Eight foot cutter vs eight inch stump. Now what?

[plowhog]

Just finished first cutting a new-to-me 15 acre pasture with rolling hills bounded by a forest. Avoided many obstacles with my twin spindle 8 foot rotary cutter, but did hit an eight inch stump.

The cutter rode over the top of the stump when I was turning. I was slowly picking my way through a series of stumps, so when I heard a noise I immediately knew what happened. I stopped, throttled down, disengaged pto, lifted the cutter, and moved forward.

In tall grass and getting dark, I could not see much. I re-engaged and mowed for a short time afterward, and it still cuts using both spindles with no noticeable change. But, it seems to have a vibration I don't remember from before.

What would you check to see if there has been some damage?

 

[trook]

See if a blade is damaged, bent, or broken. If you see nothing obvious, engage and disengage the pto a few times and see if the vibration disappears.

 

[ericm979]

I did the same with my 5' cutter recently only with a rock. The cutter vibrated a lot more afterwards but I finished the little mowing that was left. Later I figured out that one blade was stuck behind the other. Even though it could move, the rotation of the cutters would keep it folded against the other blade instead of swinging out. Just freeing it by hand fixed it. I've hit larger rocks before with no problem, this one must have been just the wrong way.

When I'm mowing I try to keep one hand on the PTO lever as raising the cutter is the quickest way to get it out of trouble if I hit a rock or stump.

 

[rekees4300]

Just finished first cutting a new-to-me 15 acre pasture with rolling hills bounded by a forest. Avoided many obstacles with my twin spindle 8 foot rotary cutter, but did hit an eight inch stump.

It's a good rule of thumb to walk/inspect new ground before mowing. Would renting a stump grinder be feasible?

 

[N80]

I mow places like that with my bucket almost touching the ground. But, I've still hit some big stumps with my 6 foot JD rotary cutter with no damage. It often vibrates after I hit something, even an ant hill or thick clump of grass but the vibration does not last long. Sometimes it vibrates for no reason. As mentioned, slowing down and revving up usually causes the vibration to go away.

 

[Liquidsilver]

After I hit a big rock with my 6-foot rotary cutter, I felt a strong vibration afterward. Someone had put a Cat5 bolt in for my shear pin and the impact twisted the PTO shaft. I didn't realize it until I was finished mowing for the day, and couldn't get my PTO shaft to come off the tractor. I'm very lucky I didn't have more damage.

 

[N80]

After I hit a big rock with my 6-foot rotary cutter, I felt a strong vibration afterward. Someone had put a Cat5 bolt in for my shear pin and the impact twisted the PTO shaft. I didn't realize it until I was finished mowing for the day, and couldn't get my PTO shaft to come off the tractor. I'm very lucky I didn't have more damage.

No slip clutch? My slip clutch gets a workout every time I mow. Without it I'm sure the cutter would be toast.

 

[Liquidsilver]

No slip clutch? My slip clutch gets a workout every time I mow. Without it I'm sure the cutter would be toast.

No, I haven't installed a slip clutch. Now that I'm more familiar with the areas I mow, I don't hit hazards as much, and I have the proper Cat2 shear pin. I don't mind replacing one occasionally.

 

[N80]

No, I haven't installed a slip clutch. Now that I'm more familiar with the areas I mow, I don't hit hazards as much, and I have the proper Cat2 shear pin. I don't mind replacing one occasionally.

But then you miss the smell of the slip clutch slipping! I love the smell of a slip clutch slipping. Smells like victory.

 

[Liquidsilver]

Haha. That's okay, I'm content with the smell of cut grass (and all the crap weeds and scrub oak I'm trying to mow into submission).