Bush hog gouging

[apeckham]

I running 6 ft woods mower . When I am mowing and make a turn the sides dog into the ground and removes a strip of grass. I levaled it side to side . Haveam it pitched higher in the rear. I've tried raising the mower up thinking that maybe I'm mowing too low , but then it doesn't cut very well.
Anyone have any other ideas? Tia

 

[oldnslo]

Is the cut concerns the wheel tracks? If yes that is problem with most if not all single spindle mowers. You may have to play with tail wheel height to achieve best cut but ultimately suspect that you will need to carry the front on 3 point to prevent gouging when turning.

 

[apeckham]

Thanks for responding. On my brush cutter there are like runners that are welded to the bottom of the cutter. They run horizontal to the ground one on each side , that's digging in.

 

[deserteagle71]

That's how they work when turning sharp. My solution is to raise the 3 point hitch lever just a tab above its stop when initiating the turn, then dropping it back down to the stop after the turn.

 

[big bubba]

i find having a hyd top link helps fine tune bush hog height to avoid skid marks.
& yes of course tail wheel adj matters too

 

[5030]

Is it a finish mower or a slasher? If it's a slasher, they aren't designed to cut low in the first place and not designed to give a 'manicured' like cut.

 

[big bubba]

Is it a finish mower or a slasher? If it's a slasher, they aren't designed to cut low in the first place and not designed to give a 'manicured' like cut.

the OP question is regarding to the side skids digging into the surface, not quality of cut of a mower. it's a matter of adjustment of the deck height & top link to help correct the gouging problem. not if it's a finish or "slasher" mower

 

[Sportsman762]

the OP question is regarding to the side skids digging into the surface, not quality of cut of a mower. it's a matter of adjustment of the deck height & top link to help correct the gouging problem. not if it's a finish or "slasher" mower

I do think that 5030's post is applicable. (and most of the time I am arguing with 5030) Bush Hog does make finish mowers and they have 4 wheels and if the side of them is digging in there there is some other problem that needs addressed.

I have run lots of different makes of rotary cutters on lots of tractors from 5-10' wide behind 18-115hp tractors. The single spindle single tail wheel units do dig in in turns as they rock slightly. Units with twin rear wheels do not dig in as much as the twin rear wheels prevent the rocking. Also tractors with sloppy 3 point hitches will let the unit dig in more than a newer tractor with a tighter hitch.

That's how they work when turning sharp. My solution is to raise the 3 point hitch lever just a tab above its stop when initiating the turn, then dropping it back down to the stop after the turn.

Desert Eagle has summed it up well.

 

[big bubba]

good points. still feel it's a matter of deck height & top link adj regardless of design. just suggesting hyd top link to fine tune around each bend to avoid the problem, best regards

 

[RayIN]

Is the cut concerns the wheel tracks? If yes that is problem with most if not all single spindle mowers. You may have to play with tail wheel height to achieve best cut but ultimately suspect that you will need to carry the front on 3 point to prevent gouging when turning.

The skid plates on each side are not runners. Their purpose is to prevent gouging with the cutters sides.
I have mine set to cut 6-8" high and it still removes sod sometimes when making a U-turn, that depends on terrain at the moment.
I've gotta tell the man harvesting my hay crop he's cannot have the hay any more. He mows with a disc-mower and apparently has it set to cut 1-2" high. It's killing the good grasses and allowing trash to overtake my fields.