Rotary Cutter Chain Guards, Rotary Cutter

[foggy1111]

I have read quite a few posts on chain guards. While I don't think I want or need one on the back for my purposes (will keep people away) I have been thinking that the front of my new King Kutter 5' RC may need one....mainly to reduce risk to myself and the tractor. So.....I thought about making my own this winter from some scrap chain I got laying around and a chunk of rod and angle to bolt to the front. (I cant find where KK offers 'em...and how much it costs)

Pro's and any Con's to front chain guards?

 

[Farmwithjunk]

I can't think of a "con" outside of added weight, but the list of "pro's" is fairly substancial. The advantage of chain gaurds vs sheet metal or sheet rubber is improved air flow. A mower requires good air movement to have sufficient blade lift (suction). That helps with the quality of the finished cut. Chians don't stop everything. Their intended purpose is to deflect and deaded the momentum of flying objects. In all actuality, you don't want to contain a rock (or whatever) under the running mower. It's best if the object slowly "trickles" out from under the mower and out of the path of the spinning blades. Elsewise (is that a word? Or is that a "GW word"?) the blade continues to hit the object over and over until damage is done.

My insurance carrier (for my mowing business) requires me to have chains, front and rear. (We mow along state and interstate highways.)

 

[mnbowhunter1960]

I don't think I would ever run mine without chains, you never know who is going to be coming around or sneaking up on you to watch, 2500 rpm's is a lot of speed to throw somthing. better safe than sorry in my opinion. MH MN

 

[Bird]

I had chain guards on both of my rotary cutters, both front and rear, and I made all of them myself. No reason homemade can't work just as well as store bought.

 

[john_bud]

Ever see the cutters that do right of way and highway? They nearly all say "Keep back 300 feet"

Stuff flies far, fast and hits hard. It's cheap insurance.

jb

 

[JoeL4330]

front is a good idea, rear is an even better idea ...generally, the rotary cutter is operated pitched so that it is higher at the rear (for discharge)

 

[foggy1111]

Has anybody purchased any from King Kutter? Cost? Model ID? Thanks

 

[3RRL]

I too made my own set of chain guards.
See here: Add Chain Guards to Rotary Cutter

While I don't know about King Kutter, I know chains were available for my Howse. I imagine some internet searching would produce a link for you. One reason I made I own is that not only were they pricey, but they were so heavy that shipping added a whole lot to the deal.

 

[3 point hitch]

You can buy chain guards for most any model of king kutter rotary mower. I don't think there is one for the xb line they get a rubber guard I believe. If you still have your parts manual it should have the # to call for parts. I believe that they are an item that you can get through tsc just make sure that they understand it is a KK not a KNOCK OFF.

 

[scott_vt]

Good Afternoon Foggy,
Some guys have made guards out of old truck mud flaps, mounted them on some light duty angle iron and moved them just foward of the front of the mower to allow some air flow but still be able to deflect any debris thrown foward !

 

[Eagleview]

I saw a good idea once , the chains had a 6" high tensile bolt through the lowest links which joined 4 or 5 chains together . The "gang" of chains then acted like a catchers mit . When a rock is thrown forward the "gang" wraps around it and stops it being thrown . It's then an easy matter to get off the tractor and pick it up and put it in a pile with the rest so you never hit them again .

 

[foggy1111]

That catchers mitt idea will probably result in all kinds of snags and tangles IMO....not for me and my situation at least.

Looked at my King Kutter today and was about to buy some steel and get started on this. That swinging blade almost exits the front of the deck and is visible from the seat. I can see that it would be easy for the operator to get hit with flying trash.

So....I figured I need to bolt on a 3/16" x 3" x 4" angle on the front which will prevent the chains from contacting the blades and provide some additional protection too (there seems to be a good attachment spot on some gussets near the deck and 3 point members)....and then weld my chains to the leading edge of the angle. That's all well and good....BUT...if I do that I think the chains will flip up and lay on top of the installed angle at which point they wouldn't do a lot of good. A channel iron seems a bit of overkill...so, back to the planning.....

I looked at the King Kutter web site and at my operators manual and can't find any safety chains shown or offered by KK. I ain't bashful to copy something that works.

Anyone with a pic of their King Kutter with KK safety chains installed?


Please?

 

[coobie]

That catchers mitt idea will probably result in all kinds of snags and tangles IMO....not for me and my situation at least.

Looked at my King Kutter today and was about to buy some steel and get started on this. That swinging blade almost exits the front of the deck and is visible from the seat. I can see that it would be easy for the operator to get hit with flying trash.

So....I figured I need to bolt on a 3/16" x 3" x 4" angle on the front which will prevent the chains from contacting the blades and provide some additional protection too (there seems to be a good attachment spot on some gussets near the deck and 3 point members)....and then weld my chains to the leading edge of the angle. That's all well and good....BUT...if I do that I think the chains will flip up and lay on top of the installed angle at which point they wouldn't do a lot of good. A channel iron seems a bit of overkill...so, back to the planning.....

I looked at the King Kutter web site and at my operators manual and can't find any safety chains shown or offered by KK. I ain't bashful to copy something that works.

Anyone with a pic of their King Kutter with KK safety chains installed?


Please?

I looked at king kutter rotary cutters last year.I know for fact they make a chain kit(front and back).Call these folks at farmer center equipment located in Farmer Ohio,PH#419-658-2515 they are a very large king kutter dealer and great folks to deal with.coobie

 

[greg_g]

Good Afternoon Foggy,
Some guys have made guards out of old truck mud flaps, mounted them on some light duty angle iron and moved them just foward of the front of the mower to allow some air flow but still be able to deflect any debris thrown foward !

I like your idea Scott, and think it could be easily adapted to the rear discharge as well. My five footer had rear chains, and they were constantly getting snarled up when whipped around by the flying discharge. The resultant "net" made by the snarled brush and chain left an uneven cut - AND the cuttings rolled out in clumps behind the mower. I could put up with the chain damage, you can always buy more chain. But it was the substandard cut - the unsightly clumps - and all the time I spent clearing the tangled links of brush/branches/debris - that finally prompted me to remove the **** thing once and for all.

No problems since. That said, some chain guards may be better designed than others. Mine wasn't.

//greg//

 

[keyser soze]

You can buy chain guards for most any model of king kutter rotary mower. I don't think there is one for the xb line they get a rubber guard I believe. If you still have your parts manual it should have the # to call for parts. I believe that they are an item that you can get through tsc just make sure that they understand it is a KK not a KNOCK OFF.

You can call King Kutter at 205-487-3202 and ask for parts from 7:30 - 4:00 Central, Monday thru Friday. They will be able to sell you the chain guards for your rotary cutter, it it is in fact a King Kutter one.

 

[foggy1111]

You can call King Kutter at 205-487-3202 and ask for parts from 7:30 - 4:00 Central, Monday thru Friday. They will be able to sell you the chain guards for your rotary cutter, it it is in fact a King Kutter one.

....and I ultimately may do that...call 'em. But....I'm....errrrr....kinda tight and I was hoping to see what the KK's chain gaurd LOOKS like so that I could copy it....or at least understand how they get far enough from the blades and keep the chains dangling rather than flipping up on the guard. I have scrap chain and a welder....I just want to make sure it works properly.

BTW....I think I have read every chain guard post on KK.....and I have yet to see a pic of one. I'm not too sure they exist.

but...thanks for the suggestions.

 

[coobie]

....and I ultimately may do that...call 'em. But....I'm....errrrr....kinda tight and I was hoping to see what the KK's chain gaurd LOOKS like so that I could copy it....or at least understand how they get far enough from the blades and keep the chains dangling rather than flipping up on the guard. I have scrap chain and a welder....I just want to make sure it works properly.

BTW....I think I have read every chain guard post on KK.....and I have yet to see a pic of one. I'm not too sure they exist.

but...thanks for the suggestions.

Trust me on this one they do exist.coobie

 

[foggy1111]

Trust me on this one they do exist.coobie

I'll only believe it when I see a PICTURE of the chain guards.

 

[coobie]

I'll only believe it when I see a PICTURE of the chain guards.

I can,t convince you then do your own leg work and make a few calls with the phone number I posted.Sorry you are a disbeliever,coobie

 

[foggy1111]

I can,t convince you then do your own leg work and make a few calls with the phone number I posted.Sorry you are a disbeliever,coobie

lol....it isnt that I don't believe you Coobie.....I am just trying to coerce a picture of the KK chain guard outta someone.