Last updated June 2026
Howard machinery has been a fixture on Australian farms since the 1950s. The brand built its reputation on rotary hoes and slashers — robust equipment designed for hard work. Decades later, a lot of that equipment is still in service. Which creates a consistent parts problem: finding the right replacement parts for machines that haven't been in production for years.
Bareco addresses this directly. The range includes replacement parts for Howard slashers and rotary hoes — covering the wear and mechanical components most likely to need replacement on older Howard machinery.
Howard Slasher Parts
Slasher blades
Slasher blades take constant punishment. Rocks, stumps, wire and hard soil all accelerate wear and cause impact damage. Bareco produces replacement slasher blades to suit Howard slasher models — manufactured in Australia to correct dimensional specifications.
The key specifications for blade compatibility are:
- Blade length (tip-to-centre measurement)
- Blade thickness
- Centre bolt hole diameter and pattern
- Material grade (hardness rating)
Bareco blades are manufactured from high-carbon steel, heat-treated to a hardness specification that balances edge retention against brittleness. A blade that's too hard chips rather than dulls; too soft and it wears too quickly. Getting the grade right matters for blade life in real working conditions.
Slasher gearboxes
The slasher gearbox transfers power from the PTO shaft to the blade spindle. On older Howard slashers, gearbox failures are common — typically caused by seal failure leading to oil loss, which accelerates internal wear.
Bareco produces replacement slasher gearboxes that suit Howard slasher models. Compatibility is determined by:
- Mounting flange bolt pattern
- Input shaft diameter and spline count
- Output shaft (blade spindle) diameter
- Gear ratio
If you have the Howard slasher model number, that's sufficient to identify the correct gearbox. If the model plate is missing — which is common on older machines — the mounting dimensions can be used to identify the correct replacement.
PTO shafts
Howard slashers use standard 540 RPM PTO configurations. Bareco PTO shafts are available in configurations to suit common Howard slasher input gearbox specifications. Shaft length must be measured for the specific tractor and linkage combination — a shaft that's correct for the Howard slasher may still need to be matched to the tractor PTO stub height.
Howard Rotary Hoe Parts
Rotary hoe blades
Blades are the highest-wear component on a rotary hoe. They work directly in soil, which is abrasive, and they routinely contact rocks and compacted material. Blade replacement is routine maintenance on any working rotary hoe.
Howard rotary hoes use C-blades (curved blades) in most configurations. Bareco produces replacement C-blades to suit Howard rotary hoe models. Critical specifications are:
- Blade profile (the curve and twist geometry)
- Mounting bolt pattern and bolt hole size
- Material grade and heat treatment
- Blade length
Blades must be replaced in matched sets to maintain rotor balance. Replacing individual blades on one side of the rotor creates an imbalance that puts load on the rotor bearings and produces uneven tillage.
Finding the Right Part
Howard machinery spans a wide production period, with multiple model variants across the slasher and rotary hoe ranges. Parts compatibility is not always straightforward — two machines with similar model designations may have different specifications depending on production year.
If you know your Howard model number, provide it when ordering — it's the most reliable identification path. If the model plate is missing, the following information is useful:
- Working width of the machine
- Number of blades or blade flanges
- Key dimensions: blade centre hole diameter, blade bolt pattern, gearbox mounting flange
- Approximate age of the machine if known
The Uniclamp team works with Bareco parts regularly and can assist with parts identification for Howard machinery. Contact us before ordering if there's any uncertainty about compatibility — it's a more reliable approach than ordering and hoping.
Availability
Bareco Howard-compatible parts are stocked at Uniclamp. Common wear items — slasher blades and rotary hoe blades — are stocked in depth given the regularity of demand.
Contact Uniclamp to confirm availability and lead time before planning a maintenance window around a specific part.
For general slasher setup and maintenance guidance — PTO connection, cutting height, service intervals — see the Tractor Rotary Slasher Guide. The maintenance schedule applies across Howard and most other brands.
Related Guides
- Slasher Gearbox Replacement — diagnosing gearbox failure and choosing the right Bareco replacement.
- Bareco PTO Safety Clutches and Overrun Clutches — protecting your gearbox from overload shock on blade strikes.
- Bareco Slasher Parts — gearboxes, blade kits, PTO safety clutches and transmission kits, freight paid Australia-wide.