Ferguson TO20 Brush Hog problem

[Tompet]

I have a TO20 and just purchased a 54" Woods Heritage rotary cutter. I initially hooked it up without pto shaft and it handled the weight very well. I have an ORC clutch and went about hooking it up for first time by cutting pto shaft etc. and from prior hook up didn't think anything unusual until I raised the 3pt with pto engaged...looked back and immediately shoved in clutch and lowered deck.

Too late. The shaft rubbed on deck and cut right through plastic tubes of pto shields and ground a little off of edge of deck. The shaft was ok. I tried all of adjustment positions on cutter A frame with no luck and tried a shorter top link from another tractor which made a little difference but creates another problem.

Anyway, after a search I see some other references to this also occurring with old Fords. I remember when I was little this tractor ran a rotary cutter (long gone) and picking it up etc. w/o a problem. It seems the geometry of some cutters won't allow full lift with the TO and trying to have a controlled lift w/o again rubbing deck is difficult.

Does anyone have experience with a TO20 and brush hog or know of a brand with the geometry to allow PTO shaft to clear deck or some other suggestion?

Thanks,
tp

 

[Mikeeemo]

Sounds like you avoided disaster

Now back to the question: I have a TO-35 that I used to brush mow with.

Every mower that we have used (3 different ones) would allow the shaft to rub the deck.

I finally adjusted the 3 point to allow the best cut and made very sure that I did not raise the mower all the way to the top of the travel.

You may want to reset the "stop" on the position control as a reminder.

Not the answer that I want to give, nor the one that you want to hear.

However, you could do like I did, buy a late model tractor to mow with and let the TO garden.

Take care, Mike.

 

[Soundguy]

I think I might get a set of limit chains and just let them decide my cut height.. and just limit my lifting to get the blades off the ground.

that is unless you can weld / attach some new lift pins perhaps.

soundguy

 

[Mikeeemo]

Tompet, I just looked over the PDF's, Great Information !

I liked the one about tire pressures the best.

I did fail to mention in my previous post; I purchased and installed a set of limit chains like Soundguy suggested. They worked very well. My TO's pump is weak, the chains stopped me from dragging the skids on the ground.

 

[Soundguy]

very easy to overhaul that pump and top cover...

soundguy

 

[Tompet]

Well, after converting flex headstock on brushhog to a fixed headstock with an extra bolt, I tried the draft control set-up as outlined on the TO20 rather than limit chains and it works unbelievably well! Maintains height without fail and has done so for about five acres so far with some dips and hills etc.
If this didn't work I was ready to buy limit chains as Soundguy suggested. Placing higher lift pins would probably allow one to raise cutter higher, but i just limit lift as suggested. All is well.
tp

 

[Soundguy]

if the draft hyds are cooperating, at this point about the only thing limit chains will do for you is to allow you to transport it up without having the blades turning.. or having to disconnect the pto shaft.

soundguy