brush hogging - how high is too high?

poltroon · Jul 9, 2005

So, while tractor shopping this year, it seems my grass has gotten pretty high, embarrasingly so. /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif

I've been maintaining the parts we use with my Stihl (boy, I am so ready for our new tractor!), but in some places the brush has not been cut at all this year and the wispy stuff is as high as 5'.

We are about to buy a new JD 3320 with a 5' rotary cutter. I sure don't want to stress it brand new onto those fields, so we'll break it in going over the areas I've been mowing and doing other tasks. But is brush that high too much for it in any case? The thickest section is not more than 2'.

I don't care how it looks - I'm just looking for functional mowing to fight the weeds and get the grass growing, and also to lessen the fire hazard. Can I do it if I just go slow?

I'd rather precut it with the Stihl or even beg or borrow a goat rather than risk damaging the tractor.

cisco · Jul 9, 2005

The answer depends on brush cutter, and the rated pto horsepower of your tractor. If the cutter is medium or heavy duty, and you've the pto power to keep spindle speed up, have at it. 2" brush should not be a challenge (heck, it's a "brush cutter (aka bush hog)", not a finish mower. If a light duty brush cutter, then peruse the manufacturer's recommendation re. limit on width of brush limbs. Most manufacturers specs. address brush, pine saplings and the like - they're not talking about small oak trees.
Oh yeah, keep the blades reasonably sharp, and cutting will be easier.

RoyJackson · Jul 9, 2005

You aren't going to hurt your tractor doing something it was built to do. Read your manual for break in..then ask your dealer how to really do it.

If you know the area, and are sure there are no obstructions (stones, stumps, etc.), just make sure you disengage the PTO every 30 minutes or so to vary your RPM. Running at various RPM helps seat the rings. That's the important thing...also, resist the temptation to change the oil before the hours called out by the manual. Break in is very important for your tractror..but that doesn't mean babying it! Do you think a farmer or other commercial user is going to baby that equipment for 50 or so hours?

If you're not sure what's under all that brush and such, walk the area first, if possible, and mark any larger stuff such as stumps. Trust me, you won't find them all...but your tractor and rotary cutter are built to take that kind of work.

A couple things to watch out for...
Cutting tall stuff like you describe will likely clog up the radiator grill. Just keep an eye on your temp gage. I'd mentioned disengaging the PTO so you can vary the RPM in an earlier paragraph. This would be a good time to brush out the debris in the radiator screens.
Also, please wear your seatbelt and go slow! It's likely you may find ruts and rises in the area you cut. Being safe is the most important "break in" you can do for your tractor!

Now, your tractor is probably going to get scratched up when cutting that area. Well, that's part of operating equipment. I hope it doesn't bother you too much.

I always figured if I can knock it down with the bucket, the cutter can handle it. There may be sections you have to make partial passes instead of the full 60" width of the cutter. Just use some good ol' common sense...the most important tool you have to work with...

Enjoy your new tractor!

Gatorboy · Jul 9, 2005

You can always set it as high as possible and cut it -- then in a week or so lower the mower and cut it again. You will have to take it nice and slow until you get it under control.

thcri · Jul 9, 2005

Actually most people here on TBN will tell you being high for any function on a tractor is not recomended /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif In other words keep all drugs, tobacco and alcohol out of your system while running the tractor?? /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

Actually all fun aside I don't think you will harm your tractor. Brush hogs are pretty durable. You may just have to slow down. I have a 5' wide and at 29hp tractor and I can cut some pretty tall grass along with 2" diameter trees. This spring my grass got as high as 5' before I had time to cut it and my tractor didn't slow down any.

Have fun doing it.

murph

DK35vince · Jul 9, 2005

Don't forget to keep an eye on the temperature gauge and radiator screens mowing the high stuff.
The screens may plug up and try to overheat.

EddieWalker · Jul 9, 2005

Good advice!!

If it's just a years growth, then odds are pretty good there's no trees in there, just fast growing grasses and weeds. Easy stuff for your cutter to handle.

Start slow and work the edges. You don't have to cut the full width of the cutter, in fact only cutting half the width of the cutter will ensure the blades dont' get cloged up and you're not stressing anything out.

Slow and easy is always the best aproach. After a little bit, you will better know the tractor and what it can handle. I bet you'll be suprised at how easily it handles it!!!!!!

Have fun,
Eddie

Indydirtfarmer · Jul 9, 2005

I mowed a 5 acre lot last week that had weeds over the cab of the tractor. Small saplings about 2" to 3" dia, and 20 to 25" tall. Go slow.....

It's all a matter of having enough power, a heavy enough mower, and enough nerve to plow on through stuff like that.

PBinWA · Jul 9, 2005

I'll second or third the grill cleaning. Clean the air filter, the radiator screen and check the radiator too. When its dry out the dust really gets into all these parts. Your temp gauge will tell you if you are over due but I like to check these things every couple of hours during the heavy mowing. Dandelion seeds are the worst thing they really clog up the screen and radiator.

If the grass is too high or thick for your tractor you will notice the drop in the RPM's. Slow down or take thinner swaths. Also make sure you are mowing away from the ejection side of your cutter so your aren't re-cutting grass on each pass. My cutter tends to eject most of the grass to the right side so when it's thick I plan my cutting pattern to avoid re-cutting the thick stuff.

TomWhite · Jul 9, 2005

Much along the same lines as cleaning your radiator grill, you might want to drop by the local drug store and pick up a small breathing mask. I'm not sure what they are actually called, but they look like a small surgeon's mask. When you are mowing stuff as tall as you stated, you stand a good chance of inhaling a bunch of pollen and junk that you really shouldn't.