Mowing How to bush hog ...

[BurningBushFarm]

OK guys -- hope someone's online.
I am heading out to try the bush hog.

I know I have read something online ... maybe even seen something ... about the right way to do this.

(Saw one example where the front of the bush hog held about 2" higher than the rear ...)

So -- what's the deal. I did a search and am not finding the "how to" directions I had hoped to check against what I think.

Gotta a link for me? Or a 5 point list?

Hubby is so nice and just has finished fiddling with some little things on my beautiful tractor

 

[sweettractors]

I personally run my cutter level or with the back a little higher than the front. I want the discharge to go out the back, not the front. With that said, You should always go by your owners manual instructions and selling dealers advice. Ken Sweet

 

[rmully]

Follow Ken's advice and also walk the property the first time as hitting a rock or a stump can put a dent in the ego and the pocketbook .. not to mention your head. Best of luck!!

 

[BurningBushFarm]

Ahh yes.

No manual for cutter. Bought used.

That's why I use this place!

What you said makes sense. I will be cutting fairly high as it is pasture and I don't want to destroy the grass ... just take out the weeds.

Thanks Ken. I may search more diligently online also.

 

[BurningBushFarm]

Good idea.

I am pretty familiar with my hay field as I walk it a lot to check fences and for holes that would do in my critters. And I am going to be going slow.

We were blessed with this property that has an established hay field (for many years as far as we can tell) so many of the hazards have been taken care of. There is one "hump" which the balers don't like (we have a neighbor bale.)

 

[California]

... and the way to get the rear of the mower higher than the front, is to shorten the top link.

Also the lever to the right of the seat has an adjustable stop that you can set to establish the lowest it will cut. Setting that is easier than eyeballing the height every time you lower the mower.

If you bought the mower used then its rear wheel height is probably set correctly. But you might want to adjust the mower real high if this is the first exploratory pass across unknown debris.

Wear a leather jacket or something for personal armor. Its rare but rotary mowers can fling junk with deadly force.

I run well below full rated speed. I don't care about a neat cut, I'm more concerned about not throwing stuff too hard. In this orchard there is always pruning debris to discover. Use only the PTO's lowest (540) speed!

One more thing to watch for - the inertia of the mower spinning will push you forward even after you put in the clutch. Don't let this shove you into a fence, etc.

 

[clemsonfor]

I personally run my cutter level or with the back a little higher than the front. I want the discharge to go out the back, not the front. With that said, You should always go by your owners manual instructions and selling dealers advice. Ken Sweet

Ken not everybody buys things from a dealer, as in her case. So there was no dealer that sold her this stuff. Im not trying to jump on you cause you did not know that but more so just reminding you some of us dont buy anything from a dealer.

 

[sweettractors]

Ken not everybody buys things from a dealer, as in her case. So there was no dealer that sold her this stuff. Im not trying to jump on you cause you did not know that but more so just reminding you some of us dont buy anything from a dealer.

I forgot to mention, That once the Used brand is identified, most owners manuals are available online free of charge. Ken Sweet

 

[BurningBushFarm]

Just found the manual for free online.

Any personal helpful experiences will be appreciated.

 

[LD1]

...One more thing to watch for - the inertia of the mower spinning will push you forward even after you put in the clutch. Don't let this shove you into a fence, etc.

This is an excellent point. But usually not true with newer tractors and overrunning clutches/independent pto's and all.

But if it is an older tractor that does NOT have an ORC, I would recomend a trip to TSC and pick up an external one.

What tractor do you have??

 

[MMagis]

This is an excellent point. But usually not true with newer tractors and overrunning clutches/independent pto's and all.

But if it is an older tractor that does NOT have an ORC, I would recomend a trip to TSC and pick up an external one.

What tractor do you have??

Huh? My tractor certainly qualifies as old, and I've never experienced anything close to what you guys are talking about. There is no forward inertia with a brush hog. The only motion with a brush hog is centrifugal motion, and that won't push a tractor forward.

 

[BurningBushFarm]

YM2000D with the overrun clutch already in place. :thumbsup:

 

[BurningBushFarm]

MMagis' machine must not be that old --- or it already has the ORC on and he didn't realize it?

Already downloaded and printed out the manual so we can check since the cutter was sitting for a while.

Off we go. Let you know how it works.

(Putting on my bulky barn jacket just in case. )

 

[LD1]

Huh? My tractor certainly qualifies as old, and I've never experienced anything close to what you guys are talking about. There is no forward inertia with a brush hog. The only motion with a brush hog is centrifugal motion, and that won't push a tractor forward.

Your tractor probabally has to be really old to qualify.

Like the old 8n's. They had a PTO driven off the transmission. When the clutch is pushed, it only seperates the motor from the driveline. The bushhog and PTO is still directly coupled to the Transmission. Meaning that if you turn the PTO, the transmission gears turn, and in-turn drives the tractor. The only way to stop this is pop the tranny in neutral.

Easy way to tell what you have is put your tractor in gear (not running) and see if the PTO will free-spin in one direction. If you do, you have an ORC. Which is basically a one way roller clutch. BUT, on the old 8n's and similar, you could do this and spin the PTO and it would drive the wheels of the tractor.

 

[MMagis]

Okay, sorry guys. I misunderstood. And you're right, mine isn't that old, early '70s I think.

 

[clemsonfor]

I forgot to mention, That once the Used brand is identified, most owners manuals are available online free of charge. Ken Sweet

Yep agreed, most of us forgot to mention that. I beleive she has a 4ft king kutter, if i remember the previous posts

 

[deepNdirt]

Just to add to whats already has been said, and ask question: has the brush cutter been setup for your tractor? many of our Cut tractors have shorter lift arms than the standard size tractor might have, Brush cutters are usually built with the length of drive shaft for those tractors, the Yanmar I own didn't require having to shorten the shaft although the Kubota I had did require to be shortened, The shaft might appear to be correct when in the down position, although if too long it might jamb when lift full up for travel, in this case you might find an intermediate lift position while not in use, it would be best to first test the travel of the drive shaft being sure the inner and outer parts can move freely without binding, its always good to keep grease on these part to prevent from rusting, Try not to lift too high while the cutter is in motion, lifting too high could put added stress on the U-joints of the shaft, ......... <<<<going back to the length of the drive shaft, it might be difficult to tell if the drive shaft still has the plastic cover over it but do need to note how far one is overlaping the other? to short of a shaft can also cause if you have the lift relaxed all the way down could go over a mound and the 2 parts can separate, Please don't ask me how I know I just Know as mentioned it is best to find the right cutting hight and set the lift at that position
Good luck:thumbsup:

 

[winston1]

This article has some good information. Adjusting Rotary Cutters - Equipment | Lawn & Garden | LSU AgCenter

 

[California]

OK guys -- hope someone's online.
I am heading out to try the bush hog.

How did it go?

 

[BurningBushFarm]

dNd - cutter came with the tractor. Has been used before. Guy pretty mechanically savvy.

winston - thanks for the link. I'll take a look tomorrow.

California -- it didn't go. :laughing:

After husband checked gear oil and blades etc., we got it attached (that was interesting -- can you get a quick hitch set up for this?) and adjusted (it's my hay pasture, so I am not shaving it, I'm getting rid of dead weeds) we decided that doing something like cutting for the first time, at the end of the day when we are less than sharp and with the light changing -- we decided to wait until tomorrow.

Like that "last run" down a ski slope Only we decided to pack it up and have supper instead.

Ken -- I downloaded the manual and printed it out from the King Kutter site. Thanks.

So y'all have to wait til tomorrow for the Victory Lap.

(And no dNd, we won't ask how you know all this! )