2 bush hogging questions w/batwing

[Richard]

Though I should say "2 rotary cutter questions" but that just sounded dumb!

I'm not really sure the batwing part is important.

1. When you are cutting a field, do you set your height higher so you "never" scalp or do you set your height where you really want to cut, knowing that you are in fact going to hit bottom (or a rock) every now & then? (I've been doing the latter)

2. When you have a field that is irregular in shape... so you prefer to waste several passes so you can "straighten out" the cut lines (make it look more retangular?) or do you simply follow the contour of the border and have wavy cuts going down the field on one side with a possible straight line on the other side?

This isn't to presume that anyone really cares about lines in a field but it just happens that the field I'm referring to is next to the house so the wife does care how it looks. Of course, she happens to like the straight lines that disappear into the distance instead of wiggly lines that make it look like I was cutting while intoxicated

 

[Keith01]

When Bushogging, I set 'er where I want it, and do hit some stumps and rocks. If it the first time in that field, a few minutes walking thru it first to make sure there are no boulders or hidden wire. Glass and steel stakes will take out a tire also.

When cutting, I always felt it showed a bit more pride in your work if the rows were straight. Had to do it that way when I worked at a golf course. Make 1 or 2 laps of the field following the contours. Then start at one end, and pick a point on the horizon (other end of the field) Drive STRAIGHT to that point. Dont look down at your path, just look forward. Once you get there, the 'starter strip' will be laser straight. Now make you next rows off that one. Eventually you wont have to look, you'll just know you are overlapping just right. You end up wasting a bit cutting a few chunks twice, but it'll look nicer.

Especially tru when finish mowing with a striping attachment. May not work so good with a bush hog though. Mine will windrow the long weeds, so I guess having the debris straight helps!!??

And yes, my Wife thinks I am insane for doing this.

Keith in SC

 

[RobJ]

I set it at the height I want it cut. If you have big stuff in the way you should clear that first. Otherwise a BH is pretty tough and if its just soil the area will get trained to the new height. You can also raise and lower as needed.

Question #2, does this really need answered? Do it the way momma likes it!!

But I asked this a while back and I think a lot of folks went around the ends a few rounds then used a moving rectangle type approach. IMO mainly for speed, the more time the blades are in the grass and the less time turning on cut grass the faster you will finish.

I mow with my BIL's 15' batwing sometimes, hmmm, 15' vs 4', on a smaller pasture I'm usually looking for more to cut, the 15' covers a lot of ground!!

Good Luck,
Rob

 

[Farmwithjunk]

Set mower to desired cutting height. Raise mower or drive around obsticals.

I make a minimum of passes around the perimeter of a field, then straight shots across, saving short, irregular cuts until last.

I like my mowing to look straight. 99% of the reason you're mowing a field in the first place is to make it look good. Why not keep it as straight as possible.

 

[zzvyb6]

I use Google Earth to locate the geometric center of the field. Then I start cutting in the center and spiral outwards. This minimizes overlap and saves time & fuel. At the periphery, I've even refenced some areas to round out the corners to facilitate mowing. The height in pastures is set higher than normal because I like the look of wind blown grass in them. I've found this is good for weed control because the grass gets an advantage over the weeds for territory.

 

[JayDavis]

I use Google Earth to locate the geometric center of the field. Then I start cutting in the center and spiral outwards.

I am preparing to shred about 45 acres this weekend and have been thinking about something exactly like that.

1. It depends... Some (older) batwing shredders don't have height adjustment hydrualics. Instead they use ratcheting turnbuckles that you manually adjust. I have just such a beast. In that case, set it and then forget it as the infomercial says.... BUT if you have what most people have, hydraulic height cylinders, you can use cylinder blocks to set the minimum height... or ideal cutting height you want. That way you can't lower the shredder any lower but you can raise it to get around land differences...

 

[LoneCowboy]

straight of course
the other thing is unless it's perfectly square (or the terrain dictates otherwise) you should try to go the longest way.
That way you are turning less.

Obviously if you mow it a lot you probably need to flip the pattern to not get ruts and sometimes terrain dictates otherwise.

But longest path is much faster.

 

[Gatorboy]

Set deck to desired height and cut in straight lines.

 

[Soundguy]

Ditto what most of the others said.. set the height and then mow straight.. detail and finish up cuts can be made at the end to pick up the corners and missed parts and such.

soudnguy

 

[rutwad]

I use Google Earth to locate the geometric center of the field. Then I start cutting in the center and spiral outwards.

CROP CIRCLES EXPLAINED..