Improving my rotary mower

[aarolar]

Decided to improve upon my rotary mower before this mowing season got into full swing. Missed on the tail wheel length the first time around so I lengthened it and decided to upgrade to a clevis style hitch while I was at it.

 

[ninefinger]

I like the clevis idea but how will the top link attach ?

 

[aarolar]

I like the clevis idea but how will the top link attach ?

Ain't got that far yet...

 

[ninefinger]

I will keep an eye on this thread to see what you come up with. Good luck with it.

 

[IceStationZebra]

You could add bolt holes to the back of your new lower mounts and reuse the existing bracket just for the top link. You don't have an overall picture, but you probably wouldn't have to modify anything else that way. ISZ

 

[aarolar]

You could add bolt holes to the back of your new lower mounts and reuse the existing bracket just for the top link. You don't have an overall picture, but you probably wouldn't have to modify anything else that way. ISZ

It's very likely this will be the solution

 

[Gary Fowler]

Here is how my 7 foot rebuilt bush hog model 307 is built. The deck top is made from 1/4" deck plate with the ridges on the bottom. 1/4" deck plate is actually thicker than 1/4" with the added thickness of the top of the ridges adding a bit more thickness. The sides are made from channel iron. Estimated weight is around 1500 pounds.

 

[aarolar]

Here is my working idea right now ninefinger going to tack and test first but I can't see an issue so far.

 

[aarolar]

 

[aarolar]

Coming up on lunch and here's where I've made it to. About another hour and it'll be operational but I'm going to completely rebuild the top link bracket next week at work and a little more minor welding mostly cosmetic.

 

[aarolar]

And she's back together now, going to run it for awhile and see where adjustments need to be made and go from there but so far I think I'll be a lot happier the geometry looks a lot better.

 

[aarolar]

 

[ninefinger]

Nicely done. I understand your geometry problem, it took three tries before finally getting mine the way I wanted it and the last try only happened a month ago. I simply refuse to own up to how much time I spent just looking at what I needed to do and time spent cutting, welding things that did not work.

 

[joefromga]

What was the initial problem you were trying to fix?

 

[aarolar]

What was the initial problem you were trying to fix?

I built the deck from scratch at work it's 3/16" top with 1/4" sideskirts but I used the hitch, tailwheel and gearbox from the old donor.

The tailwheel was too short and would hit the deck if I tried to back up lengthened that.

The hitch had mutiple issues first it was just too light duty for my tractor and use, I had twisted it all up and it was eventually going to fail. Also the pins were too high off the ground and I wasn't able to lift it high enough to suit me. Related to that issue is the fact that for it to pull like I wanted I needed the top link fully extended.