Brush hog safety chains

[Mtsoxfan]

Snow finally gone, at least where the grass is and I'm getting the brush hog ready for the field. The safety chains that prevent debris from coming out unchecked is missing quite a few links. I figured before I replace I'll ask my question...
Has anyone replaced the chain guard with anything else? If so, how'd it work out? Any pics?

 

[Rustyiron]

I've seen a horizontal strip of a rubber belting type material used. Is it the front, tractor side of the mower or the opposite back side?

 

[Ken45101]

My 15ft Bush Hog batwing had the option of chains or a rubber strip (cheaper). I chose the rubber strips. They lasted 15 years but now need replacing. I am not sure which way I'm going.

Ken

 

[oldnslo]

Belting seems to keep the grass under the mower better than chains but may also bend the grass down more in front so doesn’t cut as well.

Never ran side by side test to see if one option created less dust than the other

 

[Mtsoxfan]

I've seen a horizontal strip of a rubber belting type material used. Is it the front, tractor side of the mower or the opposite back side?

The rear is missing the most. If I can get a better idea over chains, I'd do both.
One of my thoughts was similar to yours, truck mudflap. Haven't thought about the design yet.

 

[Mtsoxfan]

Belting seems to keep the grass under the mower better than chains but may also bend the grass down more in front so doesn’t cut as well.

Never ran side by side test to see if one option created less dust than the other

Belting does sound safer as well. I'd imagine if a link gets airborne, not safe...

 

[RayIN]

My 15ft Bush Hog batwing had the option of chains or a rubber strip (cheaper). I chose the rubber strips. They lasted 15 years but now need replacing. I am not sure which way I'm going.

Ken

Once I was lucky enough to obtain a length of discarded conveyor belt from a coal mine. It's ½" thick and 4' wide; my section was 20' long.
I never gave a thought to use it on the rotary mower, I used it for mats in my horse trailer.

 

[Mtsoxfan]

What I'd be cutting is a hayfield and saplings. I've cut some of the unkept hayfield last year, tons of seed/chaffe plugging up radiator screen. Hoping to cut more often so it doesn't get to that point, dry and over grown. Time will tell how often, but the section I cut last year was about 6 times, vs my grass every week.

 

[oldnslo]

Depending on width old round baler belts are tough and usually pretty inexpensive since they are headed for trash bin or the I will use that someday pile…

 

[Mtsoxfan]

Once I was lucky enough to obtain a length of discarded conveyor belt from a coal mine. It's ½" thick and 4' wide; my section was 20' long.

Any pictures of mounting?

 

[RayIN]

Any pictures of mounting?

I added to that reply; sorry.

 

[2manyrocks]

Do you suspect your chains came off because of the way they were mounted or perhaps did some debris knock them off?

 

[Rustyiron]

What I'd be cutting is a hayfield and saplings. I've cut some of the unkept hayfield last year, tons of seed/chaffe plugging up radiator screen. Hoping to cut more often so it doesn't get to that point, dry and over grown. Time will tell how often, but the section I cut last year was about 6 times, vs my grass every week.

I've done a LOT of "bushhoging" with lots of different cutters. I don't know your exact conditions or experience, but generally where a bush hog is required there's little concern about thrown sticks or rocks out of the back.
My approach to your described mowing where your not familiar with what might be hidden is a 6"-10" height of the first cutting. That height will pass over anything that's small enough to be a projectile and anything bigger will take the energy out of the (swinging) blade on the t bar or pan and that'll just tumble out of the back 10-15' if it gets a good hit.
Lawnmowers/tractors are much more likely to throw something for long distances with very high blade tip speed, cutting at lawn heights and no swinging tip on the blade.

 

[Mtsoxfan]

I've done a LOT of "bushhoging" with lots of different cutters. I don't know your exact conditions or experience, but generally where a bush hog is required there's little concern about thrown sticks or rocks out of the back.
My approach to your described mowing where your not familiar with what might be hidden is a 6"-10" height of the first cutting. That height will pass over anything that's small enough to be a projectile and anything bigger will take the energy out of the (swinging) blade on the t bar or pan and that'll just tumble out of the back 10-15' if it gets a good hit.
Lawnmowers/tractors are much more likely to throw something for long distances with very high blade tip speed, cutting at lawn heights and no swinging tip on the blade.

Thank you, it does make sense. I have limited experience, maybe 80 hours over 4 years. Started out clearing a yard and trails. That is where I hit things it was not made for, due to very uneven terrain. I'm at the point now where I'll be maintaining a previously hayed field, so very limited risk, other than grinding up saplings. I know it's not the best tool for the hay field, but it's what I have. I've been told by the Mrs. that I tend to overthink things.

 

[Tinhack]

I've seen a horizontal strip of a rubber belting type material used. Is it the front, tractor side of the mower or the opposite back side?

That's what I used on my flail mower. It's 6" belting I purchased from Tractor Supply at the time. I punched holes in it to match the holes in the mower. (The original whatever was long gone.) It's still there after 7-8 years of hard use or abuse.

 

[Rustyiron]

That's what I used on my flail mower. It's 6" belting I purchased from Tractor Supply at the time. I punched holes in it to match the holes in the mower. (The original whatever was long gone.) It's still there after 7-8 years of hard use or abuse.

Yeah I remember when TSC sold belting. Anymore, around here it's mostly pet food, corny lawn ornaments and clothes.

 

[Lineman North Florida]

Another vote for conveyor belt, I got a partial roll of used conveyor belt from a coal power plant and put a piece on one of my bush hog mowers probably 15 years ago and while it has frayed at the edges a little bit it is still working like a champ.

 

[rbrown225]

I run mine in a lot of dead sticks & stumps and run chains. Cut up an old set of tire chains to make them.

 

[LPowell1]

Snow finally gone, at least where the grass is and I'm getting the brush hog ready for the field. The safety chains that prevent debris from coming out unchecked is missing quite a few links. I figured before I replace I'll ask my question...
Has anyone replaced the chain guard with anything else? If so, how'd it work out? Any pics?

Repurposed materials

Snow finally gone, at least where the grass is and I'm getting the brush hog ready for the field. The safety chains that prevent debris from coming out unchecked is missing quite a few links. I figured before I replace I'll ask my question...
Has anyone replaced the chain guard with anything else? If so, how'd it work out? Any pics?

Repurposed Materials sells used conveyor belting. Locations around US, sometimes free shipping, or if lucky maybe close enough you can pickup. Lots of other used materials and items.

repurposedMATERIALS - America's Largest "Industrial Thrift Store"

Shop a wide selection of used and surplus items for sale at repurposedMATERIALS. We buy surplus inventory & hard to recycle items.

www.repurposedmaterialsinc.com

 

[John_Mc]

When I bought my brush hog 24 years ago, it came with a rubber belting guard. The chain guard was an optional upgrade. I ran it with the rubber for a couple of years, but ended up tearing it up to the point where there were getting to be some gaps in the coverage. After seeing some chunks of wood and rocks get flung for large distances, I upgraded to the chain guards after a couple of years.

I do a lot of trail maintenance with it as well as new trail construction and mowing of some very rough fields. The rough terrain, rocks, and sapling stubble were just too much for the rubber. If I were mowing mainly "clean" pastures or smooth trails, I'm sure the rubber would have held up just fine.