New Guy, Old DR mower

[jeephack]

Greetings Everyone. I'm new to the forum. I recently acquired an old DR field and brush
mower. It is one of the older spokewheel models. One forward speed, no reverse and
I don't even know what size the engine is. It runs very well, but I have a feeling that a
gearbox rebuild is in my not too distant future. It propels itself just fine, but sometimes
when I'm pulling it backwards, the wheels lock up and drag. This results in more effort
expended on my part than I really wish to exert. Could someone on this forum explain
to me the steps for disassembling and rebuilding the gearbox? Or, possibly point me in
the direction of a source for a diagram of the internals of the box. I have the necessary
tools, ( wrenches, hammers, shop press, torch, mig welder, etc.) to get it apart and
reassemble it myself, but I'm also old enough now to realize that it is much easier to
appeal to someone with prior experience to minimize the mistakes and do overs. Any
help would be much appreciated.

Jeephack

 

[reynoldston]

See it is locking up when you are pulling it back I would say you have more of a problem with the wheel drive then the gear box

 

[jeephack]

Don't know why I didn't think of that. Too used to looking for more complicated problems
I guess. The reason I automatically assumed it was the gearbox is because when I first
acquired the mower, the chain was rusted solid, and the gearbox was stuck. I managed to
crack the box enough to get grease into it and eventually get it freed up, but even then, when
pulled backwards, it was kind of hard and the gearbox made a lot of noise, hence the request
for a more learned and experienced guide to the proper disassembly. I will check the wheel
lockup mechanism. Many thanks for the suggestion.

 

[co1615]

jeepshack,

I work for Country Home Products (DR Power). Give a call to 800-376-9637 and we can get you a manual with parts list. There are not a lot of parts available for the old Bachtold mower though.
Here is a link to download the manual,
http://www.drpower.com/CHPContent/content/support/manuals/131381_FBM_ F97011_AO_97.pdf

Trent

 

[Grass ala Mowed]

One of my old lawn mowers had the same problem due to the friction disc being set too close. Backed off 1/2 turn on the adjustment nut and fixed it.

 

[kensnelling]

Have you gone to the Dr site

DR?ｮ Power Equipment - Equipment for Country Properties - Brush Mowers, Wood Chippers, Backhoes, Rototillers, Lawn Vacuums and more

and checked if the manual is available? They used to be a free download. You can also call them with your model and serial number and they used to mail you one.

Ken

 

[jeephack]

Been away from the computer awhile. Thanks for the replies. I finally found the instruction
manual on the DR site. The gearbox was the problem. It had apparently been left out in
the weather at some point. The chains in the gearbox were rusted almost solid. I cleaned
all the crud out, wire brushed and sanded everything and replaced the chains and all the
bearings. Runs great now. Still one of the better $300 I've spent in some time.

 

[XDmeister]

I'm new to the forum, so new, in fact, I can't figure out how to start a new thread, so I'll reply to this one. I have an original, 1997, vintage DR Field mower. Recently, the rubber tires have split and fallen off of the spoked wheel. I called DR and they informed me that the rubber tires are no longer made. They are a semi-pneumatic model. Has anyone had the same experience? Any thoughts as to how one might come up with a work-around? In its day, it was a very expensive piece of gear, and very well suited to my property and cutting needs (lots of gamble oak). The mower is otherwise in very good shape, but without tires, pretty useless. Any direction will be greatly appreciated.

 

[gammoncs]

I don't know if anyone is still on this thread but I have what seems to be a gear box issue on my '97 Brush Mower but I probably don't have the tools needed to "rebuild" a tool box. Are there parts or re-built gear boxes available. This is the first issue I have had with this since I bought it way back when it was new and I hate to not be able to get it fixed.