Time to service the bush hog

My Howse unit has started making more noise as it spins and I seem to recall taking the nose of a rock so it's time to dig into the unit for a tune up. Not sure if I want to replace blades or sharpen what I have since they look fairly straight. I'e noticed that it's not shearing the grass as cleanly as it once did. Hoping the clutch assembly isn't going to give me trouble...

Any tips to get me started?
 
Check for leaks, unless the clutch assembly is seized, barring any adjustment or worn/defective parts, should be no issue.

The blades being of correct profile or sharpness, (usually sharper for grass, more blunt for thicker vegetation) is important to efficiency, you will notice a distinct difference with new blades. New blades will be equal weight, the existing ones could require balancing, if they are bent or gouged heavily, usually best to replace those.

You may want to check the input and output shaft on the gear box, inspect for leaks, see if there is any free play, could be a bearing or oil seal leaking on these.

Removing a stump pan/blade holder may be an issue getting off, to expose the bottom of the gear box and output shaft, if needed, you did mention a noise. It may be needed to remove the gear box bolts or check and tighten them, they can work loose and oval the holes in the deck.

Adjust correctly to the tractor, level side to side, and most like a 1"-2" difference front to back, front being lower, if you have a book on it, its usually clear.

Check the blade bolts if equipped, make sure the nut is tight, same with stump pan or blade holder on a tapered output shaft with a castellated nut and cotter pin.

Check the PTO shaft universals, grease same, don't forget to grease the tail wheel spindle and the axle pin.

Check and make sure all safety guards are in place.

Might be wise to flip er over to drain or suck out the gear box lube leaving it upright. They do get milky from condensation, took awhile for me to clean out my old Rhino-Servis SE-6, I replaced with a close grade of lube from lucas, 90 wt or 85W-140. Book on mine calls for either NGLI 00 or 0, one is correct, its a sticky tacky oil like chainsaw bar oil or old crawler track roller lube. I did not have a vented gearbox plug on mine, it built up pressure and I kept relieving it and some excess oil, thing was filled just to the level plug too, but did not blow out the oil seals.
 
Probably will end up replacing the blades, didn't realise they were so inexpensive honestly. This thing was well used when I picked it up and used to be much quieter. I've done with the hogging and can use my sickle bar to clean up the fields while the 'hog gets serviced.
 

Did sumone call a Howse a bush-hog? Shame on them.

he he
I once knew people that thought ever refrigerator was a Frigidaire
 

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