowing Tips appeared first on Woods Equipment.

Gearbox Service and Maintenance

Woods — Fri, 31 Jul 2020 18:53:58 +0000

Most of the problems that occur on gearbox drive equipment are due to lack of service and maintenance. Here are a few things that an operator can check before using their equipment.

Always maintain proper oil level. If a gearbox is run low the bearings will not be properly lubricated. If the gearbox is over-filled it will generate heat and cause the box to run hot and possibly damage seals.

Check for free play in the input and output shafts. If any free play is present in may be a sign of bearing wear or a change in bearing preload setting. Excessive free play will cause oil seal failure thus causing a loss of lubricant and result in bearing and/or gear damage. In most cases the bearing preload can be reset eliminating all radial free play by either re-shimming or tightening bearing adjustment nut.

Most gearboxes require a breather to prevent pressure from building up inside the housing. Periodically check to ensure the breather is functioning properly. If pressure builds up in the box it will cause the oil seal to rupture and loss of lubricant will occur.

Woods equipment recommends changing oil in the gearbox after the first 100 hours of operation. This will eliminate any debris from gear break in or foreign material left in the housing from manufacturing.

The post Gearbox Service and Maintenance appeared first on Woods Equipment.

Blade Sharpening

Woods — Fri, 31 Jul 2020 18:52:28 +0000

Remove blades and inspect the condition of the attaching hardware. It is a good idea to replace the hardware each time the blades are replaced.
When sharpening blades always wear safety glasses to prevent any debris from getting in the eye.
Sharpen the blade to match the original cutting edge. Do not go beyond the original edge and avoid grinding any notches into the blade. A notch in a blade can make them susceptible to breakage.
Always leave a 1/32″ to 1/16″ dull edge to prevent the cutting edge from chipping. It is not necessary to have a razor-sharp blade. This will only decrease blade life.
Once the blade has been sharpened hang it on a nail or screw from the center mounting hole to balance the blade. If one side of the blade was damaged and more material was removed when sharpening this could create an imbalance and cause vibration. If the blade is balanced it should hang level on the nail. It may be necessary to remove more material from the heavy side to obtain proper balance.

The post Blade Sharpening appeared first on Woods Equipment.

How to Operate Your Woods® SB-series Snow Blower

Woods — Sat, 25 Jan 2020 14:42:46 +0000

Let’s talk about how easy it is to attach and operate the Woods SB-series Snow Blower.

The SB series are compatible with CAT 1 and CAT 2 3-point hitches on tractors from 15 to 60 PTO horsepower. The SB series is also CAT 1 quick-hitch compatible. Working widths range from 54 inches to 84 inches. That range of working widths offer an ideal fit for everything from sub-compact to the larger compact tractors.

PTO driveline overlap needs to be properly sized for your tractor. Consult the snow blower operator’s manual for the procedure and dimensions.

The drive system features shear bolt protection on the PTO driveline and the auger side drive. Proper adjustment of the top link is important on this snow blower. Adjust the length of the top link until the top edge of the snow blower is parallel to the ground.

Adjustable skid shoes come standard on the unit. On gravel surfaces lower the skid shoes so they are approximately half-inch below the cutting edge. This will keep the snow blower out of the rocks. On hard surfaces, like cement, the skid shoes can be raised up so the cutting edge is closer to the surface for a nice clean finish. Consult the operator’s manual for proper blocking and adjustment procedures.

Optional hydraulic and electric chute rotator and deflector kits can be added for making quick and easy adjustments. The optional kits are ideal for tractors with cabs or for operating in tight areas around buildings that require multiple adjustments.

Prior to use, the snow blower needs to be properly lubricated. Consult the operator’s manual for the lubrication points and the proper intervals.

Always be sure to engage and disengage your tractor PTO at low idle. Increase and decrease your throttle gradually. Always maintain 540 PTO RPM while in operation. Do not overspeed your PTO.

Only the Woods SB-series Snow Blowers can bring you superior design, superior durability and superior style in an easy to operate package.

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You can find more Woods products at woodsequipment.com or simply give us a call at 1-800-319-6637.

Always consult your operator’s manual for complete information on safety, operation and services.

See your nearest Woods dealer for more information about this attachment and our full line of equipment.

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