HELP WITH HOOKING UP BRUSHOG UPDATE

[Anonymous Poster]

Hello again. This is concerning the posting I did yesterday with my questions on how to set up a brush hog. Well I am one day more experienced and for now have solved the problem, with help from this forum.

I first took off the upper link and used the left arms to raise front end up 2-3 inches from bottom of mower front to ground and tried it. It worked perfectly this way. The rear is able to go up and down and conform to the ground you are mowing.

I next got a length of chain with two clevis connections (one each end) and used that instead of top link. I am now able to raise mower up. I put a hardened bolt and lock washer where top link hoos on brush hog instead of a regular pin. Once I get the chain length adjusted to where it works (this is mainly on the lowest spot the brush hog will be) I won't take the chain loose from the brush hog, just take the quick connector pin loose from tractor, which is through the clevis.

So for now I am set. The ought to make it clear in brush hog instruction books that the top link isnot to be used for mowing, or at least that's the way I see it today.

Thank you, Richard Gauthier

 

[s1120]

Now let me start with the fact that I do not have a tractor with a 3ph, and that I have not used a brush hog before. But is not using a top link safe? It seems to me that under the right[wrong??] condetions it could kick up the cutter, and cause some trubble. Am I missing something?

 

[Anonymous Poster]

I DON'T KNOW WHAT KIND OF LITTLE TOY TRACTOR YOU ARE USING BUT THIS CHINESE TRACTOR I BOUGHT IS BIG AND TALL ENOUGH THAT IF THAT 550 LB. HOG WERE EVER TO JUMP UP AND GET ME I WOULD HAVE TO BE CUTTING DOWN A MOUNTAIN AND THEN HIT A TWO FT STUMP.SAVE THE FLOWER MONEY AND SEND ME SOME BEER MONEY NOW.

 

[Anonymous Poster]

i am dissapointed,i didn't get the respones i was expecting from that comment.

 

[BillyP]

The chances of a cutter, without using the top link, flying up and hitting the driver is no better than towing a trailer and it doing the same.

Billy

 

[rdbrumfield]

Not exactly, I have had my cutter catch on stumps and such, it does lift the back of the mower and the top link does stop it before it kinks the drive shaft. I might add that using a chain doesn't give you that safety margin.

 

[Anonymous Poster]

<font color=blue>The chances of a cutter, without using the top link, flying up and hitting the driver is no better than towing a trailer and it doing the same. </font color=blue>

I doubt that. Unless you somehow are putting energy into that trailer like your are that rotary cutter!

Bill in Pgh, PA

 

[Anonymous Poster]

hello again, if you were doing some real brushoging[which i don't plan on doing much of]the idea i have heard and a picture i have seen on this web page,of useing the top link along with a short chain which would be your connection to the top of your cutter might be a better way to go.i might rig up somthing like that before doing much cutting this coming sping. also that way, if the tractor front end wanted to rise on ahill that may catch you or at least an older gentle man suggested it might. 99% of what i will be cutting i have previously been cutting with a riding lawn mower,but i got tired of having to basicly plan my whole summer around this due to not letting it get to tall so the mower wold cut it and dealing with the rain,etc. i got about 5 acres that i mowed with the riding mower.now i can cut it once a year if i want in the rain. i do plan on making a few new trails now but not in any really heavy brush,and i will definitely walk it and cut anything bigger then1 inch. thanks richard

 

[BillyP]

In order for my cutter to come up and hit me, the tail wheel would have to be over 8' in the air. I'm sorry but I don't think my tractor (or yours) can go fast enough and hit something with enough force to give the cutter the momentum to achieve this. One other thing is, the cutter blades are spinning in a way that it is actually pulling the cutter in a downward motion.

Billy

 

[Anonymous Poster]

Hi,

I don't have a rotary cutter yet, so I am still learning too.

But, what might happen if the front edge of the cutter hung up on a small stump or rock? The pivot point would be the front edge I think.

The tractor pulling could possibly cause the the rotary cutter to pivot about the front edge, the rear coming up and flipping towards the rear of the tractor. A chain would not hold it back. A rigid top link might...

Now I would guess the PTO shaft itself might also hold the thing back...so perhaps having a chain or normal top link, in the practical world, makes little difference...

Thanks to all those with experience for their continuing advice. Truly helpful to us learners!!!

Bill in Pgh, PA

 

[Anonymous Poster]

Bye the way, it doesn't take speed to make bad things happen, but power.

The low gearing of tractors makes them amazingly powerful, as you know.

Backflips at near zero speed, sometimes with fatal results, are a real possibility with a tractor...no one should equate speed with danger when it comes to tractor use...I would say this is the same for something we are pulling behind us. If the worst case happens...well... let's hope it doesn't!

Better safe than sorry...

Bill in Pgh, PA

 

[pruntyc]

http://www.ytmag.com/articles/artint57.htm I see you did not read this thread from the first post you made on this subject. If you had you should read all of it. It will tell, you just what I said. Some people even on here, think they know all the answers, but no one ever does. And when it comes to saving ones life or limbs, they should read and do all they can do. But of course you can do what you like, I won't take the chance, it's not worth it. The article goes on to say, the rotory cutter is the most dangerous thing you can operate with your tractor.

 

[Solo]

A few years ago I was watching a man brush hog a hill side with some pretty heavy growth. He had borrowed the tractor from his buddy (bad idea). I don't think he was paying any attention to the mower and both lower link pins sheared off, the front dug in and the mower stood straight up before he could stop the tractor. No one was hurt, thank God, so it can happen. Now I don't know if the top link saved him or not.

Some of the Bushhog models I believe use the chain instead of the top link. Always be safe if you don't think it can happen it will.

I hook mine up with the front off the ground about 2", using the position control and loosen the top link until the swivel is loose basicly the way you did it but with the top link installed.
Solo

 

[Anonymous Poster]

THANKYOU FOR MAKING ME WORRY A LITTLE MORE ABOUT THIS.I THINK I'LL SEE IF I CAN'T MAKE A SHORT CHAIN CONNECTION TO GO ON THE TOP OF THE CUTTER AND THAN HOOK UP THE TOP LINK TO THAT SOME WAY OR THE OTHER. RICHARD .AND YOU ARE RIGHT ABOUT THE MANY OPPINIONS,BUT THATS HOW YOU LEARN THINGS.I THINK FROM THIS WEB PAGE AND OTHERS LIKE IT,I HAVE GOTTEN EVERY POSSIBLE WAY YOU CAN HOOK UP A CUTTER AND I'LL JUST HAVE TO FIGURE OUT WHICH COMBINATION WORKS BEST FOR MY SITUATION.I CAN TELL YOU DON'T WANT TO ADJUST THE HEIGHT THE WAY THE KINGKUTTER MANUAL SAID AND PUT THE CONTROL LEVER ONFLOAT.ALSO ICAN TELL YOU THAT IF YOU ADJUST THE FRONT HEIGHT BY LENTHENING THE TOP LINK YOU ARE PUTTING A LOT OF STRESS ON THE CONNECTIONS AND I BELEIVE IT WOULD JUST BE A MATTER OF TIME BEFORE SOMETHING BROKE. NOW THE TOP FLEX SWIVEL THING IS SOMETHING I DON'T HAVE AND DID NOT COME WITH THIS MOWER WHICH IS PAINTED BLUE, BUT I'VE HEARD THI DON'T WORK TO GOOD ON THE KINGKUTTERS ANYWAYS.THE ONLY WAY SO FAR THAT HAS WORKED FOR ME IS NO TOP LINK OR ACHAIN FOR A TOP LINK SO YOU CAN PICK IT UP.NOW LIKE I HAVE SAID BY USING A SHORT CHAIN ON MOWER TOP CONNECTOR AND THAN CONNECTING THE SHORTEND TOP LINK TO THAT SEEM LIKE IT WOULD BE MORE SAFER,BUT IN ANY CASE THANKS TO TRAIL AND ERROR AND TO WHAT I'VE READ OFF THE COMPUTER,I'M NOW ON THE RIGHT TRACK. THANKS AGAIN,RICHARD

 

[djradz]

I am not an advocate of putting a chain in place of the top link, but it seems to me this still would be safer, since the bottom links are still there, than all those "trailer" type brush hogs. I've never heard anyone comment that they're unsafe, and yet the exact same thing could happen. In fact, the trailer type could also swing sideways, but again, I've never heard this happen either. Seems were making too much of this. My guess is, just like with a top link on, when you hit something, the cutter lifts up slightly, and then something else happens, either the tractor stalls or the deck lifts over the obstruction or something breaks.

 

[Hoeman00]

Instead of a short pc of chain get 2
1/4 x 2" x 8" straps and drill 3/4" holes
near each end .
Put these as a link between top link
and mower top link so they the tail of
mower can float.
Someone showed u a picture of this set-up
on your other post.
These plates solve both of the problems.