Bush hog setup. What am I doing wrong?

[clovergamecock]

I have a BH SQ600 and I just cannot get the cutter leveled. I have the stablizer bar in the top hole on the tractor. The hydralic arms are level. I cannot get the front of the cutter to raise. I am wondering if it has something to do with the slider bracket on the BH where the stablizer bar does. I know it floats up and down but should it ge free to spin 360 degrees? Should that stay in the straight up position?

What am I doing wrong here??

Thanks
Wade

 

[TripleR]

Check the Bush Hog site to see if they have manual downloads, this will show you the proper setup. If they don't, go to the Land Pride site and download one of theirs, it is pretty detailed on leveling side to side, proper front to back adjustment, tail wheel and pivot hitch.

 

[hslogger]

drop the top link to the middle hole on the tractor, give it a few twists so there is a bit of slack and the BH floater can move freely

 

[clovergamecock]

Thanks. When leveling the cutter should it be sitting all the way on the ground first, kinda like setting the deck height of a riding lawn mower?

 

[TripleR]

Not necessarily, decide which cutting height you want then adjust tail wheel and 3PH accordingly. Your tail wheel will be in contact with the ground while mowing in order to allow movement and maintain height. You should be level side to side with the front of the deck about an inch or so lower, this is all covered in the manual.

 

[clovergamecock]

Not necessarily, decide which cutting height you want then adjust tail wheel and 3PH accordingly. Your tail wheel will be in contact with the ground while mowing in order to allow movement and maintain height. You should be level side to side with the front of the deck about an inch or so lower, this is all covered in the manual.

Thanks. I will recheck the manual. I have the deck level side to side but the front is sitting so low that the edges of the cutter are digging ruts especially when I turn.

Wade

 

[TripleR]

Thanks. I will recheck the manual. I have the deck level side to side but the front is sitting so low that the edges of the cutter are digging ruts especially when I turn.

Wade

You need to lengthen your top link and maybe adjust your tail wheel too.

 

[Geneha]

It is normal or preferred to have the front of the deck a little lower then the back. This provided the proper cutting,

 

[jeff9366]

Thanks. I have the deck level side to side but the front is sitting so low that the edges of the cutter are digging ruts especially when I turn.

Common problem.

The current L3200 has Position Control. The preceeding L2800 may not have Position Control.

Without Position Control you need to install Zerco Check Chains to maintain front of the 'hog off the ground. Especially with a heavy mower and an older, hard worked tractor.

SEARCH "ZERCO" HERE ON TBN.

[None of the Kubota BX nor B series tractors have Position Control.]

Check chains are silver in photo. Zerco kit includes chains and attachment/adjusting brackets for tractor and attachment brackets for rotary cutter. $30. Zerco check chains have been used since the 1920's.

Once you get chains on, set mowing height you desire at front by adjusting chains through tractor chain adjusting brackets. Then bolt tail wheel bracket so deck is 1" higher at rear.

Secure extra chain so it does not foul revolving PTO shaft.

 

[jeff9366]

Why don't you post a photo of how you have the Top Link connected to Floating Link on the rotary mower? Maybe a couple closeups of the Floating Link from different angles? Floating Link, when correctly assembled, should maintain 45 degree angle when Top Link is correctly tensioned.

I have seen mower Floating Links incorrectly assembled, incorrectly mounted, and both.

 

[radair]

Thanks. I will recheck the manual. I have the deck level side to side but the front is sitting so low that the edges of the cutter are digging ruts especially when I turn.

I don't really understand the problem. Can't you just lift the 3PH slightly to adjust the height of the front of the cutter? My fields vary enough that i want to be able to drop the cutter way down in some places..

 

[radair]

[None of the Kubota BX nor B series tractors have Position Control.]...

Not sure where you got that info. My B3000 has position control and the owner's manual indicates the B2630 and B3030 also have it

 

[jim44]

Only adjustment problem I've had is the cutter setup. I have a Taylor way cutter, made by King Kutter I think, that has the "flex hitch" setup. Problem is that the flex links set the cutter back about 6 or 8 inches, making the top link just barely long enough to get a level setting. When you go over even a slight hump the cutter picks up since there's no movement left in the top linkage. Don't know why anybody thought this kind of a hitch setup was necessary. I really can't see any need for it.

But, other than that it just adjusts by raising or lowering the hitch..........

 

[Baby Grand]

Why don't you post a photo of how you have the Top Link connected to Floating Link on the rotary mower? Maybe a couple closeups of the Floating Link from different angles? Floating Link, when correctly assembled, should maintain 45 degree angle when Top Link is correctly tensioned.

I have seen mower Floating Links incorrectly assembled, incorrectly mounted, and both.

I was just thinking the same - a picture would definitely help us figure out what's what.

 

[LD1]

I don't really understand the problem. Can't you just lift the 3PH slightly to adjust the height of the front of the cutter? My fields vary enough that i want to be able to drop the cutter way down in some places..

Bingo.

If you have the floating TL bracket (and its actually floating), adjusting the TL hole location and lenght of it wont do squat.

The rear height is controlled by the tailwheel. The front is controlled by how far you lower the hitch.

The floating TL essentially takes the TL out of the picture when mowing. It is only their to LIMIT the travel when on un-even terrain or when raising the cutter to transport position.

Find the height you want to mow at, and use that little stopper know that limits how far down you push the lever.

Or you can get check-chains like another poster mentioned.

 

[Beltman60]

I set mine with the 3pt hitch to where the sides up front let my foot slide under it
then adjust my 3rd link to where the tailwheel makes contact with the ground and then maybe a half a turn slack

looks to me with your set up you need to adjust those chains until the tailwheel makes contact
but its the flow control height on your 3pt that will keep from the sides from cutting into the ground

 

[Avidpulp]

For what its worth I was told by a guy who sold bushogs an was a farmer himself that the correct way to set the unit up was so when operating the tail wheel was in constant contact with the ground and the mower was angled slightly towards the tractor, closer to the ground at the 3ph than the tail wheel. This according to him helps expel the material from the mower. not sure if this is correct but its how I have always used my bushog squeeler.