5ft brush hog on a 25hp compact

[Camofurever1]

I had a 30 HP JD 790, running a 513 light duty brush hog. Running the brush hog wasn't the problem, the PTO handled it fine. I even had a #70 loader on the front end, with the 513 on the back and the loader on the front, the front end was always very light. Lifting the 513 a bit to miss a rock or log while cutting, the tractor would be teetering on the two back wheels and you would have to steer by applying the individual rear wheel brake pedal. Sold that thing and got a JD 5055D and never looked back. I run a 7' medium duty bush hog and the tractor steers and stays planted firmly on the ground.

 

[rodneyn]

What grade shear bolt should i be using? I picked up grade 5 bolts and sheared one already just engaging the pto. Tractor idles at 1400rpm, and it slams in when i engage the electronic clutch. May have to try and lower the idle rpm

Grade 5 on shear bolts. Typically you have tractor at or near idle then engage pto. Rough on tractor and implement trying to start at higher pto rpm. Start low then take up to speed. Some run once started at pto speed I tend to be under few hundred rpm’s. Tractor already responds in loaded condition to increase RPMs. Everybody is little different on what they do. I always listen to the tractor and implement when at running speed to determine if it’s running as expected. Having bushog setup correctly will also help reduce torque demands on tractor. Trailing wheel should be bearing weight while the side of bushog should be parallel to the ground and off couple inches or more. Your 8” wall on bushog is good more room to chew up the grass before discharging less demanding on the tractor. If you are in heavy grass slow speed down to get good mowing pass. If not you may need to mow over twice. Enjoy your tractor seat time. Most peaceful less stressful time provided your equipment is setup correctly and good running. No wife, no chatter of family, no depressing media news. Just peaceful quiet time. Only time it was not quiet was when I found ground hornets. They don’t like orange tractors but are less aggressive on blue tractors. Took all the bee stings I can take in lifetime. I now stuck with using epi-pen when they come after me. Many of farmers found crouched over the steering wheel from excessive bee stings, past years. Typically found with tractor going in circles.

 

[cj7]

I run a 5ft woods brush hog with my L2500 and a 6ft finish mower. It handles them fine most of the time. If the growth is too thick then I need to slow down. They still will cut.

Look up on the tractor data and see what your machine is rated to handle. I would stay with what is reccommended or at least within a ft.

 

[caleb90]

Well was doing some brush hogging this morning. Hit a tree root and broke a blade, some one had broken it before and welded it. Didnt break the shear pin which worries me some

 

[Yander]

I run a 5' cutter on my Yanmar and I think it has the same 25hp engine as your TYM. Runs it in thick grass with no issues. Haven't tried anything heavier. It may not handle thick brush as well. As others have said, just slow down if it starts bogging below the RPMs for Bushhogging.

 

[rodneyn]

Well was doing some brush hogging this morning. Hit a tree root and broke a blade, some one had broken it before and welded it. Didnt break the shear pin which worries me some

Yes that is worry to further investigate bolt hardness if not running slip clutch. Fairly daring person to weld bushog blade. Talk about imbalance to the gearbox and pto drive line. That is unless they balanced the opposite blade to offset the welded one. Blades are not cheap as yesteryear but I would have spent the cash to have a non- welded blade. Never know if the blade could penetrate through the side wall if it let loose on stump or rock. I assume you are not injured am I correct.

 

[oldnslo]

Caleb
Since the blades are free to swing hitting an object with the blade tip may or may not shear the shear pin.

I presume your tractor has electric PTO engagement. If PTO engagement is to abrupt There might be an orifice you can change to adjust engagement speed.

 

[jyoutz]

Caleb
Since the blades are free to swing hitting an object with the blade tip may or may not shear the shear pin.

I presume your tractor has electric PTO engagement. If PTO engagement is to abrupt There might be an orifice you can change to adjust engagement speed.

Just reduce engine RPMs before engaging pto switch.

 

[caleb90]

Yes that is worry to further investigate bolt hardness if not running slip clutch. Fairly daring person to weld bushog blade. Talk about imbalance to the gearbox and pto drive line. That is unless they balanced the opposite blade to offset the welded one. Blades are not cheap as yesteryear but I would have spent the cash to have a non- welded blade. Never know if the blade could penetrate through the side wall if it let loose on stump or rock. I assume you are not injured am I correct.

I didnt weld it, some farmer must have done it years ago. Im fine, i looked high and low for the rest of the blade i couldnt find it. I should have checked the underside of the mower better before i started using it. I broke one bolt just engaging the pto. This hit gave the tractor a little bog for a split second then all hell let loose while it was flopping around out of balance.

 

[caleb90]

Just reduce engine RPMs before engaging pto switch.

It was at idle which is 1400rpm. I may have to try turning idle down some

 

[caleb90]

It broke the blade right on the other side of the weld. Scary stuff. No is the question to buy a new blade pan and blades? Or part ways with it and sell for parts. Only have 260 into it, but i could fix it for 200-250

 

[jyoutz]

It was at idle which is 1400rpm. I may have to try turning idle down some

I typically turn my RPMs down to just above idle, engage pto switch, then raise RPMs to 540 pto speed. The cutter engages nicely without clunks or other noise.

 

[Ricn]

Late reply but..I ran an old JD very heavy brush hog on my 2501 but it was so well used up I bought a new Kubota 5ft brush hog and neither one has been an issue on this tractor bit seldom gets used on steep terrian either. I have loaded tires as well and like impliments being the same width as the rears. Have cut some darn tall grass too but keep the speed lower than shorter stuff. It gets the job done though and I'm happy with thr 5ft unit.

 

[oldnslo]

Just reduce engine RPMs before engaging pto switch.

I agree engage at idle but the OP said was at idle and still broke pin. This suggests engagement is still to abrupt.

I also presume is electric over hydraulic clutch not pure electric like lawn mower clutch.

If hydraulic I it believe would have an orifice to restrict flow into the PTO for controlling engagement speed. Problem is dealing with very small volume of fluid over potentially wide range of temperatures. If my tractor I would be researching if and where this orifice is located since the abrupt engagement is hard on both tractor and implements.

This is just me and my view, up to the OP to determine how bad the problem is.

 

[2manyrocks]

If someone tried welding the blade, what else did they do to this cutter?

 

[California]

Couldn't find the broken half of the blade? It likely went flying aerodynamically, like a boomerang. Look farther away. But replace it, it could be deadly if welded back and used some more.

If you have 18 hp at the PTO, there are people running a 5 ft rotary mower but you may need to take a lighter cut uphill or with heavy material.

My 18 pto hp Yanmar with 4 ft rotary mower occasionally requires taking a half-width cut under heavy conditions. Even so, I wish I had bought a 5 ft for its greater productivity.

Photo - the only time I overestimated and had to back up and try again at less width. Uphill, wet dense grass, was running at considerably less than pto engine rpm so maybe 14 pto hp.

 

[2manyrocks]

A new set of sharp blades will improve the cutting performance and safety, but you still have the issue to decide whether the heavy duty cutter weighs too much relative to your tractor and terrain. You still may have to slow down a lot to cut heavy vegetation close to the ground.

 

[caleb90]

I looked in a 200ft circle. Nothing. It didnt come out the front as im sure it would have hit the tractor. That sucker is gone

 

[California]

I'm sure you'll find it the next time you mow!

 

[oldnslo]

I'm sure you'll find it the next time you mow!

And with my luck in the rear tractor tire…