Add CHAIN GUARDS To Rotary Cutter

[3RRL]

I'm thinking of adding chain guards to my rotary cutter for safety. In looking on the Internet, I found some that are made for my 6' Howse. About the best price I found for both front and rear guards was $150, not bad, but shipping was another $125.

Several years ago I bought some 5/16" chain to stretch across my road and I have about 50' of it left doing nothing. I also have a bunch of scrap steel and angle iron in my shop. I figure I could make the guards for nothing except my own time.

I know I'll have to space it away from the spinning cutter blades, about 4" out, so I don't chop them off when they get pushed back towards the blades.
Total length for each segment of chain will be about 6-½". I figure to space them about 1-½" apart or so.

- Maybe run a rod through the bottom rungs?
- Or should I leave them dangling free to keep from snagging brush?

Here's what I came up with so far...it's a side view sketch.
What do you think? Any suggestions?

 

[MrJimi]

3RRL, I bought some chain at Harborfreight just for that same reason, I was going to use but the price was a very little over a dollar per foot with hooks leftover for another day
I found it, this is chain that is usually on sale for around $16/18 for 14 feet with hooks

 

[3RRL]

Mr Jimi,
Thank you, but I don't need anymore chain because I have a 50 foot length already. I also have like 10 of those 20' grab hook chains already.
I was hoping to hear tips on how to make the chain guard. You know, what to do for sure and what not to do for sure. Things like that.

 

[MrJimi]

I was going to make mine very close to your design and use the half links to support a 3/8 rod about every 4 or 5 lengths of chain and weld the half links to my support metal and if for whatever reason I would have to replace some of the links the rod would come out like threading a needle

 

[coolhl7]

what are the advantages of chains vs the rear band on a bush hog? it seems to me the rear band would more likely protect the deck from backing into a stump etc. is ther rear band better for brush and chains for grass?

 

[Farmwithjunk]

what are the advantages of chains vs the rear band on a bush hog? it seems to me the rear band would more likely protect the deck from backing into a stump etc. is ther rear band better for brush and chains for grass?

The purpose of chain guards is to deflect flying debris while still allowing it to escape from under the mower in a controlled manner. Metal bands and/or rubber belting tends to trap rocks, ect, The longer a piece of debris stays under the mower, the higher the likelyhood of damage to the blades, ect. A broken blade might not even be contained by the mowers deck. I've seen 'em go right through the side skirts of a heavy duty mower. Metal bands or rubber help. Chains work better. I own a mowing business. My insurance underwriter requires chain guards. Several contracted jobs I have require chains in the specs. Most state or federal highway right-of-way mowing contract specs require chains.

As far as protection while backing into stumps, nothing short of NOT backing into stumps will prevent damage in that instance.

 

[psj12]

You can make it one of two ways. Weld short pieces of chain to an angle iron and bolt or weld the angle to the mower, or pass a round rod through the ends of the short chan pieces and attach that to the angle. The second method will require the use of keepers on the angle to stop the chain from sliding to one side and bunching up. You would need a keeper every 4th or fith chain. This method also alows you to pull the rod and change chain pieces.
I opted for the welded method as I just don't see myself changing these chains very often. Also I can just cut off the offending chain and tack a new one on in its' place quicker.

 

[sandman2234]

I have never owned a bush hog with chains, but I do agree that they are necessary for safety. I mowed a 1.5 acre lot that was full broken concrete chunks, similar to Daddy's place full of rocks. The more of them I picked up, the more there seemed to be. I have hit pieces and thrown them half way across that lot and it stuck in the chainlink fence.

My policy is to never bush hog when there are people around, and all cars must be removed from the property. Even that and a set of chains won't keep you out of trouble but you can only do so much to protect yourself and others when operating a machine as dangerous as a bush hog.

Install the chains, and keep alert to what your running over is all you can do.
David from jax

 

[Farmerford]

Rob:

With 3/8" chain I ran 3/8" wire rope through the second link from the bottom with a clamp on each end, leaving it a bit loose. That seemed a reasonable compromise between flexibility of the chains and tying the chains together to more effectively slow down the shrapnel. It seems to work okay, but I only use the mower for pasture and light brush.

 

[SkunkWerX]

3RRL,

I would skip the rod through the bottom links. All of the ones I have ever seen are free dangling.
I'm not sure about this, but the thought may be you don't want to contain anything, just deflect it on it's way out.

I would build it , then use it for a while before attaching any of the lower links.

Are you placing chain guards on Front and back?