Votex Rotary Topper

[Vizslaman]

Hi Folks.

I have just acquired a Votex 6ft Rotary Topper.(I still want a flail topper)
I have to admit I know next to nothing about toppers but on initial inspection this one appear to be quite well made and pretty sound. The tinwork will require a bit of fettling but other than that it seems all there.
Oh it is offset.

If anyone has any experience of these I would be grateful for any comment good, bad or indifferent.

D

 

[oilcan]

The biggest problem with these is the trough carrying the pulleys rot out due to filling with wet material in use.I have two and brush the troughs with used gear oil when dry.

 

[oilcan]

PS.I put a swinging blade conversion on the rotor off the gearbox so as not to rely on the(very expensive)shearbolt.

 

[Vizslaman]

Thanks
Yes this one has some rot in the troughs which will need welding or replacement troughs

 

[oilcan]

Belts are either C96 or SPC2500 depending on age.

 

[Vizslaman]

Do you happen to know if the troughs are still available as spare parts or will I need to get local sheet metal company to make them .

Thanks

 

[TheTallGuy]

Watch out for long grass getting wound around the rotors/bearings as it will get hot & knacker the bearings.

 

[The Grinch]

My advice, get rid of it, worst topper we ever owned, expensive shearbolts, clutch pads and forever adjusting/replacing the belt. Now have a suire owned from hew, must be twenty plus years old. The old guy who sold it us said it would turn rocks to gravel, he wasn’t kidding! Votex would never have stood the pain what the suire has!

 

[Highland Mule]

Do you happen to know if the troughs are still available as spare parts or will I need to get local sheet metal company to make them .

Thanks

Don’t waste money rebuilding a short term topper that you don’t want, or any equipment like that. Decent rotaries are available at cheap money all the time if you can’t afford a flail, and they won’t lose much value either. My last one did ten years - bought £600 and sold £400 when I upgraded. You won’t get much sheet metal work done for that.

 

[Vizslaman]

At under £100 with 3 PTO shafts I could not resist it.

 

[Highland Mule]

At under £100 with 3 PTO shafts I could not resist it.

I’d be flipping that at a collective for one that’s in GWO if it were me. As soon as you need to pay commercial rates to repair, I really don’t think it’s worth it.

 

[Vizslaman]

I’d be flipping that at a collective for one that’s in GWO if it were me. As soon as you need to pay commercial rates to repair, I really don’t think it’s worth it.

I can do most repairs myself just tin bashing is not one of my skills, but I have a friend who makes stainless steel yacht stuff for a living so I will be guided by him

 

[Henarar]

we have a six foot votex and its been a good old machine, I bought it as a 9 foot and chopped the end off cut a section out and welded the end back on and re built the trough with some bits of old diesel tank, it has no shear bolt or slip clutch on it, if it hits the ground it stops the tractor, if it hits a big stone or rock the blade may break but they can be welded back together, must have had it 15 years but goodness knows how old it is, it gets all the rough work where I wouldn't go with my 9 foot and I use it to cut round under the perimeter mains electric fence sometimes beating off small thorn bushes and the like, its getting rough again now but a bit of weld here and there keeps it going

 

[Henarar]

I can do most repairs myself just tin bashing is not one of my skills, but I have a friend who makes stainless steel yacht stuff for a living so I will be guided by him

I just cut out some flat bits of diesel tank sat them on top of what was left of the old trough and welded the lot together, I even painted it which was quite wonderful for me

 

[oilcan]

Do you happen to know if the troughs are still available as spare parts or will I need to get local sheet metal company to make them .

Thanks

Pass on that one,local blacksmith revamped my original one over 30years ago.

 

[scavinge]

Hi Folks.

I have just acquired a Votex 6ft Rotary Topper.(I still want a flail topper)
I have to admit I know next to nothing about toppers but on initial inspection this one appear to be quite well made and pretty sound. The tinwork will require a bit of fettling but other than that it seems all there.
Oh it is offset.

If anyone has any experience of these I would be grateful for any comment good, bad or indifferent.

D

I have a12ft votex pt
Check the gearbox pulley is not loose on the shaft and no gear oil leaking.The belt driven rotors will take a fair bash but the gear box rotor and shaft can give issues. The big nuts on the blades are L/H thread and if old unlikely to undo without heat. Always store undercover and preserve the trough and boards.

 

[Vizslaman]

I have a12ft votex pt. I
think the "pt" stands for "poor man's topper". Check the gearbox pulley is not loose on the shaft and no gear oil leaking.The belt driven rotors will take a fair bash but the gear box rotor and shaft can give issues. The big nuts on the blades are L/H thread and if old unlikely to undo without heat. Always store under and preserve the trough and boards

Once I get it home I will carry out a thorough inspection, but the cursory inspection identified 3 areas in the trough that will need attention but I will go right through it and if I get 3 years limited use I will be extremely happy.

 

[Bald n Grumpy]

Ring votex they used to make replacment troughs for them.

And to go against what a lot have said , IMO they're bl@@dy good toppers and will stand a lot of abuse. Crack on with it.

 

[Vizslaman]

Ring votex they used to make replacment troughs for them.

And to go against what a lot have said , IMO they're bl@@dy good toppers and will stand a lot of abuse. Crack on with it.

Thanks. Oh intend to crack on regardless I am a sucker for buying in work LOL I

 

[oilcan]

Never wrapped mine or had a bearing go in over 40 years,but I do use red grease.